In one of the most divisive elections in American history,
I have had an outsider's view of the see-saw popular vote count
which is separated by only a few tens of thousands of votes.
As a Canadian who has a KEEN INTEREST in American politics,
I have NEVER seen such a rabid divide between Red and Blue.
I have also NEVER SEEN such bitter partisanship with NO SIDE
willing to concede AN INCH of ground on MANY issues, especially
with regards to the American Economy and Basic Social Issues.
From the Deficit to inclusive Healthcare, America is a house
divided against itself...and THAT bodes ill for its future as a
world power. And as a Canadian....THAT DECLINE bodes
very badly for us here in the nominally 51st state AND for
the rest of the world.
As an insight, I was AND IS a HUGE FAN of former president
Ronald Reagan, who STILL is a huge bellwether for the increasingly
more extreme right-leaning Republican party BUT was a surprisingly
MODERATE conservative. The only thing right-wing about him was
his rabid anti-communism with regards to the former Soviet Union
and it's might military machine.
What is now missing in America is a sense of moderation.
It's basically FAR LEFT LIBERALISM...OR....FAR RIGHT FASCISM
and NOTHING in-between!
In fact, on this very ATS bulletin board, there are posters who
espouse severe and VIOLENT reaction to the election of EITHER candidate!
It's so bad now, that I personally fear that rabid far-right extremists will
soon attempt violent and destructive insurrection, if not attempts at
the outright assassination of Obama!
I also fear that far-leftists will be emboldened to attempt a near-communist agenda
and create FURTHER government intrusion into PERSONAL AND/OR PRIVATE spaces.
It is ironic that Obama himself is one of the FEW members of his own
liberalistic party that has demonstrated his centre-left leanings and he is
now forced to use his own PERSONAL charisma in order to reign in policies
proposed by his party-members that are downright antagonistic to
general American beliefs.
If Romney were elected, the more extreme members would have
put on the pressure to REVOKE Roe vs. Wade (i.e. Abortion Right to choose!)
and would foster the anti-immigrant policies and utter isolationism
and further excessive/unilateral militarism.
So MANY around the world now breathe a huge sigh of collective relief
BUT we also now must deal with a severe partisanship that will cause
political roadblocks to be raised, left, right and centre.
I suggest the President NOW FOCUS on the Economy exclusively.
Fix THAT and everything will work itself out! I just hope he lives long
enough to bring that about!
edit on 2012/11/7 by StargateSG7 because: spelling