The US sure has become an “lively” place to live recently. We’re very close to the election and everyone seems to be really loud about their opinions. People at work are forming factions. There was a big argument in the corridor when Sarah Palin was chosen for vice as immediate supporters were jumping with joy. I’m pretty sure that few of them even knew who she was before her nomination, but there is a definite mentality that likes that kind of thing. They liked it in George Bush too. There are many people who don’t really worry about what the politician thinks, just that they make themselves look like “one of the guys”. I find it horrifying. These people should not be “one of the guys” if they want to govern one of the most important countries in the world. They should be professionals, interested in governing and have a sense that they are representing the nation, not taking part in the day to day idiocyncracies of SOME of the nations people. The “gun-totin” house-wife who’s foreign policy is based on the ability to almost sea Russia from the shore of her state is really an appeal to the “lowest common denominator”. The Americans use this term to describe when a politican appeals to the basic and base qualities that are present in most human beings. Although many individuals and voters would never act politically on these base qualities (i.e. vote), they can’t deny that they have them and are slowly influenced over the two year campaign process.
That’s another thing. American election campaigns run for two years, beginning with the competition to enter the game and then the various stages of selection. That’s a huge amount of money that makes only people at the top of the food chain have a chance to win. This is not good. It’s not even democratic. Living and working here has been really “interesting” for me. They get so involved in the election drama, as if it were a television show. Again, lowest common denominator. It has also brought out the sense that even really intelligent people here have very little idea what it is like to live in a foreign country and so to see the world from a different point of view. You may say, ok – Americans must see the world with an American point of view – but they often see the world as wanting to share their point of view closely, and that is simply not true. The “exporting democracy” fallacy was one example of this.
I think Obama will win. He’s been accused of being “elitist” and “distant” from “the people”, but this can only be a good thing. It is about time somebody set a better example. He’s ahead now because the economy is doing so badly. McCain really doesn’t look like he knows what he’s talking about when it comes to salvaging financial and housing markets and getting people to feel confident economically. The Democrats have always been better at that. The one good thing that may come out of the credit crisis in this country. This too has been the topic of debate at work – loudly and with anger. I must say, this job is not like the last one! In Wisconsin, people were quite reserved about expressing their opinions, so they listened quite alot to each other as they built up their statements to arrive at what they wanted to say. At first I found it a very slow way to interact, but then I really liked the amount of time it gave me to appreciate and understand what the other person was saying. Here, the opinions fly like kites. They are very, uhm “expressive” and tell you immediately what they think. This leads to almost constant arguments in the office. The guys I work with don’t even talk to each other much since three of them support McCain/Palin and the other 5 support Obama/Biden. Of course they don’t hate each other, but they don’t get along anymore – not since Palin. It will be nice when this is over. I try not to take sides, since that would involve some arguments too.
The credit crisis is also interesting over here. We’re beginning to see unemployment rise, with people nervous that it will be like the stock market crash of 1929. I saw a man on the street in a jacket and tie with a sign that explained his skills and the type of jobs he was looking for – in a jacket and tie! Credit was never that easy to get in Italy, so I hope we’ll be fine over there. Janine thinks we should both move back, but I think she only sees Italy as an “exotic” place to visit. I’m not sure how we’d do it. Anyway, we’ve both been working constantly.
Last weekend, however, we did get away to MEXICO! This was fantastic! We went down the Baja peninsula – all the way to Bahìa de los Angeles. It was a long drive, and we wanted to go fishing but none of the boats were going out because of hurricane Norbert. It was well worth it though. We stayed in a little hotel – the Hotel Villa Vitta -arriving late Friday night and at fish all day on Saturday! The people were incredibly friendly! We stayed mostly inside because of the weather, and played cards with the guys working there. It was very “rustic”, but a very nice change from southern California or So Cal as it’s called. People seemed very genuine and honest. The food was outstanding, everything fresh, all the time. It was also nice to not be the only foreigner! Janine loved it. We hope to go back there to go deep-sea fishing sometime when the weather is better. It was a long drive down and a long drive back to play some cards, but I’d do it again in a second!
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