Congratulations, America.
Yeah, even if you didn’t end up with the president you wanted. You deserve congratulations for experiencing the first national election that was truly a global event – not just as spectacle, but from the aspect of influence. The first one that wasn’t just under your control.
The whole world voted for this one – with its eyes. And the world will vote for all the elections in the future, big and small. We’re next, here in the UK. And while I’m no great fan of parliamentary democracy, I can’t help but believe that this degree of scrutiny and passion can only make it better.
Welcome to the future. It’s going to be tough (because the future always is – this ain’t no pulp novel, kids), but a change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes.
November 5th, 2008 at 5:32 am
I can tell you that the feeling here at the polls today was electric. You could almost feel that change was coming. The levels of participation in today’s vote have not been seen for decades. Congratulations to my fellow voters for a job well done.
As McCain said when he conceded defeat “The people have spoken”.
November 5th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
I thought McCain’s speech was excellent — exactly what both sides need to hear so they can come together, if they’ll listen to it. I have great hopes for Obama, tempered by a cynicism forged by years of disappointment.
November 17th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
What alternative do you prefer to parliamentary democracy? Some sort of direct democracy, facilitated by the internet? I could go for that.
If we just had some amount of proportional representation it would be a huge step in the right direction.
November 17th, 2008 at 8:21 pm
Something closer to the classic Athenian model with universal enfranchisement for everyone over the age of fourteen would be a good start; localised, granular, networked, potentially global. I also have a lot of trust in emergent systems, though, so I’m very receptive to mutualist anarchism – let the systems create themselves as they are required, and dismantle themselves when they’re done.
November 18th, 2008 at 3:15 am
Hi Guys!
Happy member of the US electorate here (long time VCTB lurker)….Damn we did something right! Going to be in London saturday nite 11/22…Any suggestions?..One thing to see?
Thanks
Chris
November 18th, 2008 at 8:01 am
Hi Chris; I’m not too savvy about stuff to see and do in London, but I doubt you’ll struggle to find something happening on a Saturday night! Thanks for the comment!