Thoughts - Friday, October 10, 2008 5:07 - 0 Comments

If WE could vote

“Are you American?” I was asked this past week based on updates made on my Twitter feed.
“Nope, I just play one on Twitter.”

Yes, I have election fever. However I’m ashamed to admit that the high temps aren’t caused by Canada’s own snooze-inducing political race which will (thankfully) put us out of our misery next Tuesday evening. (Though we may perhaps enter a whole new other dimension of misery…But I digress.)

I – like many others around the world – cannot get enough of the US elections.

The 2008 race to the White House is without a doubt the election heard ‘round the world. WE are hooked – but why? Maybe it’s the sheer drama surrounding it; or the head-scratching storylines which at times resemble a rehashed soap opera. Maybe the real story is the people who have for the past (gasp!) 20 months put up with the dizzying highs and lows of the race; or maybe it’s the fact that WE recognize that the consequences of American politics permeate nearly all corners of the world. Regardless, WE sit up and take notice – if only from the sidelines.

When the much anticipated Palin show – er, I mean Vice Presidential debate, was scheduled for the same evening as the Canadian leader’s debate, I didn’t hesitate turning the channel to hear Tina Fey – er, I mean Sarah Palin, flash those Alaskan fangs.

I wasn’t alone: The next day the media reported that more Canadians watched the VP debate than our own head-butting display of Canadian politics. WE, despite all that’s at stake in our own country, and considering that our election is held weeks before the US one, tuned out our politicians and tuned in to Washington.

And ‘round the world is more of the same. Friends (who are scattered all over the globe) and I swap political anecdotes but not about what’s taking place in our own countries, rather about the latest gaffe made by the Democrats or the latest verbal attack by the Republicans.

Considering that WE are all emotionally invested in the outcome of this never-ending campaign, I ask what if the world could vote. Enough of being teased with a ballot being dangled in front of our eyes only to have it snatched back on November 4 – Let’s entertain the notion of how the world would sway if WE were all given a minute in the poll booth.

Thanks to a well-timed initiative the world can now add its voice to the US vote – sort of. Enter ‘If the World Could Vote’ – A good hearted attempt to sate our thirst and put the global population in the driving seat of the American election bus, if only for the duration of the click of a mouse.

Slap on your Donkey or Elephant button and play along – You’ll see from the results of the vote that WE are coloring the world Blue; the kind of Blue that’s enough to bring many people out of the dumps. Provided, of course, that your fake vote doesn’t make you see Red.