A day that will decide the fate of the world

[Stone_Spirits]

A day that will decide the fate of the world

By Rupert Cornwell in Washington
02 November 2004


For once, the cliché wheeled out by desperate politicians trying to terrify their lazier supporters into voting is no lie. This is indeed the most important American election of modern times. Indeed, it is arguably the most important single election of modern times.

From the fate of the Middle East, to the global scourge of terror and the threat of nuclear proliferation, to the economic and financial future of the world's greatest debtor nation ­ on all these issues, the next occupant of the Oval Office must make decisions that will shape history. If that were not enough, the country, which chooses today between John Kerry and George Bush, is as divided as at any time in its history.

The differences that the candidates embody are not merely of policy but of values and culture. The division marks a line between two Americas. On the one hand stands the "Metro America" of the coasts and the great cities, internationally attuned and socially more liberal, worried about the decline in America's reputation in the world. Then there is what has been called "Retro America," socially conservative, happy to live in a continental nation sufficient unto itself, populated by "good guys" chosen by God. No prizes for guessing which America supports which candidate.

The division runs through states, towns, streets and even families, generating passion and argument as in few elections past. Election 2004 has given the lie to the old claim that Americans are an apolitical breed, scarcely bothered about the vote. Today, the turnout is likely to be higher than at any election since John Kennedy's narrow victory in 1960.

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http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=578458

[Village Idiot]

1. Internationally - It's INCREDIBLE!

In Canada:

JFK's economic platform is clearly more protectionist than *'s in terms of Softwood Lumber, Canadian Beef, Steel, Fisheries, etc...In other words, ECONOMICALLY, JFK will be worse for Canada than *.

YET, when polled, 79% of voters said that they would rather see JFK in office than *. Canadians JUST DON'T TRUST SHRUBBY!!! He has shown himself to be too much of a dangerous lunatic!!!

Many of us are concerned that Iraq is JUST THE BEGINNING!!!

[G_j]

2. yup, people outside the US more often see how very dangerous

Bush is to the planet in general.
Nuke-u-lar war? no thanks!

[PsN2Wind]

3. No doubt that todays election

will have a tremendous impact on, not only the citizens of this country, but those of the rest of the world.