It's official: The world doesn't vote in U.S. elections.

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Originally posted by LiquidX That's easy to answer. Most people around the world arent as ignorant as it tends to be here in the US. People here are not too into politics, and usually take what they are fed, and FOX news has done a pretty good job to be as biased as possible, and deliver distorted news. Most of it's viewers have the most untrue and distorted answers .. and sadly, major news networks here in the US tend to be very restricted when it comes to this Administration. It's the first time that reporters are soooo restrcited on asking BUSH questions, and this administration takes everything so secretly. All that plays a role on how people in the US see it.. it's all about been educated and researching, something that most of the people in the US dont bother doing, thinking that FOX is " FAIR AND BALANCED".

Fair and balanced to whom?

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil Fair and balanced to whom?

Thats the FOX slogan.. .. and exactly, to who, you should ask them that question lol. Maybe to the very conservative it is

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Upcoming:

Michael Andrews Feat. Gary Jules - Mad World (Grayed Out Mix)

It's official: The world didn't like Bush 4 years ago to begin with.

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Its Offical: Please stop saying Its Official.

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Originally posted by Shakka It's official: The world doesn't vote in U.S. elections.

as much as i like this Article, i have to agree with you.

this won't do shit , holland also don't want bush, 53% wants kerry, i remember 8% wants Bush and the rest don't really care.

But in the end the Americans vote not the world, and like the other guy said, it only takes easy manupilation to make the outcome clear..

example:

suddenly Bin Laden got killed or captured, then we have 4 more years Bush.

To tell you the truth, i don't like the American politic system, it's to closed and narrow, you can only pick out of 2 parties, and they all have the same thing in mind..power.

I know Bush sux, i only seen him do bad things, even for his own nation, war, people getting beheaded, more terrorism. I really wonder why someone would choose Bush again, BUT why is Kerry better?

I really want to see some proof that Kerry is better for this world, for all we know he wins and ruins the world even more..

I have no faith in America

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Originally posted by Octanesyco Greetings. My name is Casey. You can call me Moose. -Moose

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Originally posted by PhloTron That's a very good point...most views on our leader(s) are simply because most people in the rest of the world don't know very much about the whole of US Politics...

I think you underestimate just how pervasive US politics is in the international media. While perhaps the average global citizen is likely to know less about the state of US politics than the average American citizen, to presume that they "don't know very much" about the state of US politics is likely to be quite wrong. I, for instance, probably know more about US politics at the moment than Australian politics - not because I go out of my way to learn about US politics either, but because the mass of information about the US (on the internet, TV and print media) far exceeds that printed about Australia. Now I'm sure that I'm quite unique in this regard (most global citizens will obviously be more familiar with the state of their own nation than the state of the US), but don't make the presumption that people outside of the US are in no position to understand or comment on it - we probably know a great deal more about your politics than you'd otherwise guess.

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They know about who is in charge and the policies they carry toward their (foreign)nation...(foreign policy). And no matter how crappy it is right now and how are relations are strained...and some decisions poor (very poor), there is so much more at stake in many peoples minds that just one topic.

But this is what we don't understand - on what policies has Bush actually succeeded? Even ignoring his multitude of failed foreign policy initiatives, what has he done exceedingly well (or, at least, well enough to warrant re-election) domestically? On what specific topics, do you think, have people been convinced to vote for Bush? If you want my opinion it is ignorance about governmental policies and their consequences that is helping Bush win the election, not familiarity with them. It's no coincidence that rates of misapprehension about basic issues (such as Saddam / Al Qaeda ties, Iraq / 9/11 ties, the existence of WMD in Iraq etc.) are demonstrably higher amongst Republican voters than Democratic voters and amongst Americans than civilians anywhere else on the globe.

Part of it is willful ignorance (if we can repeat a lie to ourselves often enough, we might eventually think it true) but much of it has to do with the US media's complicity in Bush's illadvised policy adventures in the two or so years after 9/11. While the balance has largely returned now, the fact that Bush was not held accountable for his actions for so long in the US by its media probably constitutes much of the reason why the US has, in the past for years, become ideologically out-of-sync with the rest of the world. It's difficult to make an informed, democratic decision when half of what's happened hasn't even been reported by the media.

In short, then, what issues do you believe are pertinent to Americans that might not have been considered by us foreigners in deciding that Kerry is the better candidate?

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Also, most people would base their opinion, for/against the person in charge (Bush)...and if against, simply pick the other candidate...I'm guessing 99% of the rest of the world never even heard of John Kerry prior to his nomination to run in the election.

So a no-name is much more popular than Bush? What does that say about Bush?

Besides, don't forget that non-responses were included too (making up to 50% of the survey numbers in some places). If people were just selecting against Bush rather than for Kerry, I doubt these numbers would have been so high.

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Yes, most of the world probably can't fathomm how we could possibly re-elect Bush. But, there is a lot more to a candidate/party than one or two things...and there are many people that bennefited or felt comforatable with the first 4 years of service (no matter how hard that is to believe). But just like people will vote for Kerry, not because they like him, but they hate Bush...people will vote for Bush based on the same thing...they aren't happy with what Kerry has to say either.

Even presuming that this is the case, it still doesn't explain why so many people are willing to vote for Bush (or against Kerry) in the US, but not in the rest of the globe. Again, I can only ask, what is it specifically about Bush that makes him worthy of re-election and why do you presume that we foreigners must be somehow "misinformed" or at least missing some vital piece of the puzzle about George Bush's candidacy?

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I don't know what this poll was exactly like, but if you put a poll out in the world...or the US...that had a choice of Bush, Kerry, or "someone else"....these days "someone else"...might just run away with it.

Possibly, but again: why the disparity in Bush's popularity inside and outside of the US?

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...or that the views of the rest of the world knew what ALL the issues we are faced with in this upcomming election...and the next 4 years...guessing the #'s would move closer to the middle though they still may favor Kerry.

Again, you're presuming that foreigners are only selecting against Bush because we're somehow ignorant of large chunks of administrational policy - if so, what are they?

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I can make an opinion on who I think should run, say Austrailia...but I don't think it would be an educated choice, based on the fact I only know a little bit (mostly foreign policy) about what the country and leaders follow. I would expect this to be the same for most people looking from the outside in.

But the difference is that we know a lot more about US policy than you do about the policies of our respective governments. As the most powerful nation in the world, this sort of scrutiny is to be expected so, once again, don't underestimate out knowledge of what's going on over there.

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Hell...I can barely make an educated decision about the best candidates here...because you don't know if anything is true anymore...except the dollar signs coming out of their campaigns.

Heh, don't worry. Unscrupulous, money-based campaigns between two hardly discernable candidates are not problems confined solely to the US.

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With all that in mind...maybe it's not as far fetched as it should seem that we are 50/50 out here right now...and that it's possible that Bush may win the popular vote and lose the electoral...and get slapped in the face just like the "intraweb inventor" did in 2000. D'oH!

Let's hope so...

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Originally posted by Massive84 as much as i like this Article, i have to agree with you. this won't do shit

Obviously it's going to have absolutely no effect on the American voting public, but the reason I posted the article was just to highlight exactly how disliked Bush was globally and ask why it is, exactly, that in spite of everything he's done wrong, he still has a 50% backing in the US. What do you guys know that we don't?

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I know Bush sux, i only seen him do bad things, even for his own nation, war, people getting beheaded, more terrorism. I really wonder why someone would choose Bush again, BUT why is Kerry better? I really want to see some proof that Kerry is better for this world, for all we know he wins and ruins the world even more..

I reccomend visiting his website and reading through his policy initiatives. While I'm not his biggest fan, he does have a lot of good ideas and - of course - can only ever be 20 times the president that George Bush is. He won't be perfect and I'll doubtless be critical of many of his decisions (or lack thereof :-/) when he gets elected, but there isn't much doubt that he's the best available option. I'd prefer him to either of the candidates running to lead my country at least....

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I have no faith in America

That isn't really fair. Excluding the far-rightist, politically active Christians (who only make up a small percentage of the US population but still manage to have a major say in the way the country and the society is run) the US is filled with fair, sensible and reasonably enlightened people. While the US has a number of deep flaws (just like any other nation) that will not be fixed overnight, just keep in mind the notion that less than 20% of Americans voted for Bush in 2000 and that the entire country should not be lumped in with a small (albeit loud and very, very annoying) minority.

America: where 50,456,169 people ruin it for everyone else.

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Originally posted by Massive84 To tell you the truth, i don't like the American politic system, it's to closed and narrow, you can only pick out of 2 parties, and they all have the same thing in mind..power. I know Bush sux, i only seen him do bad things, even for his own nation, war, people getting beheaded, more terrorism. I really wonder why someone would choose Bush again, BUT why is Kerry better? I really want to see some proof that Kerry is better for this world, for all we know he wins and ruins the world even more.. I have no faith in America

I don't like 2 parties either, maybe 3 or 4 true candidate, not a nader, would be better. That way you don't run into the "i hate him so im voting for the other guy" syndrome.

As far as you knowing about Bush sucking, you are saying based on a global scale. You can not make an informed decision really unless you know his policies towards our country. We are voting for a president for ourselves not for another country.

My girlfriend is choosing Kerry and I asked her why yesterday and she told me that he is more for healthcare for all, will not raise the debt, is more for middle class, and because of the war. Doesn't mean much as I don't agree with her but that was her reasoning for choosing Kerry. From what I see Kerry just says whatever he thinks it will take to win. He can say he is for healthcare for all because he knows it will never pass in senate along with many of his other talking points.

You talk about having faith like we owe the world something. The only thing we owe the world is to choose who is best for ourselves, not for the rest of the world.

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil You talk about having faith like we owe the world something. The only thing we owe the world is to choose who is best for ourselves, not for the rest of the world.

Well said my friend...

Looking forward to the debates this week!

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil I don't like 2 parties either, maybe 3 or 4 true candidate, not a nader, would be better. That way you don't run into the "i hate him so im voting for the other guy" syndrome.

glad we agree on something .

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil As far as you knowing about Bush sucking, you are saying based on a global scale. You can not make an informed decision really unless you know his policies towards our country. We are voting for a president for ourselves not for another country.

So what is the policiy? inform me please, so far i only seen war war war, did he do anything good for the states? because i am sure if he did i would at least read about it in the paper or see it on the news or even read it here on the forums, oh yea he is trying to ban gay marriages, such a great leader!
Yes am basing my sucking info on global scale, but hey why would almost the entire globe say that Bush sucks? There must be a reason dude, so go figur.

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil My girlfriend is choosing Kerry and I asked her why yesterday and she told me that he is more for healthcare for all, will not raise the debt, is more for middle class, and because of the war. Doesn't mean much as I don't agree with her but that was her reasoning for choosing Kerry. From what I see Kerry just says whatever he thinks it will take to win. He can say he is for healthcare for all because he knows it will never pass in senate along with many of his other talking points.

Indeed, they all promise great things but once they have the seat, they do what they like, Bush will do the same also.

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Originally posted by BadBadNeil You talk about having faith like we owe the world something. The only thing we owe the world is to choose who is best for ourselves, not for the rest of the world.

ah i see bombing nations, supporting occupation of 6 million people, threating other nations if you don't follow the will of America, killing thousands of people for NO reason etc etc. But hey thats nothing i suppose, it's only good for America so you owe nothing
How about a big appology?

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Originally posted by Octanesyco Greetings. My name is Casey. You can call me Moose. -Moose