U.S. presidential election

Today is the U.S. presidential election, and all the ballyhoo and hoopla is over, for now.  The election is largely a make-believe and a road show, with the die-hard supporters and fans showing up at these political rallies that are much like American college football pre-game shows  (see video:top pre-game college football intros), designed to rally the troops (people in attendance). President Barack Obama's remarks at the Ready to Go Rally in Colombus, Ohio do, in fact, greatly allude to this game-like situation in front of him and his followers.  It would be inaccurate to say that the audience welcomed him as warmly and feverishly as the football fans did with the introduction of the players, but it was after all politics that was the name of the game at the Columbus rally, and it is not realistic to expect quite the same fervor as that associated with a football game.

Obama has been compared with Hitler on more than one occasion, such as at his so-called Obama Hitler Speech, that he gave in Berlin back in 2008.  The reference to Hitler came up again in association with his health care reform, as seen and heard in this video:  CNN Panel on Hitler and Obama's Health Care Reform a year later, and particularly republican supporters still employ this label, as they do not like to have this reform imposed on them, seeing it as a loss of personal freedom.  This concept and perception is, however, not confined to the implementation of this national form of health insurance.  In an interview, published by CP (The Christian Post)  Os Guinness Warns of Loss of Freedom in America, on August 13, 2012, he briefly outlines and describes a much broader concept and dilemma.   

Richard Escow, on the other hand, states in his introductory paragraph to his article in Salon, Ten ways Americans have lost their freedom that "Our most fundamental rights, to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, are under assault. But the adversary is Big Wealth, not Big Government as conservatives like to claim."

His comments and observations with respect to these three fundamental rights follow in the following three paragraphs:


"Life? The differences in life expectancy between wealthier and lower-income Americans are increasing, not decreasing.

Liberty? Digital corporations are assaulting our privacy, while banks trap us in indebtedness that approaches indentured servitude. The shrunken ranks of working Americans are being robbed of their essential liberties – including the right to use the bathroom.

The pursuit of happiness? Social mobility in the United States is dead. Career choices are increasingly limited. As for working hard and earning more, consider this: Between 1969 and 2008 the average US income went up by $11,684. How much of that went to the top 10? All of it. Income for the remaining 90 percent actually went down."

His 10 critical examples, drawn from the headlines and from our everyday lives, are as follows:

 1. Our American liberties end at the workplace door.
 2. We’re losing our “right to life” in many different ways — from birth through old age.
 3. We’ve lost autonomy over our own bodies.
 4. We’re losing the ability to rise up from poverty, earn a decent living, or work in the career of our choice.
 5. We no longer have the right to personal time.
 6. We can’t negotiate as free people with banks or corporations.
 7. We’re losing our right to live or travel where we want.
 8. We’ve lost our right to privacy.
.9. We’re losing our right to participate in our society as informed citizens.
10. We’re losing the right to representative democracy.

On Tuesday, Sept. 4, 2012 First Lady Michelle Obama waved to delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C., and stated that "President Barack Obama is just like you."  "Barack knows the American Dream because he's lived it," the first lady told the audience in an address intended to reassure voters that her husband share their values — hard work, perseverance and optimism — while also drawing a contrast between him and Mitt Romney.

In an interview with Forbes, just before Thanksgiving in 2010 financial guru Suze Orman
said: “My only fear in life, when it comes to money, is what’s happening in the United States of America. The American dream is dead for the majority of America.”

The dream she is referring to is not even a Cinderella story; it’s much more practical. Orman believes the hope of someday owning a home, of working one job for life and retiring at 65 has been crushed by the financial crisis. “The middle class has disappeared,” she continued. “We have a highway to poverty and no roads coming out. I fear for [those] who have been kicked out of their homes, could be living on the streets and don’t know how to get another job. Many of the millions of jobs lost I don’t think are coming back. I am really afraid for the majority of Americans today.”

The cynicism is interesting from Orman, as she is the embodiment of the American dream. Orman came from modest means. Her dad was frequently sick, and her mom was a secretary who sold Avon products in order to pay the bills. “We were the American story–lost everything, never going to be anything,” Orman said. She was a waitress for seven years, earning $400 a month until age 30. Now she is a household name and multi-millionaire who has written seven financial bestsellers, and appeared at No. 61 on our list of the World’s 100 Most Powerful Women in 2010.

She told Forbes that modern politics are “a total waste of time,” marked by in-fighting and fear of decision-making.

Obama's  used the slogan "Change we can believe in" and the chant "Yes We Can" in his  campaign for his first term as president.  Apart from his health care reform, which has been largely opposed by republicans, he has not had too much success in delivering on his promises.  The global financial crisis resulted in many Americans losing their homes, or giving up on their dream to own their own home, the result of  increased unemployment.  In fact, you would have to go back to 1982 to find as high an unemployment rate as during his first term (see United States Unemployment) Rate 1920-2010). 

Even the National Debt has increased more under Obama than under Bush.

US Unemployment Rate is currently at 7.90%, compared to 7.80% last month and 8.90% last year. This is higher than the long term average of 5.80%.

Taking a break would seem to be important in today’s high pressure world, but nearly half of American workers end up with unused vacation time.

The race between Obama and Romney is very close.  The last poll result showed that Obama was slightly ahead, with 48.8% to Romney's 48.1%. Normally when the race is that close the incumbent most often loses.  However, in this case Obama is still favoured to win, because of being perceived as the strongest in the swing states, with Ohio and Florida being considered the most important.

As for the world at large most countries prefer Obama to win, with the exception of Israel.  Obama is not as popular in Europe as he was in the previous election.  However, he is still favoured over Romney.  In countries such as France, Germany and Great Britain only 5% of people polled prefer Romney over Obama.  Obama is also favoured in big nations such as Russia and China, as he is here in Spain, where I live..  Spanish political pundits clearly see Romney as being detrimental to Spain's economy and hope for revival. 

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