Liberty, equality and brotherhood.
Anyone who has ever studied for a government test can recognize these three words. Born from the seeds of the French Revolution, these words can be traced back to the root of U.S. democracy and government. Liberté, égalité and fraternité all have meaning in our nation, though the last word tends to be the one that most coeds recognize.
With the impending November elections, what would an outsider think of our own political system? Would they consider it elaborate or simplistic, dirty or refined?
Republics, communist regimes, military juntas, constitutional monarchies and commonwealths are all examples of forms of governments found worldwide. China imposes strict censorship regulations on the press, whereas America is known for freedom of speech. Great Britain maintains a monarchy, though to be fair, Queen Elizabeth does not hold the power to make or pass legislation, thanks to her overzealous predecessors.
MU freshman and China native Congrong Zheng observed the American system of campaigning as a foreigner.
“First of all, it’s a very democratic way to elect a president or the leader of the country,” Zheng said. “A lot of countries don’t have the resources to support this system because it needs a long democratic history and it needs a lot of money.”
Obviously, money and the economy are major issues in the current political climate and in this year’s campaigns. Both the Democratic and Republican parties pour money into supporting their candidates through conventions, Super PACs and rock star-like touring from state to state. But what about other countries? Do European countries invest this much time and money into their own elections?
A general election in the U.S. would cost anywhere between $750 and $15,000 a month. That doesn’t even take into consideration the money coming in from supporters of the party. In 2005, the Electoral Commission reported the average amount spent in a general election was roughly $5,600 overall in the U.K.
Do Americans ever hear all that much about a presidential election in European countries? Sure, we hear about it, but definitely not as frequently.
Even to a newcomer, the moral lows and huge spending of politicians in this election cycle are apparent.
“You don’t want (the campaign) to get worse and worse; it makes people feel disappointed about where their money is being sent.” Congrong said. “It’s really a problem.”
The U.S. is in the forefront of international news, and so are the 2012 campaigns. In China, the Chinese don’t know all the juicy details of the candidates. There’s no minute-to-minute coverage of what the First Family is wearing, but the Chinese do know the basics of the down-and-dirty campaign. That’s good for Congrong, since that’s what U.S. politics are all about.
With the EU stuck in limbo and waiting for a collaborative effort to be made between the U.S. and Europe, the U.S. presidential election is vital not only for the states but also for the world.
Taking on an international viewpoint on the American election can be refreshing. It can illuminate the sometimes trivial aspects of politics but can also illuminate the positive aspects of our government and how blessed this country is to have such a long history of democracy.
Though the vision of Voltaire and Locke may not be exactly what the 21st century’s version of democracy is, I’m sure they would appreciate it more than Will Ferrell’s and Zach Galifianakis’s version of democracy and the U.S. system of campaigning. So in the words of politicians everywhere, I’m Bell Johnson, and I approve this message.
