us election rubbish

[bobtheduck]

does it affect the state of the hospitals i might be in? schools my kids might go to? taxes i pay? i dont give a monkeys backside who is president of the usa and im sick to death looking at the same crap on every channel its over now forget it

[Ouisch]

Bob, many of us Yanks agree with you.  Yes, the election of a new president is important, but is 24-hour TV coverage on every channel necessary?  I've always thought they should relegate such coverage to one channel (CNN or something), and those that are interested can watch, and the rest of us can go on with our lives. 

[andy hughes]

Indirectly, it will have an effect because America's status as a world power is affected by the result, and indirectly, that does affect us, which is why there has been such interest.

[bobtheduck]

does it affect the issues i mentioned? no and thats what matters to me i want to see what phoney blair is doing about the state of the country not some texas idiot halfway across the world

[Oneeyedvic]

Yes it does effect the above:

 

The US is in a terrible state economically speaking. It is trying to pay for a war and has a huge trade deficit. The UK is in a similar predicament and will follow the US lead. If the US didn't attack Iraq, the British economy would be richer by a few million pounds.

 

So yes, the taxes you pay will be going up and are affected by Bush being elected and probably wanting to go to war with Iran & Korea. The hospitals could be richer by a few million pounds and so to state run schools.

 

Okay, we don't get to chose the president, but it does have a lot of implications, both direct and indirect

[stoo_pid]

well bobtheduck, the answer is yes it could very easily affect those things. As an example, if we got sucked into another war, have a guess where the extra money would come from...

[stoo_pid]

beat me to it Oneeyedvic

[bobtheduck]

im not amercian and i dont care the sun will rise and i will go to work tomorrow the only election i care about is in may because that affects me and i would be happier if the uk news showed things that matter to me, amercain has an overflated view of its own importance its arrogance is breathtaking and if bush wants to go on his god driven crusade let him.,its about time blair crawled out of bushs backside and made the trains run on time, dont see the french germans italians etc worrying themselves do you?

[LeMarchand]

The rest of Europe doesn't have a "special relationship" with the US. Unfortunately we do. This means that when Bush decides which resource-rich country he can get away with invading next, we'll support him. That will affect you.

[bobtheduck]

the rest of europe look after number one, oh look the gfs train is late yet again "hey george you gona sort that" shes a nurse the nhs understaffed she is knackered you sort that? (quit laughing at us europe)

[Oneeyedvic]

stoo-pid - I'd stop agreeing with me - you are really making me nervous

[mash]

It's very easy not to care...........however the effects of his crazy right wing ideas and selfish arrogance effects every other country and person across the globe, watch the next four years and ask again!

[Oneeyedvic]

How big a picture should you look at?

 

You can think purely about yourself / household - eg "i don't have kids - why should I 'waste' my hard earned money by paying for schools"

You can think just about your local area - "I don't care about what happens in the Governement elections - I only vote in the local elections - its the county councils that have a more importnat factor than governement"

You can think about things just in the UK - as you suggest above.

You can think about Europe - do you vote for UKIP / pro Euro etc etc

Or you can think about the global economy etc.- should we care that people are dying in third world countries - does Kyoto matter etc.

Whether you like it or not, all these things do have an impact on all our lives. Some positive, some negative.

Yes there are a lot of 24 hour news channels, but I'm sure you can find channels not covering it. I for one prefer to be informed, and see 24 hour news as a good thing.

[FP]

What is the 'special relationship' that we have with the US?  Why does it have to remain, why can't we get a divorce like couples do when they don't want to stay in a relationship?  The term 'special relationship' is a bit woolly.  Can someone please explain exactly what it is and why it must be retained.

 

[tartanwiz]

Fakeplastic - the Special Relationship is part economic (British investment in American-based companies and vice versa) and part military (the UK is a member of NATO and a European base for US airbases and nuke submarine bases). British people do not need a visa to visit the USA, unlike other countries. Other than that, we speak the same language (almost).

[FP]

Thanks Tartanwiz.  Still think I'd like a 'divorce'.

[LeMarchand]

On the "Special Relationship": when I saw "Love Actually" at the cinema last year, there was cheers and applause from the audience when PM Hugh Grant told slimy Prez Billy Bob where to stick the "special relationship". I was most amused to see the reaction on IMDb from Americans, who thought that us ungrateful limeys should apologise for insulting their noble leader!

[georgit79]

bobtheduck- aren't you reading any of the answers? You asked a question; it's been answered in the affirmative. I for one am extremely interested in what's going on. You should give a monkey's backside who the President is, as it indirectly affects Britain in an enormous way. For example, it's given the conservatives a huge boost for the next election, as people will become disillusioned with Tony Blair's close relationship with his mate Dubya.

[bobtheduck]

georgit i dont give a fig darling

[Oneeyedvic]

If you don't give a fig, should you have posted this to a group saying "support me or F*ck off"?

 

You asked the question, you have been given plenty of answers - just because you might not like them, doesn't mean they are not true

[Bangkok]

Bobtheduck, simple answer is for you to ignore it all and put on a video or go to the cinema.  Similarly, you can avoid reading threads about it on AB.  Personally, I like whinging about Dubya, and reading some of the brilliantly one-sided diatribes against him, but each to their own.  I even enjoy reading posts that support him, as justifying the unjustifiable should be an olympic sport it so much fun to watch

 

Tartenwiz, most of our European allies are in NATO, and have significant economic ties with the US - Germany in particular.  We, however, are the only country still paying the US for WWII (lend lease) and the only country who seems willing to commit military resources under US command (as opposed to the more normal UN command).