From the Outside Looking In-- The American Political Machine

If you're familiar with contemporary American politics, it's hard not to become frustrated and cynical.  Between political payola influencing major legislation, pork barrel spending wasting tax dollars, and increasing polarization across party lines (greatly) inhibiting progress; discontent towards our nation's capital is more than understandable. 

Back in January 2009 when Obama was finally sworn in and the Bush administration finally bowed out ungracefully, many predicted that our ambitious new leader would, if nothing else, begin to mend America's awful relationship with the international community.  While to some degree this may be happening, our President is still just the one cog (admitteldy, the biggest cog) in our enormous political machine.  We have a government for the people, by the people so it's up to the people to change it.  If we can learn anything from the national existential reordering that has roiled Egypt in the past couple weeks, it's that decisive action will always incite change. 

So what's this have to do with London and I?  Well, I've tried to interact with the locals (affectionately dubbed "Londoners") as much as possible because I am intrigued by English culture and I am always interested in the foreign perspective on my beloved home country, even if it's negative.  Actually, especially if it's negative... and it usually is. 

So what is it this time?  Political apathy.  Among others, there is one particular conversation I had with a young English woman last weekend that has stuck with me ever since.  After we had wholeheartedly agreed on many of the flaws in U.S. government, she stared right into my eyes and asked, almost accusingly, "well why don't you do something about it?"  A little indignant, I responded "Well I vote, what else do you expect?"  (Secretly I remembered Weber's rational voter strategy-- voting, at best, has little or no merits for the individual).  She reminded me of the street protests in Egypt and I was about to remind her that this is America, not Egypt.  But how condescending would that have been?  What does that even mean?

Are we too civilized to protest?  Such a justification evokes the sentiment expressed in the 19th century aristocracy buying their way out of Civil War enlistment- too self important to fight.  I was disgusted with myself.  Just 50 years ago, the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam movements rocked the nation from the inside out.  Where had all our desire for change gone?  I was speechless in front of the young woman.  She was absolutely right- right in being aggravated with the American people, right in being aggravated with me.  I felt ashamed.

There's a little food for thought, I'll let you do the dishes.  Stay tuned.