I traveled to London the day before the election. Thankfully I was able to vote without much hassle the day I left. It was strange to watch election coverage through the eyes of a different country. Even stranger to not be on home soil when so much is being decided.
I wish I thought it mattered a lot who won. I am happy with the result, or perhaps better put, less discouraged. Yes, there were differences between the candidates, about social and environmental issues, but also philosophically about how to cut the deficit and what drives economic recovery. The problem is much bigger, however, than Democrat or Republican. Our political system is broken. Each political party cares more about winning and power than about truly leading. Each party is deeply beholden with special interests groups and their money. It’s easy to believe that are watching the loss of meaningful representative democracy to the special interests of money.
On the days leading up to the election, Minnesota was flooded with campaign advertising. I sure not as much as Ohio and Florida, but we were on the next tier down of possible swing states. My twelve-year-old son Paul and I were watching TV one day as the rashes of ads were filling the screen. The content kept getting Paul all worked up. Thinking I needed to help him navigate this disturbing content, I turned to him and said, “Paul, you can’t believe anything that you hear on a political ad, regardless of which side. They all distort and misrepresent the facts for their own benefit.” He turned to me with hurtful disbelief in his eye, “Is that legal?” To which I had to utter with shame, “I guess so.”
So I wasn’t sleeping well my first night in London, both from the time change but more so because election results beginning trickling in between midnight and 6 am. I would doze off and think a couple hours passed, excitedly flip on the TV, only to see that only 15 minutes had passed. The BBC had all night coverage with two very articulate anchors and two very partisan political wonks from the US spinning lies on either side.
As I watched Obama’s victory speech, the sun was rising out my hotel window and night had fallen in my country. His words were beautiful and wise and calling for America to move past the election, unite, and be the great country that it is. I was choked with emotion, not because of Obama, but with the hopeful thought, “What if they actual led, what if both sides actually came together, and charted a steady course out of our mess.”
I am writing this blog from 36,000 feet. I deeply suspect that when I land and for the next 4 years, Obama’s speech will just be words. That Washington will be mired in gridlock as the clock on humanity keeps ticking. Our country needs to wake up. We need to agree on more things so we can lead the world in the difficult times ahead. In London I definitely say that they are waiting for us to lead – to figure out our financial mess while still seeing beyond the end of our noses about global issues. When I return home, I will find my son Paul, give him a hug and tell him, “I am sorry for the mess coming your way.” But I will hold Obama’s hopeful words, continue to work for change, and prepare Paul for action. Together we will move forward.