Yes! I’ve been thinking lately about how it often feels like Canada finds it at least suspicious that I pay attention to UK news (and downright eccentric to do the same for any other country) yet it’s taken for granted that we need to know every minute-by-minute detail of the U.S.
I enjoyed this Carrie - especially the points about how the entertainment of the race seems to be a perfect opportunity to distract us (and others) from the shit that’s going on in our own countries. While the showbiz side of the election is something I’ve always been aware of, seeing it in direct contrast to the UKs in the summer has been really thought provoking - the role of money in politics in the US, the celebrity status, how far is it about garnering support and then how much does it take away from the bread and butter of what the job first and foremost is about?
I am in the UK and indignant about the amount of airtime we give to the US. So much of our alienation from Europe comes from this poodle approach. There is no Special Relationship - we just fawn on a broken model. (This is not to say ALL American culture is bad - just the stuff we get force-fed.)
Yes! I’ve been thinking lately about how it often feels like Canada finds it at least suspicious that I pay attention to UK news (and downright eccentric to do the same for any other country) yet it’s taken for granted that we need to know every minute-by-minute detail of the U.S.
Ah interesting. Thanks for reading, and Keep reading the British news!
I enjoyed this Carrie - especially the points about how the entertainment of the race seems to be a perfect opportunity to distract us (and others) from the shit that’s going on in our own countries. While the showbiz side of the election is something I’ve always been aware of, seeing it in direct contrast to the UKs in the summer has been really thought provoking - the role of money in politics in the US, the celebrity status, how far is it about garnering support and then how much does it take away from the bread and butter of what the job first and foremost is about?
Thanks Martha!
I am in the UK and indignant about the amount of airtime we give to the US. So much of our alienation from Europe comes from this poodle approach. There is no Special Relationship - we just fawn on a broken model. (This is not to say ALL American culture is bad - just the stuff we get force-fed.)
Exactly!