In search of a country

02 November 2004 @ late evening | Comments (9)

As I sit here watching the exit poll results roll in, I am filled increasingly with the familiar sick feeling of dread and frustration. America is hemorrhaging with Grand Old Party red.

The only bright point I can take from the 2004 election is reports of the highest voter turnout since before 1968. I can only hope the intense partisan polarization that has developed over the past four years is a signifier of a return to a time of social awareness and protest.

But I honestly don’t know if America can endure four more years of a Republican-controlled House and Senate with a faith-based President.

I just don’t believe anyone in this country reads anymore. We have never had so many potentially massive changes to our country hinging on the results of a Presidential election. And nobody seems to know this.

  • Roe v. Wade most likely will be overturned
  • 2-3 U.S. Supreme Court Justices will be appointed by Bush (he will potentially also choose the next Chief Justice if Rehnquist retires)
  • Because of the split-vote nature of most current Supreme Court decisions, these appointments will solidify its conservative lean
  • Bush will attempt to amend the U.S. Constitution to outlaw gay marriage (it has only been amended 17 times in 215 years, never before for the sole purpose of stripping rights)
  • The irresponsible tax cuts will become permanent
  • The military-industrial complex will continue to grow
  • As will others’ hatred for our isolationist foreign policy

So today I’m officially looking for a new country to take up residence in. Qualities I require in a good mate:

  • No dictators
  • At least something that resembles a democracy
  • A preference for progression, not regression
  • A leader who can speak in whole sentences
  • A voting system I can trust

Any suggestions?

9 comments

1

i’m with you; let’s go.

at this moment i’m still a bit locked in a firm “anywhere but here, anywhere that is not responsible for reelecting Bush”

but that kind of puts me in places like Iraq, doesn’t it. i just really don’t want to be here right now.

alicson → ferrydust.com
2

its official – four more years.

as for relocation, i’m thinking somewhere in europe. maybe amsterdam or brussels. they both have some pretty level-headed blokes over there.

justin → compooter.net
3

I think I’m embarrassed more than anything. I just want to scream out to the world, “This really isn’t us!”

But apparently it is “us”, and the GOP has spoken en masse to achieve the greatest coup in recent history.

Perhaps Iceland? Denmark? New Zealand?

andrew → compooter.org/
4

Two things not to leave out of your “massive changes”:

Alan Greenspan – says he’s going to retire in ~2006. The current administration gives me no hope of anyone with fiscal responsibility filling his spot.

Michael Powell – the current head of the FCC has trashed consumer’s rights, and done more to undo telecommunications competition than the ILECs themselves. (Note, my wife is a telecomm attorney working mostly for Competitive Carriers, so I’m not exactly unbiased on this one…)

I’m liking anywhere in NordEurope, France, or Aus/NZ.

Kevan → emmott.net
5

Hey, you forgot Canada! I can personally recommend Toronto and Montreal as top-notch progressive cities, full of tolerance and understanding. (OK maybe that’s a stretch for Montreal. ;) However, it’s not necessarily that easy to get residency and/or citizenship – but tech workers may have better odds.

D → d.sankey.ca
6

Hey man, don’t forget that Montreal has WeFunk Radio.

As far as Michael Powell goes, yes he has trashed many things. Doesn’t this administration’s incest just tear you apart? I’ve been following the INDUCE Act for quite some time, and Big Bags of Bajezzus if it doesn’t scare me what sort of careless legislation gets passed in RIAA’s favor these days.

andrew → compooter.org/
7

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Ray
8

Come to Holland, you’re welcome here.

Gerhard Wentink
9

how about australia?

  • No dictators – John Howard has just been voted in, no one knows who voted for him but he won in a landslide. No one (I knew) wanted him like alot of you guys don’t want Bush. He isn’t a dictator, but Bush’s influence over him … that’s another story.
  • At least something that resembles a democracy – As long as you don’t expect anyone of importance to listen to your opinion, then we’ve got a democracy for you!
  • A preference for progression, not regression – Johnno is progressive, he likes to encourage new mums to stay home with their babies and blames most/all youth problems/crime etc… on women going to work… hang on, that’s very regressive 50’s
  • A leader who can speak in whole sentences – He can speak in whole sentences, but that doesn’t mean he’s telling the truth (www.johnhowardlies.com)
  • A voting system I can trust – It’s compusery, so at least you know people of all walks of life are having a say and it’s not just those who choose to speak. However, like I said in the beginning, we just don’t know who on earth is voting for this puppet Howard…

You know, after reading back over that, I think I might nick off to New Zealand.

kate

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