elections

An election is coming. Universal peace is declared, and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.
- George Eliot

I suppose all the world is watching America today. It's almost Tuesday morning as I write this and New York is abuzz with a sense of excitement at the possibility of an Obama victory, mixed with a sizable dollop of fear that just like '04 the dreaded thing will happen and the Republicans will pip them at the post again. It's interesting as an impartial observer to watch the emotional nail-biting, and listen in to impassioned conversations in cafes extolling the virtues of whichever candidate and denoucing the folly of the opponent. I think it's a very important election, but at the same time I share the concern of those in the know that even if Obama wins, there are some things that are ingrained in American foreign and domestic policy that won't change unless the populace makes serious, informed, and concerted efforts to engage their congressional representatives.

In a lament for US politics, I provide a link to a charming, if melancholic, song.
My Dear Country