Non US citizens, what's the weirdest thing about USA elections, compared to elections in your country?
Non US citizens, what's the weirdest thing about USA elections, compared to elections in your country?
For me it is the concept of registering to vote. I am citizen so I have the right to vote automatically and only thing I need to provide is some accepted ID.
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I wouldn't know where to start. Maybe the electoral college and that nobody updated this in centuries. Makes it borderline undemocratic IMO. Especially the winner-takes-it-all formula that makes you have exactly 2 parties, with none of them really incentivised to do what the citizens want. At least on a national level. And the people can choose to either vote for one of them, whether they like them or not, or throw away their vote.
And the next thing are maybe the people themselves. I can't imagine how half a population would like a convicted criminal, who'd like to make everything more expensive for them and doesn't like democracy (which is kinda something the USA is proud of, historically) and would like to get rid of it. Which is completely detrimental to how and why the entire country was founded. And I mean you kind of have to be a racist yourself to like other fascists/racists? Or have some pretty severe issues in your life. I can imagine like 20-30% of racists around, or people who've been fooled by some charismatic character. But not half.
I can imagine like 20-30% of racists around, or people who've been fooled by some charismatic character. But not half.
You have too much faith in humanity. A smart-sounding Greek guy or another said that democracy is only possible with a homogenous population, otherwise the country will tear itself apart I don't agree with that conclusion, but the process they described is true, in both Europe and America. The way I see it, America has been ethnically diverse for a lot longer so they're closer to or at the peak of the allergy-like reaction you witness in an ethnically diverse democracy. Meanwhile Europe only started feeling it recently because of Middle Eastern immigration, and it's looking like that. Europe will in all likelihood go down a worse version of the same trajectory we've seen unfold in America.
I don't think this has anything to do with diversity and ethnicity. I've watched people from very different cultures who also look different to me. Studied together with them or shared a flat. I live in a region that's been a melting pot for quite some time now. And while we certainly cook different dishes and occasionally go grocery shopping at different places... Or go to a different hair salon... It seems to me we value exactly the same things in life. Struggle with the same things at work or in our every day lives. And generally have very similar goals. I think there is basically no difference. It's mainly made up and made to believe. Certainly not the true reason for anything but some pretend argument for something else.
Sure, it's not 100% like that. We do face different challenges at times. But generally, if you're working class, you could sympathize with a working class person from a different ethnicity. They're pretty much the same as you. While this doesn't apply to your fellow white guy nextdoor who is an architect. But somehow you take it out on the person who is way more alike you? That's not rooted in objective reality or facts.
I live in a region that's been a melting pot for quite some time now
If you're in Europe, I'd wager that your country has a thriving right wing movement that has seen increased support over the last 10 years, and that they gained that support at least partially by promising to stop immigration or deport immigrants. Otherwise, well, there's too little information here for me to say anything.
That's not rooted in objective reality or facts.
It's objective truth that a significant fraction of any population is deeply xenophobic and doesn't view these things as you do. I'm making a claim about the human psyche, not ethnic differences, so you're not really refuting my point.
If you're in Europe [...]
Germany, Ruhrgebiet. So a region that has been shaped by coal and steel industry. Though it's one of the examples where the change from heavy industry to modern economy worked out relatively well. But that means we've had lots of immigrants come here to work since the nineteenth century. I always like to think hating on immigrants is like taking a crap in your own backyard. Because that's my heritage and part of what constitutes this region.
Of course it's way more complicated than that. Sometimes we forget where we come from. And it comes with different implications when it's been Polish immigrants who are catholic as well, or Turkish people who grew up with a different prophet. (And they do weird things like go to sunday school on friday, or take off their outdoor shoes before prayer.) And after that (in recent times) it's been other countries like Syria where people came from due to war etc.
I suppose there is a parallel to the USA. US history is a lot about migrants, let alone a few Native American people. But that was a long time ago.
your country has a thriving right wing movement
Yes. That's something we all struggle with. And it worry about that. I think there is a multitude of factors. Society should put in some effort to fix this. We have stupid people, people who aren't stupid but easy to manipulate, we have people in precarious situations and it's not healthy to leave them behind. Especially without any perspective but with access to Telegram to radicalize themselves and each other. I'm not surprised this turns into hatred against random things. Immigrants, the establishment, ... I suppose that's a big reason why we have some 20-30% of people voting for some complete nutjobs. But: It's a minority here. And that's (still) a big difference to the situation in the USA. But we also have a lot of the same problems. And I suppose another thing is the world getting more complicated and people having to deal with it. They're looking for answers. And if we don't have any, someone else will make up some simple answers and hand those out to everyone.
I'm making a claim about the human psyche, not ethnic differences [...]
You're right. I'm reasoning about things and none of that is about thinking. It's about emotions and feelings, wanting to be heard or a lack of (felt) perspective genuinely turning into hatred. It's all about human psyche and manifesting in a very, very unhealthy dynamic. I wish us all the best. And I really hope there is a way to reconvene and steer towards a future that's not dominated by hate and small-mindedness.
(Edit: And btw, my perspective doesn't translate to other parts of Germany. It's a whole different story there. And people might not even have any immigrants as neighbors if they live in other parts of the country.)