The Weakened U.S - Lipstick wearing Pigs - And me.

I am finally finding back to the things that inspire me, encourage me and challenges me. Learning and gaining new knowledge of how the world works is so important to me, yet, when studying Business and IR in Barcelona, I could not feel any joy working with it. Getting Barcelona and Uni at a distance has given me somewhat of a new start, I again feel passionate about International politics and conflict resolution/Political negotioations. With the U.S election is coming to a critical point, it is no longer possible to not pay attention to the carnival going on over seas.

Yesterday I went to a day-long seminar, addressing different foreign affair topics. Many of the panel discussions and speeches where focused on the financial crisis and US election. It seems like there is a common European sentiment that the US can now be considered a FORMER world power that we used to respect. The question now is how weakened the US will be after Bush and this financial crisis. This weakening of the US economy and reputation will most likely also have repercussions for the new president to be elected in 20-something days. Both candidates have been promising CHANGE. The question now is if they have a real possibility to make these promised changes. With a decade of national budget deficits, 700 billion dollars going to rescue the economy and billions spent on a war with no real time perspective in Iraq and Afghanistan; Are there any resources left for the new president to lead the US on a new path? If not, the next president could be known as a guy that promised much, but did little – In a time when the country was in great need.

It is not a secret that most the European citizens would vote for Barack Obama. As for the Norwegian population, we clearly understand that Barack Obama stands closer to our foreign policy and national values – to talk to our enemies – create dialog – fearness and equality- Obama is a EUROPEAN in our eyes.
The concept of being or acting European is something that I connect with concepts of democracy, respect for human rights, freedom, intellect, insight and an international viewpoint – to have the ability to see that the repercussions of action taken by one state will be felt world-wide in today’s globalized society.

Therefore, most of the European society watched in horror when Sarah Palin made her first public appearance. Anti-abortion. Creationist. Drill, baby, Drill. Avid supporter of NRA. Pro-war. Environmentalist? I think not. Palin sued the US Government to get polar bears off the endangered list. The Scandinavian population screams: “what?!?!!” Due to our value system and international perspective it is mind-boggling to see how this woman could appeal to anyone, except for her physical appearance. She is a Phenomenon. A fundamentalist. An Idol. A skilled artist. But NOT a Politician.
Well, to try to understand I would have to make a small analysis of how the average Joe six-pack and lipstick-wearing hockey- moms perceive Palin.

EVERYONE knows a Sarah Palin. And everyone likes that Sarah Palin that they know. She is a good mom, fun, spiffy, outspoken, not stuck up. She’s the epiphany of a real hockey-mom. She is gracious, pretty, and a huge flirt. You like that, don’t you, Joe Six-Pack? The problem here is that just because someone is your idol, your dream wife or your favorite neighbor, does not make them eligible to govern your country. Yes, she is like you, and she probably understand your situation – but she has no knowledge of how to manage a vast country such as the US. Her international and Global insight equals 0.

So far, Palin has really made a mess out of herself throughout the campaign. Her interviews with Katie Couric only emphasized her lack of deep knowledge in any subject, especially foreign affairs. The Troopergate scandal is an embarrassment and possibly a felony. Still, voters seem very little affected by this. It seems that she is so much like the average American, that they forgive her, she is like family or that likeable neighbor that ended up in trouble and just need a hand. I do not think we have seen this kind of invincibility since Regan’s time.
This is the scariest part. If the lipstick-wearing pig sends her own country into ruins, well, then so be it. But this woman will possibly have the power and opportunity to make decisions that will affect the whole world -and remember people- we all live in a globalized world, whether we like it or not.

I am scared.