Monday, September 20, 2004
Why Kerry Matters
I was thinking about the US elections, and how some people think it doesn't really matter who gets in, because the republicans and democrats are the same thing nowadays, just the tools of big business, much the same as in Australia, where labor and liberal are seen as the same.But what makes the difference is foreign policy. Looking at how much PNAC is bashing Kerry in its press releases, I think I understand why. Under a republican government, America is aggressive in its foreign policy, eg., the war in Iraq - while the rhetoric certainly denies that oil was the reason - gave the US the potential of added security of production. By increasing oil security, the US becomes ever more dependent on oil for growth, bigger SUVs, more pollution, and in 50 years time, or thereabouts, the juice runs out, and the US hits the wall and leaves the world to the powers of Europe and China. 4 more years of Bush will allow this to happen.
Kerry, on the other hand, by being 'weak' on foreign policy, i.e. not jumping into every quagmire that happens, could see a world where oil production is cut drastically by radical islamicists, and China deals with these Fatwahs, ignoring human rights abuses (they've got enough of that at home, just like Australia - what kids in mandatory detention centers?) and then the US cuts back consumption drastically, and China becomes dependent on oil. Rather than leapfrogging technology as china will have to now unless it can get its hands on a portion of the daily production levels, China will be the one to crash and burn 50 years down the track.
What happens in every election matters, weather for the next four years, or for the next 50. We're still in a world where America favoured communism over fascism in ww2 - what if they'd sided with the Germans? I'm not a US citizen - all i can do is try to convince you that a world where Kerry wins is a better one. America might have it's day of glory now, under bush, but that would only be a day. Kerry could potentially set up the situation so that America survives the fall of oil, and not only survives, but dominates the world from that day.
land of sweet liberty...
posted by Keegan at 7:11 am
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2 Comments:
"what if they'd sided with the Germans?"
That takes away the logic of the entire post. The outcome would be too horrific to even begin to describe in words.
I disagree here. There are differences between Bush and Kerry - for the most part slight - but I'm not convinced they are in the foreign policy sphere. This article ought to demolish any illusions people have about Kerry as a dove. As Rahul Mahajan has pointed out on several occasions, Kerry's criticisms of Bush's foreign policy often come from the right (not enough troops on Iraq, not sufficiently unwavering in support for Israel etc.).
What differences there are will manifest themselves primarily domestically. Issues such as women's reproductive rights for instance are an important element. I also think the constituencies from which they draw support are significant: Bush draws extensive support from Christian fundamentalist elements and sections which arguably aspire to something akin to fascism.
Whoever wins we will still have a long fight on our hands to defeat the US empire and build a better world. Given the likely consequences if we fail, we might perhaps be wise to start now.
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