POLITICS AND MUSIC

I agree UYK.
I should have written, and I will change it, that this is NOT AT ALL to "ventilate" your politic opinion.
I added what should be added.
If SOME OF THESE QUESTIONS are INAPPROPRIATE: My mother tongue isn't ENGLISH but I DON'T MEAN TO OFFENCE A PERSON.
It's about, what I call the "show aspect" because we Europeans are not familiar at all with your elections. Here in our country: 1 person, 1 vote. That's my point of view.

First, nicely done, Tennessee Strat. Only exception, is that it was King George in England, not a Queen at that time. And, as you eluded to, I credit much of the success of America to geography, and some ruthlessness.

gitaardocphil,

I don't know where to start with your questions, so I will take the easy one. You asked about the influence of bands and the elections (whether the bands will benefit or not from aligning with a particular candidate).

I don't think aligning with a candidate is as impactful on the band as it is on the candidate. Any candidate who can get the support of a popular band will instantly become "cooler" and more "in touch" with the people. They will also get a lot of free publicity. The band benefits either way, (any publicity is good publicity!) and, as is becoming very vogue here in the US, the band gets to promote their ideology.

The unfortunate thing about our political system is that, while we say that anyone can become president, the truth is that anyone who can afford to run a successful campaign can become president.

No matter what side of the political line they are on (Democrat or Republican), it takes tons of money to successfully run for president. The problem with that is, when you get to the White House, you turn around and see behind you an ocean of people with their hands out waiting to be "compensated" for their contributions.

Compensation comes in the form of passing legislation that your supporters are in favor of, and appointing people to cabinet positions. So, typically, no matter the integrity or best intentions of the candidate, by the time they get elected, they are no longer their own person (if they ever were to begin with). Unless, of course, they are independently wealthy, and refuse contributions to their campaign. Most people in that position would have to take a pay cut to be president, and don't want the position.

And, for the record, I truly believe that, Democrat, Republican, or Independent, the vast majority of serious candidates are, in their hearts, patriots. I don't believe that any of them seek election with the intention of "screwing everything up". I don't believe that any of them want to see the US fall into fascism or social collapse. I don't believe any of them would "start" a war just to line their pockets. I truly believe they all are trying to do what they think is the right thing. I may not agree with their approaches, but I certainly respect and admire their conviction, their patriotism, and their work ethic.

Just my 2-cents.

Hi Oldnewbie,
thank you for setting the record straight about King vs. Queen. Of course you're right.
I also appreciate you finishing what might have taken me another day or two. What I like the most about your post is the line about the vast majority of candidates being patriotic. I believe that the benefits someone gets for taking a high-powered political office don't really justify being in the crosshairs of critics during the elections, during the time of office, and then later in the history books. It takes someone truly passionate to run this gauntlet, and to actually succeed takes a saint. We haven't had one of these in the office of the President as far as I can remember. At least Bill Clinton played the sexophone -or is it saxophone?

PS: I'm actually considering becoming an American citizen ASAP, after being a "legal resident alien" for 28 years. I wanna vote this time!

gitaardocphil:  I was born and lived in Germany (for 30 years) -and I'm still a German citizen. I came to the U.S. to check out all the rumors about it being a paradise, a rich, technologically advanced country. I didn't find exactly paradise, few rich people and technology that's often lacking behind European standards -with the exception of space technology, medical sciences and computing. These areas are so experimental that they suit the American spirit very well. We don't know how it works? Let's experiment -in our garage... oops, that wasn't it. Permits? "We don't need no stinkin' permits". The day I arrived in Houston/Texas, I had exactly 25 cents in my pocket, an old beat-up station wagon, and nowhere to go. I met a lovely Texas girl. Two years later, we got married and now have a daughter (21, art student, hippie-type) and a son (24) who is a U.S. Marine. I am so damn proud of these kids and love them more than myself.

No seriously, what I did find in America is a "can do" spirit, and what we call "Freedom", including the freedom to starve to death. In my native Germany, if someone doesn't want to work and decides to just drift through life, authorities will go out of their way to help you survive. I find the American general lack of social services refreshingly "existentialist".

Besides the srewed up political and social system, of course we have the people: they come in all colors, religions, levels of education, poor, rich and most of all: always welcoming and always interested in making friends. Ever since the 9-11 attacks, security and immigration have tightened considerably, but still Millions of illegal aliens live in the U.S. as undocumented workers. Green Cards: I don't know about the exact requirements, but certain types of visas are available (not the credit card of course) for foreign workers. Doctors and nurses are always in demand. Marrying an American citizen makes you eligible for a Green Card -but you have to stay married for a certain number of years. It also doesn't make sense to get married just for a work permit. My wife of 25 years now tells everyone that we got married, because I needed a work permit...she's joking.

Best way to get familiar with the U.S.: see for yourself. Check it out in real life, not on CNN and MTV. Since the dollar is so low right now, I would take a road trip through the US this summer. Are you a Belgian citizen?
There is so much to see and learn here, the country is endless. Endless landscapes and endless opportunities for someone who is able to look beyond the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and experience for themselves this social experiment, we call America.

Play on!