Being a Canadian watching the US Presidential election is always an interesting experience.
Where our immigration issues centre around how foreign doctors can gain accreditation in Canada faster, and how to handle all the refugees eying us, there are fierce debates raging on how the US and Mexican economies will work as the work that drew illegals into the US dwindles. Where our health issues are how to prevent people from dying in emergency waiting rooms from total lack of medical attention, and getting doctors out to Northern Reserves, the US struggles to find a way to keep people from dying while they wait on hold with their insurance company.
Both countries have had serious issues at stake in their elections this year. Different, but serious.
Our election didn't turn out too well. We went out to the polls and turned around a day later to find ourselves in the exact same position – a conservative minority government. I would just like to say that the feeling is not something I hope for you all to experience late tonight or early tomorrow morning.
There's been a lot of talk that Obama isn't running just a political campaign, but that heading up an ideology shift and that's becoming a social movement. He has become more than a candidate, he has become an idea. There were no ideas in our election in the same way there are in the US election, so Canadians just stayed at home. We had the lowest ever voter turn out in Canadian history.
Ideas can life us up.
Ideas can close the doors on Guantanamo Bay.
Ideas can make me feel safer about my sister in law living in Florida.
Ideas can make my gay friend who was beat up at the US border in the early 1990s consider going on a road trip to through North Dakota.
Ideas can make us all stronger and wiser.
Or I really hope they can.
Good luck out there today guys – I'm going to be one of the ones glued to the TV with crossed fingers and baited breath. Let's see how this goes…
LAST UPDATED ON: November 4th, 2008
CATEGORY: All Posts
I was at the rally last night, and it was incredible.
Crying with a little sigh of relief. That’s what I did last night during Obama’s acceptance speech. I hope he continues to inspire for the next four or even eight years!
We’re biting our nails over here too! Watching the results come in is nerve racking!
I’ve been feeling anxious all day. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
Love the new look, by the way!
Well said!
I truly have no idea what it’s like voting in Canada and what the issues are; thanks for enlightening me a bit :)
And, I will be watching tonight, too…ANXIOUS!
Ideas ARE good. I’m really excited for tonight!
(question: how do I get my picture to show up now that you aren’t wordpress affiliate? not a big deal, just curious!)
Great post. I feel like a kid on Christmas… I am leaving at 3pm today to go vote (courtesy of my awesome company) and will stand in line as long as I have to let the world now that regardless of what happens I am tired of the way things are down here. I could go on a long diatribe about things, but I won’t :) Here’s to ideas, to strong leaders, and hopefully, a new tomorrow!
yeah its a bit of a nail biter no matter who you are voting for down here.
I really hope that we don’t let you guys down, just as much as I hope that we don’t let ourselves down.
My fingers couldn’t be more tightly crossed. Ah!
I voted for Obama, but what you are talking about, the ideology, frightens me a little bit. Obamas fervent supportors are more than that, they can be fanatics, and I worry about too much blind faith. But I am still hopeful.