After three years of living in New York City, I am very interested in the political debate in the US. It thrills me, it excites me and it concerns me. I also, however, find it disturbing that it seems there is no will whatsoever among politicians to work together in a bipartisan way and do what best for the country and the American people. Regardless of what is proposed, the other side, almost in a knee-jerk reaction says NO! Polarisation is a fact and is almost like a given in today’s political atmosphere and in most political debates in the US. The lack of will is tiresome, old and hinders progress!
This perhaps is not only the case in the US, but is true elsewhere in the world. It is, however, more obvious in the US than in other places.
According to political analysts, the Republicans will take charge of Congress after the midterm elections in November. It seems likely that this will happen, however, the cause of it might differ.
Financial Times, the well-reputed paper, stated this week that President Obama’s approval rate in September was 44%, a significant drop since the days he was elected President. However, it gets worse when we consider the approval ratings for Democrats and Republicans in Congress. They are 33% and 32% respectively. Congress, as a whole gets just 18% of the Americans saying that they are doing a satisfactory job! And if asked whether most members of Congress deserve re-election, then we have 66% of the Americans saying NO!
My feeling is that if there is change of power in Congress, it will not happen as a public expression of confidence in the Republicans, bearing in mind the different approval rates. I believe that the American people too, like me, are bored and tired of the lack of political will and the inability of politicians to work together and reach progressive results that move the country out of the current economic conditions! Usually the governing administration is the one that is punished, and this time it is the Democrats.
One of the major, polarizing issues in the US is the Health Care Bill, despite the fact that it has been approved by the American administration elected by the people. It seems that many Americans would like to maintain the status quo, which is the current, very expensive and inefficient health care system that does not cover everyone? Globally, the US has the highest costs for health care, but not necessarily the best. The Americans pay more than twice what other industrial countries do, but are only considered the 37th best in the world, this according to Newsweek.
In Europe we consider health care for everybody a given and a basic human right. Unlike Europe, where each country’s borders exist as a result of ancient feudal, cultural and ethnic separations among groups, the US is a country built on the idea, the aspiration and the ambition of individual rights and free will. The core of this philosophy is so deep that we Europeans can hardly understand it and it is this core that is stirred when it comes to the debate about issues like comprehensive health care. It is not part of their will to help others.
Having lived in New York City for three years, my experience was that the Americans are very generous, genuinely warm, easy to be around, extroverted and very supportive. They support their local charities and help each other build homes, farms, hospitals and churches. The church has always been a focal point in American life, offering support to the community, not only spiritually, but also through soup kitchens, education and so forth. Corporations donate large sums of money and many Americans voluntarily work to help people in need. But when it comes to a government implemented health care system that works for all, that reduces the costs, that will offer health care to those poor people and those in need, then suddenly there is a disconnect and a polarized political world. Amazing!
From my perspective, both sides of this debate seem to be rooted in the principle that it is the individual’s right as well as responsibility to fend for himself or herself and against the idea that it is a human right to have access to public assistance and the responsibility of the state to distribute welfare to those in need.
My belief is that the respect for a country and the admiration for a nation is founded on how well it takes care of those people in society who are in need.
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