Why Am I So Taken Up With American Politics?

Why am I so keenly interested in American plitics?  Obvious answer, because it affects me, it affects my Country Canada, it affects how much my family in Jamaica pay for gas at the pump, how much my aging mother in the countryside of Jamaica without a pension plan or "social security" pay for electricity.  In other words, the decisions made by politicians in Washington impact people all over the world.  Lets face it, unless you are living under a rock somewhere, or in a self contained commune in a remote place away from civilization, you are affected by what goes on in the United States of America.

American politics affects my business, my finances, not only my income but how much interest I pay on my mortgage, and how much I earn on my savings and investments.  This is what is meant by the saying "if America sneeze, Canada catches a cold"!  It affects how I am able to use my time in my business, for instance, when American greed and recklessness caused the near colapse of the global economy a significant   amount of my time was spent not prospecting for new clients, or talking to existing clients about planning for their retirement,  but was instead spend comforting, encouraging and reassuring folks that the world as we know it would continue to exist!  I had to have and be able to convey full faith in the continuation of civilization - that the world was not going to end!  Think this is dramatic?  Sounds that way, but it is true.  People become afraid, they worry and they need someone they can trust to express these fears without being scorned or laughed at - they cant express these fears to their neighbourhood banker, but they can unload on their trusted advisor!  My being able to understand, decipher and interpret news, current affairs issues and relate in a simple understandable manner is a job requirement.  I love it, but it can be stressful.

I also find American politics amusing and entertaining.  I hardly watch Canadian Politics on TV, even though there are a few fairly decent political commentators/pundits up here, because it news I can read in the paper does not does have the "shock and awe" effect of American politics.  A blessing - but after two fascinating presidential campaigns and post election punditry, fiscal cliff hanging one cant help but crave the tiltilation and wonder south of the border.  The thing that I find hardest to process is how some of these politicians actually get elected - people really vote for them?  Beats me, I scratch my head.  Then there is the news business - whooooa!   The sh**t that people believe! For example, it's Saturday afternoon and I'm working on my computer with the TV on, and of course I'm tuned in to CNN and Ali Velchi is on with the CNN money segment and its all fiscal cliff talk.  I must say that even though Ali is a bit excitable, he is one of the more "reasoned" Anchors but I have to say here I do think he's a Canadian transplant!  Ali doesnt buy most of the bull some of these  politicians and pundits put out, and he will challenge and press them - I love that.  So I listen to these people (mostly Rebulicans or "rightwing" bent guests and commentators and all I hear is ideaology and theory.  You cant run a country on ideaology or theory, no more you can use a text book to raise children.  There is a thing called wisdom and commonsense seasoned with descretion.  The ideaology and theory has to be tested using health doses of commonsense and descretion.  So when I hear the Republicans calling for no tax rate hike ever, when tax rates were cut deeply from their historic high points - they never stop to think, ok, so there's an optimum point at which the tax cuts do not have any more positive effects but actually hurt the economy so it's time to "tweek" the formula by raising the rates back up a little.  You know, sort of like your medication - it's the right medicine, but your doctor has to work with you, when you explain how you feel, and your health progress and adjust  your meds to get the optimum results - kinda like that.  But with the extreme ideaological partystances, there's no pause for objective assessment of the current situation.  I find all this pretty interesting.  What's worse, most of the aforementioned folks are quite educated, holding degrees from some of the most prestigeous U.S. places of higher learning.  I've had experience with friends/acquaintances who are successful at disconnecting their education and professional life from their personal situation so I'm thinking that maybe it's a similar situation here.  The party ideaology take over their lives and they take positions on issues that sound so contrary to what one might expect from individuals with the level of social, economic and academic exposure such as theirs.

See why I'm so fascinated by human behavour?

And that' all today!
MissSam