[Politics] Why is the world's opinion different than America's?

[Zoneseek]

I don't really follow foreign politics but Ive seen a few things and I gotta say, the fact that Romney could win an election in the US is just so incredible to me after all the stupid things hes said and done. I mean just the middle-class $200k comment was like holy crap...this guy is so out of touch with reality, how is he supposed to run his hair dryer never mind a country? The right wing crap in the US astonishes most of the developed world outside of it, and nobody like Romney or his entire party (forget the name of it sorry) would ever have a chance of winning anything outside of the US imo.

[morfraen]

Also, other countries figure Obama's more likely to bow to them than Romney, and they all want a weak American President.

So, that's one way in which what 'everyone else' wants doesn't really make sense for the country they're trying to make the choice for.

The polls aren't to pick which US president they'd want as a non-citizen... it's which they'd want if they were american or Obama vs Rmoney was running in their country.

The reason Obama gets overwhelming support outside the US is simple, half the US is completely out of touch with reality thanks to being force fed lies and propaganda by the right for so long. The things tea party types believe are true would be outrageous even on some history channel conspiracy theory show.

[Sills]

I don't really follow foreign politics but Ive seen a few things and I gotta say, the fact that Romney could win an election in the US is just so incredible to me after all the stupid things hes said and done....this guy is so out of touch with reality, how is he supposed to run his hair dryer never mind a country?

The biggest problem that I have seen is that we dont really know where Romney stands. Watching from "America's hat" like Ive been ever since the Republican primaries, Romney has zipped back and forth from an ultra-Conservative agenda that he knew he would need to clinch the nomination, back to a, what I refer to as a conservative-lite (or moderate conservative) platform to appeal more to nationwide voters. In addition, he also had completely different platforms during his time as governor of Mass, and when he ran for Senator back in 1994.

So my question is "Will the real Mitt Romney please stand up?" Can the US actually elect someone who is so shallow that he will say anything to get elected? What does he actually believe in? These are the questions Ive asked myself watching from afar and Im still asking them to this day. What will he believe if he is elected? We just dont know for sure.

[Zallex]

because America> all other countries

[anthemm]

I agree, BlahBlahFrigginBlah.

However, more Americans prefer FOX news: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/1...n_1935922.html

If the liberal Huffington Post admits FOX dominates, then I don't think there should be any doubt that it does. While it is true that the mainstream media is left-leaning, because of FOX's dominance over the other networks as the leading mainstream media news source, certain partisan liberals claim that the media is heavily slanted towards the right.

Also, academics are typically going to be liberal, and some are going to be socialists or even Marxists (I've met a few).

I think, however, that Americans do crave certain libertarian ideas, only the establishment, including the establishment Left and Right, hate Ron Paul, mainly because they don't have many ways of discrediting him other than by calling him insane or racist.

I think it's good news that many foreigners would vote for Ron Paul; however, foreigners should realize that unlike Obama, Ron Paul is a real liberal, in the classical vein, rather than this new breed of politician whose views are an unholy alliance between left-liberalism and neo-conservatism.

[Zhangfei]

Argument from popularity is not a logically sound argument, so I'd take the "most X likes Y" as just silly. FOX News is a propaganda vehicle.

[DEATHETERNAL]

because America> all other countries

This is actually the best answer so far.

[Rommon64]

@Zallex, DEATHETERNAL; In what why, precisely? Go on, give us some hard data, I'm so sure you'll fine some that'll prove the vague statement 'America> all other countries'.

Before anyone thinks I'm being anti-American, I'm not, I'm being anti-blind-nationalism. Americans, like every other nationality, are almost all nice people (there's ALWAYS a few bad eggs), but there isn't anything that makes them naturally better (what ever that means) than any other people, just by virtue of being American.

[Wells]

because America> all other countries

By what measurement?

[Rommon64]

By what measurement?

At being America of course! That's the only solid, unquestionable one I can think of.

[Spectral]

By what measurement?

Military spending!

[Valeron]

The "elephant" in the room, so to speak, is that it's because Obama is black. The US is still an incredibly racist country.

[Zhangfei]

By what measurement?

Ridiculous overstatements!

[Spectral]

The "elephant" in the room, so to speak, is that it's because Obama is black. The US is still an incredibly racist country.

There's pretty thin evidence for the Bradley Effect having much relevance in national elections. There are parts of the country that are quite racist, but they're not really in play for electoral purposes anyway. Our Northeast and West Coast are among the least racist places in the world. The relevant swing states vary; Wisconsin is quite non-racist, Ohio's a bit of a middle ground, Virginia has its issues.

[DEATHETERNAL]

By what measurement?

Military might.

[ares1023]

Fact is, there is no other country like the USA, we have a different history that has shaped everyone's beliefs and created the cultures you see today. This study does not necessarily mean we have the wrong way of thinking since the rest of the world thinks differently. When these studies are done it is solely to show what the opinions of the world is, not where the US should be or where the rest of the world should be, so don't take the information of this study and misconstrue it for meaning anything greater. Fact is what policies work here in the US, will not necessarily work in other countries, and vice versa, so don't try to push US type policies on the world or other countries policies on the US.

[Rommon64]

Military might.

How civilized.

[Wells]

Military might.

So the only measurement that matters when determining which nation is best is military might?

[DEATHETERNAL]

So the only measurement that matters when determining which nation is best is military might?

No, but its up there on the list.

[Wells]

No, but its up there on the list.

Ok what other measurements are we best on?