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Sometimes, as Americans, you do not realise how big your choice is.

Back in New Zealand, if I vote, I have a fairly clear idea of just how much my vote has an impact. The area of influence stops at somewhere around New Zealand maritime border. I know, with fair certainty, that the biggest impact my vote has internationally is on Japanese whalers and the occasional stray nuclear submarine.

Just witness the 2nd Iraq war, where New Zealand refused to join the US attack on Iraq. Impact this decision had on the International course of events? Absolutely none.

If the rest of the world were allowed to vote, George Bush would never have gotten into power. 2004? According to a GMI poll, the US was the only country out of 9 polled where Bush was anywhere close to Kerry. Kerry’s support in the other 8 countries? China - 85%, Canada - 75%, UK - 79%, France - 93%, Russia - 85%, Germany - 95%, Japan - 85%.

Wouldn’t have been great if we didn’t have to suffer through the last four years of Bush? If the rest of the world had it’s vote, Bush would be a one term blemish, not a two term stain.

We don’t get to vote, of course, and neither should we, just as we wouldn’t want the US interfering with our vote either.

We are going to be as affected by your choice as you are. That’s the nature of hegemony. At the moment the US holds a sword of Damocles over the head of the rest of the world, be it economically, environmentally or militarily.

It’s pretty clear how the world would vote this time. McCain wins Georgia, the Philippines, Cambodia and Laos, gets a dead heat in Lithuania and Pakistan, and loses everything else. Everything. Amongst countries that think the election makes a difference to their country? A minimum of a 25% lead to Obama. Norway would elect Obama by over a 50% margin.

And yet if you listen to debates about foreign policy, what words are used to talk about people outside of the US. America is worried about terrorists, but they negotiate with countries. We are either a faceless mass or violent extremists. We are dehumanised, and not part of the conversation. In war, the US doesn’t count how many people die on the other side of the battle.

So think about us when you vote. Make us part of the equation. See us as more than terrorists and faceless masses.

Technorati Tags: 2008 Election John McCain World News