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This past weekend, Australia held a federal election. From what I’ve gathered based on my Australian friends’ tweets and skimming related headlines in Google News, Tony Abbott, the leader of the conservative party, is tipped to win by a razor thin margin. Jess has a fairly good summation of the whole election debacle in Australia from a non-conservative’s point of view, for those who are interested.

Several months ago, the UK held an election for a new prime minister as well. The UK had a hung parliament, which was a big deal, and there was a bit of a kerfuffle in sorting out the new governing party. Again, most of the information I got about it was through my friends’ tweets, with a pinch from the Google News headlines.

I wouldn’t know about any of this election information (in Australia, in the UK, or any other country) if I didn’t have friends in those countries, both online and offline, which alerted me to the fact that there was an election occurring and prompted me to do some independent news research. None of this election stuff is really covered in the US media. The only election in recent years I can recall getting any US media coverage is that of Iran in 2009, which is obvious because of what happened with the protests. I know that whenever the US has a presidential election, the entire world covers it in the media. But when other countries have elections, US media is largely indifferent.

I remember in the lead-up to the 2008 US presidential election, a friend of mine from England told me he thought that the entire world should elect the US president, not just US citizens. He said that because the entire world is affected by who the US chooses, the entire world should vote. I guess that’s why US presidential election media coverage is global while elections in other countries get no coverage in the US. Whomever countries like Australia and the UK elect as their leader largely do not affect the US¹, but the decision in who becomes the leader of the free world impacts everyone.

1. I told a friend about the current election debacle in Australia and his response was, “Why should we care? It’s not like Australia is going to suddenly turn against the US no matter who they elect.” [↩]

While watching an SNL rerun where Tina Fey did a Sarah Palin sketch and slipped in a comment about running for (and winning) the US presidency in 2012:

Me: If Palin becomes our president in 2012, I’m leaving the country. Hey, I graduate in 2012 so I can go wherever I want if she gets elected.
My mom: Well, once your brother goes to college I can leave the country as well¹.
My brother (who doesn’t graduate from college until 2015): …I can campaign for Hawaii’s independence² so Palin won’t be my president?

I love my family.

1. My family has moved overseas many times, so it wouldn’t be unusual if we moved overseas once more, regardless of US government politics. [↩]
2. His top choices for college are in Hawaii. [↩]

I’ve been trying to figure out the best way for me to talk about the fact that late Sunday evening, the U.S. made history when health care reform was passed. I am unbelievably ecstatic that the United States has finally caught up to modern times and is going to provide options for everyone to have health care. However, for me to weigh in as an expert in the situation would be ridiculous as I’m far from it, but I wanted to make at least some note of it on this blog.

I think I’ve found the perfect way to express my feelings about the health care bill passing, though.

For those who don’t know, the photo on the right is of Rush Limbaugh, a radio talk show host and conservative opinion leader. Limbaugh, to put it politely, is six buckets of crazy and shoots his mouth off every chance he gets to complain about liberals and the alleged existence of a liberal bias in U.S. media¹ Earlier this month, Limbaugh claimed he “would move to Costa Rica” if health care reform was passed into law. He later “clarified” his statement by saying he would only go to Costa Rica “for major medical health care” and not move there.

Well Mr. Limbaugh, I think it’s high time for you to make good on your promise. People are even raising money for your ticket out of the country! But I guess you don’t have to move, as the poor people of Costa Rica haven’t done anything to deserve dealing with you. But before you take off to Costa Rica to get major medical health care, I think you should note that Costa Rica has socialized health care provided for by a government monopoly… which happens to be the same kind of health care reform you are protesting in the U.S.

Idiot.

1. Seriously, just Google his name. There are a ton of links that pop up that talk about some batshit insane thing he’s said at one point or another. [↩]