International Relations

On our last cruise, everyone wanted to know about Ferguson, even Americans. This year, it’s the presidential election, especially given the large non-American passenger list on this jaunt (who are, to be honest, universally aghast at the success of Trump; Trump supporters can take that for what it’s worth – just my observation). 

None of the few Americans we’ve met so far has even brought up the subject at all! Maybe we know from experience, or Facebook, how divisive the topic can be and avoid it. As tempted as you might be to think, “Hey, it’s our business, not yours,” that is, in fact, untrue. Whom we elect makes a “huge, really huge” difference to the rest of the world. We ignore that at our peril.

First we quote Tina Fey, “I hate them all.” While the line usually gets a laugh, even that isn’t funny, because the implications of it are significant. However, the best line so far (foreign category) came from a New Zealander: “Here in New Zealand we are kind of happy about the whole Donald Trump thing. It seems that you Americans are finally getting what you deserve!” 

My go-to line has become this: “What worries me is that whomever we elect as president will come into office being DESPISED by almost half the country. That just cannot be a good thing for governance and our future as a country.”

Prior to President Obama, almost every chief executive I know of got a honeymoon period after his election, no matter how short. Sadly, the 2008 election eliminated that and we now go straight to divorce court. Unfortunately, that’s really not funny either.

Please, for the sake of your country, I would urge you try to keep that in mind if your candidate does not win; I pledge, on my oath as a citizen of the United States, to (try to) do so, as well. 

We must restore respect for the office (even if undeserved by the holder of that office, in your political opinion) or things will just get uglier, and our political process is already so ugly it could “it on a tombstone and hatch ghosts!” (Credit Moms Mabley) Our politics may have never been pretty but they have obviously deteriorated with age).

Random Auckland (& perhaps auckward) Aubservations

Auckland is extremely pedestrian friendly, especially downtown. Of course, there are lots of pedestrians, many with backpacks or even suitcases or carry-ons. They all seem to have no problem looking the correct direction – took us a little longer. See video:

Lots and lots of public transportation, as well, although there seems no shortage of private vehicles, either. Gasoline sold by the liter and expensive, especially by our standards today. Interestingly, diesel is half the price of gasoline, although diesel vehicles are subject to a use tax. Bicyclists ignore traffic laws with the same impunity as stateside.

For a seemingly affluent town, there are still lots of street people, perhaps homeles, and beggars, at least on the main drag and environs. Their often bare feet may get cold, but at least they won't freeze to death. Not aggressive, just there, but disconcerting nonetheless.

Apparently very safe. So were told by our cabbie, but we did note almost zero police presence (except outside our hotel for the protesters, and they didn’t seem very stressed). The occasional siren, but at least once it was an ambulance. We walked the downtown area to dinner and back without any trepidation.

Based on limited evidence, it appears that NZ has not only accepted diversity but embraced it to the point where only Americans probably notice. However, apparently Asian immigration has been used as, and may be, for all I know, a divisive political issue.

Very large ethnically Asian population. Most store signs in both English and (what I assume is) Chinese. A polyglot city, with people speaking more languages than I could possibly identify.

No tipping. Plusses: you pay what you pay (you can add a bit if you want, but it's “not an insult” if you don’t. Workers claim to have better protection, fewer hassles. Minus (maybe?): no real sense of urgency in terms of restaurant service. Very casual, you can sit there all night it would seem. Tip-based industries almost require workers to turn over their tables. Relaxed for customers though, too.

Personal expression most commonly expressed via ink and hair color, explaining the large number of hair salons and barbers, plus the piercing & tattoo parlors on the main shopping areas and not relegated to the fringes. The young are just as focused on their screens as their counterparts in the U.S. Oh, and they don’t seem to have gotten the memo on smoking – or the anti-smoking campaign by our various levels of government have been effective – or both.

Aucklanders, at least, are interested in American politics. So much for our escape plan. And they are frightened (their words, not mine) and disbelieving of Donald Trump and his ascension, opinions they offered without encouragement or us even bring up the subject.

In Defense of Drumpf *

Here on the morning of Super Tuesday, like presidential politicians and politics and the advertising that supports it all, this headline might be labelled as misleading and disingenuous. How appropriate. In any case, of course, Donald Trump neither needs nor wants my defense.

Let me be clear. I cannot imagine any circumstances under which I could vote for Donald Trump. Or any of the Republican candidates. I’m pretty much reconciled to this being the first election where I cannot find a way to rationalize at least some candidate to support. Whoever wins in 2016 will start his/her term with the support of less than half the voters, and being despised by a significant percentage. I am not optimistic and see no better days in the future. I for sure won’t be voting in any Missouri presidential primary.

Donald Trump is the Impressionist candidate – a significant number of people like the picture he paints even if the details (and process) are fuzzy. It must be admitted, however, that impressionists can create vivid images that allow us to see what we want. The man is intelligent, no doubt, but his solutions to problems resemble (often) ugly wallpaper over plaster cracks – neither permanent nor particularly effective. My opinion: we have more serious structural issues, both internal and external, that need to be addressed by more than changing up a façade.

Trump also seems to think that being the biggest, baddest, strongest kid on the block means others will do what you want. He’s not alone in this, as other candidates act like all we as a nation have to do is give orders to the other kids (nations), ignoring that they have their own senses of pride, independence, and, yes, exceptionalism.

I personally do not understand why anyone would want the awful job of president. And, as awful as it has been for some time, it is only getting worse. Who wants to be hated by so many people – and that is just in your own country! Yet many do seem to want the job, to the point of saying and/or doing anything to get it. No tactic is too sleazy, no promise too absurd, no principle too sacred to be modified for the right audience or the right number of votes. Because the men and women from whom we have to choose seemingly will do anything to be president, we must also assume they will do anything as president. (Actually, Jeb! Bush might have been able to draw the line; unfortunately, that was not viewed as a favorable trait and made him one of the worst campaigners ever. While I probably wouldn’t have voted for him nor would I have liked many of his positions and policies, I admit he might have turned out to be a competent president; unfortunately, he ran a staggeringly incompetent campaign.)

 Many, and I include myself here, have longed, loudly at times, for a candidate who would run an honest campaign, putting him or herself out there, to be judged for who (s)he is, not trying to be “politically correct.” Mind you, I do not object to sensitive phrasing and trying to avoid (deliberately) insulting people who think or look differently than you. Empathy is not political correctness, it is being willing to look at things from another’s point of view.

Donald Trump may be the only candidate insisting that the road to the presidency be on his terms (not ideological terms, but personal terms); compared to the other candidates (except maybe Bernie Sanders) he seems to be the only one who won’t do and/or say anything to be president. The rest seem more than willing to let themselves be massaged and manipulated by consultants who tailor their “message du jour” for whatever constituency's vote is being pursued on that campaign stop. Not Trump. He just barrels ahead, steamrolling anyone who gets in his way or disagrees with him. His attitude seems to be just what we thought we wanted: “If I can’t do it my way, I don’t want to do it at all.”

Proving, once again, be careful what you wish for.

* If you do not understand this, Google "John Oliver" + "Drumpf"