Not much different to the UK then. Successive governments have been easily bought by Russians and/or Israelis - and they have always been susceptible to bribes from lobbyists with pockets full of cash, no matter what agenda those lobbyists are pushing.
As far as I know the main difference in the USA is that political parties don't pay election expenses for their candidates - meaning that they are fully dependent on either being able to pay their own election expenses or are permanently dependent on sponsors. This is becoming more of a problem in the UK as well because of falling party membership figures. In the 1950s the Tories had about 3 million members but now the figure is far less than a tenth of that and so the proportion of their income from membership subscription has plummeted to about 4% - this is what hands a party over into the hands of sponsors and lobbyists.
Clearly the money raising aspect of political parties is open to people wanting to buy influence at the least, but I was interested in what makes people go to the rallies.
Yes, I understood that Frenchie, but I guess that if some millionaire sponsor is behind a candidate that they will also make sure that an event is well publicized in the right areas, and will make sure that transport is on offer. Also these big rallies in the USA are likely to be accompanied by an orgy of junk food and loud music as well.
That, by any measure, is a disgraceful thing to say! Along with the Puerto Rico jibes, it tells you all you need to know about the importance of voting for Kamala Harris.
I don’t really do endorsements. I’m not shy about sharing my views, but I hate politics and don’t trust most politicians. I also understand that people want to hear from me because I am not just a celebrity, I am a former Republican Governor. My time as Governor taught me to love policy and ignore politics. I’m proud of the work I did to help clean up our air, create jobs, balance the budget, make the biggest infrastructure investment in state history, and take power from the politicians and give it back to the people when it comes to our redistricting process and our primaries in California. That’s policy. It requires working with the other side, not insulting them to win your next election, and I know it isn’t sexy to most people, but I love it when I can help make people’s lives better with policies, like I still do through my institute at USC, where we fight for clean air and stripping the power from the politicians who rig the system against the people. Let me be honest with you: I don’t like either party right now. My Republicans have forgotten the beauty of the free market, driven up deficits, and rejected election results. Democrats aren’t any better at dealing with deficits, and I worry about their local policies hurting our cities with increased crime. It is probably not a surprise that I hate politics more than ever, which, if you are a normal person who isn’t addicted to this crap, you probably understand. I want to tune out. But I can’t. Because rejecting the results of an election is as un-American as it gets. To someone like me who talks to people all over the world and still knows America is the shining city on a hill, calling America is a trash can for the world is so unpatriotic, it makes me furious. And I will always be an American before I am a Republican. That’s why, this week, I am voting for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz. Arnold Schwarzenegger
It's a slightly worrying thing here too, the "election" impacts us as Mexicans. "Build a wall, immigration as a problem, deportation etc." Actually, most people here couldn't give a ****, (Noting against your post OFH) But, we are our own place, and a lot a lot of people here are sick of Gringos meddling in affairs here. Good luck to them but leave us alone. hard when you are sliced by a boarder and bonded by trade (Slave labour!) Guns are rife here, where do they come from? They want Capo's heads? That hasn't solved anything since Calderon's time and he tried that. USA police the world, Mexicans are sick of them!! Halloween here, but I am deep rooted, and day of the dead is prevalent in my family and is nothing to do with it. More Home Depot here and other such Walmart. The Westernised mind has my mind confused, I love to go to real rural local places, despite being in a city, but I grew up that way so maybe it is just me. Can neither win? I just want to live on the hills and drop down to fish, but back in a big city now, León, so got the heart of a Lion. Maybe an old school mentality, but just want a peaceful life. Sis-in-law and her kids live in the states, but when they come it's family time and politics is not discussed. How's Labour doing in Blighty? A genuine question as saw fudge it passed but not sure what is what. Isn't Arnie an immigrant as it is, like me? Most Mexicans think I am for the US of A, until they talk to me, then they give me more time of day! Not too much more, but at least we understand football!
Mex If you dont mind me asking,, are you a Watford boy who married a Mexican girl and moved over there, or a Mexican boy who lived over here for a while and still supports Watford after going home
As does this. Why on earth Americans vote for him in the numbers that they do is simply unfathomable.
I was born and raised in Herts, but now have both nationalities. I've lived here a fair while now....15 years!
Trump truly has lost it - but I daresay that the US electorate is full of donkeys who will still vote for him.
It has become very believable that the Americans vote for idiots like this unfortunately - the lessons to be drawn from this fact are that we should be trying to draw ourselves out of the US sphere of economic and military influence and not closer to it. I'd love to think that one day the USA presidential election will be of no more importance to us than that in Argentina or Brazil - the fact that we live in a different World to that is our own fault.
I do worry about his foreign policy...he is so self centred and full of his own self importance...and his cosying up to Putin...has Putin got anything on him???
I think the bigger worry is that the signs of his dementia are rapidly increasing - if he does somehow manage to get elected, it may not be too long before he's pushed aside on medical grounds and Vance gets a free ride into the White House. A horrible thought really... Now Is the Time to Take the Idea of President JD Vance Seriously – Mother Jones
