Why do Irish people take such an interest in US politics?

NIMAN

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Unregulated US subprime practices crashed the world economy not too long ago.
We had a double whammy of a property bubble, but the entire world felt that shock.


American foreign policy affects markets around the world.
Their stirring and interference in Middle East causes social ripples for decades.


To think that US politics does not affect Ireland, on a macro scale, is blinkered (at best)

It's always been like that then, not just when Trump was at the helm.

So the much loved Obama didn't get involved in middle eastern politics ?

Get real, the US has been sticking it's nose in world politics for many decades, long before Trump got in. He didn't do a worse job than many presidents before him.

Maybe you want to give us all an example of how trump bring in charge this last 4 years negatively affected your life.

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

It's always been like that then, not just when Trump was at the helm.

So the much loved Obama didn't get involved in middle eastern politics ?

Get real, the US has been sticking it's nose in world politics for many decades, long before Trump got in. He didn't do a worse job than many presidents before him.

Maybe you want to give us all an example of how trump bring in charge this last 4 years negatively affected your life.

That's not the point, the point is why we're interested in their politics.
Everything they do (either side) will have global repercussions, and as a small open economy we will feel the effects more than others.

dixiefly

TRANQUILLO wrote: »

I don't understand why so many people take such interest in this .

I have friends in WhatsApp groups quoting swing states and electoral college this and popular vote that and they know **** all about irish politics or take an interest in anything going on in their own neighbourhood.

They pretend its because it will affect their day to day lives but i feel its just been sexed up for them via the west wing and house of cards. It also makes them feel intellectual to take an interest in it.

I find it all rather perverse. People talking about staying up all night to watch it etc.

They take no interest in the cervical cancer scandal or the children's hospital fiasco for instance. This all feels a little Super Bowl half time show to me... Maybe wed be in better state if we took such an interest in how our own country is run.

Our own Tanaiste was in the "dock" today and there was a young lad attacked with an axe in the head in Dublin in broad daylight. There are more people talking about an election in a different country than those topics.

To be honest I dont think it is one or the other. I personally follow Irish Politics - especially at elections and most people I know would hold an interest but, I would agree that the intensity of interest on this particular US election has gone up a notch.

Off the top of my head here are some of the reasons I was very interested in the outcome in no particular order.

1. U.S. multinationals in Ireland - I used to work in one and myu daughter currently works in one - so pulling them as DTb wants will impact jobs include possibly my family.

2. Effect of the above on Irish exchequer at such a delicate time economically.

3. Influence of DT on the UK and Brexit - he has promised a trade deal if they get a hard Brexit - may not happen as it is not all in his remit.

4. The Environment - his attitude toward the environment and climate change is shocking. Now Donald Trump did not start or cause global warming but his attitude and approach to the issue is so appalling it is really scary. Whatever small chance there is of reversing climate change it goes with him being elected.

That is in addition to the general approach, the untruths, the divisions. Of course these all wont be fixed by Joe Biden - a weak candidate at this stage of his life.

NIMAN

I work for a multnational too.

We often hear about how these companies are all going to up and leave.

He said he was going to get American companies back to the US. Afaik he cut the coporate tax rate in the US.
Name all the US multinationals, or companies for that matter, that have left Ireland in the last 4 years to go back to the US? Name me one even.

The bottom line in all this is that the media tell us Trump is bad and the masses listen to what they are told. It's a bit like all the Brits who when asked on the radio why they voted for Brexit couldn't give a coherent answer. Listen back to them all on YouTube, James O'Brien on LBC is the host. For me Trump is exactly the same. If you hear an Irish person say he's this or that, ask them to tell you how he has affected them. You'll not get one sensible answer.

Montage of Feck

The best pantomime you'll see this year.

caveat emptor

I was only thinking about the same. People who couldn't give a flying fvck about the state of the nation. As long as they have their cushty existence. Suddenly get roiled up and start referencing primaries and polling.

Great to have an extra curricular activity. I agree with posters that it does have a significant bearing on us here due to trade and investment etc but I don't devote any time to it. Reason being is there is nothing you can do about it. People follow it and comment on for the same reasons they do with everything else. It makes them feel important.

Everyone is now in their social media bubble and the outside is getting quieter and quieter while the outside fades out.

Trump is able to win because they effectively exploit people's preconceptions etc. Thousands of different ads blaming thousands of different issues as to why they are less fortunate than they should be in their honest opinion.

TBH the democrats are probably at the same now. Our politics is getting far more fractious also. Anytime someone brings up a political subject now I cringe and refrain because I don't know what bat**** crazy stuff that they've read on their feed or if what I've read is real. Best not to get involved. Scary times ahead here and there.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer

It's not just an Irish thing.

dixiefly

NIMAN wrote: »

I work for a multnational too.

We often hear about how these companies are all going to up and leave.

He said he was going to get American companies back to the US. Afaik he cut the coporate tax rate in the US.
Name all the US multinationals, or companies for that matter, that have left Ireland in the last 4 years to go back to the US? Name me one even.

The bottom line in all this is that the media tell us Trump is bad and the masses listen to what they are told. It's a bit like all the Brits who when asked on the radio why they voted for Brexit couldn't give a coherent answer. Listen back to them all on YouTube, James O'Brien on LBC is the host. For me Trump is exactly the same. If you hear an Irish person say he's this or that, ask them to tell you how he has affected them. You'll not get one sensible answer.

Not all will pull out of course but he has named Ireland in his speeches - of course there are so many factors impacting the multinationals so, as you say, it may not be the only issue.

However, if Trump got back in he would have even more free reign than the first four years and I would be pretty scared as to what he would come up with in the next four years.

His attitude / approach to the environment and his behaviour are probably the biggest issues for me.

Tony EH

NIMAN wrote: »

It's always been like that then, not just when Trump was at the helm.

Absolutely nobody has ever claimed otherwise.

whisky_galore

Padre_Pio wrote: »

Lots of drama. Is there any other nation in the world who's leader makes so many gaffes and still has huge support.

Imagine Meehole talking about grabbing pussy.

The last 4 years have been a live-action South Park episode.

Tony EH

NIMAN wrote: »

I work for a multnational too.

We often hear about how these companies are all going to up and leave.

The Multi's aren't going anywhere. That's all just fearmongering baloney. They're here because our tax regime allows them to pay buttons, and that's only when it's enforced. When it's not and the EU starts to complain, our govt. will even go over there and say "sure that's all grand."

The American corps are based outside of America for one reason and one reason only. It's cheaper. I'm old enough to remember the start of this "outsourcing" nonsense and recall numerous American companies taking advantage of cheaper production areas and the impacts it had on people over there (and here too in the naughties).

So, the ONLY way Trump can live up to his bull**** of bring US companies back to US soil is to offer an extremely low tax rate and that's not going to happen. Lower wages, too, will have to be enforced if they want to entice outsourcing back to their shores and that isn't going to happen either.

completedit

Tony EH wrote: »

The Multi's aren't going anywhere. That's all just fearmongering baloney. They're here because our tax regime allows them to pay buttons, and that's only when it's enforced. When it's not and the EU starts to complain, our govt. will even go over there and say "sure that's all grand."

The American corps are based outside of America for one reason and one reason only. It's cheaper. I'm old enough to remember the start of this "outsourcing" nonsense and recall numerous American companies taking advantage of cheaper production areas and the impacts it had on people over there (and here too in the naughties).

So, the ONLY way Trump can live up to his bull**** of bring US companies back to US soil is to offer an extremely low tax rate and that's not going to happen. Lower wages, too, will have to be enforced if they want to entice outsourcing back to their shores and that isn't going to happen either.

They're so intertwined in the global economy by this point that moving back is unfathomable. It be like McDonald's moving back. They're here for more markets. I think we view ourselves as too Irish when assessing why American firms are here. To them, we're Europe and that's not a bad thing. The only distinction is our tax rate. Now that they're here, what incentive would they have to leave?

Beechwoodspark

My thick as p1gsh1t gobsh1te neighbour (mid 50s) has been flooding the neighbour hood whatsapp group the last few weeks with links and talk of electoral college voting, polls up polls down , swing state this, national polls that.

Providing his own comments as if he was a cnn anchor or something

Same fella wouldn’t even know who his local TDs are or care !

It really does have some effect on the gobsh1tes of Ireland

mariaalice

I can understand the interest but not the oppressive interest, I have a quick look at BBC news 24 to see what is happening even now and then because I am home.

To me it's a bit like watching an Ireland v England rugby or football match or even a lot of sports, it's the game and competitivity element that attracts a lot of people.

There are some obsessive boarding on creepy Trump supporter on here that I don't understand.

Ekerot

GarIT wrote: »

But why don't we do the same for the UK elections? Or even NI elections, I don't think we've ever had a live results tracker and the complete top page length of the RTwebsite taken up with that.

I think it's because it's been amplified by Trump's unusual (and sometimes hilarious) reign, the obvious division between Americans (even within the usual Democrat voters) over how to deal with COVID and the BLM movement, the split within the Democratic Party over people who want to take it further to the left and others who recoil at the thought etc

I don't think there's been a day where I haven't heard about Trump antics from my father or a friend, or over the radio or on TV when I least expect it, like Mike Myers from Halloween being around the corner with a chiseled knife to stab me with.

As I'm typing this Biden has past the amount of votes Obama got in his 2008 election, the HIGHEST count in the popular vote in modern times, and even then he had a 10 million lead on McCain (Trump isn't much further away from passing it too)
That's nearly 70+ million votes for Biden, a man who crashed and burned in previous two attempts to get elected, and that the fact Trump isn't much further away shows you how important this election is to most Americans.

Compare/Contrast the UK GE 2019, in which, despite the issue of Brexit lurking in the background, it became obvious the Conservatives would win a landslide victory early on after the first few exit polls came out. It helped them that their competition was VERY lackluster to the average Brexit voter.

Corbyn danced around the issue and couldn't give a clear answer on how he would handle it if he became PM, the Lib Dems who went and offed themselves at the polls by saying (truly bizarre now in hindsight) that they wouldn't follow through on the results of the Brexit referendum if they held a majority government, and the SNP, who want out of the UK and back into Europe as their own country anyway, didn't face off with Torys in much of their constituencies.

rob316

In BnQ yesterday the young fella behind the counter says to me "will the nightmare be over tomorrow morning?" I says "Covid?"
"No the battle of good and evil, the american election"

"I couldn't give a **** lad, I'll wake up tomorrow with the same problems, he was entertaining though at least" I said.

Looked shocked.

NSAman

The problem with many people in Ireland is that they believe CNN too much. America is a complex place. Even living here, you can judge some of what is going on, but not it all. People are of all persuasions and belief systems here.

I have yet to see any news agency that doesn’t have a “slant” on their reporting. Some of what I read from Irish “journalists” is downright BS. It’s like someone who has never set foot in the states. Despite all the polls it was obvious Trump was going to win in 2016. This time around, it was literally 50/50. It was a strange run up to elections here.

The only thing I can say with certainty is that America is far from a safe place currently. There is an air of fear in the air.

Will this affect Irish people? Probably not.

Turquoise Hexagon Sun

Well, now you've figured out that huge reason most
people watch news and current affairs is entertainment, be it home or abroad (imo). They want to feel something. They say its because they want to be informed. But a large percentage or news, current affairs and politics has no direct affect on anyone or a lot of it doesnt apply to them at any given time, but they still watch. Same like all news tragedies dont affect a majority who watch it.

Car crash here. Hatchet to the head there. This politician said this one week. That politican said that. You feel a bit of mild outrage at this. Little outrage there. You have a little whinge on Twitter about the state or X. Then you have a **** and go asleep. Most news doesnt affect most people.

Up early for work and its another day and you've never really done **** all. Its just chewing gum for the mind. People follow news and politics but it doesnt really inform their day to day decision making process.

Most of it all is outside their circle of influence.

Some guy getting a hatchet to the head is reality porn. Its affects absolutely nobody else except the guy who got his head bashed. Many of these crimes will go unreported. And certainly these crimes were happening before its just now everyone has a camera on them. That story wouldn't have made the news had their not been a sexy video to with it.

I cut down and stopped filling my head with inane news content. Its bleak and most of it outside my influence. Better off using my time for more worthy pursuits.

Wanderer78

Turquoise Hexagon Sun wrote:

Well, now you've figured out that huge reason most people watch news and current affairs is entertainment, be it home or abroad (imo). They want to feel something. They say its because they want to be informed. But a large percentage or news, current affairs and politics has no direct affect on anyone or a lot of it doesnt apply to them at any given time, but they still watch. Same like all news tragedies dont affect a majority who watch it.

So we inform ourselves, just for the Craic?

derfderf

You're only asking that because the last four years have numbed the shock that Donald Trump is actually the leader of the most powerful nation on earth.
If it was the plot of a TV show it would be considered too far fetched.

Wanderer78

derfderf wrote:

You're only asking that because the last four years have numbed the shock that Donald Trump is actually the leader of the most powerful nation on earth. If it was the plot of a TV show it would be considered too far fetched.

America has been steadily losing it's position of power, ould trumpy may have just sealed the deal there on that one, he 'll be outta office soon anyway, he can headoff and setup his media empire now, and take his folks with him, it 'll give us all a bit of peace now

derfderf

Wanderer78 wrote: »

America has been steadily losing it's position of power, ould trumpy may have just sealed the deal there on that one, he 'll be outta office soon anyway, he can headoff and setup his media empire now, and take his folks with him, it 'll give us all a bit of peace now

They're not the power they once were, but they still have the largest economy and military in the world.

Wanderer78

derfderf wrote:

They're not the power they once were, but they still have the largest economy and military in the world.

An economy that's a train wreck for most of it's citizens, and I don't think they've been making too many friends globally, regarding their military actions, they're dying a death, and trump has just accelerated it, Biden has a lot of work to do, the dems are under serious pressure for the next 4 years.

_Kaiser_

Like the OP says, one of the lads in my chat group is on about the election and the projections and stats constantly since yesterday and thrilled that Trump looks to be on the way out, to the point where you'd think he was running for president in THIS country.

I think Trump is mostly an idiot but Biden doesn't offer anything beyond "I'm not Trump" and it's actually quite possible neither would see out their term because of their ages - in which case it becomes about the VP's, which is even less impressive. Either way, I think America will lose unfortunately.

For the lad I mentioned though it's personal, to the point of attacking myself and others for pointing out things like the above. He just actually hates Trump. The same fella though would have limited interest in Irish politics (not a word about the Leo scandal of the last week) or current events beyond quoting the party line whenever the topics come up, or whatever the right-on 'consensus' is on Twitter. Always plays the man not the ball when challenged, with the same belittling and dismissive attitudes you see on this forum too.

This guy isn't in his teens or twenties either. He's middle aged, but you wouldn't know it from the way he goes on sometimes. I suppose it's easy to pontificate when you live in a comfortable bubble as he does, and where the decisions generally don't affect you anyway.

Tony EH

^
The monkey may get changed but the organ grinder remains the same.

American "politics" is a swamp and it does really need to be drained. But it's not going to happen. It certainly wasn't going to happen with Trump, that's for damn sure. The whole thing needs gutting and rebuilding from the ground up.

The only real thing that will change if/when Biden wins, is that there will be a more measured approach coming from the White House. Things won't sound as bat shit crazy, like is was under President Twitter.

Which is something I spose.

NIMAN

As its now looking like Biden will win, I wonder will these folk be able to tell us in 4yrs time how Joe made their lives better?

Wanderer78

NIMAN wrote: »

As its now looking like Biden will win, I wonder will these folk be able to tell us in 4yrs time how Joe made their lives better?

i suspect not much may happen in 4 years, so 24 could be an even bigger trainwreck

Feisar

NSAman wrote: »

Shouldn’t Irish people be more interested in what is happening to them, caused by the people they elected?

Instead, most concern themselves with matters 4000 to 7000 miles away.

Irish politicians are allowed to run rampant, little or no accountability, yet they get elected over and over.

I live in the States and don’t have as much interest as many people on these boards.

The cowboys in the Dáil don't really effect our day to day though.

Wanderer78

Feisar wrote:

The cowboys in the Dáil don't really effect our day to day though.

By God they do

Feisar

Wanderer78 wrote: »

By God they do

I disagree.