Political Frenzy

On Australia’s satirical comedy, “The Chaser’s War on Everything”, which people all over the world view from their podcasts, a fake reporting team went around the United States asking simple questions about world politics and asking them to mark on a map every country they thought would be the next place to invade. The results were shocking. When asked what religion Israel was, “Christian” or “Muslim” was the answer most of the time. When asked to place flags on an altered map, most people went straight for Australia, which had been re-labeled “Iran” - or once “North Korea” with Tazmania taking on the role of “South Korea”. Some people picked countries they’d never heard of to be the next location of American bombs.

Across the United States people lied to the Australian comedian’s face as he told them he was Australian Prime Minister John Howard, and asked if they’d seen him on television. One woman said yes. Many others gave him condescending remarks.

Now, obviously, myself living in the United States, I can say for certain that these kinds of people are not the only kind of people in the United States - with the power of computers they edited away any correct responses. But sadly, ignorance is the majority. A scary thought in a democracy, as that means we can easily elect ignorance.

The most terrifying part is the backslide from the War of Independence in what we want from a leader. It used to be that the more intellectual and brilliant a man seemed, the more likely he was to become elected. Now we elect those who seem “just like us!” Clinton got the White House because he played saxophone, and George W. Bush has it because he can’t assemble a decent sentence without an instruction guide.

Scary that people want a President who’s only as smart as they are, and this is the best that registered voting Americans can do.

Believe me, I have mixed feelings about the American populist movement now. Of course I think we need someone in office who has had similar experiences to us, someone who understands what it means for Americans to live daily life. We can’t afford another richboy Prince. But if the only people we’re willing to elect can’t name a country that begins with “U”, and doesn’t know what currency they use in the United Kingdom, we are toast.

Catch the video below.
EDIT: This video has been removed from YouTube… odd. I wonder why…

United States, Australia, George W. Bush, Satire, The Chaser’s War on Everything