Since I work with primarily non-americans, I've had the pleasure (no really!) of explaining the more intricate nuances concerning how our political system works. If I were to say that they are acutely interested in our next president because of their experience with our current one, I would be selling their true feelings quite short. In many cases, however, I've learned a great deal about my own government by listening to their experiences with their own.

This is probably due to the fact that U.S. politics are not really all that different from the politics of anywhere else in the world. I have friends on both sides of the political spectrum - china with it's single "socialist" party, as well as individuals from the EU and their often weird fragmented parliamentary system.

In the U.S. we have a long history of two party hegemony, even before the emergence of the modern "Republican" party in 1854 from the ashes of the Whigs, itself dating back another 25 years. It is my opinion that by having a two party system, a more convincing illusion of choice is generated than by, say, China's single-party "elections". Of course, you appear have a choice, but when the outcome is the same, did you truly have a choice in the first place? It's quite the convincing, if not an overly complex fabrication.

My friend from "Communist China" says that comparing Chinese elections and U.S. elections are like comparing the special effects from an A-list hollywood blockbuster to that of a dollar store kung fu video. In the former, a great deal of effort and money is spent generating first grade flash, in the second, poorly made papermache dummies are knocked apart by an overweight karate master. One is extremely satisfying and convincing, if only for the moment, and the other makes you want your money back. In the end, however, both are just movies for your entertainment.

China, of course, has only been making "movies" since 1949, and therefore can be excused for its budget "special effects". The U.S., on the other hand, has polished its art to a gleaming shine.

My general disdain for what the U.S. has devolved into was probably brought into sharp focus by my last blog entry. My official training as a scientist has put me into the habit of scraping away "analysis" and looking at the cold hard facts of "data". As Andy says, the data is truth. Everything else is analysis.

Since I no longer have a dog in this particular election ring (more accurately - I never did), I feel as though I can cast about my barbs with abandon.

I sincerely believe that after the absolute trainwreck Bush has made of his term in office, the country will not elect another Republican to the office this term. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts to anyone who comments here on that assumption.

Whatever McCain's qualifications for the job he is being soundly beaten by a man who is taking the country by storm with a monosyllabic rallying cry: "Change!".

Analysts have done a much better job than I could at picking apart this meager fare. As far as the "data" goes, there is practically none. All that's left is analysis, and it seems to be human nature to ascribe a positive trajectory to the exceedingly nebulous "Change" that Senator Obama has made his linchpin.

This entry is not to add to the mountain of criticisms Obama has had (deservedly) leveled at his ambiguous election theme, but to criticize Americans that fall for it. I applaud the fact that the U.S. will (in all likelyhood) have its first black president, but the U.S. is going to be facing an exceptionally difficult time in both the short and long runs.

Every four years we go though this same dog and pony show, and although all of the "special effects" are first class, complete with morning talk shows and heated prime-time debates, you will notice that Obama's leitmotif isn't notable for its novelty as it is for its familiarity.

This nation will soon find itself in need of real economic decisions based on real data. Continuing to rally behind superficially satisfying but ultimately vacuous cries of "Change!" will only perpetuate our slide into global marginality.

In closing, Obama's election will be a refreshing step forward for race relations for our nation, but at the cost of continuing the U.S. march backward to irrelevance through useless platitudes. This nation needs to face many exceptionally unpleasant decisions, none of which make for pretty special effects. Enjoy the show.