>>7Well, serious question? Why do you care so much about who is elected President in another country? I mean, you are probably the lead cheerleading for Bernie on this site - and most of his policies are internal.
This is a very big question and i am trying to think of ways of trying to keep my response brief so as not to write a book.
Let me go point form why I as a Canadian would care who is elected in the US and why I so vocally (in terms of printed messages) support Bernie Sanders.
1) The US is the most powerful country in the world militarily. They can be a force for tremendous good in the world or a force for tremendous war and suffering. Even if I wasn't a Canadian and had been born in any country not neighboring the US or not being a top ally, I would still write on a message board if I thought that one candidate was so very clearly better for the rest of the world internationally.
2) I do happen to be Canadian and I know for a fact that the policies of the US involving war often directly involve the lives of our Canadian armed forces. The illegal war of aggression fought in Afghanistan under the auspices of chasing a small group of mostly Saudi Arabian thugs who (according to the conventional 9/11 understanding ) orchestrated 9/11 ended the lives of many civilians in Afghanistan and many soldiers from America's coalition of the willing including Canada.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjVBvh4-tHA It is absolutely provable that the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq were both illegal, both violated international laws, the torture that was willfully administered by the Bush/Cheney administration amounted to human rights violations, and oh.... I could go on forever.
Obama ran his campaign on hope and change but followed the exact timelines and war agenda of the previous administration and expanded the killing to other counties (while virtually at the same time he was drone striking countless people including civilians he was given the Nobel Peace prize.)
I care about illegal war actions because I care about the rule of law and I wouldn't want any country to attack America or Canada or any other country illegally so why would I not speak out when our closest ally does this same violation?
3) Bernie Sanders voted against the Iraq war saying it would cause instability in the region that could lead to dangerous amounts of terrorist activities. He was 100% vindicated. Hillary being the huge chicken hawk that she is, supported the war in Iraq and likely would support pre-emptive strikes on Iran that would further tank the American and world economy. Bernie has judgement. There are a lot of points here not well supported because i am trying to be brief. Ask me for more information about any given point.
4) Trump is not a real politician and he is not capable of fixing the economy. People believe that he is a good businessman so it must be true that being successful in the real estate business will make him a success in repairing the economy. Trump was born a millionaire. (Did you know that?) He went bankrupt at least four times. America can't afford to go bankrupt. He poses a real threat not just to the US but to the world. He is bigoted, vindictive and doesn't have the diplomacy, political expertise, temperment or necessary social values to run a country.
5) When you say most of Bernie's policies are internal, that is quite true. He seems to care more about bringing the US up to the standards of the countries that often top best country lists that are made by different polling and international agencies (like the best countries in the world according to the United Nations and their criteria, etc.)
The Nordic countries, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand often top these lists. (I can give you many examples if you like.) Sanders can actually make this happen for the US.
I really believe that. I really believe that at the very least that this is his intention. I would rather see someone with great intentions leading the US and not being able to achieve everything than someone who only will continue the same policies that drive up wealth in a few favored families while all the rest of America falls apart or becomes a police state.
What has happened in the last few decades in the US is appalling.
6) I care about people. If Sanders is elected I have nothing personal to gain. Not a thin penny.
7) Trump has expressed the belief that global warming doesn't exist and that it is some conspiracy that the Chinese started (for whatever reason.) I am not making this up!:
The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.
4:15 AM - 7 Nov 2012
http://ecowatch.com/2015/10/19/donald-trump-climate-change-tweets/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USehtBp5RxY Saving the planet is not just a uniquely American responsibility. If I can motivate American voters to elect a candidate that will take the environment seriously and the result is literally saving the planet, then I certainly don't think I am overstepping my boundaries.
8) I just don't have enough message board space to list the reasons Hillary is bad for America. She is not a good person. She is not an honest person and she is not going to even try to keep any of her promises. The worst thing about her (besides more expensive and deadly wars) is that there is no possibility of any kind of campaign reform which is one of the planks of both Trump's and Sanders' campaigns. Hillary would be business as usual. She would ensure that the top 1% could enjoy more tax exemptions. If you are filthy rich and you don't care about any one else in the US or in the world then she might be the one to vote for. I would rather see Trump become POTUS than her.
The list of scandals that I am sure has been hidden from the public is one thing but just what we do know about is unbelievable.
I will digress here.
Nope, one more point to make an even ten
10) Canada tops some of the best lists for ranking countries for example: It was rated the country with the best reputation in the world quite an honor:
http://www.reputationinstitute.com/research/Country-RepTrak America only tops one list for positive things on these country lists in this day and age. (It is the most powerful military country in the world.)
It could be so much more and here is a candidate who actually has the power and the will to model a lot of programs after Canada and the other world leaders (the countries based on the Nordic Capitalist model). Sanders has openly stated that he wanted to use Canada and those Nordic countries as a model for America.
I truly believe that he could and would do great things as president and that those things would not only benefit Americans but it would in the long term benefit the whole world by actually living up to the rhetoric that it is indeed the greatest country in the world.
It isn't right now but it certainly could be under the right leadership.
That leadership is definitely Sanders. Definitely not Trump, and Hillary's leadership would undoubtedly and unquestionably make it worse than it is today.