tiaras optional

"My only argument is with those who do not view the world as cynically as I do." Michael Korda

Wednesday, June 01, 2005

It's all about perception

This post is not even remotely timely, but I’ve been meaning to write it for a while. It’s really just an observation on how different cultures view similar things. As we all know, in November 2004, Bush won re-election with approx. 51% of the vote, and his opponent got approx. 49%. By most standards, this would called a pretty close race, based just on the popular vote. However, the Bush Administration claimed a mandate and all that. The people have spoken and blah blah blah. While we were in London, they had a general election. Tony Blair retained his seat and gained a third term as Prime Minister, because his party (Labour) won a 66% majority in the election. But since this was the smallest majority of his three elections, it was seen very negatively. The headlines were all along the lines of “Blair Stomped!”, which would make you think that he had lost. I think that 66% is a pretty big majority. The other 34% was split between two other parties. The Tories made some gains, but didn’t come anywhere near retaking a majority. Yet, Blair’s victory is somehow seen as a failure. Blair even indicated that there are problems to be addressed and that his party needs to do better. I found this different in perception to be very interesting, especially when I read that the 66% majority was higher than former Tory Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had ever won. Are the British a glass-is-half-empty people, and are we a glass-is-half-full people?

4 Comments:

  • At 6/1/05, 9:22 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I've been trying to come up with a comment on this all day and I just don't know where to start, or where to go. Then my blood starts to boil and I cringe, and I have to think about something else until I calm down.

    That said, I don't think it has anything to do with the British or the American people, I think it's the administration pretending/fantasizing that the country isn't completely divided. As if by calling it a mandate, they're fooling everyone or we won't notice it's the opposite of a mandate? My question is how do they get AWAY with it? -L

     
  • At 6/1/05, 9:35 PM, Blogger Lady Tiara said…

    i wonder the same thing. i also wonder why, when blair wins a clear majority, he isn't stomping triumphantly all over an effigy of the tory leader? he was very gracious in his victory and acknowledged that not everyone was in his camp, despite winning a pretty big majority. the bush administration is pretty at pretending they have a mandate, but they can't exactly ignore that the country is divided in many ways. of course, they can always blame that on the gays and other godless malcontents (putting myself firmly in this category).

     
  • At 6/1/05, 9:56 PM, Blogger Kathryn Is So Over said…

    Don't forget the media's role!! Bush snuck into office two times in a row, maybe didn't even win outright the first time, and they mostly look the other way. Crazy.

     
  • At 6/1/05, 9:58 PM, Blogger Lady Tiara said…

    totally true. the U.S. media has helped create the perception of a "mandate." the british press was all over blair for "only" winning 66%. maybe the british press is more skeptical?

     

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