75,000 to watch a Pollie?

[canetoad]

Am I the only one who finds this a bit freaky? And don't tell me it's because the septics are THAT interested in politics. Definitely a cult thingy going on here and a huge dose of mass hysteria.

Politicians are administrators. They allocate funds and pass legislation. Thank Dog that we in Oz have not elevated them to the status of a jesus X rock star and retain a wee bit of pragmatism about those who are paid a fukken good salary to govern.

[uriel1972]

1. I suspect it has to do

with the level of background religiosity of the US and the almost paranoid good vs evil final confrontation etc narrative that seems to have infected the US psyche. Or I could be totally mistaken :shrug:

[Andrushka]

2. Freaky indeed

Sheez, we can only manage to get that many people together for Big Day Outs, New Year's at the Harbour, and rallies to celebrate the visit of some bloke in a white robe and funny hat (talk about "culty things" and "mass hysteria"!)

[Violet_Crumble]

3. It's the bizarre world of US politics as showbiz...

I don't get it. I reckon if the Americans could turn their election campaigns into reality tv ala Big Brother, they'd be out there doing it. It's all a bit wanky and fake. I mean, it leaves a bad taste in my mouth watching these mega-wealthy candidates and their entourages asking for donations from normal people. They wouldn't need to ask for donations if they knocked off the marathon election campaigns and all the expensive public appearances and conventions and just cut to the chase and had a six week campaign before the election. Maybe Americans are immune to doses of immense boredom, but I got bored of the whole thing months ago. I think they should get us to revamp the way they do things over there. First thing I'd do is get rid of those weird Conventions they have. I really can't see the point of that stuff...