A long way away...

A Hapy New Year to everyone.

Yesterday was the Iowa Caucus, the first step in the long process of the Democrats and Republicans choosing their respective candidates for the November Presidential election. This is probably as far from the Borough Council issues facing Dunchurch and Knightlow as could possibly be imagined, but it will have a bearing on the world for at least another 4 years.

The two aspects of the race unfolding before us that are particularly interesting for an outsider are those of money and religion in politics. Money, in British politics, is a dirty word. We try to forget that often who has the most money makes a difference; undoubtedly is does though. In America the opposite is true. Obama, Clinton and Romney have raised plenty. Huckabee hopes to start to rake it in now he has won in Iowa. In Britain the desperate scrabble for money is a much more subtle and underground process as has been demonstrated by "Donorgate".

To most in Britain, religion and politics are seperate entities. I think this is a good thing. Whaever my beliefs, they're never going on an election leaflet! Yet it shows how the two electorates are different in how they look at candidates. Religion in America is tied to some of their most electorally explosive issues, while we take our religion around in a reticence manner that usually never disturbs how we vote.

Despite the common language, the two countries are very different. Our history in intertwinned, but our politics is not. I am a Conservative in Britain, I have no idea what that makes me in US politics! What I do know is that I will remain an interested observer over the coming months!