Why do citizens in the USA see politicians & treat politics so differently from people in the UK?

Question

In America, a candidate for an election spends millions on commercials & will go on tour to give entertaining speeches

In Britain, we have 5 minute political broadcasts on a main TV channel. Everyone swears & quickly switches channel to avoid it

American citizens spend an evening at a political rally, wear logo hats, t-shits & hold placards as they scream on their favourite

Brit’s never scream or cheer on a politician. If they are forced to listen to a speech, they usually boo, hiss or shout ‘liar, rubbish’ etc

In America, people look up to & respect their chosen candidate

In Britain most people look down on & have little respect for politicians

Americans vote for the candidate that they really like the most.

Brit’s vote for the candidate they hate the least, because all are usually hated

But, here’s the twist:

Most Brit’s are very knowledgeable about local, national and international politics

Most Americans don’t seem to be

Am I right? What are the other differences?

C = J D - I think it's BECAUSE Brit's understand politics and see the deception, double dealing and the self serving intrest of most MP's actions, they start to lose faith in Politicians.

Answer 1

I lived in Britain for over 7 years and some of what you say is true I would not mind the US adopting some of the rules like they have in Europe no campaigning 12 weeks before an election, I don't know why we have to vote on Tuesday, why not the weekend we would definitely have better turnout...... Most Americans don't have time to be knowledgeable in politics it is called burnout. It is 2 years before the next presidential election and they have already started jostling for position, so people tend to tune it out and wait just a couple weeks before an election it makes it appears we are not knowledgeable but your mind cannot maintain that attention span that long.

Answer 2

The main difference between US citizens and UK citizens and their respective democracies, is that in the US it was the people who fought for and won a great victory for freedom, liberty and democracy. Americans therefore feel proudly and justifiably very much a part of their political process.

The democratic process enjoyed in UK is a system of government which has come about in a rather more haphazard way, resulting from an asortment of political skirmishes, often resulting in death on the streets, but no deciding revolution. The UK is in a constant state of flux. On the one hand there is the Royalist element and on the other the Republicans. Both sides and not always associated with any particular political party or group, spend their time sniping at each other whenever the opportunity presents itself.

As for elections in UK, large numbers of the people feel they have no real part to play and so therefore do not even vote.

Its like this - my own MP is a taxi driver. I do not want a taxi driver for an MP. I want a lawyer, an artful dodger and someone who knows how to read the papers without becoming confused and lost. I see no way of unseating my present MP other than shooting him dead, which I have no plans to do, by the way. The result of all this is that I seldom vote. What's on offer seldom suits me anyway and I have very little in common with all of the candidates who stand both at national and local elections.

Politicians here in UK are feather bedders who give themselves massive 60% + pay rises, while the poor get poorer and the people face ever new and higher tax bills.

Answer 3

America is a new nation and they still believe in the possibility for positive change. Britain is weighed down by history and the fact that whatever you do the b*stards are still running things.

Which is better? Probably some kind of balance and if people are well informed (which very very few really are the media is full of propoganda and few can be bothered to research properly and think for themselves much easier to get your opnions from the TV or a daily newspaper) there is no reason why they shouldn't be respected for feeling and behaving how they want.

Answer 4

I think the fact that -- by your own admission -- Brits hate politicians so much tends to undermine your claim that "Most Brits are very knowledgeable about local, national and international politics." If THAT was true, they would be a lot less cynical.

True, many Americans don't care for politics, but I am not sure that this is mainly an American trait.

Answer 5

Americans had to fight to have the freedom to vote and the freedom to choose our elected officials. we have a high amount of patriotism. We know that we have the option to choose who we want making decisions in America. Most Americans know what is going on in the world. We could say the same things for the British. Every country has a stereotype of what another country is. Unfortunately there is a stereotype out there that Americans don't care. That is completely untrue. We care a lot and therefore you get the reaction to politics that u have before mentioned.

Answer 6

Democracy and freedom is fine, but the powerful and monied seem to rule the roost.

The UK system used to prevent the PR tricks and power brokers from exercising too much control, but the Labour party of Tony Blair has successfully employed the latest tricks and seems to have Americanised and certainly centralised the politics.

Answer 7

Alexis de Tocqueville put his finger on it - the US has a passion for democracy born out of its rejection of the 'old world'. And that passion remains to this day.

The British experience is different; the elected politicians are just the current variant of the 'ruling class' and deserve to be mocked for getting 'above themselves'

That said, American political satirists can be every bit as funny and vicious as their British brethren

Answer 8

You're right except that I DON'T respect my politicians and if you give me a map I can point to Canada and Brazil (on a flight to South America, Bush remarked, "Wow, Brazil's really big!" when he looked at a map).
Also, I DO know the issues beyond what I'm told. But generally, I agree with you.

Answer 9

i dont know if your right about all that. but in america the people count (or are suppose to) ordinary citizens at one time got together and created the laws of this land. In britiain you guys were told how to think and live by your "monarchy"

and if american dont like a politician then we vote them out of office, instead of swear and simply turn off the tv. action is everything

Answer 10

most americans get brain-washed at an early age by evangelical idealogy to believe engaging in politics will help you to become a better person, in Britain we are brain-washed by the tabloids newspapers to believe all politicans are liars and scums.
however , I do prefer the British way of thinking because it is quite true.