Lo and behold! The American nation will soon be going to the polls to elect the person who will represent their interests for the next four years. Despite his murderous bungles in Iraq et al., the incumbent, George W. Bush, has a good chance of being entrusted with another term. One almost wishes it upon him. John Kerry doesn’t really deserve the unenviable task of extricating the US from the global imbroglios that Bush has so enthusiastically created.

Although Kerry doesn’t really seem to be the agent of change, he is the only alternative to the neo-conservative administration currently enjoying the plush trimmings of the White House.

In a recent interview, French philosopher and author of “The Present Imperfect”, Alain Finkielkraut, made this observation. “ Adolescence is the age when politics reveals itself as a scandal, the one where Good and Evil face off. Maturity is the age when politics reveals itself as a dilemma where we don’t necessarily have the choice between Good and Evil but between two inconveniences instead.” He goes on to illustrate this opinion. “Iraq is a case in point: preserving the peace would have been an inconvenience because it would have spared an atrocious and dangerous tyrant. War is an inconvenience because populations are attacked.”

If what Finkielkraut says is true, and French philosophers are usually quite difficult to rebuff, then we can at least thank Bush for one thing: taking us back to adolescence. His policies are a scandal and, despite his limitations, having Kerry in the White House would be a victory of Good over Evil.

Here in Mauritius, we can honestly claim that at least we’ve reached some sort of pseudo-political maturity. The dilemma this leaves us with is invigorating, as long as we don’t allow ourselves to be misled by the cognoscenti.

A column in last week’s Guardian suggested that the whole world should be allowed to vote in the US elections as its outcome will impact the lives of all of us mortals attempting to coexist on the blue planet. I don’t think there would be much doubt in which way the elections would tip if the world was allowed to have a say in November. Paradoxically, Al-Qaeda operatives would probably vote for Bush as he has been an incredibly effective recruiting agent for them.

Here’s a little something I scribbled during a brief sojourn in the great US of A:

“There must be a change -

We can’t remain this ape’s slaves;

His hawkish nose shows

He’ll bring the world to blows;

His close-set eyes betray

That he’s pining for fresh prey…

Tax cuts for the rich and Kyoto in a ditch

Don’t you dare disagree, it’s unpatriotic

Mr. President is a definite misnomer

He’s better known as the Texacutioner!

There must be a change

Even if it’s more of the same.”

Mercifully, the latest televised debates have revived Kerry’s campaign, although he should have done a lot better against Bush’s rhetorical clumsiness. Then again, low expectations ensure that anything short of a disaster is deemed a victory for Junior. Perhaps Mauritius should envisage similar face-to-face debates for the next elections. Having the two candidates exposing their intentions opposite each other is amazingly instructive for electors. Just as long as it doesn’t get too nasty…