On the website ‘If the World could vote‘ you can virtually participate in the American elections. In other words: do you choose Obama or McCain?
Belgium seems to be fanatically pro-Obama. From the 336 Belgian voters, more than 94% chooses the democratic president candidate. Overall, 82% of the 26321 voters favours him. Visit the website to vote and see the most recent overview.
Does it say something about the political profiles of (Belgian) internet users? Maybe it does. From the 4656 voters from the United States, 80% chooses Obama. Which isn’t representative at all when you compare it to other American polls. So can you deduce something from a website like this one?
At any case, there is no poltical party behind the website. According to the FAQ, three guys from Iceland started the initiative: “The site is independent from all political parties, companies or hidden agendas. It’s just an idea a 22 yo guy in Iceland came up with and executed with a little help from a couple of friends.” The guys are curious about how the world would vote.
Theicecreamdebate 
2 comments
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September 16, 2008 at 6:55 am
Steffest
If the world could vote then Hillary Clinton would be laughing all the way to the white house, or even more probable, then John Kerry would be looking at his second term.
The perception of the world about the US is obviously biased to say the least.
(Or based on misconceptions as this article states http://tinyurl.com/5lvjjn
)
99% of our view on the international playing field is formed by local national media: coloured through half a dozen glasses with a zero change on a clear view.
What would the Americans say if a poll asked them about their opinion on Belgian Politics? (something like ” … ehm …err, what ? …”)
What does strike me is how different the political campaigns are in the US compared to Europe.
The last 2 campaign-months seem to be reserved for personal below-the-waist attacks.
Things like this http://www.flickr.com/photos/scriptingnews/2856435471/ wouldn’t even be considered in europe.
Scary !
Thank god the world can’t vote ! (Or the Chinese would dominate the world for sure 🙂 )
“So can you deduce something from a website like this one ?”
No, but every poll has a purpose and every poll result will fit in some campaign of some marketeer.
September 16, 2008 at 2:01 pm
doriennmien
@steffest: hmm, quite some food for thought!
Indeed the perception of the world on the US will be biased. But isn’t every perception biased, in other words also the one the Americans have about their own politics? People will always have their beliefs depend on fragmented information, the environment they live in,….When do you know you can vote based on true facts and not on misconceptions? I’m quite sure I never will be able to do that…Or want to do that 😉
Indeed thank God the world can’t vote, I don’t like the Chinese 😉