It is early morning here in Europe. Several thousand miles across the Atlantic Ocean most of America is asleep. When they start wakening in a few hours from now, the polls will officially be open as the United States elects the 46th President of the Republic. Having said that, early voting has been taking place all across America and almost 100 million US citizens have already cast their ballots. They have done this either in person or as an absentee (postal ballot). The polls, just like four years ago show that Donald Trump will lose. Many, myself included truly hope that history does not repeat itself as in 2016.Then Hilary Clinton was ahead in all the polls. She won the popular vote but lost the Presidency in the Electoral College.

I am praying that Joe Biden becomes that President no 46.Should the polls be correct, and we get President Biden there will be a huge sigh of relief in most democratic capitals throughout Europe and the free world. The only exceptions to this will likely be in London and Moscow.

The US and UK are linked in so many ways, not just by an almost common language but also by many other traits including and worst of all, neoliberal economics. A compulsion to bully and interfere in other nation’s affairs, a preponderance to violence and not forgetting a particular favourite, imperialism. It also has to be said in a ‘British’ context both nation states do have severe and acute exceptionalism rotting at the very kernel of their being.

I have my entire life always had an interest in politics.I could even before today remember all the US Presidents in my lifetime and in which order without the need to consult Google. I can, of course, do the same with Prime Ministers of the British Union. I cannot do the same with any other nations on the earth. I could certainly name a few Presidents of France some Chancellors of Germany, a few other leaders throughout the world but not with the same clarity as US Presidents.

While we might not realise it, probably the two of the most important elections that affect our daily life is the one mentioned and the other is when we choose our local Councillor. Most of us only take only a passing interest in the former and around half of those eligible to participate in local council elections don’t even bother to vote.

Since the end of World War Two, the western world has always looked to USA for leadership and protection. The might of the Americans is unrivalled they have the ability and technology to destroy any adversaries in an armed struggle. Though they too like all imperialist nations have had setbacks none more so than in tiny Vietnam.

I have written often about the window of opportunity that the end of WWII presented to the British Union. All the nations of the world that had been affected by the conflict took this time to address their constitutions and governance. All that is, except the US and UK. They believed that as the ‘victors’ they had won the right to continue as before.

The UK, in particular, was unable to face up to its new lowly position in global politics. It had entered the war as a global imperial superpower and emerged as a broken impoverished entity in need of massive overhaul. Clement Atlee’s Labour Party did take care of many social welfare needs. I have often opined this was the greatest of all UK Governments. It was the first and last time that the needs of the many were put before the greed of the few. Ever since the end of that progressive government, the ugly right in England has slowly but surely been undoing all the good that Atlee provided.

I wonder if Atlee had won a second term if he would indeed have abolished the House of Lords and reformed the commons.The fact that he accepted a peerage suggests, probably not!

It was a time that the British should have reassessed their form of governance. While Germany, Japan, France and all of Europe either implemented or amended their constitutions and institutions the Brits and Yanks carried on regardless. Even a huge shock to the British phsyce at Suez in 1956 had nobody promoting a change in UK governance. The US for the first time ever gave the British a lesson in the new realities of post-war times. The Suez war had lasted just two days and Britain, and Prime Minister Eden personally, had been left humiliated. The crisis had a serious impact on Britain’s international relationships and standing. President Eisenhower regarded Suez as an unnecessary distraction from the Soviet Union’s brutal suppression of an uprising in Hungary. For the first time since 1066 England/UK had been put in its place by another nation. Even after this brutal put down by the Americans the Little Brits continued to pretend to themselves that they had a special relationship with the new top global nation. It continues to this day and also explains why the English right wing hang on so dearly to the 1939-1945 war. It was the last scene and the last act of what until that time had been the largest, longest lasting empire ever.

As we all know there is nothing our right wingers in UK like more than glorifying the daring deeds of mother England as she stood alone against the might of Nazi Germany. A complete fantasy of course, the entire empire and the mighty Soviets as well as the Free French, Poles, Dutch, Belgians, and many more bolstered the British till the Russians and Americans finished and won the conflict.

The powers to be in London have always tried to align themselves as close to US as is possible. Our foreign policy and economic model mirrors that of the USA. The feeling being I suppose, if you can no longer he the big global boss if you keep in with the new boss you can get reflected glory and pretend you are still important. It is wrong, embarrassing and cringe worthy. Our European neighbours have shown that retaining your own foreign policy and dignity stands you better in this global world. No nation on the planet takes the UK seriously as a global player and now post Brexit it will be even worse. An inward looking country run by a backward Tory government most received their education via a Victorian institution promoting the ideals of a bygone age. This goes a long way to explain why the country is in the state that it is at present.

The political alignment with America by the rest of the developed world is why the outcome that will unfold over the coming days and weeks is so important to the rest of us. The US was arguably the first nation in the world to become partially democratic. While most Americans quote their Constitutional Rights most days too many of them turn a blind eye or a less than critical eye at the many breaches of that wonderful document. Especially this bit, “all men are created equal” is part of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, which Thomas Jefferson penned in 1776 during the beginning of the American Revolution. The reality is that in the US if you are African American or Native American a Latino or Hispanic voter there is a strong possibility the right in America will try to suppress your vote.

Throughout this present Presidential campaign the incumbent has been laying the groundwork to deny the legitimacy of the result. He and his supporters are trying every trick in the book to delegitimise the outcome if it goes against him. He has openly stated many times that the only way he can lose this election is if it is rigged. Trump has a base that includes extreme right wing armed militias. Only a few weeks ago a plot by one of these armed militias in Michigan planned to kidnap, try and execute the Democratic Governor of the State Gretchen Whitmer. It was only thwarted at the last minute by the FBI. The President to this day has failed to condemn this act of white terrorism. Meanwhile, he is encouraging his supporters to attack and harm peaceful BLM protestors.

Early on in his Presidency, Angela Merkel counselled her fellow EU leaders that they could no longer rely on the US as a stable or reliable partner. She in the eyes of most Western democracies took over the mantle of the leader of the free world. Needless to say only one EU member failed to take heed.

Today many of you might think the events are not as important as Scottish Independence or retaining/leaving the union, Covid or unemployment. Believe me when I say, you should pay attention the election in the US, the outcome will have a profound affect on your daily life.You may not realise that or the extent of American influence on the rest of the world. That is why it is so important that the US is stable, normal and remains a democracy.

Should President Trump actually retain the presidency then democracy in America is in grave danger. A dark and dangerous curtain will be drawn over the United States that will be felt throughout the world. Now more than ever the European Union is vital to the stability and well being of the Western world. It is more pressing than ever that Scotland gets itself untangled from the British Union and returns to the European fold as quickly as possible. We might not have a vote today but we do have a huge stake in the outcome.

Go Joe!