American progression?
The upcoming American election in November of this year is set to dramatically shake up the white, male-dominated world of American politics with the appointment of either the country's first black president, or the first female vice president.
All the facts point to rampant social progression on the other side of the Atlantic, but in reality are the successes of Barack Obama and Sarah Palin a result of broadening social attitudes or worsening social crises?
Arguably, the latter has played the leading role in both the Democratic and Republican electoral campaigns thus far and the current political situation in the United States, particularly with regard to incumbent President, George Bush, has resulted in a theme of 'change' presenting itself as the key determining in the race to the White House.
As Bush comes to the end of his second term as Commander-in-Chief and prepares to hand over the White House to either Barack Obama or John McCain he leaves behind him a much chequered legacy.
The controversial nature of his tenure as President has been clearly reflected in the attitudes of the American public, particularly in recent months which have seen Bush's approval ratings plummet dramatically.
On April 11th this year a Gallup poll suggested this approval rating was at the lowest of his administration with only 28% of the population approving of his Presidency, and a 67% disapproval rate.
Such has been the nature of the Bush administration, "only fifteen percent of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the United States" (Gallup.com).
Given this evidence, Obama's early lead in the race to the Presidency is self-explanatory due to his status as the so-called 'change' candidate - and there is arguably no clearer indication of the change he proposes than the colour of his skin as, if elected, Obama would become the United States' first African-American President.
This "lost faith" in Bush is highlighted by Obama in his 'Blueprint For Change' as he strives for "Change we can believe in" - his aims and motives are clear enough.
John McCain, Obama's Republican opponent, arguably represents a continuation of the Bush regime - something which Obama has been keen to point out.
And similarities between McCain and Bush do exist.
McCain's twenty-five year record in the House of Representatives and the Senate, his 2008 campaign positions and his major speeches in 2008 show that on so-called 'big ticket' issues such as the economy, Iraq and healthcare there are glaring similarities to Bush policies.
Despite attempting to distance himself from Bush and pursuing different tact on issues such as climate change, federal spending and arms control, McCain and Bush still appear "more similar than different" (nytimes.com).
Such is this similarity that a poll in July 2008 suggested that two in three Americans were concerned that McCain would pursue policies too similar to those of President Bush (Gallup.com).
While change was evidently set to be a key determinant in the outcome of this year's election from the outset, Obama's early lead would also appear to suggest dramatic social progression in America.
The basis of Obama's policies arguably heads his appeal as a presidential candidate given the difficulties of the Bush administration.
However, the simple fact that Obama has achieved such status given his race and the nature of the American political landscape would suggest, to an extent, increasing racial equality in the United States.
However, this argument for the existence of social progression in the United States with regard to the success of Obama has been somewhat called into question following the shock appointment of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate.
With her appointment Palin becomes the first female vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party and, if the McCain campaign were to prove victorious, she would become America's first female Vice President.
So does Palin represent another crack in the glass ceiling for women in the world of politics?
Arguably yes, but not as a result of her political experience and mainly because of her gender - which brings us back to the theme of change prevalent in the campaign so far. 123»
