Reflection of election as an outsider

Many of you might think this year's election was not much of my concern
mainly because it is, of course, not my country.

To be honest, however, I was concerned as much as I concerned
the election of my own country, which happened shortly before,
since it is true that America can play a major role on deciding my nation's future.

Before I tell you why, I want to breifly talk about current situation in Korea.
Our president, Myung-Bak Lee, is notorious for his lack of political virtues such as
the dedication to popular will or his own morality. I would go on, but it might be mean.
I just wanted to tell you that he has been accused of embezzlement and swindling. (Charges
dropped, of course as a complete coindence, after he was elected.)

My major concern was whether America choose a leader who are against neo-liberalism,
in which our president deeply believes, so that America can block Korean-American Free Trade
Agreement( FTA). FTA includes removing of revenues and other political and legal measure to regulate competitions. For example, after FTA is ratified, Korean national health insurance (Koreans pay some amount of money per month for health insurance and are covered when they get medical service. ) can be abolished since it can be against free competition of insurance companies. Canada Postal service system, after NAFTA, was sued by UPS for that logic.

I wonder whether you guys watched the documentary 'Blade'. Numerous people in America has no insurance at all simply because they cannot pay. In Blade, one Afro-American women got infection on her finger and went to hospital. No suprises, she doesn't have insurance and the cost of a single anti-infection shot was like $500( it is like $5 in Korea for all people, thanks to national health insurance.) Infection got worse and she couldn't pay. She cut her own finger with a blade. Imagine if you have a baby who should be in an incubator due to his/her physical condition. It costs more than 2,000 dollars per month( It's covered price, in Korea.) After parents sold their houses and cars and everything, they discharge the baby. The baby dies even before she can call mommy. This is not an imaginary story. This happens in America now and it might happen in Korea, too.

Another example. I am thinking about going back to Korea after graduation, since our family can't pay the college tuition, which is about $40,000( including living cost and regarding the fact that i can't easily get scholarship.) Most expensive university in Korea has 4,000 dollars per year, but I can't even expect how high it will be if FTA is approved, because Korean government is basically paying part of the tution now. They won't.

Whether I like it or not, capitalism, or greed, dominates this world. Everything in the society happens due to market theory. We need to remember that human rights should be our top priority at all cost. We should not die because we don't have money. We should be awarded with same opportunity regardless of money, social background, etc. Unless we make social safety net, my examples will be only beginning.

Since FTA has passed National Assembly and our president will certainly not veto, America is our only hope now, sadly. I hoped Obama to be elected for people suffering in Korea. And he was. I don't know whether he will reject FTA agreement but more likely than Mccain.

So I hope you think about not only about development or flourishing economy but also people who are dying because they don't have money to go to hospital. I want you to think about people in other countries since America can decide their fate in some way. Someone said to use the power of giant as giant is a tragedy. Great power should be accompanied with great responsiblity.