Election

Election

Can you believe the election this year? You’ve got two candidates running dead-even in the latest polls; both major parties coming up with ways to throw money around to get votes; and their positions on the issues of the day – the economy, Iraq – are being spun. All the while, nobody is really saying *anything* of substance. If the election were tomorrow, I don’t know who I would vote for.

Oh, wait. The election *is* tomorrow. What, you thought I was talking about the US?

Nope. Not only do I get to enjoy the fireworks of the US election on TV here, I get to experience an Australian election as well. And let me tell you, it is *very* different. First up – and I think this is *very* Australian – the election isn’t held on any certain day. Whenever the Prime Minister (At this point, it’s John Howard – how many of you knew that?) looks at the calendar, picks a date that doesn’t conflict with important events like beer-drinking contests or football finals (Wait – those are the same thing!), he calls an election for sometime down the track. This year, Johnny decided to have a long campaign.

6 weeks.

Yes, you heard right. From the time the election was called to when folks here vote it’s *6 weeks* - and that’s considered *long*! When you compare this to the dog-and-pony show going on in the US for over a year now, it sounds downright quaint! The political commercials on TV end days before the actual election, the candidates are actually polite to each other, and both parties combined only spend about $60 million trying to win (I think Cheney alone spends that much on heart medication!). The whole process is almost enough for me to stay in Australia.

Almost.

But something I find interesting is that voting is mandatory here. If you don’t show up to cast your vote, the come find you and give you a fine. You can nominate Skippy the Kangaroo for Prime Minister with your ballot, but you have to at least show up to stay out of trouble. Now, here comes the soap box from Bryan: get out and vote November 2 in the US elections – none of you have any excuse. If I can vote for the next President from 10,000 miles away (just put the absentee ballot in the mail), you all can go to your local polling place and press the lever, check the box or punch the chad (Just make sure you get it all the way out this time. Especially if you live in Florida.). It’s one of the greatest freedoms we enjoy as Americans, and one of the responsibilities for living in a free country.

Not to mention it gives you the right to complain if the other guy wins. Here ends the sermon.

Now, back to school. My current peds rotation is pediatric surgery combined with neonatology – or, dealing with bubs smaller than a beer. I’ve been spending time in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) with the littlest patients – some weighing less than 2 pounds – with more tubes in them than an old radio. Not to say they aren’t feisty – I was helping with a newborn the other day; she was born premature and needed a little help. It took two adults to hold her still so they could insert an IV line.

Probably because one adult was me and the bub was covered in baby juice…

And with that, it’s the weekend. Exams start in 6 weeks, so most of my time is taken up with studying, reading textbooks and practicing exams. Not to mention trying to get baby juice off my hands…

As always, Love to All and keep working on your 101 List!
Bryan