U.S. Election: The View From Abroad

Working at a nongovernmental organization, I have the opportunity to talk with people from other countries on a daily basis. I was even in Hungary during the election. The people I speak with all express concern about the US presidential elections because, more than I think Americans realize, the president of the US actually affects these citizens of other countries quite a bit. The president makes policy on foreign aid--how much is given, and to whom it is given--and these policies greatly affect how nongovernmental organizations operate.

The point I would like to make is that although the office of the president seems far removed from our daily lives, it actually affects our lives--and the lives of countries most Americans never think about--in many ways.