A world view of our world (aka assignment3)

When it comes to domestic news coverage in America, I find that our indigenous media has fallen short on being without bias. So, I like to direct my browser to worldwide news agencies to give myself a new perspective on how the world views our sovereign state. I particularly like to read the UK's take on things. There is a twofold reason for my preference, 1. We share a common language, so things don't become lost in translation. 2. There is no other nation (in my honest opinion) that is so closely tied to what we do, but at the same time has a completely separate identity. Canada is too close to not be affected by our overwhelming culture.

So, with all that fanfare behind me I give you-http://www.guardian.co.uk/ A very British take on world affairs.

One article that I found of immediate interest was an inside look into the financial crisis in the state of California. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/oct/04/california-failing-state-debt. I am originally from the behemoth below us, so I have a personal predilection to stories that involve my former home. But, alas we are all effected by what happens in California. One out of every 8 persons in the United States lives in California, so as California goes, so goes the nation. The scary thing about the article is the sheer numbers that are tossed around in the crises. 12% unemployment in a state of over 36 million people! That is a scary statistic. This is the highest figure in over 70 years btw.

Here is a frightening excerpt from this article-

"Much has been made globally of the problems of Ireland and Iceland. Yet California dwarfs both. It is the eighth largest economy in the world, with a population of 37 million. If it was an independent country it would be in the G8. And if it were a company, it would likely be declared bankrupt."

Shift your paradigm and take a tour of how the foreign world news portrays our Nation. I think you will find it interesting and hopefully a little eye opening.