Last updated at 08:15, Wednesday, 05 November 2008

Some people believe that the outcome of America's Presidential vote won’t make much difference to us on this side of the Atlantic. They’re wrong.

Barack Obama

It’s an old cliche, but like most cliches, there’s a grain of truth in it: “If America sneezes, we catch a cold.”

You only have to look at the current state of the credit crunched economy to work that one out.

Because the banks in America arranged mortgages with people who could not afford them, our banking system has gone into meltdown.

Our troops remain in Afghanistan and Iraq as long as the American forces remain there.

There will be no resolution to the conflicts in both countries without the agreement and support of the American government.

And it seems climate change and other environmental issues will only be seriously tackled by world governments if the United States approves.

Britain will feel a blast of change, it seems.

New Yorker Marcia Reed Fotheringham stayed up all night in her Brampton home, watching the states declare their results.

She is in no doubt about how important the result will be to the rest of the world.

“The US continues to be one of the most important powers of the world and affects every country in the world.

“McCain means more financial struggle and war and is most interested in satisfying money people and big business.

“I think Obama is going to try and get us out of the war as soon as he can and is most interested in negotiating peace and that will affect everyone.”

After living in Cumbria for 10 years, she is now a British citizen and can’t vote in the Presidential race.

A Justice of the Peace, consultant psychologist and family therapist, Marcia moved to Cumbria after meeting her husband Jim, a Brampton dentist and climber.

The lifelong Democrat has the Champagne on ice and watched through the night hoping that Obama makes history and becomes President.

“We have got the Champagne ready to toast Obama and I’m hoping that there will be a clear, early winner,” she added.

Steve Morgan, commercial and contract managing director of Sellafield, reasons that Britain and America need the support of each other be at their most effective in the world.

He said that the heritage of the two countries meant that we shared the same world aims and ideals.

“The ‘special relationship’ between the two countries is because it is one nation with different governments.

“We have the same value system and when we work together it is an even bigger country.

“When we work at cross purposes, it can degrade and diminish what the UK can do.

“We have to work in alignment. Britain can’t operate on a world stage alone financially, economically or militarily in contradiction to the US.

“And I don’t think the US would undertake making policy inconsistent with what Britain would want to do.”

Mr Morgan, 60, has lived in Rowrah for the past four years and says he will never give up his US citizenship, but loves Cumbria so much that he will apply for permanent residency in the UK next year.

Originally from Ohio, has already voted for his fellow-Vietnam war veteran John McCain.

He added: “Obama will be more Europe-focused, more a partner than a dominant super power, not as aggressive in the war on terrorism and more likely to redistribute wealth.

“Neither side is wrong, just very different.”

Who becomes President could have a direct effect on Sellafield, according to the executive: “I know the Republicans have been looking at reprocessing fuel at Sellafield and have looked into buying Sellafield expertise.

“Obama has not talked much about energy, he has talked about conservation.”

Val Marriner feared a McCain victory.

Mrs Marriner, originally from Worcester, near Boston, used to run a computer business in Houston, Texas, before moving to Warwick Hall, Warwick-on-Eden in 1998.

She said the outcome of the contest would be important to Britain and the rest of the world.

“If McCain gets in there will be poor leadership, poor judgement, decisions made on a wing and a prayer and the roll of a dice.

“Obama is a great negotiator and he will be less wrong than McCain.

“McCain would keep the US economy weak, his judgement is very poor.

“A weak America is not good for the rest of the world. Who would you rather take over: China? North Korea?”

First published at 11:20, Tuesday, 04 November 2008
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk