24 Oct 2020 | 04:15am IST
As Trump bab & Biden bab battle it out, Goans log on to the US polls
The American elections are no longer taking place in a differentbplanet. In fact they are happening on our smart phones and tablets. Technology has made Trump the politician next door wuth more visibility more than even panchayat leaders or MLAS in Goa. Quite frankly many Goans probably are more upto speed with the early November US presidential elections s than the Assembly rkectionsbin Bihar
Ajit John
91 year old Dr Margarida de Miranda has watched both the US Presidential debates, has a full opinion on Obama care and Trump's COVID response. All this from her 500 year old home in Loutolim. Though she won't vote in the November US elections she may well follow it more closely than the fate of her panch member in Orgao in the next panchayat elections in Loutolim.
The American election is the hottest show in town. Millions are watching it in America and around the world. This reach has been achieved thanks to technology which has increased reach. Mobile telephony has helped the tribesmen in deepest Africa and Aldrin Fernandes sitting with his friends in a waddo in Caranzalem to watch it without hassle. The American elections involves a cast of characters lead by a President noted for his unpredictability and a with a capacity to shock. During the third debate held in the early hours of the morning on Friday, India time was also very interesting with the President Donald Trump singling India, China and Russia for being filthy in terms of climate change. The campaign has also been marked by the President postings his thoughts on Twitter that at times have boggled the mind. From his support for conspiracies to his reluctance to criticize white supremacists, it has been a very interesting campaign.
Goan businessmen many of whom work with American companies, the campaign has been interesting to put it mildly. Pradip Da Costa Director of a company that is an original equipment manufacturer for diverse companies in various sectors laughed and said the campaign in America was worse than Bihar. He said “The technology has made it so accessible for us. Someone sitting in Verna, those interested can watch clips on their phone. There are no delayed facts. It can be direct live or edited clips. I know youngsters in Goa who are interested in studying abroad more specifically the US who are watching the elections with great interest because of all the politics around visas. Technology yes has brought us closer and has made us able to follow these major developments more closely.”
Sandip Bhandare immediate Past President GCCI said one could attribute it all to election rhetoric. He said “People in India and yes Goa are watching the polls with much interest. Earlier the elections would take place and perhaps the swearing in would attract attention but now the entire process is followed. First there was tv an now there are phones. Trumps style makes him very interesting. It is not normal and he can take it to an extreme end. You have to understand the world is linked and what is happening in America can affect India. He is also a reality show star and people can’t predict his behavior. It is like a 20:20 match. It is so unpredictable.”
Kirit Maganlal the man behind one of the largest retail groups in the state felt the popularity of the elections could be attributed to one man who many felt was capable of saying or doing anything. Technology was available helping people to access some of the more outrageous clips in Goa and any other part of the country. ”
Milind Prabhu one of the scores of Goans who has found success in the IT space said “This is great tv and there are very smart people who know how to tap into our keystone habits and they can change the direction of an election. People can access all this on their phones and they are hooked in Goa and in the rest of the country and the world. The people behind this are very smart and they know how to tap into your consciousness. Watching it on a phone is happening in Goa, I know it and people have definite views on who they support"
Nitin Kunkolienkar, President MAIT, a man in an industry that is linked to every corner of the world seemed quite unfazed by the drama that surrounded the elections. He said “In America business and politics always move in tandem. If they say that India is illiterate, they will dump software and computers in the country and then if they claim India is polluted, they will try to create environmental zones.”
The general feeling is that the availability of the technology along with the sheer unpredictability of the President makes for great viewing. The days ahead would be interesting but things would settle down. That is something everyone will hope after four tumultuous years of the Trump presidency.
