What am I doing in the US

A couple of people have asked what exactly I am doing in the US. Few people will have heard of the International Democrat Union, but it is an association of over 80 centre right political parties. Around 50 of us from 25 countries have been attending the Young Leaders Forum in Florida which has been excellent value.

It is amazing hearing the different political challenges around the world. We have people here from Australia, Azerbaijan, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Kenya, Lithuania, Moldova, Mongolia, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Norway, Serbia, St Kitts, St Vincent, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, Turkey, the UK and the USA.

Despite the vastly different backgrounds, there is a lot in common around the world. The challenge of the rising cost of pensions, the benefits of lower taxes, the appreciation of the difficult role the US has in world affairs, hilarity at Howard Dean etc.