Just got an email from a good friend, Chris Bayer, who is spending some time in Mongolia. He’s been engaged is some interesting conversations from Mongols about Tuesday’s election. When they discussed the candidates they offered a key piece of insight about Barak Obama by asking the question:

“Do Americans not understand communism?”

The Mongols, according to Chris, Have lived for decades under communist rule. They know what it looks like, sounds like, and how it is implemented. Thus, as they study the Obama question [all] they have [to say] is:

“Do Americans not understand communism?”

Though I’m in the States right now I’ve experienced part of the transition that Mongolia has made from communism to democracy. Though I came to Mongolia late in the game, what the Mongols had to say to me about socialism was none too friendly, and sometimes horrifying. They suffered greatly under communism and can’t understand why anyone would want a leader that subscribes to communist ideals, or any semblance of communist ideals. So what these Mongols had to say to Chris rings loudly in my own ears.

“Do Americans not understand communism?”

I guess we are about to find out.