Danes visit to get insiders look at election

Americans are not the only ones anxiously awaiting to see who will become the next president of the United States.

The election of a new leader affects more than just our nation; it affects the world, said Christian “Huxi” Bach and Jan Gintberg of Denmark.

The two were in Boulder City on Aug. 4 as part of a three-state tour to create a three-part television special for Danes about the election and Americans’ view of politics. According to Bach and Gintberg, Denmark has been mentioned numerous times by several presidential candidates.

“The election is important; it affects the entire world,” Bach said.

Bach and Gintberg, who host a television show as well as work as comedians, were visiting three of the election’s swing states: Nevada, Florida and Ohio.

After a stop in Las Vegas, where they attended a rally with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, they stopped in Boulder City because they wanted to meet with “ordinary America.”

The two hope their interaction with people, both in small and large cities, will help them learn more about American values and share their values and culture in return.

“We are stupidly believing that we can influence the election,” Bach said.

One issue that has them both deeply troubled is the skepticism and lack of trust Americans put in the political process.

Gintberg said he was surprised by how many people told him they believed it didn’t matter if they voted because they thought the election was rigged.

“I’ve met some people who are convinced everything is rigged, that there is a great conspiracy. Is this Moldova or the United States?” he asked.

Bach added that while the Danish people are skeptical of politicians, they have faith in the democratic system. He said 82 percent of the country’s population typically turns out to vote, significantly more than the amount of people who vote in a U.S. election.

“I don’t know what surprised me more — that Americans don’t vote or they don’t respect democracy,” he said.

The two said they hope their visit and informal conversations with people from all walks of life will help people get rid of their mistrust.

Trust, they said, is the most important thing people can have, whether it’s trust that you can leave a jar of jam out and it will be there upon your return, trust that the system works and is not rigged, or trust in each other to do what they say they will do.

Hali Bernstein Saylor is editor of the Boulder City Review. She can be reached at hsaylor@bouldercityreview.com or at 702-586-9523. Follow @HalisComment on Twitter.