Let's build a wall, ban Muslims, abolish Obamacare - Donald Trump's rise to the Presidency has been marked by a year's worth of mudslinging, as two tainted candidates left the American voter with very little choice. And let's be straight. Trump has said some absolutely shocking and obnoxious things, which have no place in a civilised, global society. Still, he made it into the White House. There are reasons for this, no doubt, which I will examine now, but I do want to say that Hillary would have made a better President. Her politics are not divisive and that’s the stance the world needs today, in an atmosphere of growing understanding and tolerance.
Angry protestors have taken to the streets, nevertheless, with thousands marching against their new President elect, as white supremists simultaneously celebrates his victory. Not long ago, Britain voted out of the EU by a slim margin. The tidal wave of scorn that came their way did nothing to ease the far-right tendencies sweeping across the globe, recently underlined by the American election. In light of all this, perhaps it is time to introspect. What are the circumstances that led to this dramatic shift, that too in an increasingly global economy?
The average and lower middle classes were left reeling after the Global Meltdown. Americans are now struggling to maintain a decent quality of life. This is why Trump appealed to them so greatly. He cashed in on their anger, taking advantage of people's most banal instincts with his talk of making America great again and reclaiming a lost nation. His white supremacist attitude served as the ideal balm for the sea of silent resentment that has infiltrated the minds of millions of working class Americans.
Yes, life is hard, but that doesn't account for the changes Trump wants to make, most of which I think are quite far-fetched. They sound good in the height of campaign fervour, but how much can you really follow through? The Modi government, for instance, has promised to deposit Rs 15 lakh in the accounts of the poor. It's all very well to whip up a frenzy, but how do you plan to
implement it?
The realities of the global economy are akin to a chugging train. You can make all the right noises before an election and vow to stop it, but how can you, really? I don't think Trump can reverse outsourcing, for example. The immigrants working in America dominate the section of blue-collar workers. In the U.S, where every young man or woman graduated with a degree and dreamed of pushing paper, there wasn't anybody left to do the physical work. Jobs were never taken away from them.
Trump also talks of the working American learning to live within his means. While this is valid in a nation where a seven-year-old can own a credit card, it doesn't take away from the fact that he has appealed to our most base and dare I say, regressive, instincts. In a land torn apart by economic catastrophes, he represented a shining thread of hope that the people simply couldn’t resist. While it is not up to us to question the results of a democratic election, I do take comfort in the fact that Trump will have no choice but to mellow his stance once he enters office in January. If he does not, it will mean disastrous consequences for the U.S. and the world.
The writer is State Convener of the Aam Aadmi Party Karnataka and a member of the National Executive of AAP.
