On the eve of this US election it would be good to look back on what we’ve just witnessed. It’s certainly been a tumultuous 4-5 years that requires closure. But let’s not waste time rehashing all the standard stuff. People know what the pundits have said. Instead, let’s look at America in general and what we have learned about human nature. Here is where the lessons lie.
This is my top seven list.
- Canadians know zilch about US politics
- Modern American journalism is loaded with bias
- Most people know nothing about psychology
- We’re emotional beings motivated by ethics and can easily be stoked into hatred
- The current Democrat Party is dirty (just like the Republicans)
- There really is a deep state (and every country has one)
- Corruption and incompetence mostly affects the working class
During the Republican nomination process of 2015, Chris Christie, who’s generally regarded as a nice guy, stood up and said, “What nobody is talking about is entitlements. We have to start lowering entitlements.” For the former lawyer turned prosecutor, the answer to debt caused by the financial crisis of ‘08 was to cut people’s pensions. That’s what a former governor of New Jersey loudly said. So the crisis caused by government incompetence and corporate greed that cost over 10 trillion dollars must be repaid by the average schmuck.
Up here, thanks to $142 oil and the benevolence of Alberta, most Canadians never knew a crisis existed. We ended 2015 with a $2B surplus and everybody had work. But the years 2008 – 2016 had not been kind to America. People lost homes along with their jobs during a very hard crash, and the recovery was slow. Needless to say, many were miffed.
War
In 1991, the former Soviet Union fell and modern day Russia met bankruptcy. Outsiders gladly appeared with loans and assistance for their former rivals, but this event also marked a unique moment in history. The US was now the world’s only superpower. As a result, a strategy emerged within the Defense Department to clean up the world, starting in the Middle East.
With communism no longer a threat the foreign focus shifted. We needed to stabilize the world’s oil reserves by initiating an occupation in Iraq. “Shouldn’t take much effort and we’ll be home in a short while.” But as you know, modern warfare is nothing like in the past. One side has all the weapons while the other holds great will.
It’s not the 4,600 deaths or the 37,000 casualties US soldiers had to suffer, it’s watching a 9 year-old get blown up that really gets to you. You see, uncivilized nations don’t know how to fight fair. As a result, most everyone in middle America knows somebody who’s been affected (rich people don’t send their kids). And if not in Iraq, then Afghanistan, Syria, or Hillary’s invasion of Libya during the Arab Spring—which left over 6.6 million living inside a failed state. In short: Americans have spent a very long time at war and many are fed up. Canadians mostly watch it on TV.
Jobs
During the 1980s, world leaders from the G-Special nations decided globalization was a good plan. We’ll civilize other countries by giving them work. And yes, everything started out fine. But when millions of good jobs became exported this philosophy got out of hand. Loads of average workers went from making $32 an hour to only $8.50, and plenty of towns and small cities got decimated. So again, thanks to government incompetence and corporate greed, this policy became “that’s the way it is.” And every politician turned to the public and lied (except for Bernie).
On a world scale, globalization can easily be viewed as a great idea. One could argue that. But there were certainly consequences. Ones felt by a specific class. Low-skilled, physical workers who don’t have the option of joining Microsoft. In Canada, we saw this too. But in a huge land filled with resources, the pain was hardly felt.
Summary
Now let’s put these pieces together. The financial crisis of ‘08, the war in Iraq (plus others like it), and unfettered globalization. Do you think some people got pissed off? Surprise! They did. So while you were feeling stunned by the results of 2016, they were not. And nobody up here knew anything about this (including me).
Obama himself reacted by admitting many Americans felt forgotten and acknowledged this well overdue gripe. Late night’s Seth Meyers did the same thing. This general position held through the entire transition. For months the above mentioned class were no longer deplorables, they became people. No more losers, but everyday citizens. Then on day two after the inauguration, the Steele dossier was presented and this whole cluster show started. And it’s been ugly.
Without a doubt, most Canadians would have voted for Hillary. Our nation has long found the Dems to be best. But for many in the States both parties are the same. Globalization and ’08 weren’t one team’s position and wars have to be sanctioned by both sides. Plus, working class people don’t look to politics for identity and purpose. They just want others to do a good job. And in my opinion, they made the right choice.
Donald Trump could very much lose this election. A lot of institutions don’t like him and I’ve never seen such an effort to kick out a pres. And if such a thing really does happen, a lot of people will be broken-hearted. He really was their hero. That’s why they showed up by the thousands. And when you think about it, what did they have to lose?
Condoleezza Rice said populism is when the electorate loses faith in their institutions. That’s what happened in ’16. No one is fooling anyone by claiming the system before was just fine. This country has many problems that never seem to get addressed. So when you start singing, “Hail, Hail, The witch is dead” as Donald Trump gets defeated, try to remember this.
Canadians know zilch about American politics.