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Comments on US Elections
By Russell Maroon Shoatz
Yes I too was shocked by Trump's victory.
Chris Hedges has been saying for awhile that there was a good chance that
would happen—based on his experience in E. Europe in the 1980/90s, and how harsh
economic conditions coupled with the lack of viable left alternatives opens the
door to late-20th-century Hitler types.
And Bernie & Jill Stein's ability to fill that need proved to be
inadequate.
Even so, neither would have been able to deliver
anything near what is needed, despite Bernie's rhetoric about a "Demo.
Rev." Simply because "the deep state" and the contradictions entrenched
in American cultural norms, coupled with the environmental "wild card,"
demands much, much more than anything I have yet to learn is adequately
being organized around on the Left.
By the same token, Trump has no real chance of satisfying the 1/2 of the
country who wants him to succeed; for the same reasons. No matter how extreme
his camp gets! This leaves us where the country was in 1860/61 . . . with
contemporary touches.
The nationwide resistance is encouraging, and the possibility is there to
replicate the early Tea Party by holding Town Halls that demand the politicians
in the places Trump won deliver on their promises—which they won't, leaving the
door open to win more to our side, while we grapple with how to really change
things.
Just a few thoughts. . . .
STRAIGHT AHEAD!
By Roy Wall
In response to Steve Bloom's thoughts about the US
election:
I was immediately struck by the parallel of trump's victory and the Brexit
vote in Britain to leave the EU. I believe that they were both products of
similar processes.
Trump, like the former leader of the UK Independence Party, Nigel Farage,
another racist, gained support from sections of the working class that have been
particularly impoverished since the crisis of 2007/8 from which there has been
particularly poor recovery in both the USA(?) and UK.
Brexit and Trump's victory were both unwanted by the dominant section(s?)
of finance capital in their respective countries. Trump's victory is more
important because it signifies a new and fundamental crisis of the political
system of the USA—based on the premise that the "ruling class ... wanted Hilary
Clinton to be elected president." Bourgeois democracy is supposed to deliver
the result that the bourgeoisie want. It didn't, hence there is now a
fundamental crisis of the US political system.
By Deborah Engel-Di Mauro
Thanks for that, Steve.
I too, noticed the missing Clinton bumper
stickers and lawn signs and wondered about that prior to election day, but
didn't think that they would result in a Trump win. I disagree with you that the
lack of enthusiasm for Clinton was invisible, but man was it
underestimated!
I like your point about this election potentially
having no more effect on racial consciousness and race relations than Obama's
did. That's (sort of) a reassuring way to look at it.
By Cliff Connor
Hi Steve. Where do I send the
penny?
Your ruminations were worth a lot more
than a penny, but I'm glad you weren't trying to monetarize them. The main thing
they were worth is the time to read them.
I have one small comment to offer, on
the topic of "bumper-sticker and lawn-sign consciousness." I think there is a
simple and direct explanation for why Trump would be expected to win a landslide
in those "polls," and it has to do with the fundamental nature of his core
supporters, who, as the article you quoted described them, are "the cruelest
and most bigoted" elements in our society. Most sensible car- and home-owners
would expect a Hillary sign to invite a smashed windshield or window or worse,
and would calculate that it's not worth the risk of being vandalized to
advertise their political preference.
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