Musing on the Recent American Election

I have sat by casually amused by the recently completed US election observing from the side lines what the two primary candidates were saying, what the media were reporting and what friends and family have been opining or posting. All the while trying to be detached because frankly, as I am a Canadian citizen and unable to vote in the US, what influence could I possibly have, or should have, on the outcome?

Now it is time for reflection.

Early on I could sense that Trump was going to appeal to a lot of blue collar Americans, and not because they are “red necks”, or whatever derogatory term one wishes to invoke, but because he was addressing real issues that face the average person; their jobs or lack thereof, fear of terrorism on their native soil, abuse of their basic rights by an uncaring government and a long list of other grievances. As the Huffington Post wrote recently “People don't want to be told how to think and they want to hear ideas that personally resonate” (http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/randall-craig/marketing-lessons-trump_b_12911648.html); Trump did not tell Americans how to think and he gave them ideas that resonated. Clinton failed on both counts. Did I think he would win? Honestly, since emotion makes up such a high component of why a person votes the way they do, I really had no idea

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Do I think they made a good choice, actually yes. He is not beholding to the political elite that his supporters were tired of. As the leader of corporations whereby he had to keep a majority of shareholders satisfied he knows what needs to be done. He may not have political experience but that actually is a good thing as far too many politicians pander to a distinct minority of special interest groups and others looking to suck on the public teat.

As a person is he admirable? No. But should one’s persona be given more weight than their actual abilities? I have met a lot of people who were very good at their jobs but had not so likable personalities. And I have seen the opposite; smooth talkers who really had no substance. Thus I learned a long time ago to not put much measure in that particular aspect of the person. George W. Bush, to put it simply isn’t the sharpest knife in the drawer but he surrounded himself with a very capable cabinet outside of the war monger Dick Cheney. Thus other than the Iraq fiasco he really didn’t do that bad a job. Can Trump do better? Depends a lot on the people who he selects for his cabinet. Only time will really tell.

A very troublesome aspect of the full election cycle though is how so much of the media is populated by “reporters” who, as pointed out above, tried to tell people how to think. I especially find it also a real shame that the vast majority of comedians out there are making the same error of treating their audience as if they are ignorant fools. The full political spectrum provides ample material for a good comedian who can use sarcasm, satire, hyperbole or other tools of humour to sneak through the armour of closed mindedness.  The late great George Carlin really held no political favourites although conservatives easily gave him ready fodder, like being against abortion as all lives matter yet favouring the death penalty.

Before closing though I have one more aspect that troubles me not so much because it is so prevalent in American politics but because we as Canadians are creating our own version; disrespect for those who do not agree with us. Yes, I will admit that I too fall into that trap but I try very hard not to. How can you expect someone to respect your opinions if you disrespect theirs? I am really lucky to have friends who have different views than mine to which I patiently listen and, most importantly of all, they patiently listen to mine. Mutual respect is the foundation of effective debate because it is not until you see all sides of an argument that you really get a sense of where the real truth lies!