The Trump-Clinton Debate Polarises America Some More
Quite predictably, "liberal" pundits have declared Hillary Clinton as the clear winner over Donald Trump in their first debate. According to them, Clinton appeared "presidential" while Trump looked and talked more like a cornered brat or bully. Twitter exploded with "I did not...", a phrase used repeatedly by Trump as a seasoned and well prepared Clinton kept up a sustained fusillade of allegations against him. But liberals were not the only ones cheering democrats. For the first time since the end of the Second World War, a significant section of "conservatives" too seemed to be quietly cheering for her and hoping the Republican candidate Donald Trump lose this election. The reasons are simple: throughout his campaign, Trump has only succeeded in reinforcing opinion that he is either a dangerous buffoon or an even more dangerous prejudiced bigot.
Predictably, the news network CNN announced soon after the debate that a poll says more than 65 per cent of American voters who watched the debate thought Clinton was a clear winner. But wait, before the liberals could heave a sigh of relief that Trump has finally been exposed as a bully on live TV came results of many other similar polls conducted by media and research outlets. Some of these polls (it seems including one by the magazine Time) suggested that a majority of viewers thought Trump had won the debate. The real surprise for anyone who watched the debate and saw Trump flounder and appear defensive, it is a shock that so many Americans still thought he won the debate. This is one fact that seems to haunt not just liberals, but also Americans who have no love lost for Hillary Clinton. How has such a divisive, prejudiced, bigoted and racist candidate managed to run Clinton ragged in opinion polls for months? In fact, many polls in America indicate a lead for Trump. In an earlier post on this website, this author had compared the Trump-Clinton fight with a hypothetical Praveen Togadia-Sonia Gandhi fight in India. Imagine the shockwaves in India if Togadia were to actually emerge as a serious rival to Gandhi. Something similar is happening in the United States.
The problem lies with deep divisions and fault lines in American society and economy. For almost four decades after the end of the Second World War in 1945, the average American citizen enjoyed a standard of living that improved year after year. The rich were always "filthy" rich in America. But that did cause much anger amongst average Americans for three reasons: first, Americans have enjoyed a culture of celebrating successful entrepreneurs. Second, the average American could dream of using the opportunities available to craft success stories through access to both higher education and business opportunities. Third, income inequalities were not widening at an alarming rate. But all that has changed since the mid 1980s and poor Americans now no longer feel confident of fulfilling their American Dream. Inequalities have reached obscene levels. Access to quality higher education is no longer affordable or available. Besides, globalization and demographic changes have destroyed the monopoly over political and economic power that the traditional "white" American enjoyed.
This American is confused, angry and afraid of the future. For this American, while Trump does say ridiculous things once in a while, Hillary Clinton comes across as the privileged and elitist wheeler dealer who has played a big role in destroying his American Dream. The fact is, an average worker at Wal Mart can not even dream anymore of sending her children to college. It is this American- a confused but potent mix of economic insecurity and racial prejudice- that seems determined to shock liberals by supporting Trump. The liberals can mock or marvel at this American, but he, and she, are not going to go away. Even if Trump loses as appears almost certain at the moment, some rules of the game would have permanently changed.
This is the same story across the world as the "masses" have simply stopped trusting the liberal elites. The Brexit vote in England is a classic example of this revolt. It would be easy for "liberals" across the world mock at the insecurities and prejudices of the masses. But for a genuine liberal, the challenge is to regain that lost trust. Laughing at Trump is easy; it will be more difficult to transform the institutions and liberal orthodoxy that now seem to work for the elite with doors closed for everyone else.
