Whether we like Donald Trump or not, the reality is that he has already made a serious impact on a significant portion of the American minds. He may not command support from immigrants and educated women, but a large portion of middle-aged white Americans who lost out to globalisation, who are having tough time to pay for Medicare, and whose children are being killed to protect the interests of other countries, seem to be with Trump.
Globalisation helped outsource a lot of well-paying US jobs to India, Philippines, China, Vietnam, and even Bangladesh. A lot of Americans don’t like the way immigrants are getting into lot of white-collar jobs in the US. Had the immigrants, especially those who are unregistered, not accepted low-earning per-hour jobs, the hourly payment for white Americans would have been much higher.
American soldiers who are sacrificing their lives fighting outside America, are not being reciprocated well by the countries they are trying to protect.
Mr Trump has raised a possibly valid question: While America and Americans remain in crisis, what benefits have the protection of Saudi Arabia or the NATO states brought to the US? He wanted America to look at Americans first, not the people of the world.
These are, of course, not aligned with the people who think that the US has a responsibility to do good to the rest of the world in order to maintain its leadership position. They strongly feel that the US has a role to champion democracy, innovation, and justice in the world. Barack Obama’s speech at the UN general assembly in 2014 duly highlighted those sentiments.
Hillary Clinton wants to take those values forward. She obviously feels that the US has a role to play in ensuring global peace and security.
The situation has been made more complex by Mr Trump when he says he won’t accept the election result if he does not win. I never thought the US was run by its president alone, but my concerns remain when I get to see that Mr Trump commands almost 40% of the electorate.
Trump has raised a valid question: While America and Americans remain in crisis, what benefits have the protection of Saudi Arabia or the NATO states brought to the US? He wanted America to look at Americans first, not the people of the world
Despite his very nasty comments against women, a lot of American women still like Trump and strongly feel that Hillary Clinton is far worse and she is simply going to walk in the shadow of Barack Obama and maintain the not so good legacy for the Americans.
My concern grows when reminded of the Brexit poll. I never thought so much of hatred was growing amongst Britons against globalisation and low-earning immigrants.
Conservatism amongst Americans -- whose economy has literally grown out of the sweat of the immigrants, who houses Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Facebook, Coke, MIT, Harvard and many more – has got to create tensions among all who believe that you simply can’t be the best unless enterprise in the best country recognises your success or achievement.
Where does this neo-conservatism take us, and more importantly, the United States of America? Will the US be the same under Trump?
Can they point any more fingers at the states who can’t claim for democratic practices or championing democratic institutions?
Possibly not.
There have been attacks on the Pentagon and the Twin Towers, but we didn’t see such hatred against Muslims or all Muslims being labelled as terrorists. Even Bush Jr didn’t claim so.
I know for sure that there are “foreign pokes” behind the recent killings and cyber-attacks in the US.
But it also seems that a majority is indifferent on the matter. They feel America should be for Americans.
What Hillary or Trump will do to America is yet to be seen. But it is obvious that we are seeing a divided America.
Never in the past has the world seen so much of hatred among Americans. Whoever wins, they have to work to narrow the gap. The rest of the world has a significant stake in their success.
Mamun Rashid is an economic analyst.
