So there we have it after what I would describe as the most sensational election I've ever seen Donald Trump wins to becomes the 45th American President!
I've just listened to his speech
I've just listened to his speech and immediately there seems a mellowing of retoric. America will be a nation for all, for all races. And I feel we will see more of this as Trump gets nearer and becomes president. This is not because he was trying to mislead or lie this is to me the result that we see often and damages political opinion. He we have the first American president never to have been elected to office and never to have served in the military, when he was campaigning he was genuinely making those commitments in the belief he can deliver things like the wall. Donald Trump will now have get to grips with political systems and process as well as a huge learning curve about how sometimes things have become so integrated it's incredibly hard to unpick. He will be judged on this and as he has already spoke of a corrupt system he willbe under particular pressure. This may perpetuate the 'all politicians can't be believed' myth. There are a great many hard working honest politicians out there tarred with brush of corruption, in the workplace I have been introduced to visitors by managers who have said "this is Jeremy, don't believe a word he says he's a politician".
Anyway back to the American result, shock horror the polls have get it wrong Again just as they did in the referendum just like they did in the 2015 general election, but combined with the popular press many results have been predicted incorrectly for years. Throughout the first 15 years of the 2000's we saw the BBC and others on the grass outside the Houses of Parliament the morning after local elections stating surprise wins for the Tory's, being in politics the only people surprised were the TV crews on the grass. So what's gone wrong?
Today we read the financial markets are in chaos due to Trump's success, I have a question press, pollsters, bankers etc who is running our politics? And this brings me back to my 3 paragraph with Trump's pledges. How many of the reported pledges were mere sound bites from sections of speeches without the full context. Yes I know this is an excuse abused often. Just after midnight I heard an interview of a Trump supporter, the reporter said 'we heard what Donald Trump wants to do but we have not heard how he will do it " the supporter replied "at a rally 10 days ago Donald Trump explained exactly what he will do in his first 100 days". Hmm? Something not reported.
I think we need to stay calm and see what happens, panicking ain't gonna help.
Back in July I was talking to someone fresh back from the states who said "he's going to win you know, there's a lot of Silent Trumpers!"
Trump did a magnificent sales job and gave regular politicians a run for their money. He appealed to almost every 'market' and played on their fear and their prejudice and got himself elected. Now he's got the job? You're right, he's going to see now just how hard it is and have his rough edges chisled off in the process. Washington will change him not the other way around. One thing he has going for him, he's an extreme personality and maybe you need to start at 'extreme' to get what you want somewhere in the middle.
ReplyDeleteIt is a similar but the reverse of the tack that Ken Livingstone used with the GLC and Later London Mayor, instead of building on fear and insecurity he built of inclusion with minority groups. Quite different but still using prejudice in opposite directions. Ken fought to support minority groups, Donald used used minorities to appeal to the masses, Different times in history I suppose.
ReplyDeleteI 100% believe there is room for the fresh drive in politics but think there needs to be a lot done to make governance more open and understandable. I have to say the financial crisis, austerity and the squeeze on local government prior to both has created well managed councils who balance budgets rather than the place shapers they could be.