The fact that Donald Trump is winning virtually every Republican primary in this years presidential spectacle only reflects a far more sinister situation. There are many frightened Americans who feel stripped of their livelihoods and dignity but secretly powerless to do anything about those directly responsible for it -- namely, the corporate sector -- who are the real culprits. So, they turn to a man who is ambitious enough to play upon their fears, anger and willful blindness for no other reason than he appears to actually crave attention and power.
To this end, Mr. Trump seizes the opportunity to garner that attention and power by exploiting the frustrations of people who are desperate to lash out at someone -- anyone -- to experience some measure of satisfaction from a system they feel has betrayed them. However, be warned: there have been historical situations comparable to this. Previous to World War II, a similarly disaffected German populace was exploited by another man hungry for attention -- hungry for power. I can hear your reaction already: how dare you suggest anything to do with Hitler when speaking of an American election. However, may I kindly remind you that Mr. Trump has already quoted Mussolini and when asked about it, refused to clearly dissociate himself from the quotations implied associations. So, let me ask a question requiring your rigorous honesty: did immigrants really take your good paying jobs; did African-Americans really take your good paying jobs; did Muslims or others really take your good paying jobs?
No, the real truth is corporate greed off-shored your jobs through NAFTA and similar trade deals; as a result, you now harbor a vague dread your economic well-being will never return. Donald Trump knows this. And because he is a savvy and brazen individual, confident in his billionaire comforts and the ways of media celebrity -- he's able to give voice to those fears for you. But here's the rub: he perverts the expression of your anger by misdirecting it toward those who are as or more hurt by corporate greed than you are: people of color, immigrants, poor whites, Muslims and others.
This misdirection is intensified by a corporate media well-served by Mr. Trumps' bluster knowing we will tune in to witness his explosive hostility during debate proceedings, rallies, press conferences and the like. So media market share is increased and the toxic hate is telecast 24/7. This truth begs the question: What does that say about us? Whatever it says, we are seriously in danger of becoming accomplices to this toxicity and its viral effects. Then we will all be in trouble.
With ever-increasing violence at his rallies (sometimes prompted by Mr. Trump himself) and growing support from extremist groups like the Ku Klux Klan, are we to assume that violent behavior will become the order of the day if Mr. Trump assumes the presidency? Will we eventually build walls around our entire country or disappear immigrants in the middle of the night; maybe even lynch undesirables or send some to the ovens? And what about our foreign policy? Remember this is the nuclear age with ever smaller delivery systems designed to engage in what's been termed "limited nuclear warfare," so macho militarism could easily create catastrophic results.
Interestingly enough, I actually find myself in agreement with Mr. Trump on a few of his stands -- for example, his stand against the Trans-Pacific Partnership Trade proposal or TPP. But being a member of the very corporate class which stands to benefit most from the provisions of the TPP, how long do you think it will be after he assumes office (knowing that day-to-day governance is much different from campaign promises) before he does change his mind on this, tariffs and the rest of it, citing some new information brought to him by his advisers? And frankly, Mr. Trump would not be the first new president who felt secretly overwhelmed by the responsibilities of the Oval Office after learning of their full scope. What then? But, of course, "The Donald" has displayed the kind of stability of character we can be confident in, right? So, we don't have to worry about that.
You know, I've been a congressional staffer/political operative on Capitol Hill and nationally now for over 20 years and other than in the Miami round (where Mr. Trump stood in the virtual winners circle), I have never seen anything like what has been this season's Republican primaries/debates. It's as if there's a kind of "cult of personality" around this guy. And where are the real culprits: the corporate sector -- whose greed has caused this destruction of our working and middle classes?
Well, it's still off shoring our jobs, hiding our rightful tax revenues in off-shore tax havens (which some estimates say reaches some seven trillion dollars), and creating new financial malfeasance schemes -- while at the same time -- on shoring low wages, unemployment, poverty, climate disruption, fear and the rest of it.
The hard truth is that global financial capital--especially from the U.S.--has decided not to hire American workers going forward, who cost too much and thereby cut into its profit figures and compensation packages. This is why we've lost our robust job sector, period. And why we will continue to lose our jobs until we refocus our energies on the corporate takeover of our government and not on each other. Yes, your anger and frustration is definitely justified but remember to not allow it to be exploited by any one person out for his own power; and instead, direct it at the true culprit: corporate greed. That's the more courageous fight.