First of all let me be honest; I am no follower of American politics. As I spent the last week in US , one question that grapples most Americans was 'What is behind the rise of Donal Trump ? "
Based on my limited knowledge and what I learnt from talking to Americans in Texas, there are 3 key reasons
1) Obama is the Manmohan Singh of the US. Despite the promise and the potential, there has been very little in terms of performance to show for. Obamacare is turning out to be the MNREGA of the US - a socialist scheme with an incomplete implementation. Most of Obama's policies are confusing to say the least - Obama's stand on most issues be it immigration, ISIS, Putin remains very un-clear. In terms of economy or foreign affairs there is nothing new or innovative being done. No one can dispute that Americas position as a global leader is very much on the decline.
2) Rise of the extreme right wing. One cannot miss the growing anger among the right wing Americans. Their anger and frustration has reached a point that they will back anyone who can get rid of the Democrat government. Trump may be un-conventional but has the fire power to take on the Democrats
3) Lastly , the most damaging issue. Trump's rise is a symptom of a society whose culture is reduced to a reality TV show. What binds people and society together for a common cause is culture. Families are critical institutions where culture is learned and lived. With the decline of family as an institution, there is little room for unifying culture. This void is filled in by the spectacle of reality TV. Trump knows how to play the reality TV game than anyone else.
Can anyone stop Trump ? Yes ... its only right wing, if only they had an alternative,
Based on my limited knowledge and what I learnt from talking to Americans in Texas, there are 3 key reasons
1) Obama is the Manmohan Singh of the US. Despite the promise and the potential, there has been very little in terms of performance to show for. Obamacare is turning out to be the MNREGA of the US - a socialist scheme with an incomplete implementation. Most of Obama's policies are confusing to say the least - Obama's stand on most issues be it immigration, ISIS, Putin remains very un-clear. In terms of economy or foreign affairs there is nothing new or innovative being done. No one can dispute that Americas position as a global leader is very much on the decline.
2) Rise of the extreme right wing. One cannot miss the growing anger among the right wing Americans. Their anger and frustration has reached a point that they will back anyone who can get rid of the Democrat government. Trump may be un-conventional but has the fire power to take on the Democrats
3) Lastly , the most damaging issue. Trump's rise is a symptom of a society whose culture is reduced to a reality TV show. What binds people and society together for a common cause is culture. Families are critical institutions where culture is learned and lived. With the decline of family as an institution, there is little room for unifying culture. This void is filled in by the spectacle of reality TV. Trump knows how to play the reality TV game than anyone else.
Can anyone stop Trump ? Yes ... its only right wing, if only they had an alternative,
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ReplyDeleteVery Well Researched Article Shastriji ..Very true
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