America. Screwed? Not Screwed? Or Maybe Just A Little Less Screwed Than Everybody Thinks?
Like just about everybody else with two brain cells to rub together, I was shocked at the results of the US presidential election. I mean who wouldn’t be? the a president of a powerful country should be. And he is certainly the antithesis of the current US president.
What The %^&* Happened?
We were also shocked because a lot of what we had seen from him was the divisive, racist, sexist, narcissist side, which, for some reason, he was not shy about projecting.
We saw a lot of this side of him because that was pretty much all the media was interested in was in the creation of a persona that was the polar opposite of the persona they created for Hillary Clinton.
And of course, to make the story even more interesting, the right wing asshole extremist community lined up behind Trump and the creative community lined up behind Hillary.
But what was forgotten in all this posturing, to a great extent, was the actual people of the United States. The ones who had to cast the votes. The ones whose voices were never heard.
The true oddity here was that it was Trump who managed to reach out to the people the most effectively. It’s odd because he is nothing at all like the people who showed up at his rallies, who followed him religiously throughout the campaign and who ultimately voted for him.
These are the people who, I can only assume, saw through the bluster and the exaggeration he was using, and skillfully to: A) Get people to actually listen and acknowledge these issues and B) Effectively, however crudely, re-position anyone he viewed as competition.
Two Trumps For The Price Of One
Trump risked a lot by all the bullying he did. He painted himself as a racist, a sexist and all kinds of other things. He made the people who opposed him hate him. But he also made the people who loved him, worship him.
This is a hell of a thing no matter how you slice it. And it doesn’t matter where you sit politically, what we have seen here, as repugnant and disgusting as it seemed most of the time, was some pretty damn slick campaigning.
Don’t Get Me Wrong
I’m still not convinced that this was the right road for America to travel down at this point in history. It's uber high risk at best. But as my FB friend Jake Volt pointed out the other day “Nobody knows nothing. All we can do is watch and see.”
So I am watching and watching closely. Because what happens in America reverberates everywhere and guess who will be the first to feel it, said the guy in the mildly vibrating igloo.
And we should all watch this closely. Because the world has become more and more tightly interconnected every day. And causes and effects much closer and more powerful.
Back To The Questions
IMO America is not screwed. Not yet anyway. But the potential exists, even though every day, since the election you see Trump becoming more conservative as he actually starts to realize the number of balls he will have to juggle.
• I have personally learned a lot about the culture of free societies from this election.• I have learned that the will of the people is still the most powerful force in society.
• I have learned that there are more than just two sides to every story.
• I have learned not to rush to final judgement until I am satisfied that I have enough information to make a sound judgement.
• And to me, personally the most important lesson of all is that if you really want to understand something, you can no longer rely on the news media to provide you with anything in the way of unbiased information.
Their only agendas are controlling the message and advertising dollars. With very few exceptions they are all pawns who willingly support the strategies of their owners because they want to be famous and make lots of money.
I Don’t Like Donald Trump One Little Bit. But…
My personal feelings are irrelevant, and not worth a thing if you ask most Americans.
It would appear that the great American Cultural Experiment has entered a strange new phase.
If it brings about the destruction of the world, well, I’ve had a good run and I hope you have too. But it it doesn’t, it will certainly make for some very very interesting observations and learning going forward.
PS This is the best rant I have seen on the the US election so far. It’s worth watching, if only for the fact that it’s damn entertaining.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLG9g7BcjKs
As usual all relevants, likes, comments and shares are always appreciated.
If your business has reached the point where talking to a communication professional would be the preferred option to banging your head against the wall or whatever, lets talk.
Download my free ebook, Small Business Communication For The Real World, here:
https://onwordsandupwords.wordpress.com/2013/11/24/small-business-communications-for-the-real-world/
All my profile and contact information can be accessed here:
https://www.bebee.com/producer/@jim-murray/this-post-is-my-about-page
All content copyright 2016 Jim Murray
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Comments
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #14
Or, Randy, it could come from Trump himself and his rag-tag entourage of radio-show hate mongers. Perhaps, he is an agent of change. But so was Hitler. I agree that for far too long, Washington has been a club whose members are both Democrats and Republicans, but which excludes the rest of us. I also agree that the issues that face the nation domestically do not break down along party lines, but rather along economic class lines; and the sooner we, the governed, recognize that, the sooner we may begin to move toward social justice. But let us not delude ourselves into thinking that president-elect Trump is some sort of populist. For he isn't. He is an "outsider" --- but one who plays on the field of the 1%, and will be shown within his first year in office not to see beyond its boundaries. IMHO.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #13
I'm moving to St Catharines. I will have a better view from there of the implosion of America. LOL.
Randy Keho
7 years ago #12
Jim Murray
7 years ago #11
As usual, Phil Friedman, the unbearable ring of truth exudes from your fingertips.
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #10
Phil Friedman
7 years ago #9
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #8
And vice-versa, my friend. Thank you and good luck with the move! Please keep us updated...
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #7
And vice-versa, my friend. Thank you and good luck with the move! Please keep us updated...
Jim Murray
7 years ago #6
Jim Murray
7 years ago #5
Chas Wyatt There isn't a Canadian I know who doen't feel the same way. Myself included. I have a feeling he's not even gonna make it to the coronation, I mean inauguration.
Jim Murray
7 years ago #4
Agreed . That's what I like about having American bees in my hive. The added perspective.
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #3
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #2
David B. Grinberg
7 years ago #1