President-Elect Trump…  Then, What?

I will defend any citizen’s ability to exercise her or his fundamental rights, whether on the grounds of the First Amendment or on the simple principle of self-determination.  I believe this to be an inviolate hallmark of American citizenship and democracy.  Therefore, in and of itself, any potential disagreement with another’s viewpoint is academic, and such should be fairly seen as a foundational element of discourse.  I become a little more than concerned, though, when even a collective decision has the potential to decimate the very core of our governmental system.  It is entirely within the realm of possibility that Americans can decide to elect, say, a 35-year-old florist who has devoted his life to amazing arrangements, but would we actually place a 21st century presidency in his hands?  In our world of sophistication and complexity, a positive outcome of the democratic process properly depends on a responsible electorate.

What, then, does the Trump supporter anticipate will be the outcome if his candidate is successful this November?  What sort of philosophical governing standard does she expect will be set by a President Trump?  What kind of fiscal policy does she gather has been proposed by Trump’s statements thus far?  In what form will our national security take shape?  And, what of the image he will project onto the world stage, where diplomacy and deliberation are needed for effective dialogue?  These are not mere rhetorical questions but, rather, are only a few of the minimum requirements for the office of our chief executive, the person in whom is embodied all that we have historically laid at her feet.  It is true that Donald Trump has mentioned each of these and other topics that typically arise on the campaign trail.  He then proceeds to make sweeping and grandiose sound bite promises about what should be done, what we now know he, alone, will do.  Trump’s supporters are convinced of his suitability to be President of the United States because he is unabashed about giving voice to what they think and feel.  To be clear, however, Trump has actually said nothing of substance, resorting to now common catch phrases of “radical Islamic terrorism,” “disasters,” and the wall, among others.  This is a problem on at least two fronts – the competence of this candidate and the mindset of his supporters.

I’ll leave for another discussion how the GOP created the model for a nominee like Trump.  His political existence is a reality that we should now face in a constructive manner, for it is indeed edifying.  The Republican nominee is a businessman and reality television personality whose success was subsidized first by his father, then by less than ethical business dealings.  He has never held political office nor has he aspired to any other than the Office of the President of the United States.  Both now and as an abiding character trait, he has made it clear that his only real constituency is himself.  He demonstrates an obvious lack of civic interest or knowledge, showcasing at every turn his ignorance of central constitutional tenets and the democratic process.  He characterizes every domestic and international issue in cataclysmic terms, and marshals support by baiting his audiences with dog whistle buzz words.  For those of us who don’t support Trump, a glimpse into the future bears witness to a schizophrenic, egotistical, singular minded leadership experiment with the lives of 324 million people.   If we do no more than take him at his word, we can be assured that this individual in the White House will employ bombastic and spontaneous governance, directed by a loosely woven and meandering platform of ideas.  From this standpoint, Trump has a little less political acumen than a high school student council candidate.  We should be forceful in our declaration that this man is the least qualified presidential candidate in our history and also quick to focus attention on the potential that his effort could materialize nonetheless.

At the heart of this potentiality brews the very real ire of his base: disgruntled white males who somehow see in him a representative of their cause.  They are citizens as am I, entitled to express their grievances through the electoral process.  But, a deeper examination and analysis is required as part of this process if, again, we are to maintain the integrity of our democracy.   I can only deduce that their reasoning takes some form of the following: Trump aptly identifies their perceived problems, so it must also be true that he has the ability to solve these problems.  Inherent in this syllogism, however, is a major misapplication of logic – one cannot reasonably conclude that speaking to an issue makes one competent to solve that issue.  But in a democracy, even illogical thinkers can cast a ballot.

All of this speaks to an American phenomenon that, while not new, has been unveiled at a most remarkable time, where contemporaneous killings of black males and white police officers, once juxtaposed, create two vastly different narratives.  The Trump supporter is as aware of it as I am, although we will likely ascribe to it wholly different descriptors.  The white male demographic about which we’ve heard so much will proudly tell you that Trump is an outspoken, apolitical businessman who will get things done.  I submit, though, that this ‘beleaguered’ demographic that now feels liberated to fully speak its mind has, in fact, been given permission by Trump to stir in public the pot it has been stirring at home for as long as it can remember.  On a subconscious level, certain segments of white America still operate from a self-declared pinnacle of superiority.  This concept informs them that they belong at the top of whatever social and economic construct is currently in dispute, and they make no qualms about vigorously protesting challenges to this position.  To say so is not a dig, and it’s not a hasty retort.  In fact, it is historical and deeply ingrained, such that its persistence should be surprising to no one.

The historical, social, and political causes for these various interpretations of the strife we’re seeing are multitudinous and intertwining, and I believe that we search in vain for solutions without examining first their origins…but this is exactly what we are unable or unwilling to do.  Through the lens of history, we must do the hard work of recognizing and accepting that our past has built the stage on which is produced a drama of distrust, anger, and marginalization.  And, the potential for a fulfilling future designed for us all is forever locked in that unreconciled past.  Trump’s most loyal supporters may seize on his exclusionary rhetoric for their own benefit, but doing so takes us nowhere as a country.  To be sure, the white man in Anytown, USA who senses a decline in his standard of living and opportunities would be wise to look forward for answers rather than backward to any notions of inherited privilege, for doing so is as out of step with current reality as his dated philosophy of entitlement.

This is the issue central to the 2016 presidential race: vision.  As a nation, will we honestly look at the collateral damage that racism, classism, sexism, and nationalism have done to our collective psyche?  Are we willing to look directly at the source of misplaced beliefs held by a sizeable minority that they deserve to prevail at all costs and their eagerness to trust the stewardship of that task to a man woefully unable to deliver it?  The former is a question essential to the rehabilitation of our nation.  More remarkably, the latter is disturbing proof that living among us is a population of voters motivated by bigotry and hate and as oblivious as their standard bearer to fundamental democratic ideals.  Just this morning, a Texas Longhorn clad supporter noted that, although Trump can’t seem to stay on message, he nonetheless spoke resonantly to “[his] people.”  Never mind that ‘Mr. Trump’ has no more in common with his supporters than he does with the very groups he takes great pains to malign.  Never mind that Trump rallies and press conferences are self-aggrandizing soliloquies containing no plans to address our national priorities.  The sole interest for these voters -- these fellow Americans -- is the immature continuation of an us-versus-them mentality and an abject disregard for the viability of our nation as a result.

The bloc of voters that has little interest in or active disregard for the blueprint for our future cannot be trusted with our future – on this we must be clear.  If he doesn’t implode before Election Day, a massive voter turnout will be required to assure Trump’s defeat.  Beyond this first order of business, we should capitalize on the opportunity he has made evident and deal with the divide unveiled by his bid.  I want never again to think of how close we came to President-Elect Trump without understanding well the forces that created him.  As a country, we could conceivably realize the dawn following some of our darkest political days.