AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM


AMERICAN EXCEPTIONALISM: GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE,FOR THE PEOPLE -- ECONOMIC FREEDOM BASED ON FREE MARKET INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURISM -- WEALTH CREATION AS A SOURCE OF GREAT GOOD FOR THE DISADVANTAGED -- IMMIGRANTS PROVIDING UNPARALELLED ETHNIC, RELIGIOUS, RACIAL DIVERSITY -- OUR MILITARY PROVIDING AND PROTECTING WORLDWIDE INDIVIDUAL FREEDOM.


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

The Beauty of The Electoral College and The Marketing Genius Of Trump

This is a response to a recent post from a progressive friend who commented on a recent Blog post favoring the "idea of one man one vote" as opposed to the Electoral College

 ......and then said this about Trump

"Political leaders who prey on the fears and prejudices of people adversely affected by those forces and promise unrealistic solutions are not great leaders and are dangerous. They should be rejected in my view. We did not do that in this election and we will have to live with the consequences....and the electoral college I am afraid for the near future."

My reply:

I choose to admire the clarity of intent of the founding fathers in their concept of having formed a Republic – not democracy, of our not so united states. They created the electoral college as a way to give voice to all citizens – in effect, recognizing individual states rights. This concept is clearly stated in the Federalist Papers. It had nothing to do with the size of the area in which our citizens live. It recognized the unique diversity of interests of a nation founded by immigrants who came here to pursue happiness as they defined it – not as the king, the church, power hungry politicians and overreaching big government bureaucrats defined it. Fast forward to the makeup of today’s American society. Without the electoral college, a narrow 3% majority of Americans would elect presidents every 4 years who are only responsive to the majority of our citizens who live in a few crowded cities. These folks need or enjoy the benefits provided by big government and enjoy the work and cultural opportunities that exist in urban areas. The interests of those who live in fly over America have always been very different and well defined – self-reliant, freedom loving, guns, religion, farming, hunting, home schooling – to name a few. Representation of the diversity of regional needs and interests is baked into our Constitution – this is what makes America an exceptional and unique society compared to all other monolithic societies. I am sure you know this side of the argument against majority rule – just wanted to emphasize its legitimacy.
Now as to Trump – count me as a late breaking reformed Never Trump voter. My conversion only occurred after witnessing his marketing genius in generating amazing enthusiasm in the hearts and minds of middle Americans. Portraying Trump’s campaign strategy as “preying on the fears and prejudices of people” is straight out of the Clinton (losing) play book and ignores this point. He did not assume – as Clinton did, that middle American residents trying to make ends meet are a bunch of ignorant red necks – clueless in recognizing the external forces that have changed their lives –  therefore susceptible to false political rhetoric. He did not see these people as Obama did – “bitter, clinging to guns or religion”. Trump recognized them as real hard working, patriotic, honest, common sense, hurting people who needed to be heard. He connected with a whole bunch of forgotten people – including Democrats, living in fly over country. They are fed up with out-of-touch big city Republican and Democrat politicians and talking heads – living in their limo driven bubble, believing that they alone know what is best for all Americans. These folks know that the course that they have been on is a disaster for them. They didn’t believe that they had a shot at improving their lives with Clinton because her entire campaign strategy was aimed at beating on Trump’s negatives and only appealing to the needs of the urban population – rich and poor. She lost Wisconsin because she took for granted the vote of traditional working class Democrats. They wanted change. It is been a long time since they have won!! Trump’s election now gives them hope that their vote counts. So - if you want to characterize Trump as a flawed, dangerous leader - only offering a misleading false hope to a bunch of clueless hicks who don’t know what is good for them – go for it. It is plain fact – he connected with a whole bunch of real Americans.
                                                                                                             
Example: coal miners have never bought into the Obama and his EPA minions biased view – on the dangers of clean coal. Clinton made it indelibly clear that, if elected, she would double down on Obama’s environmental policies (bought and paid for by the left/right coast wealthy liberals) and continue to eliminate their jobs while throwing them an insulting bone of government welfare. Calling them “deplorable” was not a poor choice of words – it is how she and many Democrats view these folks. It cost her the election. Coal miners are not ignorant, unaware citizens who don’t care about the environment. They believe as many Americans believe - there is no real hard evidence (only a consensus of predictive models created by liberal so-called scientists that have been consistently wrong) to support the progressive view that clean coal will be the end of the planet

Bottom line for me on this election – Trump didn’t win this election – Clinton and Obama lost it big time. Trump’s presidency won’t be the hand wringing horror show that liberals believe will occur. It is a much needed course correction for our Country and a huge wake-up call for all Dems who will now offer viable solutions for all Americans.
 

No comments: