What the Left Must Learn From Trump

I met with my cousin yesterday morning for coffee and a catch up.  We chatted about the kids and our lives and then not surprisingly got on to the subject of politics.  Hell, there is so much to talk about.  He reminded me that I predicted a Trump win some six months ago.  I smiled.  I love it when I am right, although I would have been more than happy to be way off on this occasion.  But to be frank, just like the financial crash of 2008, all the signs where there for us to see, had we only been looking.

There is nothing quite so convincing as fear, in addition to which, as we all know, one of the most important things in life is to have someone to blame.  I myself have fulfilled that role on several occasions. Ask my ex.  

Anyway, mix the two together and you have the perfect combination for what today is commonly known as populism.  Populism takes the every day concerns of ordinary people, legitimate concerns about personal security, the economy, access to health and education etc.  

It plays on those concerns, twists them and perverts them.  It heightens them to the level of outright fear and then provides a target for blame, generally, the other, a scapegoat, immigrants, gays, Muslims, whoever fits the bill. Of course there is always the ultimate and long-standing, target of blame and retribution the Jews.

The recipe is highly effective.  It worked for Bibi in the Israeli elections.  It worked for the Brexiteers in the UK referendum, and now it worked for Trump .  The popular vote and of course the electoral college in the US, delivered seemingly irrational outcomes, the results of which are likely to be highly damaging to those self-same individuals, whose legitimate grievances led them to vote Populist.

It is sad and disturbing, yet, in my opinion, pretty simple to understand.  The recipe of fear and blame is never more effective than when faced with a total lack of alternative!  It gives me no pleasure and frustrates the hell out of me, but the simple truth is people voted for Bibi, for Brexit and for Trump because they felt they had no alternative.  They had no choice, at least, not a viable one, one that they could relate to, one that could inspire, or provide hope.  Nope, they saw this albeit, highly questionable option, as the only one available.

The reaction of the Democrats and liberals to Trumps victory only goes to show exactly why they lost.  The patronising and dismissive attitude they show towards those who voted for Trump reveals a total failure to comprehend the ordinary people of America. They are not all racists. They are not all republicans,  

And, they are not all stupid.  Indeed a great many of them are none of these things.  They are however sick of being patronised.  They are sick of being ignored.  They are sick of being taken for granted.  They are sick of their concerns and world view being dismissed by a self-appointed, seemingly, entitled elite, which shows scant concern, let alone respect for their well-being.  

In its arrogance, the so-called “progressive” left and its obsession with identity politics, political correctness, safe spaces, and no platforming, has alienated ordinary men and women throughout the US.

In this election people saw through a Democratic platform led by a progressive agenda, which did not speak to ordinary citizens, which only strengthened the perception of entitlement and elitism, and of special interest and fringe priorities  

Of course this was not helped by a candidate, perceived as wholly dishonest and part of an establishment, at the hands of which, people feel betrayed, be they Democrats or Republicans.  In short, Donald Trump won the election because the Democrats failed to deliver policies that could impress, arguments which could convince or a credible candidate who could inspire. How bad do you have to be to lose to Donald bloody Trump?

And no, Bernie would not have beaten Trump.  For sure he would have been better perceived both as a person and in regard to his honesty and integrity, however, bottom line is that the majority will not buy the progressive agenda. If people are scared, or have been manipulated to feel such, in the absence of genuine solutions, or even due attention to their concerns, they prefer that you lie to them and tell them everything will be alright, or in this case, “We will make America great again.”  It has little or anything to do with truth or facts.  It has everything to do with perception.

The left must grow the f***k up, understand and internalize how the elitist, progressive agenda is alienating people in their millions and will continue to do so.  The Democrats and indeed the left across the western world  needs to regroup, listen to ordinary people and develop effective, relevant policies.  They then need to improve their arguments and importantly, the quality of their candidates.  They might like to start by abandoning their “safe spaces” and engaging with the real world.

Failure to do so will leave a revitalised and emboldened right-wing in control for a generation, Steve Bannon has already suggested fifty years, delivering more Trumps and more extremism, with untold consequences for us all.  

Talking of the real world, the next shock is only months way.  In France, a traditionally left leaning country, the left has already lost where the election are likely to be fought between the right and the far right.  

For now, my money is ironically, on France being the next country to have its first female President.