I'm sure it'll all be just fine, FINE!
So it's finally election day, and I had a four hour drive earlier this morning so I got to listen to a lot of pre-coverage BEFORE the main polls open.
Just over 8 million people have already voted in the US elections, which gives us some idea that the outcome will be tight, and i guess by now, 20.00 UK time that voting proper is in full swing.
TBH I'm a bit sick of it all, and I imagine that's the majority sentiment, which sounds like it's gonna be the only majority thing about this election.
Radio Four this morning was just a load of pre-amble repetition with vox pops from various people in Pennsylvania and other swing states, and many reminders that we may not know for days what the election results actually are.
There are several themes that have come out of this election, to focus on just four....
The failure of the political class to listen
This partly explains why Trump is so popular, he ISN'T one of the classic political class, unlike Biden and Harris, who clearly are.
It's the working classes, not college educated, who have suffered the most in recent years and Trump has tapped into that nicely.
Divisive politics
I really don't like Trump's divisive tactics, damning everything the Democrats have done and positioning himself as anti-immigration, anti-women, that's the whole of the Republican Party, it suggests it dark times for many if he wins.
Personality over rationality
Biden is rational, it's look at the policy not the man (although maybe that's a bad thing in itself, Trump is more look at me charismatic leader type, and he's done a great job of getting people to think back to 2017 when he was in power and things were much better.
That was pre-pandemic, of course, but it's worked, there's literally no way he can deliver his promises, but no one cares, he's offering hope, unlike the rational Democrats.
The threat of violence....?
Trumps teased at it, but honestly I don't think this will come to anything, there may be scuffles if the Democrats win, but it'll all just smooth out to nothing.
I simply don't think life is that bad for enough people thus far.
It's not something that worries me especially! There are still too many people with too much to lose in the US for there to be another civil war.
For now!
But it'll probably happen in my life time!
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I must confess that this electoral act isn't impacting me personally in a strong way. I agree with you when you point out the main support for Trump coming from the middle class people, that aren't satisfied with the Democratic economical politics. This sense of injustice is very well taken by Republicans that give back hope for the economical take off that would change america. Let's see how many days we have to wait to know the official winner of these Presidencial's.
Happened quicker than we thought! At least crypto is up, small wins!
ATH being brooked in hourly basis... absolutely crazy :)
We shall see what happens. I'm hoping enough people are disgusted by Trump, but the Democrats have done themselves no favours. They should have picked a successor for Biden ages ago as he needs to retire. Harris seems okay, but maybe not special enough to stand out. As with the UK there have been forces trying to divide people when we need things to unite them. You can't be that confrontational with people you share a country with.
I won't be watching the rolling coverage, but I have been listening to a load of podcasts for both elections just to be more informed. I need a break from that.
Make politics boring again!
💃
Too many things talked about this election on every media in the world, thus it is not the election of US. but world's.
I think you mean *80 million. 😉
Everything I’m seeing online suggests very heavy voting, with long lines. In my case though, today there were only a few people at my polling station. Minnesota efficiency? Or the vast majority of people in my precinct voted early?
I'm not too worried for the people in the US, as you say things aren't bad enough yet to spark major violence. It's the wider implications for Europe that I'm concerned about. It could be a disaster for the Ukrainians, as well as the people of Finland, Estonia and the like. Mind you, if Trump does win maybe he'll do us a favour and take Farage off of our hands. Silver linings, I guess.
I was very anxious as to the outcome of the election. Being as I am apolitical when it comes to candidates, it was more the fear of riots. History does tend to repeat itself... cause and effect.
Now that the election is over and a clear winner has been established, my anxiety is down to a manageable semi-psychotic level (that and ingesting large quantities of Sativa into my brain housing group).