TRUMP FOR PRESIDENT: WHY NOT?

Nobody has the right to block Mr. Trump from becoming president. If you’re 35 years old, lived in the US for at least 14 years, and a natural born US citizen, it’s perfectly fine for you to pursue your dreams as the most powerful man in the world. Trump’s age won’t be a problem; Ronald Reagan was 77 when he stepped down from power. Of course his status as chairman of the Trump Organization and his entertainment career won’t tarnish him a bit; Reagan was a superstar in Hollywood, and Mr. Obama is also a multi-millionaire. The only person whose eligibility for president is debatable is Ted Cruz, who was born in Canada.

Most people have qualms over Mr. Trump because of his political ideas. Let’s look at his website.

On the surface, his ideals seem to echo those embodied by Thomas Jefferson and Reagan; Isolationist and Protectionist, less government intervention in economy, strict adherence to constitutional rights, etc: standard Republican. Right?

I treasure some witty quotes from an article, The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Trump, written by Frank Bruni of the New York Times. (Link) I quote: “But I think [Donald Trump’s] greatest distinction is a surrealist. Not since Salvador Dali has someone so ambitiously jumbled reality and hallucination.” Even the staunchest of Trump’s followers has to admit that Trump is a buffoon. His creative invectives never cease to amaze people and his hubris is insuperable. Yet remarkably, Donald Trump is victorious at the recent South Carolina Primary. Trump becoming president is a bad joke, but it’s become a possibility. Even more startling are the polls themselves. They’re quite self explanatory: Donald Trump has become a serious candidate representing the Republican Bench. Could this be a sign of pandemic American stupidity?

This guy (Ezra Klein) is definitely worried about this. His logic is that the US president is a symbol, a first impression, of how Americans are perceived in the international society. Trump’s presidency would be a global embarrassment. In addition, he’s a threat to the American identity; a multicultural melting pot. Trump’s blatant animosity towards Muslims, Mexicans, and immigrants is a sinister echo of racial cleavages that marred American history not so long ago. What inspired me was that Ezra Klein evoked the role of shame in politics. Ezra points out that shame is an important instrument of political check and balance. He identifies Trump’s indifference towards political criticism as a dangerous attitude. The media and political bodies check politicians by exploiting their sense of shame. That’s why standing committees have regular oversight sessions and public hearings. Politicians usually have an incentive to avoid shame; blotches on their public reputation threaten their careers, their daily way of life, and opportunities at future elections. Trump simply doesn’t care, and he knows that people will vote for him because his attitude is exactly what American constituents are buying. This “self assurance” drives him and will drive him to take actions that are demoralizing and provocative.

Then the question is why Americans want him. Vox provides possible reasons. Statistics show that less educated people have a tendency to be pro-Trump. Trumps supporters are uncomfortable with immigration, and believe that whites have hard times in the multicultural America of today. Trump’s supporters are disillusioned by “business as normal” American politics; similar to the reason why people voted for Ralph Nader’s Green Party.

Who knew that Hitler would gain power? Economic hardship and scarred national pride motivated the German public to be led by a raving madman. Populism isn’t something new though. Currently, populist extremist parties are gaining political grounds in European nations. The Austrian Freedom Party is gaining momentum, and the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) has successfully occupied Greece. It can be said that populism is becoming a notable political trend. Trump’s advent can said to be part of this. I leave it to you guy’s to decide whether Trump’s rise would be a boon or a bane for America’s future. But for me, I think its leaning towards the bane.

http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/video/donald-trump-wins-big-south-carolina-primary-37123162

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

http://myfirstclasslife.com/10-richest-u-s-presidents-in-history/?singlepage=1