The center held in France yesterday. Centrist presidential candidate Emmanuel Macron soundly defeated far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Most of Europe and many in the United States breathed a sigh of relief. Donald Trump and his nationalist friends were notably silent.
Three European countries, France, Holland and Austria, have all rejected nationalist candidates who wanted to destroy the European Union. All were supported by Russia and Trump indicated he preferred Le Pen. Brexit is the only anti-European Union vote to succeed so far and the Brits have always been reluctant economic partners anyway.
The take-away here is that Donald Trump and the United States are no longer leading the Free World. That honor has shifted to the western European countries, especially France and Germany, that remember the ravages of World War II and tensions of the Cold War. They don’t trust Russia or authoritarians, unlike Trump who is embracing brutal dictators around the world. We are now seen as a cautionary tale.
So what’s the difference between what happened here and in Europe? In France and other countries, the center-right rejected the nationalist populism. Here, the Republican Party embraced Donald Trump, if reluctantly so. They believed that they could contain him while still getting the tax cuts and deregulation they want so badly. The prospect of controlling all aspects of government was more powerful than the threat to our international reputation, the office of the presidency and our individual freedoms.
So far, Trump has embarrassed us as a country and done little to help the people he promised to help. The coal industry isn’t coming back. Manufacturing jobs aren’t returning. His Obamacare repeal will hurt more people than it will help. Mexico isn’t going to pay for his wall and, right now, it’s doubtful that Congress will. His immigration orders have scared immigrants and are causing job shortages that will likely show up as cost increases soon.
In addition, he’s plundering. He’s sending his family out to exploit his position as president to make Trump, Inc. an even more successful brand. He makes offering the Lincoln Bedroom for campaign contributions seem quaint.
However, Trump’s executive orders have rolled back regulations and his cabinet picks will reverse efforts to prevent climate change. Most of the GOP will take those wins over the damage to the reputation of our nation and the office presidency. The people who used to routinely bash Obama as a liar for his claim “If you like your plan, you can keep it” ignore the almost daily lies coming out of Oval Office. Accountability is a thing of the past.
Europe chose to protect its reputation and commitment to the ideals of liberal democracy. The center-left and center-right came together to reject nationalist populism. In the United States, the center-right decided it would take a chance with a would-be authoritarianism because winning is more important than liberal democracy and our international reputation. Good luck with that.
Thomas Mills is the founder and publisher of PoliticsNC.com. Before beginning PoliticsNC, Thomas spent twenty years as a political and public affairs consultant. Learn more >
I made a mistake yesterday. I should have waited five hours for the five-time-draft-dodger in the White House to announce he is firing up the 16-year old war in Afghanistan. You can now add it into to the list of places Americans may serve when the Draft is brought back for everyone (Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Iraq and Korea). But, stand by–His Maleness, The Trump–may add another nation to threaten by the end of this day.
But, this time the Draft should not exempt any one, male or female, from some kind of service–armed or civilian. Furthermore, this Draft should especially include all of those who vote for or support more war whether in the permanently vacationing Congress or the Trump relatives in the White House.
Fair is fair, right?
Another dogmatic, partisan analysis. Talk about fake news, the day France or any other European welfare state becomes the leader of the free world will portend the time the world succumbs to leftist totalitarian regimes like those in charge of Cuba and Venezuela.
Pardon my “French” but you are a fcuking jackass. False equivalencies between the most successful Socialist Capitalisms and Authoratorian regimes which in truth have no true “Leftist” or “proletarian” / populist centerings are intellectually bankrupt. The “Etats Unis”, Germany, France, Sweden, et al are all Socialist Capitalist nations, where LIBERAL concepts like Liberty, Freedom of the Press, Freedom of Choice, and social safety nets are all deployed with the centerpiece of Capitalist business operations at their core. The one that has the singular worst systems in place is also the richest, the “Etats Unis” (USA) with the largest GDP AND the largest PCI. That is to say, if the US cannot afford a social benefit or an investment in the health or future of our citizens, NO ONE CAN. But we know that that’s not true. The singular difference is GREED, and the lack of the ability of the citizens to be represented in ANY way by the government that they elect. Money is the tool that is used to control the media and constrain the candidates available for office so that little change can occur. And while most of the advanced world (and some of the not so advanced world) recognize Health CARE as a human right, the Opulent Minority that hold our country hostage see Health INSURANCE as naught but a tool to be used to extract additional Blood Money from those unfortunate enough to be able to pay for INSURANCE and the compromised level of Health CARE it provides. Health Care is 1/6th of the economy; many claim it could be reduced to half that with a set of principles like removing the 25% or more rape of the premium dollar that the insurance companies steal for no value, as well as Preventative Care and it underutilized partner Lifestyle Management which in order to be successful depends on people being paid enough to be able to afford fresh healthy food.
We already have 100% healthcare participation: lawmakers in a momentary fit of conscience of sorts made care for all mandatory at the portal of last resort (and highest profit): the emergency room. And insurance is naught but a payment method. At the end of the day, would Medicare or even your local bank pay for your care more efficiently than the existing insurance plans with their absurd overhead? Hell yes.
Ebrun, are you for real, or just some Russian -style trollster Mills created to provide a ridiculous strawman that commenters can rail against? Because your Teebagger / Libertarian / Trumpster posts lack a certain, er, thought out sense, and any logical appeal to the PoliticsNC reader.
Wow Analyst, that’s what I call “taking the bait.” I post here not to appeal to the average NC Politics reader, but to bait leftists ideologues into exhibiting their unhinged intolerance and hatred for those who do not share their radical views. Your diatribe serves to perfectly prove that point. Nice going. LOL
Another personal insult, D.g,? Once again, taking the bait proves my point.
Good, inclusive summary. Trump has deliberately planned and is giving away America’s leadership role in the world and we shall pay the price.. Bring back the Draft and you, your children and grandchildren will have a choice where you want to serve–Iran, Syria, Iraq, and Korea (I will not go back).
Stand by, as this is only the beginning.