I am writing this immediately after the American election night. A Trump presidency has turned from a dystopian illusion to a disastrous reality. What that will mean for the US and for the rest of the world is unclear, but the signs are not good, neither in the short term nor in the long run.
For the fight to preserve a liveable climate, four years with Trump will have effects that will linger on for decades if not centuries. We know that for the third year in a row 2016 will be the warmest year ever globally. There is no time to loose for us in the transition to a carbon free world. Plains economics will make even Trump unable to turn coal into gold, due to the fact the markets have understood that wind and solar are better economic alternative. But with Trump as president, USA will not be a driving force in the energy transition and will stall and disrupt necessary changes both domestically and internationally. By the time Florida starts to flood, it might be to late to reverse the effects of the damage done.
In Europe, Trumps fondness of Putin and threat to withdraw from NATO will likely destabilise security and increase risks of conflicts. For Sweden, we need to understand that we will need to rely on our strength even more and increase spending on both military and civil defence. Hopefully security can be built in collaboration with our Nordic neighbours, but in a “Big Boys” chest thumping between Trump and Putin, small countries like the in the Baltic may well be seen as expandable pawns.
A big question is what will happen to the economy. Trumps protectionist agenda has already sent the stock market falling and there are dire predictions about what will happen now. While Trump has no solutions based on his “business" experience we must understand is that the economy and the effects of globalisation is something that has fuelled the anger that has propelled Trump to his success. Main stream politicians in USA and Europe have failed to grasp the insecurity and fear that have come with the changes brought by modernisation, digitalisation and automation. An inside candidate what not what these people sought and they stopped listening to experts.
Then there is racism, a factor that has not gone away in the US, something Sarah Kendzior has written about as she has tried to warn her colleagues in the press about what they have been dealing with. Racism is propping up is ugly head also here in Sweden and Europe; many with that agenda will feel vindicated by Trumps victory.
Hope is not a given. At this dark time, we need to create hope, by organising and resisting, by finding strength from new coalitions rather than trying more of the same. Sarah Kendzior wrote about Elijah Parish Lovejoy, a journalist who was murdered by a racist mob in 1837. Anticipating his own death Lovejoy proclaimed, "there is no excuse for deserting your post”.
1 comment:
I will first apologize... as when I saw your post on Instagram from the people of Germany... I 'assumed' until I looked at other photos... that you were also in Germany. As I stated... I am German.. . but a US citizen.
First I would like to correct this for you... should any one else catch it: just posted an hour ago by market watch
Dow hits record high as investors reposition in wake of Trump win
Also. I hope you understand from my post that I cannot tell you this is going to go 100% without flaw. But the american people (as seen by the silent majority) wanted a change. There are people hurting from the regulations that are put on trade and businesses here. They are without jobs - without hope. (interesting as you see his election as no hope) Immigration reform is needed. There is nobody checking on who is coming in...how long they are staying... and what crimes are they committing. As stated. My mother is a legal green card holder. She is a German Citizen. No one is asking her to leave. She pays her taxes and lives by the US law. So if one is not wiling to do that... why should they be given a free pass and free healthcare and legal services... ? And I understand that your biggest concern in the realm of things you listed is climate change. As we know. That is a very strong argument on both sides. But if you think that Mr. Trump can just get in the white house in January and start making these outlandish propositions. You do not understand the American governmental system. Our constitution will not allow one person to make the laws of the land. So trust me. If he comes up with some crazy ass idea that goes against the grain it would be a cold day in hell (pardon the climate change pun) before it would become law. The thing I would wish..."for Americans".. is give this a chance. I sat back and let the left control things for the last 8 years. I did not say nasty things (I may have rolled my eyes) but I did not burn cars and shops and I did not send my friends who voted that way nasty vitriol .. My hope is... (since I only had these two candidates - mine did not make it to the finish line) That Mr. Trump will do in the whitehouse what he has done is business. and that is surround himself with people who understand the certain aspect of the law and put people in charge of the various campaigns as needed to run smoothly. So If people want to start throwing rocks... can we wait until the people are assigned and see what his cabinet will run like? Perhaps? people will be surprised? Considering... in his past.. he was democrat.. hmmmmm
Thank you for letting me post to you. Unfortunately most are throwing the f-u business around instead of having a civilized conversation.
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