The first article was great, and now you risk creating alarmist propaganda.
The Financial Times compared Brexit and the US election today, managing to hit and then totally obscure the fundamental way in which the votes are alike.
Comparing Trump to a psychopath and then clinically dissecting the thought patterns of his supports feed his campaign. That diagnostic process commits the same fatal error befalling the Remain campaign.
Refusing to recognise valid grievances of the electorate.
Subjugating Trump supporters into labelled categories denies recognition of the very concerns powering his campaign. Academically breaking their activities into diagnoses fuels the national schism at the root of his campaign itself.
London failed to share the gains of EU membership with the country, and the country responded with economic self-immolation.
Now, America looks to demonise Trump and his supporters as extremists more dangerous than terrorist phantasms. While it is true he is dangerous – extremely dangerous – what powers his campaign is the same thing that powered the Leave campaign.
Broken promises. The coasts turning blind eyes to inflation and unemployment. The true struggle of the poor. The effective decimation of the middle class.
Anger and frustration not at democratic values or other principles, but very real exhaustion from eroding incomes and ongoing difficulties making ends meet.
It is true that Trump represents the dying gasps of White male privilege. That he is a strong man favouring regressive nationalism. That he is not only unqualified to hold the office, but that even in defeat he will have damaged the republic.
Yet, if we are to look to a psychological maxim to guide us through this campaign, it must be Carl Rogers’ unconditional positive regard. We must believe that despite the unfair nature of white male privilege, the electorate will feel a great loss from losing it. Democracy means that we cannot ignore their discomforts, rather we can either look to engage with that discomfort or dominate those voters.
Regardless, the left will remain at risk of Trump’s ascension until it tackles the very really issue of wealth inequality and unequal gains that drives the Trump candidacy. While seductive to demonise the republican electorate, it is their own disenfranchisement at the hands of the Washington, New York, California, Texas, and the rich states that have created Trump.
