Don't Boo, Vote.
We've made it.
After months of speculation, anticipation and hysteria, the US Election is less than 24 hours away.
Like many, I am ready for this election cycle to be over. It has been vicious and absurd, bringing to light the most appalling attributes of society. It has been an embarrassment, a disappointment and a shameful depiction of a nation that was founded on the core values of freedom and equality. Perhaps these core values may have very well been its downfall. After all, this year, candidates have certainly not held back when exercising the 1st Amendment.
Two election cycles prior, history was made when the first black President of the United States was elected. In this election cycle, history might also be made- the election of the first female President of the United States. But even if this were to occur, it would unlikely dominate the essence of discussion. The US might finally 'break the glass ceiling', but it will be a mere crack among the shattering events and circumstances that have cast shadow over this entire election cycle.
By the time I arrived in the US in mid-August, I'd missed the adverts but was just in time for the movie. I'll also be around for the credits, although whether this will be a positive experience is still to be seen. It has been a fascinating time to be here, particularly in Washington D.C, where political rhetoric is as common as looking up and seeing a Starbucks across the street. And trust me, that's pretty common.
So how did this happen? And what is still happening? Here are some insights I can offer as a fly on the wall, a Brit in America...
1) Many Americans are just as confused as we are
It's easy to sit across the pond and wonder what on earth is going on the other side. It's like watching a reality TV show. Trump shouting 'WRONG' into the microphone, Clinton caught up in yet another email scandal. The debates are like an episode of The Real Housewives of Orange County, the stages becoming a platform for who can throw the biggest insult and who can make the biggest jibe. While the candidates speak over one another and attempt to expose one another's weaknesses, the audience is sat at home trying to decipher the chaos that is being broadcast through their screens. It comes at no surprise that in a recent poll, eight out of ten voters said the campaign has left them repulsed rather than excited.
2) Both candidates are disliked
One major problem with this election is that neither candidate is very popular. Trump is a racist, sexist bully, and Clinton has a history of lying and is caught up in an email scandal. Seth Meyers sums up the situation pretty well in this short video:
3) Trump has a loyal base of supporters
Although I have been residing in a Washingtonian bubble, a recent trip to Pennsylvania was a reminder that the US is vast and no two states are the same. Washington, D.C.is unquestionably blue, and even the mention of Trump brings a grimace to the face of an individual. However, you don't have to travel far before Trump-Pence signs begin appearing on fences by the side of the road and on stickers on the bumpers of cars. Trump's core base of support is among white men without college degrees. He appeals to people who are disheartened with the current system, and buy into his 'Make America Great Again' rhetoric. Even the leak of the 2005 tape where Trump bragged about his ability to use his fame to sexually assault women wasn't enough to shift the grounds on which his supporters stand on. His loyal base of supporters will likely stick with him until the end.
4) The GOP is in tatters
It is important to differentiate between Trump's loyal base of supporters and the Republican party itself. The Republican members of Congress are not quite so positive on the topic of Trump. In putting himself forward in the battle to become the next President of the United States, Trump has prompted another battle- the battle over the future of the Republican party. The GOP has found itself in a bit of a sticky situation. Endorse Trump and risk angering moderate Republicans and Independents who are offended by Trump and disgusted by his comments, or retract support for Trump and risk backlash from his hard-core support base. Republicans are split on this issue, and have been consistently inconsistent and committedly noncommittal. This has increased the party divide and left wounds that are likely to still be healing long after the election has been decided.
5) This election has been out of the ordinary and we're all to blame
This election will certainly make history, but not in the way many people might have initially envisioned. Trump has successfully manipulate the system, managing to garner huge amounts of earned media attention. His celebrity background fared him well in an election system that has become increasingly like a popularity contest and where name recognition and stage presence can go along way. The fact that he is wealthy means that he did not have to depend on party support, and therefore emerged as the Republican nominee largely off of his own steam and success. The GOP were left trailing in his wake, as shocked as everyone else at this surge of popularity. Is the party to blame for taking so long to decide on a candidate to back in the primaries and underestimating Trump? Or is the media to blame for giving Trump air time and contributing to his early rise and continued success? Or are we, the voters, to blame for tuning in to the news to watch Trump's latest antics or for clicking on that link to watch the most recent offensive comment that has slipped from his lips? Perhaps, we are all to blame or no one is to blame. Trump played to his strengths and stuck with what he is good at. One cannot deny that throughout this election cycle, his fundamental personality, views and beliefs have remained unchanged.
A series of circumstances have made this election what is is. We will never be able to say with absolute certainty whether it could have been predicted or prevented. Perhaps, it was simply the disheartening outcome of a series of unfortunate events. Nevertheless, my final word is this: vote. If you are an American citizen, go out and vote on election day. Now is not the time the time for a 'protest vote' or voting Independent because you can't tolerate either candidate. Despite what it might say on the ballot, this is a two horse race. This election will determine your future. Make your vote count. The last thing we need is another Brexit.
