Trump wins US Elections 2

Donald John Trump

Hillary Rhodham Clinton

This post is continuing from the last one. So Trump has won therefore what does that mean? Before that question is answered, let us examine the details. While Trump has won the election based on the Electoral College System, Clinton leads the popular vote. This raises an issue on whether, Trump's victory was substantial or just 'because of the rules.' I briefly touched on the unfairness of the election via the Electoral College System before (in the context of what constitutes a free and fair election).

The question of whether US elections are free and fair is muzzled out in the mainstream media. The elections are depicted as free and fair but a lot of evidence points to the contrary. I'm referring to events before, during and after the election.

The Trump-Clinton's scenario is not the first in the history of the USA. This is the fifth time something of this sort has happened according to The Guardian

The last time the electoral applecart was upset in this fashion was in 2000.In controversial circumstances George W Bush took Florida, allowing him to reach the 270 vote target-just. He secured 271 electoral college votes to Al Gore's 266 (one elector abstained from casting an electoral vote for the latter).Prior to that election, it had been 112 years since another Republican candidate, Benjamin Harrison, secured a majority of electoral college ballots while losing the popular vote.

It was (yet another) Republican who this system first advantaged in 1876: Rutherford B Hayes won out by just one electoral college vote, despite more than 250,000 fewer ballots being cast for him than his main opponent, Samuel J Tilden. Arguably the strangest happening of all, however, was in 1824, when John Quincy Adams won the presidency even though Andrew Jackson had received more popular votes and more electoral votes. Because none of the candidates in the race reached the required number of electoral college votes, the decision was left to the House of Representatives, which opted for Adams.

The mainstream media's polling failed in the US elections and some are seeking answers from anywhere. Polling in this case was going to be difficult because of the reason given below in a previous post

When you have a controversial candidate (with the case of Trump) at times the polls before the actual polls are sometimes misleading because where there is controversy, inactive or dormant voters come out of their shells. Those kind of voters are unpredictable.

Others have given their own reasons but it is important to note that opinion polls are not in any way the actual polls and it is important to carefully read the situation on the ground for one get a clearer picture.

Trump's right wing populist approach to campaigning attracted vitriol from many directions. On face value it would appear as if he was not electable. Sometime in February this year I actually did not imagine him winning the election.

What then is going to happen to America. Definately Trump is not going to be the US President. The Republican party is going to be damaged to the core as a result.

At the time, I was wrong. His continued surge in the primaries and finally bagging the Presidential Election tells us a lot more about the electorate. People are fed up with the government, corruption and elitism by corporates, congress and other so-called washington insiders. Racism in America was believed to be on its way out but for sure it is alive and well. Society in the US is deeply divided. There is a lot of hate. In my opinion, not even Trump is able to douse the flames. When people believe that their ignorance is the truth, you should know that there is trouble right ahead.

What is ubiquitous at this stage is that the American people have been conned by Trump. I doubt very much that he is going to implement some of his ludicrous campaign pledges. The moment he became president-elect, his tone changed. He became restraint, calling for unity from every stakeholder. This indicates that some of these pledges were a way to get support from the people. They are not going to be implemented. Examples include the repeal of Obamacare, a wall along tje border between the USA and Mexico, the imprisonment of Hillary Clinton e.t.c.

On some of his pledges, let us wait and see how he is going to tackle them. His choices on members of his administration will give us a hint on the trajectory he is going to take.

Trump wins US Elections

It appears Donald John Trump has defeated Hillary Rhodham Clinton for the US Presidential Elections according to various projections. The results are not final yet but its unlikely that an Al Gore-like scenario and drama will occur regarding the certainty on who has won.

Let's wait and watch how the situation develops.

US Decision 16

The US Presidential Election is up within a week's time. There might be some anxiety as to what the outcome will be (compared with our expectations). That is a passing phase. The real worry is that certainly for the next four or eight years, we are going to be faced with unrealistic and myopic decision-making from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. The Obama Age has come to an end.

Many will realise the positive impact of the Obama leadership during this time (NB: I don't support everything done by Obama). This is so because of the kind of leadship the US is going to face regardless of the outcome of the vote.

While Clinton leads the opinion polls, the gap is tightening. But apparently Trump is still way behind in the electoral college which ultimately decides the election. A disadvantage of the electoral college system is that the votes in the so-called swing states appear as more important than the rest of the votes hence you find intense campaigning in those states. In 2000 Bush lost the popular vote but still won the election via the electoral college system.

The question of whether US elections are free and fair is muzzled out in the mainstream media. The elections are depicted as free and fair but a lot of evidence points to the contrary. I'm referring to events before, during and after the election. The irony is that the US wants to be the chief judge of other countries' elections when back home their elections are afflicted with a lot of problems.

November's Uncertainties

With November coming up, a lot of uncertainties lie ahead home and abroad. Right here in Zimbabwe, the advent of the 'Bond Notes,' controversial they maybe is surely enabling us to travel in unchartered territories. Abroad, the impending US presidential election is another uncertainty even though pollsters are already declaring a Hillary Clinton victory over Donald Trump, the circumstances on the ground make this election contest a fight to the end.

On the bond notes, the authorities have handled this matter badly considering that expectations play a very pivotal role in macroeconomics. Various stakeholders' expectations have not been managed well. DISCLAIMER: At the moment I do not support the introduction of the bond notes. It's not what happens after the introduction that matters but the period leading up to the introduction is equally important. When you hear the governor accusing the general populace of being irrational (with regards with this bond notes debacle), you then know that he does not have things under control. A central bank must be able to influence the economic environment for it to be able to contain the economic expectations.

A dearth in ideas from both opposing sides is obiquitous. It seems there are no well written schorlarly articles explaining the different intellectual positions. Ok, some of these positions are not intellectual at all. Why am I not supporting these bond notes? I will explain my thinking comprehensively within one week. Just watch this space.

On the US elections, the dichotonomous scenario whereby one is forced to choose between Trump or Clinton is appaling. Their practice of democracy is diametrically different to the democracy they preach and 'force' upon countries they consider weak and threatening to their 'values'. Of the two, under duress (based on the above interpretation) I prefer Clinton over Trump. That's how it is.

When you have a controversial candidate (with the case of Trump) at times the polls before the actual polls are sometimes misleading because where there is controversy, inactive or dormant voters come out of their shells. Those kind of voters are unpredictable.

It appears the americans are frustrated with the establishment but their democracy is not offering them a solution they would rather prefer. Trump is selling himself as anti establishment but the irony is that he has benefited enormously from decisions enacted by the very establiment he now despises. Think about his personal tax debacle, unfair subsidies his businesses get e.t.c. Some say catch a thief to catch a thief but at times send the victim to catch the thief.

On Hillary Clinton, her obsession with power, inconsistencies in her ideas and her apparent ineptitude puts her in a bad light. Both of them have bad track records. Like I said above, under duress I would choose Clinton over Trump if these are the only options available.

I will dwell on these issues in greater depth in the coming few days but hey that's how it is.