A vote for Trump was a despicable choice

When Hillary Clinton took Donald Trump to task for not releasing his tax returns, out of concern they would show he had not personally paid any income tax, Trump interjected: “That makes me smart”. He had indeed used a $916 million loss in 1995 to avoid paying federal income taxes for years.

The new US President is someone who incited hatred against Muslims, Latinos and refugees. He perpetuated the lie that Barack Obama was not born in the USA, and earned the support of despicable groups like the KKK and the alt right. He defended the use of waterboarding, proposed a wall on the Mexican border, is supported by the gun lobby and thinks climate change is hoax while supporting the coal lobby.

Trump is the representative of the most retrograde elements of the ruling class in his country and he uses the insurgent masses as his whip. He is against Obamacare and favours regressive taxation. He is no working class hero. He is the ultimate wet dream for pirate capitalists like him who simply dislike rules.

Political discourse has been savaged and degraded to the point that very serious declarations fomenting hatred, are seen as a form entertainment

So there is nothing “anti-establishment” about a tax-dodging billionaire. (I recall Silvio Berlusconi making similar claims against the “poteri forti” – the powers that be – while using the State as a cover for him to gain protection from legal prosecution.)

Voters have responsibilities and voting for someone like Trump is in itself a despicable and violent choice, a slap in the face against common decency.

But that does not mean that we should not ask why; and there are plenty of reasons for that, ranging from economic discontent about the impact of free trade agreements, to deteriorating wages and job conditions. But it is clear that on all these issues isolationism is simply a knee-jerk reaction. For in the absence of harmonised rules which improve labour standards both at home and abroad, the American working class will remain at the mercy of neoliberalism.

Trump is the representative of the most retrograde elements of the ruling class in his country and he uses the insurgent masses as his whip

Much has been said about Hillary Clinton. As a successful, aspirational woman she challenges sexist prejudice and therefore any accusation against her sticks. As the wife of a cheating ex-President she easily fitted into the House of Cards caricature and suffered from a credibility deficit.

Perhaps wisdom dictated the Democrats to choose someone with less baggage to take on Trump. Instead of courting working-class Americans in Wisconsin and Ohio, she hoped that mainstream Republicans disgusted by Trump’s sexism would vote for her. They did not. Because Trump is the logical conclusion of the Republican logic of disruption and mayhem which constantly undermined Obama.

But that is not the main problem.

The main problem is that political discourse has been savaged and degraded to the point that very serious declarations fomenting hatred, are seen as a form entertainment.

One can’t address complex arguments on how to govern globalisation and foreign policy issues like Syria and the rise of an aggressive authoritarian Russia through soundbites. Instead of a debate on issues we were regaled with vulgarities and roaring madness. And there is nothing anti-establishment in being a thug or playground bully.

European governments have a great responsibility towards future generations by holding Trump to account on his devastating climate change commitments

Despite all this, it was Hillary Clinton who won the popular vote: which means millions of middle class and working class voters, especially those with college education, preferred her to the deplorable Trump.

I reject the view that Trump should be treated like a normal President in waiting. European governments have a great responsibility towards future generations by holding Trump to account on his devastating climate change commitments. The world cannot afford to sit still while Trump settles in the Oval Office.

Using this ugly episode to pontificate about “the establishment” as our Joseph Muscat does, is inappropriate as it simply perpetuates a flawed worldview of ‘caudillos’ pitting the masses against some abstract elite. In reality, what they do is change the goalposts for the lobbies they favour.

This election has emboldened populist bullies the world over.

Now it’s time to show them that they will not have an easy ride in power.