Tonight will be the second presidential debate, and it will confirm Trump meltdown obvious to elites in U.S.. 15 Republican senators have asked Trump to withdraw or disavowed him and counting. Yet the problem will not be solved with the coronation of Hillary. The gap between rich and poor, 99% versus 1%, will still yawn wide. The electoral system of U.S. is over 250 years old, yet it is undemocratic in its origin, and almost impossible to reform. Even with the new Supreme Court and possible repudiation of “Citizens United” decision, I see no real change except marginal improvement in the live of ordinary citizens.
The public opinion polls on Brexit vote, Columbian cease fire accord vote, both predicted passage, yet due to low participation or indifference of young voters, both failed. U.S. election might yet go that way except for Trump meltdown. Professor Qiang Ge of Central Party School, a self professed Trump fan, wrote in guancha.cn after the first debate, questioned a CNN poll of Hillary win by using right wing internet polls for Trump win to question the validity of polls in general. For me it’s not surprising most Chinese have little knowledge of U.S. politics or political process, but I find it dangerous that Central Party School, where provincial and higher officials attend classes to further their education, is not well informed. I mentioned Central Party School because another professor, Wang Changjiang was recently under attack by Maoists for disrespecting Mao.
As public opinion polls show, U.S. with her high college attendance compare to others is still very poorly informed and anti-science. With 40% believe earth is 10,000 years old, with 46% against evolution as creationists, thus even with Trump’s meltdown, politics in U.S. will be challenging in the future. Chinese leaders will need to be well informed in dealing with U.S.. I recently watched a TV program, “Choice, 2016, Frontline”, which gives very good background information on Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, and I recommend highly to all interested. As China moves to a service and knowledge economy, the problems faced by U.S., rich and poor divide, automation and job loss, loss of confidence in government, will show up in China also. China in addition faces a serious corruption problem which will not be easily solved. Remember, the events of 89 was triggered by backlash against corruption. The democracy in U.S. is flawed, I do hope China can draw lessons from it, more than just editorialize it in People’s Daily on its failure.
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alanking says
US Democracy is not only flawed, it’s terminal, and may very well destroy the world along with itself.
Basically the US voters are given the following choices
1. A Naked Wolf
2. A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing.
In truth, there is a 3rd choice: None of the Above.
But thanks to all the propaganda throughout the Empire, very few people know they can simply escape from their parallel universe (the Matrix) that they live in. As such, despite the most miserable choices of all time, the 3rd party choice will still be down there in the basement, and the USA will never get out of their narrow choices of the 2 wolves.
I am not a fan of Marx, but as far as US is concern, his following quite certainly applies
“The oppressed are allowed once every few years
to decide which particular representatives of the
oppressing class are to represent and repress them.”
pug_ster says
I do find it funny. If anybody with a record like Trump and Clinton are running China, there will be a revolt within China. I didn’t even bother to watch the debate as this is more like a Beavis and Butthead show.
pug_ster says
American has already turned into a Banana Republic. Clinton campaign and the American propaganda are in the bed together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFoElKm7Neg
American propaganda cares about getting the most eyeballs and the more scandalous story means better viewership. Not to mention that a bad news about the American propaganda is …. bad news for the American propaganda.
pug_ster says
While this week’s western propaganda seems to be obsessed about Trump’s p**sy grabbing thing, they don’t seem to care about the wikileaks’ podesta’s emails.
https://wikileaks.org/podesta-emails/emailid/927
From the email, Hillary wrote:
*Hillary Clinton: “I’m Kind Of Far Removed” From The Struggles Of The Middle Class “Because The Life I’ve Lived And The Economic, You Know, Fortunes That My Husband And I Now Enjoy.” *“And I am not taking a position on any policy, but I do think there is a growing sense of anxiety and even anger in the country over the feeling that the game is rigged.
I find it funny that the Democrats rigged the system and HRC is your numero uno plutocrat.
pug_ster says
I thought this is funny. I thought this article about princeton Study (long read) here:
https://scholar.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/mgilens/files/gilens_and_page_2014_-testing_theories_of_american_politics.doc.pdf
Concluded that America is an Oligarchy and not a democracy. They studied 2000 bills passed over the past 20 years and it actually conflicts with the polls to what the people wanted in the bills. A youtube video has a better illustration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPUae5aNNoU