The battle between propaganda and populism in the America elections.
“The media’s the most powerful entity on earth. They have the power to make the innocent guilty and the guilty innocent, and that’s power. Because they control the minds of the masses.” – Malcolm X.
I have never seen the full force of propaganda and populism at work than in the 2016 American Presidential elections, with both Candidates religiously adhering to the Principle of “propaganda and deceit”.
Clinton has used the media machinery at her disposal to execute a total annihilation of Trump’s image beyond repairs. Whilst on the other hand, Donald Trump plays on the emotions and the long standing non-empirical fears and concerns of Americans.
Clinton’s effective propaganda machinery cannot wholly be blamed on Trump’s lose talks sometimes, but can be credited to the biased media outlets in the USA. To make matters worse, the rest of the world swallowed the propaganda hook, line and sinker and heightened the fears thrown out by Team Clinton against her opponent.
All advanced constitutional democracies are built to be robust and not be “a one-man show”. As advanced as America’s democracy appears to be, and with the strict practice of separation of powers, why do people intentionally create the impression that Trump will be out of control once elected? Are we being told that the almighty American political system of about 200 years is not as robust as it has always been painted?
On the other hand, Donald Trump has done more damage to himself than Team Clinton could have envisioned. His hard talk was enough to win him the primaries, but he should have realized that the national elections goes beyond the ideals of Republicans. His bundling of facts and sometimes unsubstantiated claims has exposed his political naivety.
His isolationist policies, scandals involving women, and loose talks took a lot of the shine away from his campaign. His name has been continually mentioned in the media, but for the wrong reasons.
This battle between propaganda and populism was more profound during their three encounters at the presidential debates. Like others, I expected the Presidential debate of Almighty America to be pregnant with policy ideas, but to my disappointment, unnecessary propaganda, populism and innuendoes took center stage with virtually nothing of policy relevance coming to play. Characteristically, Clinton answered the question of “how are you going to create jobs” by saying “Trump has evaded taxes”, as Trump answered the same by saying “Senator Clinton is a disaster and has been keeping emails”.
How does any of these answers put food on the table of the young Americans in the street?
As a by-stander and a student of politics and policy, I know America is torn between the Devil and the Red Sea. But for the two, I prefer the former, after all, I can bargain with the Devil.
In the context of bad judgment as exemplified in the Libya and Iran case, deceit and “politricks” of Clinton, and the Populism and political naivety of Trump, I prefer the latter. I’m convinced that the American political system can sober the hotheadedness of Trump.
Don’t judge a book by its cover!