Powerful messages of hope, anger in U.S. campaigns
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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/02/2016 (3698 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Without having to get too immersed in the U.S. election cycle, one gets the impression that something of significance is happening. It is the uprising of, or, more accurately, the more open expression of dissatisfaction within the population with the status quo.
What is interesting is that the dissatisfaction is being expressed in two differing streams of thought personified by Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders and Republican presidential hopeful Donald Trump.
What Sanders seems to be offering, or what his supporters are taking from his message, is hope. Hope in a future which will fulfil the long-standing promise of equality, equity, freedom, personal power in all aspects of social well-being — political, economic, cultural, racial, gender. These are powerful motivating thoughts.
Trump’s platform seems to be more an expression of anger at what is happening to the U.S. and directing that anger into proposed strategies and policies whereby Americans can return to a place they believe they were. Trump presents ideas of protectionism, security, militarism, power as a means to regain the glory of the U.S. past and fulfil the country’s self-defined role and responsibility with respect to the well-being of the world. These are powerful motivating thoughts.
It is much too early to tell how deeply and broadly either or both of these streams of thoughts are flowing within the U.S. population. Time will tell.
What is fascinating is the contradiction between the messages and yet the appeal of both messages to a population that seems to be saying “enough.” Hope is focused on the future. Anger is focused on the past. In a way, the contradiction is not surprising. People who are dissatisfied with the present either look hopefully to a brighter future, or, look longingly and, at times, desperately at the past. Which path one chooses is a function of self, one’s experiences, capacities — defining how one approaches and lives one life.
Both messages have the potential of inciting behaviours which threaten the status quo, that is, those who benefit from the status quo. Both messages of promise have an inherent element of danger to a society focused on change when the promises are not fulfilled.
It will be interesting to watch whether the “establishment,” that is, the political, media and business elite, will allow Sanders and Trump to continue with their respective messages. And what strategies the “establishment” will undertake to either support, redirect or bury Sanders and/or Trump, and the messages they are delivering.
And should Sanders and Trump, or, some semblance of their respective messages, end up being the presidential choices, the ultimate question is whether anger trumps hope.
Rosemarie and Chester Letkeman
Brandon