After almost two years of painful memes, uncomfortable millennial outreach and bitter despair, the 2016 election is finally over. We can finally go back to the real world where politics only exists on “House of Cards,” right?
Wrong.
I won’t go into the results of the election, nor will I go into the type of government to expect from this cycle. Instead, I’d like to focus on the factors that shaped the 2016 presidential election, which are still very much alive and well.
Regardless of which candidate won, the racism, sexism, xenophobia, mistrust of government and sheer corruption in the political and economic systems still exist. We cannot ignore these issues just because we don’t have to worry about marking a ballot for another two years. (For those who don’t know, we have Congressional elections between Presidential elections. Surprise!)
Regardless of what you might think, Donald Trump’s candidacy was not an anomaly. His brand of right-wing nationalism is rampant across almost all western nations right now. From Brexit to
Austria’s presidential election to Germany’s stance on forcing Greece into austerity, this fascist philosophy is sweeping the world. If we don’t do something to address this issue soon, Trumpian candidates will become the norm, and his mythical southern wall might become a reality sooner than we think.
If we want to put an end to these nationalist candidates in the United States before they gain considerable traction, our politicians need to do better. It’s not an accident Trump defeated 16 other candidates in the Republican primary, despite the fact that he had virtually no initial public support from any established politician. People thought he was a joke.
Voters feel disconnected from politicians these days. While they want progress, jobs and secure incomes, politicians keep bringing gridlock and corruption.
What kind of message did Clinton even bring to the campaign? Choose me because I’m not Trump? That’s not a vision for our country, and it’s hardly a way to make voters enthusiastic. Democrats have to offer more than just the status quo in politics. They have to offer more than being the pragmatic choice. And they have to learn to speak to working-class voters.
Obviously, social issues matter. For some, social issues literally save lives. But we can’t continue to ignore the economic troubles of working class America. Incomes are stagnant, prices are increasing and even though we’re not in a recession anymore, people aren’t feeling economic stability.
Part of that problem has to do with the fact that they vote against their interests, but it’s not their fault Democrats are terrible at reaching out to them. The elitist attitude of the Democratic Party turns off any potential voter who doesn’t feel like their life depends on having a Democratic politician in office.
I’m not excusing sexism and racism. We need to take steps to end that as quickly as possible, but Democrats also need to reach out to people who feel like the economic and political system doesn’t work for them.
Overall, we need more empathy. I hope all sides can come together to heal the nation before it’s too late.
Cody Sibley is a 20-year-old mass communication junior from Opelousas, Louisiana.
Opinion: 2016 Presidential election foreshadows America’s nationalist future
By Cody Sibley
November 8, 2016