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Trump, the Establishment, and True Democracy

Trump’s anti-establishment appeal reflects a democratic crisis, as voters seek genuine representation in a rapidly changing world.

Trump, despite his diminishing faculties and questionable antics, remains a strong contender due to his anti-establishment image and the public’s disdain for hypocritical, establishment politicians like Kamala Harris. While his campaign is filled with self-praise and attacks on opponents, his stance on issues like NATO and immigration still resonate with voters who feel abandoned by mainstream politics. The broader crisis is democratic, with a lack of genuine representation for a changing, global society. Until a new alternative emerges, the unpredictable Trump may be the lesser evil.

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by Tommaso Merlo

Trump could still make it, surprisingly. And there’s no doubt: between Kamala Harris, who positions herself as an establishment servant, and an old narcissist who could shake it up, the latter is the better choice. At least something might change, even if only by accident. Trump is slipping, often stammering and rambling, which makes him even more dangerous. His rallies are so nauseating that even his most die-hard supporters with their nutria-fur hairpieces sneak away. He’s gone from mega stadiums to basements just to fill the seats, yet his poll numbers hold steady. This is despite the fact that all mainstream media is blatantly against him, and he has so many legal troubles that even he can’t keep track of them. Incredible.

As for his campaign strategy, it remains the same: a barrage of nonsense, constant self-praise for nonexistent achievements, and merciless attacks on opponents. Toxic narcissism nearing its expiration date, and therefore becoming more caustic. He calls Kamala Harris stupid, blaming her for every problem in creation. If Trump, in this condition, made it to the White House, it would be a spectacle, and the end of the American empire might take significant strides forward. He’s already warned Zelensky that if he calls again whining for more weapons, he’ll flip him off on camera. Trump wants to make peace with Putin, which wouldn’t be bad at all. He also detests NATO, saying it’s pointless. It was created to protect us, but now it’s dragging us into World War III. He’s not wrong. Even broken clocks are right twice a day.

We’re at the point where we hope politicians lose their sanity to the extent they become loose cannons, freeing themselves from the ties of lobbyists and conformity. Because, as we know, Republicans and Democrats are the same garbage—two theater companies putting on shows to dupe their audience. And once they have your votes, they don’t care about you anymore. It’s the same story everywhere: neoliberal thought, electoral charades, then profit and a void in power.

On Gaza, however, Trump is just like the Democrats, a puppet of Netanyahu. Clearly, the pro-Israel lobby bought him by the pound and in due time. Big lobbies shop on both sides to keep things smooth. But if Trump is still standing, it’s because his key issues still resonate, like immigration—the fear of losing an identity wrapped in flags, rodeos, and fried chicken. The old Trump promises a wall with Mexico and mass deportations, while also babbling about inflation because it’s a hot topic. It seems that the American Dream for the new generation is to live elsewhere, in places where they don’t risk getting shot, where there’s more to life than work, where they don’t need a mortgage just to eat, and where they won’t be robbed by the hospital if they fall ill. Trump sits on a solid gold toilet every morning but guarantees he’ll solve everything in a couple of days amidst the howls of drunken cowboys and enlightened flat-earthers. But his true supporters aren’t them. If Trump is still in the race and Kamala is stalled, it’s mainly due to the widespread hatred of the establishment, of politics that are increasingly hypocritical and weak.

Trump is still seen as anti-system, and people vote for him more out of hatred for hypocrites like Harris than out of admiration. They despise politicians who are always full of nice speeches and clichés, polished actors who believe in nothing but their careers and who, instead of changing the system, ride it. They conform, they become bourgeois, and they always end up bowing to lobbies instead of to the will of the people. What we’re experiencing is a deep democratic crisis, more than a political one. Sure, there are terrifying ideological regressions born out of fear of a rapidly changing world, but a new, increasingly global civil society is also emerging, with new sensitivities and perspectives. What we truly lack is someone who represents this democratically, movements solely serving the citizens, with the ambition to shape history rather than endure it. Until something new comes along, between a servant of the establishment and an old narcissist who could shake it up, the latter is the better choice.

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