Disclaimer: I write this text in the aftermath of the election of Donald Trump as the President of the United States of America. For the second time. 🤦♂️
I may not have processed the event enough to write objectively about the American system, but I think it is necessary to write this text.
The election of Donald Trump is bad
So here we are again. The President of the United States of America is Donald Trump. I don’t know why people voted for him, I don’t know what exactly he will do. I know the fact alone that fascists like him and his peers are in power is devastating.
If he only realizes a fraction of the things he said or project 2025 suggests, USA will become even less our vision of a good system. And since the USA is very influential to the world, it’s bad for all of us.
The American system is bad
The actual system of the country is already terrible, and Kamala Harris wouldn’t have improved it, but at least she wouldn’t have worsened it, at least I think so.
Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot to admire in the American System. The freedom you have and that you can theoretically become and be whoever you want to be. But in reality you’re only free if you have money, you are white and a man.
The American system needs to change as all systems over the world, and maybe now is the best time to do it.
Make the American system great again
Why?
If Harris had won, progressive people would have taken a breath and sat back for four years. The broken system wouldn’t have been better at all. Because the Democrats also don’t want any fundamental changes. But they are necessary.
Now with Trump in power, people who want a better future have to fight, they have to make changes. Even Trump could help. He will at least try to change the system. For the worse, of course, but if he does the first step to change this old outdated system, it is easier to change it completely for the better. The first step is always the hardest. Let Trump do it for us.
The problems of the American system
The actual system is capitalistic, individualistic, racist, militaristic, lacking in solidarity and elitist. It is bad for the environment, creates inequality and doesn’t provide social services for all people.
You can read several articles on my blog on how I imagine a good system. I won’t write here about it excessively, but I will give you some bullet points where the American system has the biggest problem.
Education
As always, the first and most important point is education. Public education. The USA has great schools and universities, but only for those who can afford them. Meanwhile, almost nobody can afford them. People have to make a lot of debt, which they have to pay for the rest of their life. Which is intrinsically to the system because you need to force the people to work.
Social and health
People who can’t even afford the debt to go to good schools are forced to work by the lack of social services and public health care. In the USA, it is worse than in most other countries. There’s nearly no health insurance if you don’t work. Even if you have insurance through your employer, you may have to pay thousands of dollars if you need to see a doctor. Which again serves the system.
Politics
While on a local level the political system in the USA is ok, you can get relatively easily involved via town hall meetings, etc., the federal system is a mess.
Without money, it is nearly impossible to get your voice heard. The president has far too much power and the electoral college is a joke.
The votes from rural states are much more worthy than in states with more urban areas. For example, California has well over 39 million inhabitants. Wyoming has a population of 576,851 people. California has 54 electors and Wyoming three. That means one elector stands for more than 720,000 Californians or 190,000 Wyomingites. And both states have two senators, and in the House of Representatives it is 52 to 1. This is highly unfair.
Other democratic systems are also unfair. But nothing compared to the USA. The reason is mostly historic, or that smaller regions are better represented. Both reasons are bad. In my opinion, every vote should be worth the same.
It is even worse if you live in an insular area of the USA. Then you don’t have any vote.
Individualism
The individualism in the United States is often branded as personal freedom. But it is deeply webbed into capitalism. You need to own your own land, your own car, your own anything. This individualistic approach is bad for the environment because it promotes overconsumption, and it is bad for social development and community. Which is also what the system wants because it is easier to govern a bunch of individuals than an organized union or community.
Media
The USA is also an excellent example of how important public media is. The underfunded NPR and PBS make great program but have no chance in reaching the broad audience that private media has. The news is dominated by highly subjective outlets, who only serve their audience or their owner, which mostly is some billionaire. This is part of why the American people are so divided. Publicly funded media that does not need to sell anything but can focus on good journalism is necessary for a working system.
How can we make the best out of Trump’s presidency?
What is the conclusion? The election of Donald Trump is bad, very bad. Many people and the planet will suffer. But there is a silver lining.
Europe had to go through the dark decades of fascism to become the wealthy and peaceful continent it is now. Maybe the USA and the world has to go through the same disaster.
This is not good, I would rather hope, we won’t. Because as I said it is bad and many will suffer.
What do we have to do now?
First, look out for each other. It must not become as bad as a hundred years ago.
Second, use the downfall of the system to create something good. Better than in Europe where the built system exploits other countries, poor people and the planet.
Third, make it global. America can be great again, if it becomes a role model for a good system. So we can get rid of all the other autocrats.
It will be hard, tiring, and dirty, but we can do it, and we will do it if we do it together.
A good system is possible, start changing it now!
My name is Ian DeBay.
I am the founder of iandebay.com. I am a content creator, blogger, podcast, YouTuber. This is my blog where I talk about system change, sustainability and other fun stuff.
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