GRAHAM Jagger moved to the United States from Craven four years ago. Here in his 'letter from America' he talks about the recent presidential election and how we could all be in for a bumpy ride. 

 

SO here in the US, the election is over, and the results are in, and the outcome is a resounding vote of confidence in the candidate who was President a few years ago but was voted out then.

Four years ago, on the day I set foot in my new home, primarily it would seem because of the way in which the pandemic was handled at the time the feeling in the country was it needed a change, and it voted the incumbent out of office and here we are four years later we’re going back to that person again. So, what changed to cause this reversal of four years ago. Well, that would be a matter of opinion when you look at all of the issues that have been flying around.

Two things come to mind though straight away. They were immigration and inflation or the economy. These were the main issues that the successful candidate campaigned on. There was also a “promise” to end the wars in Ukraine and Israel “on day one” but we’re not sure when the day one he was referring to actually was. Some think it’s the day after being elected and others on January 20, 2025, which is when the transfer of power becomes effective. Time will tell on that one although the first deadline has gone now.

But reflecting on the unrelenting promotion of both candidates it’s good to have my life back and be free from all that was thrown at you on a minute-by-minute basis for the last few months. It came in every conceivable form, and it was impossible to avoid it, no matter how hard you might try. To me, it was a new experience and so very different to all that I have known about during the many general elections I’ve lived through in the UK.

The Party-Political broadcasts in the UK that often happened just before the six o’clock news are fondly remembered when a prospective PM sat behind a desk and delivered a scripted speech in calculated tones and which in later years became a collage of pictures and a voiceover to put all our minds at rest that they had our best interests at heart.

But it was absolutely nothing like that here during this last election. The promotion of one candidate was built on optimism and the future and the other was fear, failure, hatred and unsupported promises.

But much to my disappointment but not to my surprise, the latter worked. To me, Americans can be easily persuaded by bright shiny objects than something that doesn’t look quite as nice. Immigration was a central issue that came out as being a vote winner and the promise to “deport 11 million illegal immigrants” found favour with voters.

This was coupled with the promise to eliminate inflation at the click of one’s fingers and make groceries and gas (petrol/diesel to you and me) cheaper overnight by the promise to “drill baby drill” which in essence is to increase fossil fuel production.

But as the US is currently producing more crude oil than it ever has in history including more than any other country in the world, then that commitment seems unnecessary and unlikely to have any noticeable effects on the economy. But the concept has been seen as the way to make life more affordable to everyone. A great sales pitch that had a great effect in terms of voting.

Immigration is a major issue here and not dissimilar to how it’s viewed in the UK. But the shear scale of immigration is quite something. There is this in many ways understandable feeling that “immigration” is not good for this country and that’s mainly driven by people having been told it’s not good for you as individuals and the American way of life in particular. But in reality, it’s not quite like that from what I can see and have experienced.

Based on the outcome of the election then most of the voting population wants to get rid of and physically deport to their countries of origin all those who have come into the country without going through the correct procedures like I did.

I see what they’re saying but I’m not convinced that they know both the financial consequences of that or the impact it will have on the economy in general as those people both pay taxes and do jobs that Americans don’t want to do at the pay rate they receive. Taking them out of the workforce will create a huge gap that won’t be filled easily or at all and the consequences are likely to be significant to the economy as a whole. But that doesn’t appear to fit into the thinking of those that voted to deport them. Consequences are inconsequential when it comes to political promises for votes. That applies to UK politics also from experience but to a lesser degree than here.

But moving on to the reaction to the outcome from the election that I feel, and my friends and neighbours have expressed then it becomes interesting.

Of course, as a non-US citizen I couldn’t vote but if I could have, I would not have voted for the successful candidate but that’s irrelevant and in a democracy, then if more people vote for one candidate over the other then that’s what determines the outcome of the election.

While the whole election process is very different to the UK, the outcome is what it is, nevertheless. I know some people who are really pleased with the outcome and some who are not. I’ve tried to remain as neutral as possible when we’ve been talking about it, but it’s hard. I know some people who are here “illegally” and who would be deported if the promises made are fulfilled. I feel for them because they are really nice people. They have found employment, learning to speak English and want to live a life free from oppression and control. Only time will tell what the outcome is for them.

The effects of the outcome of the election here will be felt around the world so hang on to your hats come January 20, 2025, because it could be a bumpy ride for everyone.