Chasm of star-spangled bewilderment

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Whether we like it or not, Washington, DC, is the epicentre of politics for the rest of the world, with so much hypocrisy, utter confusion and vainglorious rhetoric emanating from there every single day. It’s exactly one year since President Donald Trump was elected, and less than 10 months since his inauguration, but with so many changes taking place hour-by-hour it seems very much longer to those of us trying to make sense of what’s going on in the world.

On the first anniversary of his election, there were significant victories for the Democratic Party, as voters in Virginia, New Jersey, New York City and a few other places, addressed what they rightly or wrongly perceived as dubious achievements since Mr Trump’s second coming. Subsequently, Virginia and New Jersey have new Governors in the form of moderate female Democrats replacing Republicans, and New York City got a new Mayor, when 34 year-old Zohran Mamdani swept to victory.

A former rapper, his extremely innovative election campaign was full of grand gestures to make life more affordable for millions of struggling New Yorkers. He promises rent freezes, free childcare, vastly improved public transport services, reduced food prices and a host of other benefits when he takes over City Hall on January 1. Taxpayer-sponsored Gracie Mansion will definitely be a change from the one-bedroom rent-stabilized apartment in the borough of Queens where he’s lived for 7 years.

New York’s new mayor plans to pay for a very ambitious agenda by raising taxes on corporations and the wealthiest people in the city that never sleeps, and much is being made of his Muslim religion, that he’s an immigrant from Uganda, and his Democratic Socialist affiliation. His victory speech on November 4 sounded angry, and had some very personal barbs aimed at the President, who had already labelled him as a communist. With Mr Trump’s MAGA movement going further to the right than many observers expected, and Mr Mamdani leaning way way over to the left, there can be no doubt that a serious clash of political cultures is in the cards. Historians will surely be breaking new ground when current events are recorded for future generations.

It’s usually unwise to try and foresee what unpredictable politicians will do, but it’s safe to assume that we all need buckle up for what will be a bumpy and thrilling rollercoaster ride across the universe of political polarization – that is forever deepening into a chasm of star-spangled bewilderment.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada