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Robert Kinens is a retired social studies teacher who lives in Aroostook County and Florida.
As a former news “junkie” who has gone cold turkey since the last election due to shock and dismay, I have had time to reflect on the reasons for the shocking outcome of the November election. First, my sincere congratulations to those running the Trump campaign. They knew the electorate far better than this old liberal. So what did they know about Americans that I did not?
We all knew the make-up of the base supporting Donald Trump and his America First vision. I hold no ill will toward anyone true to their word, including Trump who made clear his intentions for this country and its future. I believe a coalition of MAGA supporters, ultra-conservative Christians, white nationalists, traditionalists believing women should be subservient, greedy shareholders and corporate CEOs, a compromised Supreme Court, and even foreign nations seeking to interfere in our election, combined with a host of others to present a significant obstacle to the first Black woman running for the highest office in the land. Still, I confidently believed in America, that the numbers simply did not add up and Vice President Kamala Harris would prevail.
So what happened? I could not fathom how any average American voter, simply wanting a better place to live, could vote on the same side as those seemingly interested in destroying it? At the risk of offending the few friends and family members I still have, allow me to provide three reasons that I see.
First, a successful assault on public schools to educate our youth, combined with technology and rampant misinformation played a role in the victory of the man who once said “I love the poorly educated.” Combined with Fox News, it was a perfect storm.
Second, Americans have high expectations, believing they are entitled to a better life than their parents. They believe that having the good fortune of being born on this piece of ground guarantees prosperity. They are disappointed when massive personal debt overwhelms them and are more likely to vote for a guy who promises that he is the only one that can fix it.
Lastly, American resentment for the success of others, especially those who are different from themselves. Many must explain their lack of achievement by finding excuses, blaming somebody else. We all have biases but I believe those who said they were undecided voters and still voted for Trump were only fooling themselves. Trump won an election by blaming others and whining about how unfair the world was to an apparent billionaire. Many listened, and agreed.
