US president-elect Donald Trump is putting together a vicious team of reactionaries around him (see page 17). He has also started outlining some of his policies, pretending that they will help US workers.
For example, he plans to investigate “all abuses of visa programmes that undercut the American worker”. And he wants to scrap “job-killing restrictions on the production of American energy”—such as clean coal.
But whipping up racism doesn’t help working class people. Nor does destroying the planet.
Trump is no friend of ordinary people. He is part of the wealthy elite that he claims to stand against.
Racists, fascists and sexists feel emboldened by his election.
But many people have not sunk into despair. Protests continued for days after his election across the US. School students walked out to demonstrate.
Trump’s election partly reflects an anger towards establishment politicians. That’s why his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton, failed to inspire people to back her. It’s also why Bernie Sanders could have won.
Trump’s election shows how the right can capitalise on the disillusion that people feel. But both Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn in Britain have shown that left wing ideas can win support too.
Despairing at Trump won’t stop him. Building a movement on the streets and in the workplaces can.
A new report shows how racist scapegoating influences national opinion
Investors fear that it's unsustainable
Plus: Our take on Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor still being granted a royal funeral
