HL Mencken once wrote that ‘democracy is the theory that the common people know what they want, and deserve to get it good and hard’.
Americans go to the polls on Tuesday for what is undoubtedly the most crucial election in decades — and not just for the Yanks, but for the rest of the world.
For many here, the choice is – as the 1916 words of the acclaimed American satirist suggest – an uncomfortable one.
Donald Trump is vulgar, unpredictable and seemingly willing to bend the rule of law for his own gain.
What the rest of the world is missing, however, is that millions of working Americans actually see Trump as the safer, more stable option of the two — and not the renegade “change candidate” he is often portrayed as abroad.
I’ve talked to business owners, Uber drivers, flight attendants, lawyers, police, firefighters, bartenders, waitresses, Latino migrants, and passersby — and to one man, they all say the exact same thing.
In summary: Kamala Harris doesn’t have what it takes to be president, illegal immigration is out of control – and Democrats are too focused on “woke” politics, instead of solving skyrocketing violent crime and the crisis around the cost of living.
I admit that the sample size of my “survey” is limited to a small portion of the delis, dive bars, and hotel lobbies in New York and New Jersey, but since they are both blue states, it is somewhat eye-opening.
The US presidential race is too close to call as the polls show no clear favorite (Donald Trump is pictured)
Last-minute polling shows the race is on a razor’s edge, with data showing seven crucial swing states — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin — could all go either way.
In such a closely fought battle, recounts remain likely to come into play in disputed provinces, delaying the official verdict for days.
A Kamala Harris presidency would likely bring an international sigh of relief, with the Democratic candidate determined to maintain the status quo of the American-led world order.
Trump, in stark contrast, could turn the situation upside down.
The Republican Party nominee has already promised to impose massive tariffs on foreign goods, a move that could dramatically reshape global trade.
He has also hinted that his government would opt for a more non-interventionist strategy when it comes to the war zones in Ukraine and the Middle East.
Furthermore, Trump’s unpredictability means that the future of NATO, European and SINO relations, the so-called Quad alliance and AUKUS are all on the table.
For the most part, Americans couldn’t care less about these issues. Their concerns are mainly domestic in nature.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania – a crucial swing state that could decide the entire election
But one issue on the home front that may pose a major threat to Trump is the Republican Party’s continued erosion of reproductive rights.
Only one woman I spoke to had reservations about voting for Trump.
She told me she was concerned about the violation of women’s right to abortion, but ultimately concluded that the economy was a more important issue — and that she believes Trump will do a better job of combating inflation.
Similarly, Latino migrants were willing to ignore the Republican Party’s perceived “racism” after a controversial joke at Trump’s rally in New York City earlier this week.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe made a poorly received joke about the island of Puerto Rico as “garbage.”
Puerto Ricans and other Latinos I spoke with — who legally migrated to the U.S. and worked tirelessly to make a living — said they are tired of their tax dollars being spent on Democratic-led programs to house illegal immigrants.
A surprising number of Latino voters will vote for Trump at the ballot box. Pictured: Hispanics for Trump express their support at a rally in LA in 2016
Of course, voter sentiment around these hot-button topics varies wildly across the country.
And it is these controversial and complex issues that will inevitably decide who becomes the next president.
The race is too close to declare a winner, but one thing is certain.
There will undoubtedly be a toxic backlash against whoever is elected, further destabilizing an already divided nation.
But no matter how bitter things get, Americans can rest assured that voters in a democracy will get exactly what they deserve.