Wandering further afield – Thoughts on the US Election

I watched with curious wonder as the US election results rolled in Tuesday night. A few hours before, I sent to a friend my prediction for the night:

Trump will take PA and MI, and win. The Republicans will win a majority in the Senate and the House.

Around 11 p.m., I switched YouTube and rewatched part of a special episode of House of Strombo – where John Prine and his band played from his last album, The Tree of Forgiveness.

I was frustrated with the results. I couldn’t understand how voters could overlook what Trump the candidate was. That feeling subsided as I saw posts and comments from people chastising Americans for how they voted. Vitriol, as usual. Americans made their choice for their reasons – and for most it was because of their wallet.

Looking at both campaigns, Trump had a plan. I think the plan won’t work. I think tariffs are a tax on his own citizens. Four years from now there will be a lot of voter remorse. Harris’ plan was two pronged: she wasn’t Trump; and reproductive rights. That’s what people heard most. That wasn’t their wallet, and Trump’s plan was.

Here in Canada, I am worried for what the protectionist policies of Trump will do to our economy. Personally, I don’t plan on travelling to the US for the next four years – that is me voting with my wallet.

As much as pundits are trying to paint this election on extremist this and wacky that, I think most Americans were worried about their wallets. I can’t judge people for that. I do the same.

I hate it when I am right.