Are there similarities between what is taking place in the US and Guyana?

Nov 12, 2016 Letters

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Dear Editor,
The U.S elections are now over. Donald Trump and the Republican Party, (notwithstanding the fact that Hillary Clinton secured a larger slice of the popular vote) have won an unexpectedly, overwhelming majority of the very important Electoral College votes, thereby securing for Trump the Presidency of the United States of America and in the process of the victory march entrenched the Republican Party’s control, not only of the Executive, but also of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The massive margin of victory for Trump has left Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party devastated and in shambles. They are now asking and trying to work out what could have gone wrong in a campaign, which from all appearances they seemed, just prior to the opening of polling stations on elections day, to have locked down.
These historic election results have sent shock waves throughout America and the world. Millions of people are asking the question – what does Trump’s victory mean for America and the rest of the World? I will submit here that the political reality is that the world has to live with President-elect Donald Trump, and the US President-elect will, after his inauguration on January 20th, 2017, have to find a way to live with the world. Winning for him, will prove to be much easier than governing. President-elect Trump will very quickly discover that in a changing dynamic world, leaders will not readily succumb to US leadership threats and bullyism.
At this juncture one of the issues engaging my attention, is, what are the political lessons that Guyana can learn from the U.S elections? And in what ways would these elections affect our national interests? Before trying to answer these questions, let me say that no two countries are the same. Each has its own peculiarities. However, human societies also have many things in common. Added to this we live in a globalized world where ideas and influences know no national borders. This point becomes even more important when it is applied to third world countries with inconsequential and insignificant technical/military defenses.
This is a list of some factors which I believe dominated the political landscape in the run up to the US elections: (1) the hatred of large sections of the masses for the political elite and their financial allies, their domination, and greed; (2) the popular perception that there is need for change; (3) the state of the economy and availability of jobs; (4) internal security and the emergence of ISIS and other radical/extremist forces around the world; (5) race relations; (6) class contradictions; (7) immigration issues; and (8) the fear factor inherent in the exaggeration of likely violent Muslim threats/actions against US citizens/properties in the US and around the world.
Where does Guyana stand/compare in relation to the above? (A) We have growing alienation of the masses with the “system”. For decades the masses have been questioning the political and economic infrastructure and its negative effects on the country. The majority of the people in Guyana are the poor and the powerless; (b)in so far as the issue of the economy and job creation is concerned Guyana still counts a burgeoning unemployment youth brigade who are frustrated by unfolding developments and who see no light at the end of the tunnel; (c)the deepening internal security challenges/the escalating crime situation and the public perception on the matter; (d) race/ethnic insecurity; (e)class contradictions; (f) the continuing popular demand for “real change” that had resulted in the defeat of the PPPC in the 2015 elections.
Looking at these factors there are many similarities with the US. This is not to say that they will play out in the same way in all respects in Guyanese elections as they did in the just concluded US elections. There are a number of inferences that can be drawn from the above. The US now joins a number of European countries where the masses are rebelling against the old order in the ballot boxes. This is due to the failure of the system to deliver on economic and social benefits. Guyana is not immune to this global political development.
We have to be careful since we have been struggling with the challenges of our colonial structured economy and an inadequate political system for more than half a century. We have long reached the point where the contradictions in the economic and political system have become counterproductive to the advancement of the nation. President Obama came to power 8 years ago on the banner of “change”. Many of his supporters at home and abroad interpreted change to mean “profound change”. This was not to be. Instead his Presidency, rather than pulling down the “old order” gave a new lease of life and legitimacy to the system at a point when the contradictions demanded decisive action. However, credit must be given to the fact that Obama and his Rainbow Coalition created history by (1) becoming the first black man to be elected President of the United States; and (2) against all odds he became a two term President and ended his term with one of the highest approval ratings of a departing US President.

Tacuma Ogunseye

Editor’s note; Mr. Ogunseye’s letter will conclude in tomorrow’s edition

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