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*Donald Trump represents a significant minority of the US capitalist class* The recent discussion on this list about whether Trump’s “policy” in Syria represents the interests of US imperialism or not points to a bigger, and deeper question about Trump. It is easy to dismiss him as an accidental figure of history propelled through the cracks in the system from real estate and reality show to the White House, especially since his behavior is so blatantly inconsistent and outrageous. Nevertheless, he is not an accidental figure: he represents a significant sector of the capitalist class and its thinking. When the Soviet Union collapsed, and the United States won the cold war, the ruling class of the United States was elated, but didn’t really know what to do. They tried to continue on as if nothing had happened. They didn’t close down all of those military basis ringing the old USSR, they did not say “Good-bye Nato, you’re mission is over. Thank you very much.” They tried to invent new enemies and were overjoyed when Al-Queda gave them a new world threat to their system. No need to rework the system. But, the system designed for the cold war, was not working very well for its aftermath. China grew to become a new world power, US economic dominance was fading, and US military dominance was being challenged. The echoes of the defeat in Vietnam continue to resound around the world. The military power of the United States has not won the hearts and minds of the people of the world, except for a thin crust of corrupt politicians and businesspeople. The results are the truly endless series of wars the United States is involved in. And, Republicans remembered their tradition and their past. They remembered what they did after the First World War. They never ratified the Versailles Treaty, and they never joined the League of Nations. They turned their back on Europe, except to collect the money the Europeans owed the US. The closed the doors to immigration. They told the Europeans they believed in the Monroe Doctrine, and they tried to figure out how to get China out of the hands of the Europeans and the Japanese. They ripped up the wartime economic regulation of Woodrow Wilson and said that the business of America is business. They orchestrated a major escalation of union busting and a wave a racist terrorism. Of course, these policies were a disaster, but it took a decade before that became apparent. Even then they did not disappear, as the America First movement took firm root within the GOP. World War II caused the GOP to make a hasty retreat from their most openly pro-Nazi sentiments, and the beginning of the cold war caused them to continue their patriotic alliance of convenience with the Truman wing of the Democrats. This alliance was embodied by Dwight David Eisenhower’s presidency. Those ideas and policies never disappeared from the GOP. Senator Barry Goldwater, and 1964 GOP Presidential candidate, wanted the United States to leave the United Nations throughout his political career. The global policy framework within which Trump works is a throwback to this thread of traditional 20th century GOP thinking. Its basic tenets are that the United States should stop trying to be the leader of a world system. Instead it should look for ways to increase the wealth and power of the United States even when those goals bring the USA into conflict with old allies and friends. Alliances should be short term and based on expediency. This is why Trump has no qualms about betraying the Kurds. This is also why he has no qualms about calling for an end to NATO and trying to form a new alliance with Putin’s Russia. Trump has formed a de facto alliance among the three largest oil producers in the world: the USA, Russia and Saudi Arabia. In my opinion, this is the “rational” core of his geopolitics. Trump views Europe, all of Europe, as a headache that is more trouble than it is worth. So, get rid of it. Trump views China as a big problem. China should go back to being a big reservoir of cheap labor for US business to exploit. Within this framework, Trump works within a view of the world that does not care whether global warming is leading to a disaster or not, and does not care whether the economy is growing or contracting. According to this kind of thinking, capitalism will survive no matter what, and someone will always be able to make a buck out of every situation. Trump views capitalism as a continuous series of real estate swindles and casino bets. The best cheaters are the winners most of the time. Even if the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal and even the American Enterprise Institute are against Trump, a significant part of the capitalist class supports his world view. And they support him, even they think he is nuts. Here is a small look at it. https://www.opensecrets.org/2020-presidential-race/industries?id=N00023864 Anthony _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
