THE TROUBLED TRUMP, THE APPROVED BIDEN, THE AMERICAN POWER BROKERS: My Take On America's Politics From 2016 Till Now -- Sammyscholar
"The extent to which you can go in politics is 'dependent on your ability to sway public sentiment - swaying it in your favour."
America is a nation that every one of us admires so much: from their entertainment, culture, to their advancement in manufacturing, technology, among others. However, the country's politics is what I have not, until now, paid much attention to. This is quite understandable because, no matter who or which party was at the helm, the country was always progressing and there was national cohesion. Political powerplay hardly carried past election periods - every political battle ended immediately after election and everybody returned to running the public offices entrusted into his or her hands for the common good of the United States.
However, things took a bizarre turn after the 2016 election. I remember I had loved Hilary of the Democrats to win the election. Why? She was a lady and most prominent among the duo outside the shore of America, and this was so because of the widespread publicity given to her candidacy by the mainstream media. Eventually, Trump won and I was sad! Now, I wasn't sad because I knew anything bad about Trump; I simply was because the person I knew and liked (Hilary) didn't win. After the transfer of power to Donald Trump in January 2017, there began a harsh (and much to say, unprecedented) political enmity in the United State. So, this was when I began to follow US politics.
As common among many of us, I began to follow the mainstream media houses and platforms to know what's going on in the US political landscape. Soon, one thing caught my attention: I hardly come across a positive reportage about Trump administration or his policies! The mainstream media had a way of negatively reporting everything he did or said and I was quite concerned about that. What didn't work in his government was given a loud voice and what worked was either given a negative undertone or suppressed from getting to public attention. I saw those who didn't win not letting the anger of loss cease! I personally know an online friend who posted negative things about Trump almost every day for four good years!
Indeed, the animosity we see in the US today didn't start during or after the 2020 election. It started the last four years! Perhaps the country wouldn't have experienced the chaos it recently experienced if the losers of the 2016 election had been fair and hadn't made it four years of hell for the winner. As much as the man was not my choice candidate, I felt there was no fairness in the media reportage about him so I began to directly follow the opinions of diverse Americans. Some would praise his policies, some would condemn, but, at least, I was getting to have real, balanced reports.
Although I'm relatively young; but in this life, I have learnt that nobody can be 'totally bad'. Everybody has an 'iota' of goodness, only if we choose not to see it. Besides, only political oppositions will see a profoundly-brilliant policy from a ruling government and still criticise it, which is why I have always maintained that the masses should have minds of their own when assessing politics rather than relying only on what the oppositions say.
For instance, for those who know me, my criticism of Buhari's government, and any politician or government for that matter, is issue-based, not based on his personality or the party he belongs to or based on what the oppositions want me to believe. I assess situations myself and commend the government in areas it did well, and rebuke where it didn't.
Trump is a successful businessman but I must say that politics requires a set of skills that are quite different from what is needed in business. In politics, you need to be wise, diplomatic and be persuasive enough to sway public sentiments in your favour. Some people will like you on the ground of the excellent things you've done but the majority will root for you based on the sentiment you create. In the last election, Biden sold sentiments, Trump sold only what he's achieved, and most of which have already been given negative undertone by the democrats and mainstream media! No matter what brilliant things you feel you have done as a politician, you also need to have the sentiment of the 'overwhelming majority' of the populace in your favour.
Another thing is 'not giving yourself into the hands of your political adversaries'. When political opponents try provoking you into actions and so they can have what to nail you with, respond with 'utter silence'! They must not unravel your moves or what you will do in what situation. You must be ahead of them at all angles! This is the area where Trump did poorly and which gave him easily away! Today, everybody sees Trump as everything bad, but sees Biden, Kamala and the rest of Democrats as the humble angels! Well, that is what they are programmed to see, and I must say it was a 'job well done'.
Regarding Covid-19, what affected Trump in the management of the pandemic was not creating alignment of thoughts between the US scientists and economists, something his UK counterpart, Boris Johnson, did excellently well. It's natural for specialists to be extreme and only see things from their professions' standpoint, not minding its effects on other functional areas that make the system.
As the administrator, it's your job to align and integrate the thoughts of different professionals in order to achieve a common goal in the system they operate in. Trump should have brought the scientists and economists under one roof, make them see things from each others' standpoints and have consensus on courses of action as far as managing the pandemic is concerned. Trump was far too on the side of the economists, giving little attention to the scientists, and which left a loophole for the Democrats to exploit.
Now, about the brutality of the police against the Black Americans, this is a tragic incidence that I hope the country finds a solution to quite soon. However, it's needful to say that the killings of blacks by police didn't start during Trump's regime. It didn't start during Obama's regime either. It's a challenge that has begun for decades. Notably, there were killings of blacks by police during Obama's regime which led to several riots and destructions. To now see the situation being used as a political tool against Trump and also my fellow Nigerians taking it as Trump hating against blacks continues to marvel me!
But away from politics, we need to ask why Black Americans continue to fall victims of police brutality in the US and in my opinion (though I stand corrected), it might not be unconnected with the gangsterish lifestyle predominant among the Blacks. Due to their way of life, many Black folks get into troubles and are in constant confrontation with the police than their White counterparts (I still stand corrected here).
Black Americans need to invest more time and resources in education, vocations and engage in productive things that would put them away from social vices and constant confrontation with the police. Much so, they need to start topping other industries as they currently do sport and entertainment. I understand the possibility of some police officers having a prejudice towards the Black folks, but I believe this would abate in the course of time if serenity and excellence are pursued and sustained among the Blacks.
By and large, I do not totally see Democrats or Republicans, Trump or Biden fighting to uphold social ideals as people try to believe. In my opinion, they are only trying to outplay themselves to retain or obtain power as the case may be. Asides the pandemic and Trump's impulsive nature, the Democrats might not have had anything to campaign with. The Democrats play their games better and capitalise on Trump's weaknesses. They infiltrated Trump's rank and made him play into their hands.
With no doubt, Trump is a real man with mastery of economy management! I like those who are real and blunt and reasons I rooted for him in the last election. I hope he works on his weaknesses and has a strong comeback.
The election has come and gone and new administrators, in the persons of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, have come in. I wish them a successful tenure and divine wisdom to paddle the affairs of great America. I also wish Trump an enjoyable life as he joins the rest of the other former POTUS to play an elder statesman role in the building of the United States.
God bless America! 
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