[Editorial] Why we should all pay attention to the US presidential election

Posted on : 2016-09-28 15:48 KST Modified on : 2016-09-28 15:48 KST
Hillary Clinton supporters watch the first televised debate between her and Donald Trump at The Abbey Food and Bar in West Hollywood
Hillary Clinton supporters watch the first televised debate between her and Donald Trump at The Abbey Food and Bar in West Hollywood

Democratic Party candidate Hillary Clinton won the lion’s share of praise for her performance at the first televised debates on Sep. 26, with the US presidential election about 40 days away. Americans preferred Clinton’s composure to the coarseness of Republican Party candidate Donald Trump. The debate didn‘t feature anything new in the way of pledges, but it was nevertheless the world’s biggest political show, offering a clear picture of the differences between the two candidates.

As expected, the two were most at odds in the area of foreign policy. While Clinton generally stuck to traditional mainstream positions, Trump put his protectionist and “America first” colors on full display. His accusations about other countries getting a “free ride” in terms of national security, and his argument that the US can‘t defend allies like South Korea and Japan unless they pay their “fair share” of defense costs, clearly show that he puts economic interests ahead of maintaining alliances. His remarks characterizing China as a “job thief” and insisting that it deal with the North Korean nuclear threat are both conflict-inducing and unrealistic. And with him attacking the July 2015 nuclear deal with Iran as “one of the worst deals ever made by any country in history,” the situation in the Middle East is likely to become even more turbulent if he is elected.

In terms of domestic issues, frequent mass shootings and racism were the topics on the table. Both candidates agreed on the seriousness of those issues, but while Clinton called for steps to restore trust between police and local communities, Trump blasted the administration and politicians and called for a return to “law and order.” On jobs and other economic matters, it was a battle between Clinton’s calls for a higher minimum wage and wage equality between men and women and Trump’s calls for renegotiating trade agreements.

We also saw some mudslinging, with both candidates launching multiple character attacks. Clinton called Trump a “racist” and a “sexist” who “has called women pigs, slobs, and dogs,” while Trump tried to make issues of Clinton’s email scandal and her health following a recent brief bout with pneumonia. It was a far cry from the proper sense of an election as a well-intentioned battle to choose the better leader. Of course, Trump and his use of incitement of the public as a key strategy bear much of the blame for the election taking this kind of shape.

As the debate showed, the US is divided in terms of basic values and the country’s future, and these divisions are reflected in its foreign policy. This problem is unlikely to be solved for good no matter who is elected, but the outcome will largely hinge on the course that is taken. That’s why we should all be paying attention to this US election.

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