Political lessons from Trump’s victory

I can describe myself as a keen observer of American politics, considering that developments in the United States always have a global impact. This 2024 US election, I still don’t like Donald Trump, and at some point, I couldn’t even imagine Americans rehiring him for the top job.

A month ago, I reactivated my digital subscription to the New York Times so I could follow the developments and perspectives related to the US presidential election. I listened to the speeches of Vice President Kamala Harris as well as that of Trump. In both instances, there was nothing remarkable in their statements or the way they delivered them.

This was expected of Trump, but as a liberal-leaning observer, I found Harris’s situation concerning. There was much excitement around her stepping in for President Joe Biden at the eleventh hour. However, after that initial boost, it has now become clear that Harris and the Democrats in general failed to understand the real situation in America.

The Democratic Party simply didn’t resonate with most of the American public, particularly those who could still have been swayed to vote either way. Trump’s strong comeback last week as president-elect is less a testament to his brand’s strength and more a reflection of the failures of the Democratic Party. Here we can draw some lessons, even in local politics which is our immediate concern.

I have long been disturbed by those who say that politics is a devil's game. True, politics is far from perfect and is no angel's game, but those who studied Political Science in college likely can still recall what politics is all about. Politics is about relationships, decision-making, and, more importantly, collective responsibility.

In a sense, we’re all engaged in politics, whether we acknowledge it or not, in personal, professional, and civic spaces. Those who dismiss politics as a “Game of Thrones”–style devil's game of sinister schemes are either naive or simply do not care about the community around them. In many ways, they are also to blame because their disengagement reinforces the very conditions they criticize.

They often overlook the constructive, necessary role politics plays in organizing and advancing our society. Yes, in the process, you may get muddied by engaging in the political arena, but if you know where your heart is, you are better than the person who avoids politics and disdains politicians from a distance simply to keep his hands clean. It is often in messy and often imperfect arena where real work gets done. It is quite unfortunate that in the Philippines, many of our politicians cannot find the right balance and instead become outright greedy, brutal, corrupt, or undisciplined.

Returning to the Democrats' mistake leading to Trump’s comeback, many on the left overlooked key issues for US voters --immigration and the economy. Today, the American dream feels like a nightmare, with younger generations burdened by high housing and commodity prices, unable to achieve the prosperity of past generations. The Democrats simply forgot that voters respond to leaders who emphatically address their immediate realities --whether economic disenfranchisement or job insecurity-- sometimes regardless of character or ideology.

I’ve spent time with some local politicians and worked in politics myself, in some capacity. Instead of disdain, I’ve gained respect for those who step into the arena. Their motives are complex, but it takes grit to endure. Facing expectations, clashing interests, and a judgmental public requires extraordinary patience and adaptability.

Ideals alone don’t drive change; a willingness to engage with people from all walks of life does. Idealism without understanding the material conditions on the ground is illusory, “while idealism enhanced with pragmatism and creativity creates pathways for change.”