Is the Election “Rigged”?

The Washington Post article I posted earlier today gave a very compelling portrait of Trump’s supporters. They want the “good old days” to come back. They want an America that is dominated by white men. They are angry about the influx of immigrants from Mexico and Latin America. They don’t like the Black Lives Matter movement. They reject multiculturalism. They are angry because of the loss of manufacturing jobs to automation and outsourcing. They feel cheated. They miss the world of “Father Knows Best.” Their grievances are real, and Trump has fed their sense of grievance with his keen understanding of how to play to the audience. As he often says, “I am your voice.” His empathy with white working-class men is remarkable considering his own privileged origins.

Now he says, to roaring crowds, “It’s a rigged system, it’s a rigged system, it’s a rigged system.” He hasn’t lost yet, and may even win, but he wants his rabid followers to believe that our democracy is hopelessly broken, controlled by unknown corrupt figures.

Voting rules and election monitoring are controlled by local and state officials. Most states have Republican governors and legislatures. Surely they are not rigging the system to favor Hillary. Trump’s claim is nonsensical, and its only purpose is to protect his giant ego in case he loses.

Trump is acting like a big baby, who tears up the game board and throws the pieces in the air if he doesn’t win the game. In his mind, he must win or the game is rigged. It is frightening to realize that 40%

He has an authoritarian disposition and no respect for democracy.

The Republican Party faces a huge challenge in rebuilding after Trump, who leaves a legacy of white nationalism, xenophobia, racism, and misogyny.

It’s frightening to realize that a very large proportion of the voting public shares Trump’s worldview.