A 2 to 1 majority: The French election is what a clear rejection of xenophobia looks like.

[redgreenandblue]

Last edited Mon May 8, 2017, 07:54 AM - Edit history (1)

That is what I struggle with most concerning the election of Trump.

All the dissecting of reasons and assignments of blame that has been going on concerning the loss has almost entirely focused on factors that may or may not have affected the election on the sub-percent level: Comey letters, DNC leaks, third parties (and "liberal purists&quot , "damaging" primaries, the electoral college etc.

I have seen virtually no discussions of the most obvious thing: This was a close election. It was always such that it would be won or lost by razor thin margins. Had this not been so, none of the above things would have mattered.

I went to bed yesterday fully confident that Le Pen would be demolished. There was never any true doubt that this would happen.

Why could the Democrats not deliver a 2 to 1 defeat?

[Atman]

1. Macron was consistent and clear about what he stood for

I'll just leave it at that.

[sharedvalues]

3. Did you see HRCs speech at the DNC?

She was clear about what she stood for too. Science, working mothers, better childcare, better healthcare, gay rights, immigrants and the poor.

The media just didn't report on it.

[sharedvalues]

2. The French are better educated than Americans, for one

The French education system is better than ours. The French learn lots of history and lots about their civic system.



In America the right has been trying to destroy public education so they can brainwash kids into being pro-wealthy. Homeschooling is part of that effort, and so are reducing funding for public schools both directly and through vouchers. So we already have poor public education by world standards, and this admin wants to make it worse.

[Lee-Lee]

4. I just hope he delivers

Because if he doesn't address some of the problems that got France this close to the brink, especially when it comes to rising crime and migrants, the next election may swing the other way and see something even more radical than Le Pen.

There is a whole, whole lot at stake not just for France but for the world on how well he can deliver change these next few years.

[redgreenandblue]

5. I am cautiously optimistic for Europe.

The far-right movements that have formed since the refugee crisis have been steadily losing steam.