Regardless of Who Is Elected, Preventing Economic Downturn Will Be Difficult

Published in Wen Wei Po
(Hong Kong) on 9 May 2016
by Huang Hai Zhen (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Kartoa Chow. Edited by Kevin Uy.
It is evident that, through the free-for-all battles between the presumptive presidential candidates from the U.S. Democratic and Republican parties, politicians’ interests and focus are not on reviving the weak economy, nor are they on voters’ concerns and discussions on the candidates’ economic programs. In order to be eye-catching, the candidates are tooting their own horns, putting aside everything related to democracy and the economy. Voters are not comparing who will bring forth economic development, but are watching the candidates’ image and eloquence instead. Against this backdrop, the candidates are even more reckless with their blusters and abuses, making themselves out as saviors. With a president elected against this type of free-for-all backdrop, regardless of who is elected, preventing an economic downturn will be difficult.

In order to gain voters’ support, politicians make endless empty promises. Ignoring the enormous $20 trillion debt Washington bears and also disregarding their own and the U.S.’s capabilities, they would declare plans to punish a country one day while stating plans to sanction another regime the next. With the flattery from politicians, Americans have become accustomed to the superior elitist lifestyle. After the election, the U.S. president will hold tremendous power but will accomplish nothing, like former President George W. Bush, who utilized faulty intelligence and made wrong decisions, running up national debt, causing the economy to fall into a crisis and ultimately leaving voters to deal with the consequences, without him or anyone else assuming accountability. Therefore, it is impossible for a president elected from a free-for-all to revive the economy.

Trump 'Deteriorates' Civility

In order to gain votes, Donald Trump disregarded the tremendous debt Washington bears and publicly declared, without considering the consequences, that he would cut taxes significantly if he were elected. This shows Trump’s lack of knowledge on the U.S. economic crisis and his extreme lack of responsibility for the U.S. In order to embarrass another presidential candidate, Trump posted on the Internet a picture of Ted Cruz’s wife grimacing. The anti-Trump folks retaliated and showed a nude photo of Trump’s wife to the public with the caption, “Meet Melania Trump, your next first lady.” The mutual abuses have deteriorated the civility of a solemn presidential election. This type of presidential primary has given not only the U.S. but also the world a crooked image of civility.

The shouting matches between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have already become the focus of the election of the century. The candidates are unrestrained and candid, exposing and blaming each other, but they are not competing over an economic recovery strategy. Clinton attacked Trump for his lack of knowledge on managing a country and diplomacy, for knowing nothing about the operations within the White House, and for being unqualified to be president. Trump revealed that many American politicians, Clinton included, have received donations from him. Trump continues to hound Clinton with the “email controversy” and her deciding to “go home and sleep” on the night of the Benghazi tragedy. During a speech, Trump announced that Clinton’s actions were criminal, and her becoming the nominee would be the nation’s sorrow. For votes, politicians have forgone the most basic image.

Clinton 'Twisting' Democracy

Hillary Clinton could not come up with a prescription for treating the U.S. economy, but for votes, she dared to declare that if she were elected she would punish China. Clinton boasted that she had “gone toe-to-toe with China’s top leaders on some of the toughest issues,” from cyberattacks and human rights to climate change and trade practices. “They know that if I’m president, the games are going to end,” and the U.S. will once and for all receive equal treatment, otherwise the Chinese would not be let into the American markets. Clinton’s punishing China has led to amusement from the international media. People have asked — given that Beijing, as the biggest creditor of the U.S., can initiate an economic crisis in the U.S. by merely implying that they are ready to throw out American bonds — what can Clinton do to punish China?

This was not Clinton’s first time attacking China. Criticizing China is Clinton’s specialty, or perhaps her nature. Not criticizing China would lose her political capital and would diminish the impact of her attack for presidency. Clinton hopes to convince voters of her ability to influence China by her service as the U.S. secretary of state and to gain the trust of the American people through criticizing China, but it has proved counterproductive. Throughout her speeches, Clinton has exhausted topics like human rights, democracy and freedom to attack her opponents and to criticize other countries. There was not a single mention of economic recovery. This highlights the American democracy already distorted by this arrogant candidate and clearly shows that if she is elected, an economic downturn in the U.S. will be inevitable.


從美國民主、共和兩黨預選總統候選人「大混戰」可清楚地看到,政客興趣、着力點並不是如何振興疲弱經濟;選民關心、評論的也不是他們的經濟綱領。候選人為了「搶眼球」,可以說是傾盡全力地「王婆賣瓜,自賣自誇」,所有民生、經濟都「靠邊站」。選民比較的不是誰更有利未來經濟發展,而是「觀賞」形象、口才,對自己是否有利。在這樣的背景下,候選人更多是肆無忌憚的口出狂言和謾罵,將自己當作是「救世主」。這種「混戰」背景下選出的總統,無論是誰都難阻經濟走下坡。

政客為了博取選民的喝彩,無休止地開出「空頭支票」。他們無視華盛頓背負20萬億美元的巨額債務,也不顧自己、美利堅有多大能力,昨天聲明將懲罰這個國家,今天開口要制裁那個政權。美國人已經習慣了過「高人一等」的貴族生活,被政客哄得搖搖欲墜。當選後的美國總統手握大權,卻無所作為,即使像小布什那樣,因為採納錯誤情報、作出錯誤決策,讓國家債台高築,經濟陷入困境,最終都由選民「埋單」,不會、也沒有人會去追究責任。所以說「混戰」當選的總統,根本無法振興經濟。

特朗普讓文明「走樣」

為了獲取選票,特朗普無視華盛頓背負巨額債務,竟然不顧後果公開說「如果他當選,將大幅減稅」,顯示其對美國經濟危機認識不足,和對美利堅的極端不負責任。為了給另一個候選人克魯茲難堪,特朗普把克魯茲妻子的一張齜牙咧嘴的照片發表在網絡上。反對特朗普的人不示弱,把特朗普的妻子的裸體照片公之於眾,再加「這就是你所選的下一任第一夫人」的圖片說明。嚴肅的總統選舉因相互間的謾罵,讓文明「走樣」。這樣的總統預選不僅給美國,也給全世界帶出了一個文明「歪樣」。

特朗普和希拉里的隔空對罵已經成為世紀選舉的焦點,他們毫無顧忌、「暢所欲言」,互挖不是,但卻完全不比拚「經濟復甦策略」。希拉里攻擊特朗普不懂得國家管理和外交,對白宮運作一無所知,沒有資格入主白宮。特朗普披露說,美國的政客們(包括克林頓)都接受過自己的捐款。特朗普狠抓「電郵事件」和「班加西災難之夜選擇回家睡覺並不接電話」不放,在演講中大聲宣佈說,「希拉里的所作所為是犯罪,她成為候選人,是國家的悲哀」。為了選票,政客已經不顧最起碼形象。

希拉里將民主「扭曲」

希拉里完全拿不出治療美國經濟的「藥方」,但她為了選票,竟敢大聲說:假如她成為總統,將「嚴懲中國」。希拉里吹噓:「曾與中國領導人正面交鋒,處理棘手問題,包括網絡攻擊、人權議題、氣候變化、貿易等等」,「他們知道我成為總統,必然會自覺遵守規則,我們可一勞永逸地得到公平對待,否則他們不能進入我們的市場」。希拉里的「嚴懲中國」引發世界媒體發笑,人們要問:北京是美國的最大債主,只要暗示準備拋出美國債券,美國就可能引發經濟災難,而希拉里又可以用什麼來懲罰中國?

希拉里攻擊中國不是第一次,抨擊中國是希拉里的專項,或者是她的本性。不抨擊中國,她就會失去政治資本,缺少向總統寶座發起進攻的衝擊力。希拉里擔任過國務卿,希望借此說服選民她有能力影響中國,想通過抨擊中國來獲得美國民眾的「信任」,但結果適得其反。縱觀希拉里的演說,無非就是用人權、民主、自由等黔驢技窮的話題來攻擊對手、抨擊外國,隻字不提、也提不出復甦經濟意見;凸顯美國民主已經被這位狂妄候選人扭曲,也說明她如果當選,美國經濟必定走下坡。
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