Taking on Donald Trump: The Leftist Revolution in New York
Zohran Mamdani's victory in the battle for New York renews hopes that nationalist populism can be defeated. In the U.S., but also in Europe.
America's biggest city is sick. I saw it with my own eyes last summer. The metro, tunnels, and infrastructure are in such a state that it's scary to use them. Prices are so high that one can go bankrupt when buying a hamburger with fries. But most of all, the struggle for existence is so ruthless that it leaves countless people homeless and in severe psychological distress. A fabulous life for a handful of rich people and a daily struggle for survival for millions.
New York, but also the whole U.S., does not want to live like this any longer. So far, only Donald Trump has given people the sense that the tables could actually be turned. In 2016 he came to power against the establishment of the Republican Party. And his promise to "Make America Great Again" has proved to be a source of hope for the multitudes of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.
So Far, Democrats Have Been Betting on the Establishment. That Was a Huge Mistake.
Democrats have so far failed to understand this call for change. Or they haven't wanted to. They bet first on Hillary Clinton, then on Joe Biden: politicians who are the embodiment of a political class firmly embedded in the current system. They sidelined the visionaries of radical change, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Zohran Mamdani, 34, the first Muslim to become mayor of New York and, in general, the first major American city, is the very opposite of that strategy. His program is a shock to conditions in the U.S. Free buses, freezing rental prices, free health care for children and tax breaks: This is putting ordinary people first, not big financiers. The promotion of immigrants as a source of national strength is a gauntlet thrown at a president who plays on nationalist sentiments. The same goes for Mamdani's religion.
New York City is different from the rest of the U.S., especially the conservative Midwest and South. No one knows whether the revolution Mamdani represents will actually spread throughout the whole country. But it can't be ruled out.
Support for Donald Trump Is Falling Fast.
There are several signs that this is possible. Last Tuesday it turned out that, for the first time, Virginia will be governed by a woman, Democrat Abigail Spanberger. The same day the Democrats won in New Jersey.
A year before the congressional elections, Trump's ratings are abysmal. Only 39% of Americans trust him, but 58% have turned their backs on him, according to The Economist. Such a rapid collapse in support has not been recorded by any modern U.S. president. The president's promise to improve living conditions has not been fulfilled. Americans still expect revolutionary changes, but apparently not the ones offered by the billionaire in the White House.
It cannot be ruled out that Mamdani's victory will also prove to be an inspiration for a free Europe. From France to the U.K., Spain and Poland, frustration is mounting because the rulers have failed to embody hope for a better life. The desire for a revolution hangs in the air here as well. New York proves that it does not necessarily have to have nationalist and populist colors.
America's biggest city is sick. I saw it with my own eyes last summer. The metro, tunnels, and infrastructure are in such a state that it's scary to use them. Prices are so high that one can go bankrupt when buying a hamburger with fries. But most of all, the struggle for existence is so ruthless that it leaves countless people homeless and in severe psychological distress. A fabulous life for a handful of rich people and a daily struggle for survival for millions.
New York, but also the whole U.S., does not want to live like this any longer. So far, only Donald Trump has given people the sense that the tables could actually be turned. In 2016 he came to power against the establishment of the Republican Party. And his promise to "Make America Great Again" has proved to be a source of hope for the multitudes of Americans who are struggling to make ends meet.
So Far, Democrats Have Been Betting on the Establishment. That Was a Huge Mistake.
Democrats have so far failed to understand this call for change. Or they haven't wanted to. They bet first on Hillary Clinton, then on Joe Biden: politicians who are the embodiment of a political class firmly embedded in the current system. They sidelined the visionaries of radical change, Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Zohran Mamdani, 34, the first Muslim to become mayor of New York and, in general, the first major American city, is the very opposite of that strategy. His program is a shock to conditions in the U.S. Free buses, freezing rental prices, free health care for children and tax breaks: This is putting ordinary people first, not big financiers. The promotion of immigrants as a source of national strength is a gauntlet thrown at a president who plays on nationalist sentiments. The same goes for Mamdani's religion.
New York City is different from the rest of the U.S., especially the conservative Midwest and South. No one knows whether the revolution Mamdani represents will actually spread throughout the whole country. But it can't be ruled out.
Support for Donald Trump Is Falling Fast.
There are several signs that this is possible. Last Tuesday it turned out that, for the first time, Virginia will be governed by a woman, Democrat Abigail Spanberger. The same day the Democrats won in New Jersey.
A year before the congressional elections, Trump's ratings are abysmal. Only 39% of Americans trust him, but 58% have turned their backs on him, according to The Economist. Such a rapid collapse in support has not been recorded by any modern U.S. president. The president's promise to improve living conditions has not been fulfilled. Americans still expect revolutionary changes, but apparently not the ones offered by the billionaire in the White House.
It cannot be ruled out that Mamdani's victory will also prove to be an inspiration for a free Europe. From France to the U.K., Spain and Poland, frustration is mounting because the rulers have failed to embody hope for a better life. The desire for a revolution hangs in the air here as well. New York proves that it does not necessarily have to have nationalist and populist colors.
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