Trump Continues with ‘Odious but Appetizing’ Saga

Published in Quishi
(China) on 17 March 2016
by Shan Renping (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Jake Eberts. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

 

As the gap between the rich and poor widens, the benefits of the surface-level economic boom have been stolen away by a small portion of the population, as the days of the more common people have become even harder. Numerous American blue collar workers cannot compete with laborers in newly developing countries. As finance and advanced technology continue to marginalize them, more and more people are losing their hope for the future.

Some people believe that the primaries are the most appropriate time for Americans to vent their anger, and so many are not afraid to use this piece of “stinky cheese” Trump to “fumigate” the whole of America. During the general presidential election, if Trump is really one of the choices, the voters’ decision will depend on how concerned they are about their interests, and that is going to be a grave gamble.

Trump cannot possibly change America. He is just unafraid to say whatever he wants, even nonsense, giving middle and lower class whites ways to vent their frustration. Obama rose to power waving the flag of “change.” He once expressed the will to fix Wall Street, but in reality he changed nothing at all, and in the past few years, American interest structures have become even more solidified.

America increasingly relies on its institutions to self-correct and restore their own capabilities. This is asking reform to follow the course of nature, and so active adjustment of interests is practically impossible. Many American elites take this as a point of pride, and do not at all believe that the majority has already depleted the American system’s strengths, even though several systematic deficiencies have seriously encumbered the country. Casual criticism is one thing, but genuinely instigating reform in America may well be insurmountably difficult. By looking at the vicissitudes of Obama’s health care reform effort, this matter becomes quite clear.

Voting for Trump is a part of how Americans are masochistically venting their anger. The Chinese can just watch the frenzy, as they do not need to consider serious questions such as what Trump’s election would mean for China. America has long since lost the “revolutionary spirit” of its early governance; its powerful political inertia today is more suitable for scraping away some rough edges. Supposing Trump were to run in the general presidential election, he will change from “stinky cheese” to merely “fermented cheese.” He is an intelligent businessman who will change as is needed, certainly not blindly walking the same path to some dark end.
Up to now, Trump has not had the time to focus his fire on China, but if he or Hillary were to wantonly vilify China, we have to respond to them just as impolitely. American bureaucrats are incapable of being polite, to say nothing of politicians in an election.

Trump talks big when he says he “has a way” to handle China, but he has only said he wants to impose a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports, and nothing else. He is still at a stage of blurting crazy nonsense, but if he keeps moving forward, when it becomes necessary, we will have to teach him a lesson, and let him know who China is.


在15日美国总统初选又一个“超级星期二”中,共和党参选人特朗普赢了5个州中的4个州,迫使对手之一卢比奥宣布退选,并进一步拉大了与共和党迄今得票第二名克鲁兹的差距。

  特朗普不断受到美国主流媒体的口诛笔伐,共和党里的一些传统派甚至表示如果他最终代表共和党与民主党候选人(很可能是希拉里)对决,他们宁肯把票投给对方。

  世界舆论中已经有人在用“臭名昭著”这样的恶词描述特朗普,视他为“墨索里尼”乃至“希特勒”。然而特朗普却像臭豆腐一样“闻着臭吃着香”,他征服了越来越多的美国白人蓝领,成为让美国传统政治精英目瞪口呆的叛逆口味。

  特朗普如何“臭”已经世人皆知,但他为什么让很多人感觉“吃起来香”呢?最根本的原因恐怕是美国出了严重问题,而共和党以及美国的主流派们装作这个国家“一切好好的”。共和党上层大概脱离美国实际太久了,该党中下层支持者通过把票投给特朗普报复了他们。

  美国的贫富差距在拉大,表面经济繁荣的好处都让少数人捞走了,普通民众的日子则在变难。许多美国蓝领工人竞争不过新兴国家的劳动者,金融和高科技则不断将他们边缘化,越来越多人正在失去对未来的希望。

  一些人相信,初选是最适合美国人发泄愤怒的时候,所以很多人不怕端起特朗普这块“臭豆腐”,把全美国都“熏着”。待到总统投票二选一时,如果特朗普真的站在其中,选民们的抉择将攸关他们的利益。那将是严峻得多的赌博。

  特朗普不可能改变美国,他就是什么都敢说,甚至胡说,给中下层白人提供出气的噱头。奥巴马打着“改变”的旗号上台,他曾经公开表达要修理华尔街的决心。但他实际上什么都没改变,美国这些年的利益结构更加固化了。

  美国更多依靠制度的自我纠错和恢复能力,这要求改革也是顺其自然的,主动的利益调整几乎不可能。很多美国精英对此引以为豪,并不认为美国的体制优势已被大部分耗尽,而一些制度性缺陷严重拖累了这个国家。随便骂几句可以,真要在美国发动改革,恐比登天还难。看看奥巴马搞医保改革费了多少周折,事情就清楚了。

  把票投给特朗普是部分美国人的自虐性发泄,中国人看看热闹就行了,应不必考虑“如果他真当选总统对中国意味着什么”这样的严肃问题。美国早已失去移民国家早年政治上的“革命精神”,它的强大政治惯性如今更适合磨平棱角。假如特朗普能够进入二选一的对决,他会逐渐从一块“臭豆腐”变成“酱豆腐”。他是很聪明的商人,会以变应变,决不会一条道走到黑。

  迄今为止特朗普还没来得及对中国集中开火,如果他、包括希拉里等大肆攻击中国,我们须毫不客气地回敬他们。对美国官员都用不着客气,何况竞选中的政客。

  特朗普吹牛他“有办法”对付中国,但只说要对所有中国进口商品征45%的关税,没说其他。他还处在信口胡诌的阶段,如果他能继续往前走,到了必要的时候,我们就应给他点颜色,让他知道中国是谁。
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