Inauguration
day is over and we have a new President. However, something very strange
emerged from the post event interviews of Trump supporters and political
pundits. Most praised it as some kind of apocalyptic event, claiming it
was so because, “We finally have a President who represents the common man.”
This term is defined by Wiktionary as, “The average citizen, as
contrasted with the social, political or cultural elite.”
Where could those claiming Trump as representing the “common man” find
any evidence in Donald Trump’s life history to support that he is even remotely
connected to the “common man?”
Trump amassed his initial wealth from his father. He didn’t earn it
by the hard work ethics of the “common man.”
During his entire business career he has been surrounded by and
interacted with millionaires and billionaires in this country and
world–wide.
However, there were instances when he was forced to interact with the
“common man” by the very nature of being involved with the real estate
industry. He bought up their properties and forced foreclosures to get
property to expand his business ventures. This is not a condemnation of
him but simply a description of the realities involved with such a
business. Additionally, he often stiffed the contractors and
subcontractors involved with these ventures.
He ran a bogus university which cost him $25 million in litigation.
He ran a phony charity, The Trump Foundation, to help the “common man” which he
subsequently admitted on IRS documents provided monies for his personal
expenses. The Trump Foundation was also cited for falsely claiming to
donate monies to different veteran organizations. The veteran charities
listed by the Foundation claimed they never received any of the funds.
The Trump Foundation has subsequently been dissolved.
None of these facts necessarily make Donald Trump a bad person, but some
of his opportunities for interactions with the “common man” haven’t been
totally honorable. Additionally, if one objectively evaluates his
lifestyle, it accurately represents that of an elitist rather than someone who
has participated in the “common man’s” world. Even in his selection of
cabinet members and advisors Trump will still be dealing almost entirely with
millionaires.
Trump simply cannot envision what it’s like to be a member of the common
man group with regard to income. Why should we expect this of him given his
lifestyle? Supporters need to stop thinking he can.
This country does need to move in a different direction, but let’s stop
attributing characteristics of what we want our new President to be rather than
the reality of what he is. Those who think Donald Trump represents the “common
man” need to get a grip on reality. President Trump may have played
into some of the same thoughts, desires and fears of the “common man,” but he
certainly has no internalization or clue as to what it is like to be one.
Please stop deceiving yourselves. President Trump doesn’t represent the
“common man.”
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