Like a good movie, the U.S. has two plots going at once. One plot involves the election, which is leading to the end of Trump's presidency. The other plot is the recent sharp rise in Covid problems, with over a hundred thousand new cases and over a thousand deaths a day.
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The plots are connected. The virus has wrecked the health and the economy of the nation and cost Trump re-election.
What factors helped Trump almost win?
American individualism is one. The philosophy says: Government is a bad thing -- do not count on it to help you. Make it on your own.
Individualistic Americans see Trump as someone who made it big all by himself. Trump shows the same dislike for government these other Americans feel.
This individualism is the chief cause of the wildfire spread of Covid in the United States. North and South Dakota, two states with an incredibly high level of new Covid cases, voted overwhelmingly for Trump. Most people there do not wear masks or keep a distance from others. They believe in the old American saying: "Live free or die."
Another factor helping Trump gain votes was racism
Slavery ended over 150 years ago; racism continues, although it has gradually become less overt. Trump is the Modern Plantation Owner beloved by individuals who believe in white supremacy.
Operating against Trump in the election was his mishandling of the government response to the virus. Most Americans do not want to become sick or die. They do not want to lose their job, their health insurance, and their home. The U.S., with about 13 times the population of Australia, has about 15,000 times as many new Covid cases a day.
Also working against Trump in the election was his personality. Most Americans dislike lying and cheating, along with bragging and belittling.
Where does the election of Joe Biden leave the U.S.? At present the country is highly polarised, with the left hand hating the right hand, and vice versa.
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I intend to boycott states that voted for Trump. See the polarisation? Sadly, I will then have to miss visiting Yellowstone National Park (in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho), with its Old Faithful geyser and grizzly bears.
Biden says he wants to unify the nation, to return it to being the United States. I wish him luck.
If he can bring the virus under control and convince me to love my fellow American enough to go see Yellowstone, I will be happy.
