The eyes of the world will be riveted on the United States of America today as it goes to the polls to the elect the next President of the country. There will also be elections into the Senate, House of Representatives and that of Governors. Over 100m people will cast their vote in the elections with over 46m already voted.
Words such as ‘unity’ and ‘together’, which we usually associate with election season, have been replaced by a narrative of hate and intolerance in this bizarre US presidential election. We are bombarded with such words as ‘racist’, ‘bigot’, ‘liar’ and ‘crooked’.
The presidential contest is a battle of contrasting divides between former Secretary of States, Hillary Clinton of the Democrats, a Washington inside who was once a Senator and First Lady against billionaire businessman, political neophyte and ranked outsider, Donald Trump of the Republican. The two candidates are controversial and highly flawed.
The campaign by the two candidates was full of vitriolic and personal attacks. It was an unprecedented show of shenanigan and intolerance. A campaign without substance. Trump is pro-business. He simply wants a two-way street that is fair. Internationally, he wants to get out of being everyone’s babysitter militarily, unless they pay for the US involvement. Trump is for quick and decisive action, whereas Hillary’s history is to have backed the Iraq invasion, support continued involvement in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan, and be directly involved in Libya’s failed state disaster.
Clinton is seen by many to be moderate, less controversial and more experienced. She is more a unifying force than a divisive figure of Trump who proposed to build a wall between the US and Mexico, and that all Muslims should be banned from entering the US. He said uncomplimentary stuffs about the disable; Latino, African-Americans and he even questioned President Obama’s citizenship.
Clinton too has been a disaster of a sort with the accusation of pay for play concerning the Clinton Foundation, the Benghazi debacle and her poor handling of her email while serving as the Secretary of States.
Whoever win today already have his work cut out as he or she will be taking over a divided nation. The international community is apprehensive of a Trump victory as he promised to re-write the world order with his revocation of some international trade and security treaties. And his romance with Vladimir Putin of Russia during the campaign is giving the western world a headache. Clinton on her part, enjoys goodwill and support from the international community.
The small community of Dixville Notch in tiny New Hampshire hamlet is among the first to vote in the election. The stroke of midnight heralds the start of polling day. Dixville Notch, Hart’s Location and Millsfield are the three tiny communities in the White Mountains to start voting this early and close them moments later provided that everyone who wants to vote had voted. The final result in Dixville Notch gave Hillary Clinton a resounding four votes to Donald Trump’s two.
