Iain Kelly

Fiction Writing

REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME

I’m breaking my own rule for once and writing something overtly political: an opinion piece, and it’s just my opinion, so feel free to disagree.

Regardless of the eventual outcome of the US Presidential election, more Americans have voted for Donald Trump in 2020 than they did in 2016.

Let that sink in.

Half of the population of America have looked at the last four years and decided they would like more of the same. More pandemic deaths, more race riots, more climate crisis, more enabling of extremist right-wing groups, more corruption, more tweets.

Regardless of the polling, I thought Trump would win again, for one simple reason: America is nuts. It is an insane country. It is home to some of the most extreme ideologies and people on the planet. Forget African military juntas, or South American dictators, or the Commies in Asia, or the Islamists in the Middle East – America tops them all as being the most f**ked up country on Earth. The insane fixation on having the right to own a gun, the insane fixation on not allowing free universal health care, the insane racism, the insane role that fundamentalist religion still plays, the insane debate around abortion, the insane anti-immigration stance of a country founded by immigrants.

There is a lot I love about America, there are a lot of good people in America, but a lot of that is based on an America, and an idea of America, that belongs to the past. Maybe it will come back again, one day, but now is the time for the rest of the world, and the UK in particular (with all our own flaws), to stop regarding America as the beacon it once was, to stop regarding America as the leader of the free world and to start forging closer relationships with our European neighbours.

I hope Biden pulls through, but I don’t think he has the votes. America had its chance, and it blew it.

Written for #FOWC, hosted by Fandango on his blog This, That and the Other. Today’s prompt word was: Outcome. Click on the link to read contributions from other writers.

AMAZON UK AMAZON.COM SMASHWORDS KOBO BARNES & NOBLE

Iain Kelly

04/11/2020

#fowc, Commentary, Non-fiction, Writing

#fowc, abortion, America, biden, civil, climate, democracy, democrat, election, fundamentalist, gun control, health care, immigration, insane, outcome, pandemic, politics, president, racism, religion, republican, result, riots, senate, state, trump, USA, votes, voting, war, white house

36 responses to “REGARDLESS OF THE OUTCOME”

neeltheauthor- author of WHEN LIFE THROWS THOSE CURVE BALLS

November 4, 2020 at 2:54 pm

You said it man, and how! Totally second what all you’ve said.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 3:05 pm
  
  Thanks Neel, it’s painful to watch it unfold.
  
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Dale

November 4, 2020 at 2:56 pm

I have to agree with you, Iain. We all watch from afar – you in the UK, me in Canada (though a tad too close for comfort), knowing that we will end up affected by the results in the US. I simply cannot understand their zealousness with all the things you mentioned. You are right, there is a lot to love about Americans – the sane ones. It is a beautiful country filled with welcoming people and yet, I am not feeling inclined to return any time soon (even if I just did come back from there!)

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 3:02 pm
  
  I think that’s what makes the result resonate so much – much of the rest of the world still looks to America and takes its cue from America and after this result I really feel like we have to stop doing that. Maybe Biden will pull through and things can start to get better, but I don’t see a smooth road ahead either way. Sad times, and like you said, especially for the millions of decent Americans who are stuck in the middle of it all. I’m glad I visited before the Trump years, I won’t be rushing back in the near future.
  
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  1. Dale
    
    November 4, 2020 at 3:12 pm
    
    I loathe that we do that, to tell the truth. I refuse to use America – they are only part of it 😉 Why we use the States as a barometer is beyond me. We each live in countries that have done great things, too. It’s never good when one nation gets so much power. No, there will be no smooth roads up ahead, regardless of the official outcome. However, if it is Trump, they will fall back another hundred years, I swear.
    
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scr4pl80

November 4, 2020 at 2:57 pm

Sadly, I have to agree. I had hoped for better things from our country and while I continue to hope that Biden can pull this one out, I know it is going to be tough. Shame on us. It should have been a blowout.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 3:03 pm
  
  I feel for you Janet, and the millions of decent Americans over there. It’s heart-breaking to see your country being ripped apart by all this hate 😦
  
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Melanie B Cee

November 4, 2020 at 3:19 pm

As a ‘nutter’ – one from America, let me say that those of us with some sense left, who hoped for a hero were disappointed from the outset. Biden was the best they could come up with? No one cares any more, and that’s the real problem IMO, the death of hope. There’s sorry times ahead for us, send your prayers. They’re still free and for some of us, they’re all we have left, IF ol’ orange face is truly ‘in’ again.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:13 pm
  
  I think a lot of people thought that at the time of his nomination Melanie – a 77-year old whose long career was pretty much over was all the Democrats could come up with? There must be somebody else? The numbers are shifting slightly though, so maybe Joe will pull through, calm everything down for 4 years and then let Kamala have a shot at the main job in 2024 – that might inspire some hope at least. Fingers crossed.
  
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Liz H

November 4, 2020 at 3:21 pm

Haven’t check ours news here, yet. Makes me a bit nauseous with dread. It’s not just Trump, but the other Repubs on the ballot that have done so much damage.
One bright spot: I believe our voter turnout numbers are much better this time, than in 2016 (half the available voters did NOT show up to cast their vote on 2016).
The US civic fires have been lit–let freedom and humanity ring!

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:14 pm
  
  One bright spot, and the latest numbers are still shifting towards Joe – it might not be over! But you’re right, and as I say, it’s still the fact that almost 70 million people have voted for Trump despite everything they have seen and heard. I just can’t get my head around that!
  
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  1. Liz H
    
    November 4, 2020 at 4:24 pm
    
    It has been said that the Trump years have emboldened Racists. Sad to consider they were there in such great numbers to begin with…
    
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  2. Iain Kelly
    
    November 4, 2020 at 5:11 pm
    
    He’s just given them an outlet, a voice, or rather a massive megaphone. It is depressing to acknowledge it must have been there all along.
    
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tidalscribe

November 4, 2020 at 3:41 pm

Nearly half of US citizens presumably have a heart and a mind; we know that because we get to engage with some great bloggers, but it is awful that they will be crushed by the ignorant ( the kindest word to describe them ) masses. I am a Remainer whose blood pressure goes up just hearing the words Special Relationship and I have never recognised the USA as leader of the free world.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:17 pm
  
  70 million people have voted for Trump. 70 million – I just can’t understand that. I guess the bloggers I interact with are not a representative bunch though, as most of them seem to be reasonable and nice people!
  
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trentpmcd

November 4, 2020 at 3:51 pm

Unfortunately, I cannot disagree.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:17 pm
  
  All might not be lost, but there’s going to be a lot of painful upheaval and recriminations for a while yet, whoever wins.
  
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  1. trentpmcd
    
    November 4, 2020 at 6:54 pm
    
    No matter who wins, bringing things back to “normal” will be difficult Of course, if Trump wins, it is also possible that he will bring about a crisis that will force us to go that way – not sure what is worse than hundreds of thousands needlessly dying in a pandemic, but I know there is much, much worse out there… But I do have hope that it is achievable – no matter who wins, Biden will win the popular vote by millions.
    
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magickmermaid

November 4, 2020 at 3:55 pm

I cannot disagree either.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:18 pm
  
  Still keeping my fingers crossed that at the very least Biden can snatch a win and perhaps change the course that America is going down. It will be a long road though.
  
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Mister Bump UK

November 4, 2020 at 4:06 pm

No arguments here.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 4:20 pm
  
  I mean, we’re not doing so well over here either, but they’re taking it to the next level over there!
  
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  1. Mister Bump UK
    
    November 4, 2020 at 5:53 pm
    
    It’s a competition!
    
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Sharon E. Cathcart

November 4, 2020 at 9:41 pm

I am so embarrassed and ashamed that this election has turned out to be such a squeaker. I truly believe that more peoples’ eyes were opened to who and what DJT is. Admittedly, as I said elsewhere, there are people here who would vote for a Republican ham sandwich before they’d vote for any Democrat — but what truly horrifies me is the increased level of support for his racism, misogyny, fascism, and gaslighting. I apologize, on behalf of all the thinking people in the United States of America, for what he’s done to our friends around the world.

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lindakempwriter

November 4, 2020 at 10:38 pm

Yes, Iain! Totally agree with you on those points about America. You’ve put it all so perfectly.

But, as I write this comment, it looks like Biden might get up after all.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 4, 2020 at 10:40 pm
  
  It’s looking hopeful and maybe with time America can regain some of its former glory. That said 76 million Americans still voted for Trump, which I just can’t fathom! It is going to get messy in the short term.
  
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  1. lindakempwriter
    
    November 5, 2020 at 12:54 am
    
    So glad I live in Australia. That said, we’re not perfect by any means, either!
    
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Tannille

November 5, 2020 at 11:13 am

Politicians… can we just take them all out and get new ones. Ones that actually serve the people?

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 5, 2020 at 2:33 pm
  
  If only we could find some somewhere?
  
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joanne the geek

November 5, 2020 at 12:21 pm

Well said. I totally agree with you. I thought after the last four years people would be more aware of what Trump is about, but his racism, cruelty, rampant toxic narcissism, and the lack of care and empathy of others obviously doesn’t stop people voting for him. They’ve seen the last four years and thought I want more of that! No matter what happens now we all know that there is sizeable percentage of people in the United States that are fine with racism, rampant corruption, locking kids up in cages, and letting hundreds of thousands of people die unnecessarily from Covid-19. I’m feeling disgusted with it.

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 5, 2020 at 2:36 pm
  
  75 million people voted for him. It’s just staggering. And now they seem to want to stop a democratic vote count., because they don’t like the way the result is going. This isn’t America, this is the behaviour of a third world dictatorship. One day they will wake up, look back and be ashamed – or more likely they won’t!
  
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Sue

November 5, 2020 at 4:02 pm

You have said out loud what many Americans fear. We are not the shining city on the hill. We are a shamefully divided country. As an American I am appalled to see half the country supporting Trump. He is the worst of us!! I voted for Biden, but honestly I’m disappointed in the Democratic Party with all the young talent couldn’t nominate someone who was more inspirational and not another goddamn 70 year old white dude! WTF?? Don’t get me wrong, if Biden can get the votes he will do all he can to unite the country, but I fear for our democracy. I love my country but I am sad, angry, and disappointed in what we’ve become. 😟🇺🇸❤️

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 5, 2020 at 4:46 pm
  
  I really hope from where we are now that Biden gets in, spends 4 years calming things down, then lets Kamala, or some other young talented Democrat (there must be some) run in 2024, hopefully against a more reasonable Republican candidate too, and what we’ve just had for the last 4 or 5 years is never repeated!
  
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  1. Sue
    
    November 5, 2020 at 4:57 pm
    
    I agree, Iain. We do have great young talent in the Democratic Party. I hope Biden fills his cabinet with all of them. And yes, I think Kamala Harris would be a fantastic President. I hope, if Biden wins, he will do all he can to prepare her to be the next President. I long for the ‘No drama Obama years’!
    
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ahtdoucette

November 7, 2020 at 3:59 pm

Hi Iain.
Finally catching up on blog comments and came across this. Wondering if you had a chance to see Biden’s not-quite victory speech he gave last night. It was such a breath of fresh air. It looks like he is probably going to win and it’s funny reading this I’m like here is why I’ve been biting my tongue, biting my tongue. America is insane but that’s also because here’s what free speech does – it lets out all the crazy. I keep thinking what we really need is to reform the system and stop gaming it. We need constitutional amendments, so we’re not ping-ponging between issues. We need leaders who are for the people and not fighting like dogs for the scraps that fall from the table of Big Business. That’s a couple not so humble opinions.

Right now, though, this nation needs to heal and our new president-elect has his finger on the button there. I really hope we can pull together and support the mandate he’s putting out there to start healing these wounds.

I’m not sure if being the calm voice of reason is going to help, but I do think it is the only thing that might. Because on one hand … yeah. But on the other hand, we don’t accomplish a whole lot by stooping to that level. If that makes any sense.

Hope you’re having a better weekend,
Anne

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1. Iain Kelly
  
  November 9, 2020 at 9:19 am
  
  It’s great, some decent news in 2020 at last! It’s still worrying, as I said, that 70-odd million people like what they see in Trump, and that poses a massive problem, not just in the US but emboldening the far-right around the world. I hope we have seen the end of him, and Trumpism, but I fear not, and America has got a difficult few years ahead. But let’s try and stick with the positive for now!
  
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