The American Nightmare !

Now it is official.   When voting day comes  around this November Donald Trump will be the endorsed candidate for the Republican side of American politics. Despite earlier odds against it is distinctly possible that he will be the person sitting in the Oval office in 2017.

If that happens the cherished " American Dream " will become the "American Nightmare " for many people.   It was the one country on planet Earth that boasted open doors to the worlds oppressed: where those prepared to work hard, be loyal to their new country and integrate socially could build a new life unhampered by the class and privileges stratification that doomed " peasants " in the rest of the world to a low ranking.

Trump has promised to send the millions of undocumented arrivals trying to achieve the American Dream back over the borders.   There will be no amnesty for those who are now integrated and running businesses.  America under Trump will be inward looking and American borders will be reinforced.  Even the concept of children born in America from undocumented parents claiming citizenship is under review.

Trump is truly an enigma.  Many of his supporters claim that once in office he will mellow, but his plans for the might of the American military machine are sending panic in world circles.  Since the middle of the twentieth century the Americans have had the most powerful military force on the planet and they have adopted the role of the " world's policeman ".   Many countries - including Australia - are comforted by inclusion in mutual defence pacts with America.   In the event of a threat we automatically expect defence help from our American friends.

Trump has proposed that he will scrap these treaties and replace them with a much more pragmatic outlook.   The main factor seems to be money.   Where the United States needs to station troops in another country to deter a threat, it will expect that country to foot the bill.    It is a fact that many countries shelter under the American nuclear umbrella and downgrade spending on their own armaments, but the Trump inference was that America was moving away from widespread guard duties and would in future demand that the threatened spend more on their own military protection before seeking help.

Such a tactical change would come at a dangerous time.   We have a very wobbly financial world and it is clear that the 2008 recession is still lingering over the horizon.   At the same time China is acting aggressively in the South China sea and Russia is in expansive mood with both Ukraine and the Baltic states.   Should either country misinterpret a new American policy an unintended clash could have wide - and disastrous - ramifications.

What is irritating is that nobody clearly known what President Trump's policy would be.  His campaign has been like no other in that he often reversed himself on the stump and no previous election involved the direct invective launched at other candidates.  Basically, the voters are being asked to take a big chance.   Just vote for Trump and hope that he eventually figures out some sort of comprehensive better way of running America.

Of course, the vote will be for one of the two candidates running.   There is a very good chance that Hillary Clinton will win the Oval office.   Politics is usually dirty business, but never before has such a spiteful and politically diverse election been presented to the American people, and never have the two front runners come with such wagon loads of contradictory " baggage " !

This is an election that will have the lights burning in government offices across the world as the tally is counted.   If Trump wins the Oval office - what follows will be completely unknown !