avatarSuvi Helena

Summary

The article discusses the distrust in the US government, particularly in relation to the 2020 election and the fear of socialism, contrasting it with the author's experience of trust in the Finnish government.

Abstract

The author reflects on the polarized political climate in the US, noting the fear of the "radical left" and distrust in government among Trump voters. This sentiment is juxtaposed with the author's Finnish background, where government is seen as a supportive entity ensuring equal opportunities for all citizens. The piece delves into the historical roots of this mistrust, linking it to the Red Scare and a lack of understanding of socialism versus communism. It criticizes the US's approach to capitalism, healthcare, and media deregulation, emphasizing the importance of government regulation in protecting citizens' rights and ensuring a fair society. The author suggests that rebuilding trust between the government and citizens is crucial for democracy, questioning whether leaders like Trump, who is perceived as corrupt and ineffective, can achieve this.

Opinions

  • The author perceives a widespread fear of the government and the radical left among Trump voters, who prioritize individual rights over societal wellbeing.
  • There is a stark contrast between the Finnish trust in government as a safety net and the American view of government as a controlling and corrupt entity.
  • The article suggests that the fear of socialism or communism is deeply ingrained in American culture due to historical events like the Red Scare, leading to misconceptions about socialism.
  • The author believes that the US's capitalist system prioritizes individual wealth over societal welfare, exemplified by the lack of universal healthcare and paid maternity leave.
  • The piece argues that deregulation of the market and media can lead to inequality and a lack of diverse voices, emphasizing the need for government intervention to protect rights and freedoms.
  • The author is critical of Trump's presidency, viewing him as a symptom of the distrust in government and an inadequate leader to bridge the gap between the government and its citizens.

The Modern Red Scare

In God We Trust. In Government, We Do Not

Ben Noble on Unsplash

Politics is undoubtedly on everybody’s mind as we nervously wait for the result of the 2020 election. For months on end, I have been following the increasingly heated political atmosphere of the US as a bystander who can’t vote. I have never been able to wrap my mind around why anyone would possibly vote for Trump, but as election day approached and the votes came in, it was clear: a lot of people do.

I’m genuinely interested why someone would choose to vote for him, so I asked. Interestingly enough, every single person I spoke with (not that I spoke with a ton) said they voted for him simply because they are afraid of the radical left and of the democrats. They are afraid of placing any more trust and control in the government, they want to vote for a president who ensures an individuals rights over the wellbeing of a society at large.

I feel so sad, imagining what it must be like to not be able to trust your own government. Growing up in Finland, I have always trusted the government and had the understanding that it is in place for me and all other citizens. It’s a safety net for all its citizens. It doesn’t leave behind those who are less fortunate or wealthy, it provides the means for anyone to have the opportunity of a stable, meaningful life. I pay taxes, sure, but I do so happily knowing that anyone in my country can go to university even if their parents aren’t wealthy.

In the US, the relationship between individual and government is dysfunctional. There seems to be no trust between the two. The government is seen as this cunning force that seeks to control people and take their freedom away. There is this deeply rooted fear of the government taking away every penny that an individual has worked hard for, and those pennies go to politicians own pockets.

Where does it stem from?

Perhaps it is simply the fear of socialism or communism. The 19th century Red Scare placed a mistrust in the US government that is still so strong today that one would rather vote for a sociopath than a democrat.

According to an article in Wall Street International:

Most Americans do not understand the difference between communism and socialism. Classes taught in American schools such as “Americanism vs Communism” have made generations so fearful of communism that they are unable to critically distinguish it from any other system. Socialism is an economic system based upon the collective cooperation of citizens. Communism on the other hand is both an economic and political system run by a totalitarian government made up of only one party.

Sure enough, many of my friends did not know what is the difference between a socialist nation and a social democracy.

Caring for the weak is not socialism.

The state of a nation and the level of its civilization are measured by how human dignity and rights are recognized in all groups, including those that are not necessarily productive such as the elderly, disabled, and unemployed.

I feel that many of those who object the need for any kind of government interference in citizens lives are the ones who don’t personally need it.

Perhaps they have failed to realize that not everyone is as fortunate. To secure a safe place for all citizens and immigrants to live in, one must sometimes sacrifice personal comfort.

I was shocked to learn that in the US, women get 12 weeks of UNPAID maternity leave. And people wonder why abortion rates are high? In Finland, women get 11 months of PAID maternity leave, thanks to who? The government and the tax-paying citizens.

Maybe it comes from the love for the free market. The US is the hotspot of capitalism where an individual’s wealth is more important than society’s wealth. Who cares if the poor can’t afford healthcare, as long as I can stay rich and don’t have to pay taxes!

One might think that what serves a democracy best is deregulation of the market. Logically, one might come to the conclusion that deregulation creates a free market where consumers have the power to choose what they use or buy and that there is no need for the government to interfere with it; it is up to each citizen themselves to decide. But it’s not quite that simple; regulation can be both liberating as well as restricting.

One of the most important duties of the government of a democratic society is to ensure everyone has equal rights. Another duty is to protect its citizens’ right to freedom of speech and press.

The government can promote diversity and range of voice, therefore fostering an environment where everyone is heard. Democracy depends on this. Media monopolies, however, don’t have this concern as their biggest concern is money. When the aim is to make profit, deregulation makes it easier. There is nothing democratic about a market where more dollars mean more influence. That will inevitably result in a situation where not all voices are heard and represented equally, and where not everyone (depending on financial status, for example) have the same access to information. It is also a situation in which not everyone is in the position to succeed and come forward with new ideas and innovations.

The reason for regulation is not to restrict or prohibit, but to ensure that everyone has the equal chance to be heard.

Freedom to express oneself is one of the fundamental rights in a democratic society, but being able to show and distribute whatever content one desires can have horrific effects. It just shouldn’t be legal to lie on the news!

When there is trust between citizens and government, government regulation is seen as a benefit, not a way of control and sabotage. What if it were legal to show commercial including violence or sex during the commercial breaks of children’s shows? Or what if five-year-olds were allowed to walk in the movie theatre and watch Django Unchained? Government regulations should be put in place to protect citizens, especially those most vulnerable like children, not to control or steal from them.

Perhaps the attraction with Trump is that he wasn’t a politician before his presidency. If politicians are always seen as the crooked and the evil (which admittedly, some of them are) I can see why someone might think that a person coming from a different world could be the ideal candidate. Sadly Trump just so happens to be crooked and evil in his own manner.

What can be done to rebuild the trust between the US government and citizens? No clue, but I doubt that a president who doesn’t pay his taxes and spends more time on twitter than actually working on a public healthcare plan is the answer.

Trust goes both ways. You can’t ask citizens to trust a corrupt government. You also can’t elect corrupt politicians and then expect to have a trustworthy government. Luckily, in a democratic country, the power is in the citizens.

Government
Politics
Democracy
Trump
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