[Texit], Brexit, The Donald, Bernie, Cruz, Occupy Wall Street, Tea Party – A Tsunami Is Coming & It May Be Ugly.

    Dissatisfaction with big banks & big corporations co-opting & literally buying the political establishment is much deeper than the ruling moneyed aristocracy realizes or admits.

The issue really is top down.  Working from the bottom up is “misdirection”.  For example, a perceived big issue is immigration but if times were good economically, there wouldn’t be resentment of cheap immigrants serving us. The problem is that the “us” [the masses] are truly economically challenged and perceive as causes immigrants and international trade that permits cheap labor from the outside [de facto immigrants]. Combine those grievances with centralized distant politicians [Washington, Brussels] who are perceived as corrupt, you end up with hyper-nationalism and isolationism. Put another way, People just don’t trust their elected leaders.

The “ills” are also defined as irresponsible behavior of countries like Greece, Portugal and Italy. Actually, the irresponsible behavior deriving from their leaders [back to corrupt politicians] who made unrealistic promises upon which the populace relied [see retirement and pensions] while the politicians were actually living the good life and lining their pockets. Think Berlusconi, Cameron, Putin, Clinton and the Panama Papers to name but a few.

Bottom line, the masses are disgusted with the political and economic status quo. They want to throw the bums out, lock, stock & barrel. Hillary is one of them. Her (husband’s) foundation seems to be helping those in Africa. So, too, is the Gates Foundation.  Those are wonderful projects but what about working on Detroit,   inner city schools and slums in Philadelphia or even Buffalo?  See the problem? Real or perceived, the impression is that the locals are ignored.

It’s not about Trump or Cruz. It’s their “message” that those who have been in power forever are corrupt and those alternative individuals, flawed as they are, are closer to the solution than the present power structure. That’s Bernie’s message. It’s the Brexit message of disenchantment.  It is not about substance or merit. It is a rejection of the status quo.

Interestingly, we hear arguments about the strength of the economy and “if one just put forth the effort” from those with solid, guaranteed fixed income situations: The bankers at the local private [and exclusive] golf club, “trust fund babies”, government workers who earn solid incomes, have no overhead, no expenses, medical coverage that does not deny at every opportunity and retirement at 75% of largest salary years. Those are the ones complain the loudest that there are others who seem to require assistance.  They want to cut them all off!

What about the “assistant manager” who was forced to work 60 hours plus per week for $27,000 with no overtime. He was made a manager so the business wouldn’t have to pay him overtime. He’s pissed! That’s just one example. That individual knows that Trump is a bum. He doesn’t care. He knows that none of Hillary’s domestic economic policies will ever trickle down to him. His is a vote against, not for…

“Families” and even “religion” are essentially “red herrings”. Neither of those put food on the table, pays the electric bill, keep the heat on in the winter. People don’t ask for help because they want religion, they ask because they need medical treatments. Often they have 2-3 insurance policies that technically provide medical coverage but none will pay because they fight among themselves as to who has priority. If an individual is so injured in an incident that they can’t work, if they are lucky, they are eligible for disability workers compensation that may pay them $187 per week. That goes a long way toward covering rent! Predatory lenders give contingent loans at 70% compound interest. It’s about keeping the heat on in winter, avoiding eviction or simply being hungry. Those are their real choices and constitute but the tip of the iceberg. “Family & Religion” have very little to do with those practical realities. However, it’s easier to “blame” those unwashed masses for their plight than to address the control by the multi-national corporations, banks, politicians, special tax breaks and those special interests that really regulate trade, commerce, services, laws and every aspect of our daily lives.

We conclude as we started.  It’s not about Trump.  It is not about substance or merit. It is a rejection of the status quo.