Donald Trump is a political leader who polarises the United States and the world. For many, he is a source of threats to democracy, international order and social protection. But for millions of people who feel abandoned by the system, Trump is a chance. This is what philosopher Bernard Prusak writes in a publication for the American magazine Commonweal, commenting on the ideas from the book Abundance by journalists Ezra Klein(The New York Times, Vox) and Derek Thompson(The Atlantic).
“People are not just protesting. They are consciously choosing destruction as a response to a system that has not worked for them for a long time,” the analysis says.
Prusak emphasises that the problem is not just Trump or populism, but a deep systemic crisis. Voters who suffer from expensive healthcare, inability to buy a home, or constant debt see Trump not so much as a hope as a “hammer” that destroys what is already dysfunctional. This is the same mechanism that has brought populists to power in many countries around the world, including Hungary, Italy, Brazil and others.
The book Abundance and new political thinking
In their book Abundance, Kline and Thompson show how the inefficiencies of liberal governance have contributed to the rise of populism. Over the past decades, the authors say, both liberals and conservatives have focused on debates about the size of the state rather than its capacity. Meanwhile, the state has lost its ability to respond effectively to problems ranging from climate change to the housing crisis.
For example, 20th century environmental laws that were once progressive now block the construction of new energy facilities, and healthcare has become extremely expensive – in the US, the average cost of health insurance reaches $400 per month for an individual user. Progressive subsidies do not solve the problem, but only support the outdated structure.
📉 “The problem is not the size of the government, but its inability to make a difference,” Cline and Thompson say.
Climate, poverty and green energy
The biggest challenge, according to the authors, is the global climate crisis, which cannot be overcome without cheap, sustainable access to green energy. And here both sides of the political spectrum are acting ineffectively:
- Republicans support fossil fuel extraction
- The left is in favour of “degrowth” (a decline in production), which also hinders development
At the same time, the only realistic way forward is massive investment in green, affordable energy. This will both reduce the impact on the climate and solve the problems of poverty.
Political choices for 2024
Trump is not a traditional politician, the authors say. He rejects the “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine, and does not consider himself obliged to “be the leader of the free world” in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Commonweal notes: “In November 2024, you either vote for Trump or leave the field open for him.”
This puts the voter in front of a deeply ethical choice – to support a system that does not work or to take a chance with someone who wants to destroy it without a clear plan for recovery.
Author: Aleksandr Potetiuiev
