Mongolia : A Toxic Warning (2019)

Mongolia has rapidly changed. The nomadic ways of the countryside are giving way to an urbanized industrial country. The change comes with a price. Pollution from the burning of coal threatens public health and the environment. Air pollution has been linked to lung disease and possibly could harm brain health. BBC News revealed in Mongolia : A Toxic Warning air pollution in Mongolia has reached enormous levels. Produced in 2019, this report shows what happens when there is little regulation or strong environmental policy.  Herders on the steppe are being effected by climate change. Dry winters caused problems with livestock. These dramatic shifts make it hard for animals to survive. The people of the countryside are forced to leave to cities.  The landlocked country with high altitude is vulnerable to climate shifts. Children are very vulnerable to lung related health conditions. The biggest fear is that cases of lung cancer will increase. Burning coal is too lucrative for Mongolia to abandon. The economic incentive is coming at the cost of public health. Mongolia must expand and diversify its economy before it sees a dramatic loss of population due to air pollution. Farming and the countryside must be saved for long term sustainability of the nation. Development should not mean the destruction of the environment or the disregard for public health. 

The Question of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Future

After multiple elections, it seems that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's grip on power is slipping. Failure to form a unity government forced the president to act. The prime minister faces charges of corruption and using bribes to get favorable media coverage. He has held the office since 2009 being a longtime political survivor. Prime Minister Netanyahu served before between the years of 1996 to 1999. The Likud Party is still a political force. This era has been a time of conservative political policy with many events working to their advantage. The Arab Spring, the Syrian Civil War, and the rise of ISIS has been used as a justification for more aggressive military action. The conservatives were more emboldened to also push for the construction of settlements. The plight of the Palestinians becomes worse under Likud Party policy. Three elections and there remains an impasse as the public desires some form of normalcy. It is difficult to predict, but the Netanyahu era may be reaching its final phase. Benny Gantz of the Blue and White Party asked the prime minister to form a government. This may not be possible seeing as Prime Minster Netanyahu wants his trial delayed. The court already rejected the request. It appears as if he is attempting to cling to power. Another election would only cause more instability, which Israel will see more of as time passes. The democratic system is in jeopardy and the rule of law itself. Israel may find itself in an Arab Spring like uprising, if the political parties  do not reach a consensus. 

The Coronavirus Pandemic, Anti-Chinese Racism, and Public Panic

The  World Health Organization has declared the coronavirus outbreak as a global pandemic. What is now known as COVID-19 appeared in Wuhan, China and gradually spread to other nations. Throughout history there have been outbreaks and pandemics. The plague and the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic are the most notable. Public health was in the past not up to the same standards as the modern period. Limited understanding about the infectious and viral diseases made matters worse. The reason that this current pandemic occurred is not due to a misunderstanding of biomedical science. The possible root of the outbreak is the trade in exotic animals. This is common in China and animals may be contained in unsanitary conditions. Bats or pangolins  have been suspected as carriers of coronavirus. The origins of the disease still remain a mystery.  While humanity has advanced in terms of medicine, it is still vulnerable to harmful microorganisms. Pandemics are more likely due to large amounts of international travel, larger populations,  or poor public health practices. The pandemic reveals much about the condition of  the world's population. There is a growing xenophobic and racist sentiment directed at Chinese people and the country itself. Bigotry has existed prior to the outbreak , yet it is being used to justify anti-Chinese racism. The world's healthcare systems are not able to address the challenges of pandemics. Certain nations cannot afford to produce high quality healthcare systems. The global south struggles with this due to underdevelopment. Wealth does not always guarantee a functional healthcare system. The United States still does not have a system of universal healthcare. Millions could either be uninsured or have low quality coverage. Preserving public health is not the objective, rather it is to ensure that insurance and pharmaceutical companies maintain high profits. The world needs a network of universal healthcare to prevent pandemics. Otherwise,  more people could parish. There are methods in which a person can protect themselves from infection. The problem is the public panics to an irrational degree. The media and governments are to blame with causing feels of trepidation. Basic information is necessary to prevent further mass infection. Transparency and not making unconfirmed proclamations about events can reduce mass panic. If not this could induce civil disturbance. The effects of COVID-19 are going to have long lasting effects on society, even when the pandemic is over. 

       The outbreak of COVID-19 had indications of a pandemic in its early stages. The majority of those infected were Chinese in Wuhan, which then appeared in other countries. Japan began seeing cases. For awhile, Africa and Latin America did not have cases of COVID-19 infection. Then Egypt and Nigeria became the first African nations to witness COVID-19. Iran and other Middle Eastern nations were grappling with the same disease. South Africa and then Brazil also discovered that the disease reached their territory. The declaration of pandemic should have been made much sooner by the World Health Organization. The rate of the spread was too fast for coronavirus not to be a pandemic. The reason that the ebola outbreak in 2014 was not declared a pandemic was that it was confined to Liberia with other cases in the DRC. The outbreak did not expend outside of Africa. Since February the number of confirmed cases has increased dramatically. There could be more people with the virus, but do not exhibit symptoms. Those who are at risk of death tend to be older and people with preexisting health conditions. Those with influenza related symptoms have been advised also to get tested for coronavirus.  

     A pandemic is by definition a global epidemic that effects large amounts of people across nations. By March 11, the amount of  confirmed coronavirus cases continued  to grow  on every continent ( excluding Antarctica). The world sees large amounts of people traveling for vacations, work, and leisure. Other forms of human migration are not by choice. There continues to be a refugee crisis with many people fleeing war and destabilization . African and Arab refugees fleeing from Libya, Chad, Mali, Syria, Iraq, Sudan, and Somalia are coming to Europe. Traveling this way means their health would suffer, which means the risk of infection could increase. Air planes and cruise ships also can enhance the likelihood getting COVID-19. The shipping of various goods may also be a concern.China has become a leading manufacturer. Goods and services could be interrupted due to coronavirus concerns. Exported products could have traces of the virus if not sanitized. The economic toll can already be seen with fluctuations in the stock market. Public health is more vulnerable not because of lack of technological means. Affordable health insurance and medicine is out of reach depending on which country you live. Smallpox was only eliminated through an international effort. To defeat current and future pandemics, healthcare systems must be raised to a higher standard globally. A serious challenge must be made against insurance and pharmaceutical corporations that make profits providing the least amount of coverage. The homeless and poor are extremely vulnerable to pandemics. The failure of governments to challenge such corporations, puts the world at risk. Disagreements and lack of cooperation among world leaders only makes containing COVID-19 more difficult. The rivalry between world powers makes efforts to confront common threats almost impossible. The lack of rapid response is partly to blame for the spread of the virus. Poor sanitation and the abuse of animals could also be culpable for the crisis. Exotic animals can be carriers of a number of microorganisms that could be harmful to human beings. The trade of various animals in Chinese markets in congested  areas lack the proper sanitation standards. Bird flu and SARS have similar origins. More laws regrading the trade in animals  and wider public health measures must be taken to  halt pandemic outbreaks. 

         The unfortunate result of the pandemic is revived anti-Chinese racism. Prejudice and racism against the Chinese existed before coronavirus. China was subject to being carved up into spheres of influence by France, Germany, the British Empire, US, Japan, and Italy. During the age of European imperialism China had little control of its economy and political structure. Chinese immigrants faced extreme hostility when coming to America, France, and Australia. The US imposed the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882 and the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924  in order to reduce the Chinese population. The Chinese have either been seen in terms as an immigrant threat or perpetual foreigner. One dimensional stereotypes such as the model minority were presented as a way to hide the fact that racist sentiment was still present in America. When the Chinese Communist Party took power in  1949, America viewed China as an enemy. There was a period diplomatic understanding  in which the Nixon administration opened relations. With the collapse of the Soviet Union and the rise of China as the second largest economy America saw China as an threat.  The Trump  administration has scapegoated China for the trade war that was started by the United States. This era has ignited a wave of xenophobia and racism that Chinese communities have been familiar with. Chinese or any other non-white groups have always had their loyalty to America questioned. Since the outbreak of coronavirus Chinese Americans have been subject to  acts of race prejudice and hate crimes. This is not an isolated case in just America. Canada, Indonesia, Thailand, and the Netherlands have seen an increase in anti-Chinese sentiment. 

   

Chinatowns are witnessing a decrease in visitation. Chinese businesses are seeing fewer customers. There is an ignorant idea that some how every person of Chinese descent is a carrier of  the corona virus.The virus is not discriminatory; it can  infect anyone. The outbreak did not cause racism; it just exposed what already was there. The pandemic just always racists to mask their behavior under the excuse of fear. Xenophobia occurs in response to nations that fear shifting demographics, immigration, lack of knowledge, or times of severe economic strain. The rise of China as a world power and the decline of the West has produced new version of xenophobia based around ethnonationalism. Certain communities in this view do not belong in a country that seeks to be racially pure. This explains why Chinese communities are being blamed for the COVID-19 outbreak. Scapegoating is a tactic used to distract from the real issue. Simultaneously, the outbreak can be used to further an anti-immigrant agenda and demonize non-white people. Xenophobic nativist nationalism has made blatant racism more acceptable and the sudden rise in anti-Chinese sentiment should not come as a surprise. There is a long history of various groups being blamed from diseases and outbreaks. Jews were scapegoated for the black plague , which caused mass progroms. The recent wave of anti-Chinese racism induced by coronavirus fears may not subside anytime soon.
       The pubic must have information about the coronavirus. Media  and the government have the potential to induce mass panic. Paranoia can become commonplace in such an atmosphere. The mass media and cable news in particular want ratings. The constant discussion and obsessive suggested measures only make people more anxious. Governments have the problem of not being transparent. President Donald Trump and President Xi Jingping are not fully open about the extent of damage the pandemic has done. The image these leaders want to project is being in control of the situation, when it may actually get worse. A combination of mass media hysteria and lack of government transparency has caused the world population to behave in irrational ways. The rapid consumption of hand sanitizer and cleaning products has become more prevalent. Stores may find it difficult to maintain products as people gather supplies. Some even refuse to shake hands anymore for  fear of catching the virus. Being scared or avoiding people entirely is not going to solve the current crisis. It only increases suspicion among people. There are practical measures in place that are more effective. Quarantines, travel bans,  and avoiding large public gatherings can low the spread of COVID-19. Simple acts such as washing your hands and avoid touching the face can also be helpful.

  
Staying home and recovering if you are sick is one the most pivotal pieces of public health advice. Some responses may be an overreaction. The Trump administration hinted at an internal travel ban within the United States. Some public schools and universities have cancelled classes out of fear of the pandemic. Public transportation systems have seen a decline in riders, because of the virus. A person who just sneezes induces panic in people. Coughs and sneezes do not always mean that COVID-19 is the culprit. Even with measures in place, the virus still has the ability  to mutate. A vaccine has not been produced, which means there are very few tools to fight the virus. The current public health measures could be moderately successful. It should be realized that they are not impenetrable. Trepidation about possible illness should not stop one from functioning. Misinformation tends to propagate faster than truth especially in the age of social media. Conspiracy theory already add to the culture of paranoia and panic. The most prevalent conspiracy theory is that COVID-19 is some type of bioweapon. The accusation is that China or Russia made a bioweapon and unleashed it on the world. This is not true, however some believe this. There exists no evidence that biological warfare is being conducted. If  this was an attack from China why would it be unleashed in Wuhan? The reason for these conspiracies is to encourage hatred or blame on certain nations. Combined with the public's weak knowledge of science and biology many people are absorbing misinformation. Besides having correct information, there needs to be officials that can explain it to the public. Medical professionals and virologists must do what they can to help people decipher incorrect information.
        The COVID-19 pandemic will change the way society will function. Even when the pandemic ends certain measures may remain due to misplaced fear. Screening for disease may become an excuse to keep immigrants out of  certain countries. Healthcare systems may figure out how to make even more profits at the expense of the population. The United States at the moment allows for free virus testing. A person still has to pay if they need treatment. The insurance companies at some stage will use pandemics for profit. A vaccine has not yet been produced and when one comes it may be too expensive for the less economically stable. The relations between people have been altered. Self isolation is necessary during pandemics. This could become more common due to paranoia. The culture of fear that has been built up over decades could reach a dramatic point. People may be less likely to interact or help one another. All over the world people are retreating into their own communities and not interacting with the wider world. Global civilization could be going backward. The world must update its healthcare systems to meet international public health challenges. The more disturbing prospect is that the world may suffer mass population loss. The current pandemic has not damaged the large amount of the total human population. The potential for losing control becomes greater with people's lack of medical access. Other measures such as paid sick leave and a universal healthcare system can prevent such a possibility of crisis. A pandemic should not used as a means of expanding a national security state. Police and armed forces in certain countries are already imposing quarantines and travel bans by force. Italy has done this making it hard for citizens to move from place to place. Germany could follow this as well as France. Governments use a crisis to restrict personal freedoms and basic human rights. Pandemic practices and restrictions may remain palce simply as a way for governments to  gain more power with limited oversight. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed life as we know it and it will be permanent. 
     

Hosni Mubarak Passes Away

A chapter in Egyptian history was closed with the death of former president Hosni Mubarak. He ruled for thirty years and was deposed by the 2011 Egyptian revolution. The Arab Spring swept across the Middle East resulting in the fall in longtime leaders. It is questionable, whether this revolution was genuine. Most observers note that it appears that the 2011 uprisings were regime changes. So far, countries of the Middle East and North Africa have reverted back to authoritarian systems. Mubarak did not face serious jail time for possible crimes or the deaths of protesters in during the Arab Spring. This demonstrated that the military still holds more power in Egyptian government. The Mubarak presidency went to many lengths to suppress the Muslim Brotherhood and  used it as an excuse to stifle dissent. Another coup in 2013, brought an end to the democratically elected government. The reason Mubarak did not share such a gruesome end like his colleagues from neighboring  states was that the West favored his rule. The military establishment protected him and made sure his sentencing was reduced. Hosni Mubarak was released from prison in 2017 despite public outrage. The charges against him were for corruption and murder, which he was sentenced to life. That was overturned and he continued to live a peaceful live. Although Mubarak is gone the authoritarian structure he built is still intact. Egypt still has a long way to go to creating a government that meets the needs of every citizen. President Abdel Fattah Sisi continues to model himself on a Mubarak style form of administration, leaving little hope for reform.     

Turkey Promises Support of the GNA in Libya

Turkey has become more involved in the affairs of its neighbors. This is extending further, beyond the Middle East into North Africa. Libya has become another area of interest to Turkey, seeing to expand its influence . Since 2011, the country has been in a state of civil war with two rival factions fighting for control. Turkey recognizes the Tripoli based Government of National Accord. Under the leadership of Fayez Al-Sarraj President Recep Erdogan has found an ally. Turkey wants to revive the power it had under Ottoman rule and with the Arab Spring it enabled a power void. Libya is another place that will fall under Turkish influence similar to Syria and Iraq. The challenge in Libya is that the Libyan Arab Armed Forces under Khalifa Hafner did not want a peace deal. The United Nations attempted to broker such a peace deal with little success. The Toburk based faction has support from both Egypt and the United Arab Emirates. The EU stated it will impose an arms embargo, which President Erdogan condemned. Turkey will continue to be involved in Libya militarily and in its domestic affairs. This has caused a reaction within the Mediterranean region. Greece and Cyprus have objected to the Turkish-GNA alliance. Matters only become more complicated with more refugees fleeing war and terrorism.  

Burkina Faso Struggles to Combat Armed Groups

Burkina Faso's army is crisis in the battle against armed groups. Since 2015, they have grown in number, which has also resulted in issues with surrounding countries. France has used the rise of militancy as an excuse to have a presence in the country. The government has now taken steps to arm the population. This could backfire depending on social and political situations. The more guns and weapons a community has the less secure it will be. Even with the defeat of armed groups, there could be a crime wave or possibly a civil war if the government is not functional. Burkina Faso's army may not be large enough to fight armed groups and they may not have the right training to handle insurgencies. Villages that are located in remote areas face a threat from radical political Islamist armed groups. It cannot be certain if these groups are indigenous or being guided by an external force. When President Blaise Compaore  fell from power in 2014, the country faced destabilization. The law that seeks to arm civilians demands that volunteers not be members of a political party or group. The reasoning could be that political factionalism would only encourage more war or ethnic conflict. Terrorism has become a bigger security issue for the African continent as well as European military intervention. 

The Age of Trumpism

When Donald Trump was elected president of the United States in 2016, there was a major shift in American politics. Political centrism and triangulation had seen defeat. What is attempting to take its place is a new era of far-right politics. Observers were either shocked or confused at this development. Conservative Trumpism has challenged the established order of American politics. The conservative movement has even questioned what it core beliefs are. The two party system has failed to meet the needs of  large sections of the American population. Partisanship or negotiation to the extent that policies produced are what the majority dislikes caused much frustration for US citizens. Disillusioned voters then chose an extreme alternative vexed at both the Republican and Democratic Party. Donald Trump through deception, social media, and racism was able to gain support. His victory was not due to the mistakes of the Hillary Clinton campaign or low voter turnout for the Democratic Party. Russian interference was not even a factor in his success. The triumph of Trump was the product of bigotry, class division, and the flaws of the liberal democratic system. Conservative Trumpism  is a dangerous political movement that seeks to reverse the advance of the civil, feminist, and gay rights movements. Trumpism combines both elements of paleoconservatism and neoconservatism mixed with xenophobic nativist nationalist ideology. It also wants to bring fiscal and social conservatives into the larger wings of the movement. This technique of making a large mass conservative movement does produce schisms along ideological lines. This explains the numerous resignations in the Trump administration. A new political age has come and many do not understand or how to oppose it. The age of  Tumpism encourages intolerance, division, and disregard for the rule of law. Political culture and American society have been corrupted to such a degree that rational debate, civility, and even truth itself are absent from the discourse. The culture of Trumpism creates an atmosphere of hate, anti-intellectualism, fear, and anger.
      The age of Trumpism is a period in which racial hate is embraced by a portion of white Americans. There has been a rival of stronger anti-immigrant sentiment that was seen in the early 20th century similar to laws such as the Immigration Restriction Act of 1924 and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Prior to those laws the Alien Act in 1798 was the beginning of a long history of anti-immigrant sentiment in the United States. The common themes in American xenophobia were disloyalty, suspicion, or scapegoating various immigrant groups for social and political problems. The Irish, Germans, Italians, Japanese,  and Chinese were subject to discrimination, yet there was a difference in terms of experience. White immigrants were welcomed into the melting pot, but the Asian, Latin American, and peoples of Africa descent were excluded. There has always been in American history a fear of non-white take over. Changes in the population cause a number of reactions . The dramatic shift to the extreme right can be explained by the anger of demographic shift. It may come a time when whites will  not be the majority  in the United States. The backlash from the increase in South American and Asian immigration is the embrace of white nationalism. It is not just illegal immigration President Donald Trump and his supporters want to stop, rather there is a desire to reduce legal immigration from particular countries. He has expressed that ideally he wants immigrants from northern European nations. Norway and Sweden Donald Trump seems in particular has more respect for . This indicates that President Trump favors some from of nordicism a eugenic racist ideology in which northern Europeans were the most superior race on Earth. They either had to separate from the African, Asian, and Latin American peoples of the world or exterminate them to maintain racial superiority.

  
To President Donald Trump, people who are not white are not "real" American citizens. Many of his supporters share this sentiment, which explains why congresswomen such as Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and others are targeted with racist attack. The chants of "send her back" represent the feeling that only whites have the right to be in the United States and other races are basically have a parasitic existence . The prevalence of police brutality directed against African Americans and a more aggressive Immigration and Customs Enforcement demonstrate there is more willingness to use violence against non-whites in the country. There remains a section of white America that fantasizes about a lost period after World War II. A golden age of America in their minds was when society was rigidly segregated and certain ethnic groups were banned from entering the country. This era of the 1950s, which white conservatives think as a period of equanimity was actually a time in which white privilege was at its height. With the social changes brought by the civil rights movement and black power struggle white privilege was effectively weakened. Republicans and the wider conservative movement knew they could manipulate anger over these changes to win votes. President Richard M. Nixon used the southern strategy to appeal to racists and pro-segregationist to gain a Republican advantage in that part of the United States. President Ronald Reagan appealed to the white fundamentalist Christians to build the conservative base even bigger. What President Donald Trump brought into the Republican party was a new wave of anti-immigrant factions.

The new anti-immigrant faction of the Republican party has the desire to see more strict and harsh treatment of both refugees as well as asylum seekers. The United States admits few refugees and asylum seekers compared to European nations, even though the country's military actions have caused an influx of  migration. US involvement in both Iraq and Syria has created refugees, but the US contributes little to resettlement or humanitarian efforts. The travel ban list has added more countries which include Myanmar, Eritrea, Sudan, Tanzania, and Kyrgyzstan. Travel bans really have nothing to do with security or foreign policy disagreements, rather they are showing how racial intolerance has become government policy. The travel bans are not directed at European nations. The intent is to reverse the changing demographics of the United States. Hate groups have seized upon this rise in racist sentiment and have  recruited more to their organizations. Racial hatred has once more become acceptable in American society and President Trump uses it to manipulate constituents.
       Fear and paranoia have become more commonly expressed in both the public and media. The continued fear of terrorist acts has sparked a wave of Islamophobia. It never disappeared after the 9/11 attacks of 2001. It has only become a political weapon used by the Trump administration to ensure re-election. A population that has a fear or suspicion of some group will  not be using critical thinking skills when selecting a president. When President Trump claims that immigrants are "rapists and murders" this is a means of scaring people who limited knowledge. People who do not interact with others of different religions, races, or beliefs  can easily fall to prejudice. Groups are not the only ones that are subject to a the public's trepidation. Entire nations are demonized as being threats when from a military standpoint they would not be able to defeat the United States. Russia, China,and Iran have been classified as enemies and dangerous threats. Both the left and right of the political spectrum present these countries as the embodiment of evil. The over exaggeration has become so intense that some Americans think that all the people living in these nations are malevolent as well. The media aids this by giving a distorted image of international affairs, presenting America as generally a force for good. The narrative becomes a simple dichotomy of America versus a China-Russia alliance. The reality is that there is an emerging mulipolar system in which America will no longer be able  to do as it pleases. Sudden changes and a combination of insecurity have caused the American public to embrace a new era of fear. Certain ideas are also viewed with paranoia in the Trump era.

    

Socialism has been made to seem like an extremist movement. This sentiment has even been articulated by moderates and centrists in the political spectrum. Terms and  ideas developed by far-right groups have now entered the mainstream discourse. Cultural Marxism  has been used to disparage anyone with ideas that differ from the status quo. Socialism has been made such a hated term, that Americans associate it with some form of authoritarianism. Trumpism frames left-wing politics as a threat just as perilous as terrorism. Part of the reason my there has not been improvements to the healthcare system is that many America's believe that be the first  step to a socialist government. Social democracy has worked well for Scandinavian countries. Reforms and new programs are need in the US, but paranoia has prevented real change. The Trump administration not only uses preexisting fears, but also relies on right-wing conspiracy theories. Big government wants to disarm people, flood the country with immigrants, and a leftist elite is attempting to destroy America. President Trump has expressed or  promoted various right-wing conspiracy theories in speeches, rallies, as well as Twitter. Infowars and  Brietbart  have similar ideas which seems to be where the president gets a portion of his information from. Social media enables more disinformation to spread at a rapid pace. The negative consequence of this is that more people embrace being afraid and acts of scapegoating. 

          America through its history has been a divided nation. What began as colonies with distinct cultures formed a country based around a longstanding US Constitution. The question of citizenship and government power was not fully resolved. Enslavement and expansion of the Union made these two questions needing a solution. The  American Civil  War was fought and ever since, the United States has struggled to act as one functioning country. Racial, class,  political, cultural, and religious divisions are a constant challenge. Donald Trump realizes that there is much resentment about the current political and economic conditions. As long as that resentment and rage grows the movement he started will. The most ignored division among the American population is the class disparity. The chances of upward mobility have been dramatically reduced over the past decades. The citizens of the rural and urban areas have been dramatically effected. Unemployment and limited financial security have created a portion of society left behind. The poor and middle class are forced to work harder for wages that do not go up, while corporations see immense profits. Supply side economics, neoliberal capitalism, and  corporate tax cuts have cause the gap between rich and poor to become wider. If this is not adequately addressed it will escalate into mass civil disturbance. The more ominous possibility is that more of the disenfranchised or struggling will gravitate to more xenophobic nationalist authoritarian movements. The age of Trumpism has allowed for anyone of these scenarios to be possible. Civility and rules of general discussion about the nation's affairs have gotten more vitriolic. Between the average citizen and political leaders, simple discussion devolves into vicious argument.The new era makes insults and rudeness  normal part  of political discussion. The home, workplace,  and the general public  arena have become divided among ideological lines. If two people of different political beliefs cannot have a basic conversation, then it will impossible to have a functional government. The US Senate and Congress are so divided bipartisanship no longer seems politically realistic. The two party system is being tested under a president that is like any other. Polarization and a divided country is how President Donald Trump finds political success. Republicans are also using this strategy to win combined with gerrymandering. Under the Trump era compromise and negotiation are seen as signs of  treachery. 

        The Trump era embraces an anti-intellectual position. Over the past decades a portion of conservatives have become critical of academia, climate change, and human evolution. This faction has articulated that universities have become nothing more than left-wing indoctrination centers. The irony is that the neoconservative movement's inception  was the University of Chicago. President Donald Trump denies that climate change is occurring and repealed many environmental protections.Statements regarding the matter range from lies to uninformed opinions. Once he claimed that climate change is a hoax. The data collected from scientists has shown the Earth's temperature is rising. Floods, more powerful hurricanes, and forest fires indicate that climate change has been exacerbated by human activity. The Trump administration does not care what the data says. The intent is to protect the fossil fuel industry, while ignoring more efficient alternatives. Windmill technology  and solar panels could be lucrative innovations. Science education will also be limited, seeing as the administration is more responsive to cultural conservatives. The teaching of human evolution in certain parts of the country is limited due to the fact the  Christian right are politically organized and having an influence on local school boards. Students are getting a low quality education. Funding has been an issue, but the Department of Education under Betsy Devos demonstrates that it favors gradual privatization of the school system. A large faction of conservatives have become anti-education and there may be a strategic reason for this. Voters with less education have a tendency to favor conservative candidates. The problem with this method is that it creates a workforce that does not have the skills to be active in a knowledge based economy. Automation will make various jobs of all skill levels disappear. Workers and employees are going to have to make learning new skills a life long commitment. If a population is unwilling to learn or adjust, there may be an employment and economic crisis. Logic, facts, or critical thinking skills do not matter to certain factions of Trump supporters.
         Anger at the establishment and mainstream media is more prevalent. The two party system and political centrism cannot solve the new challenges of the 21st century. The Democratic and Republican Party has distance itself so far from the average person, that it created this rage.Vexed by an Obama presidency that did not deliver radical change, some Democratic voters went with a person they believed was a maverick. The Democratic Party focused too much on the middle class, rather than expanding its base to people who were ignored. A vote for Donald Trump was an indirect message that a large section of the US was dissatisfied with the current two party establishment figures. Promises and common talking points were not enough to get voters to the polls. Mainstream media also contributed to growing polarization. CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC, and ABC no longer attempt to be objective, rather dictate to their viewers which candidate they should support. The paradox was that the coverage of Donald Trump aided his election , even though he has disdain for the press. Donald Trump knows from all the years of being a public figure how to manipulate media through distraction and antics. America's obsession for celebrity and popular culture makes them not concentrate on  serious domestic and foreign affairs. The mainstream media only enable this distraction by focusing on his Tweets and  uncivil behavior. Realizing this is good for ratings all the 24 hour cable news networks compete with one another for coverage of the latest scandals from the Trump White House. The networks with more of a Democratic leaning  want to sabotage his character, yet this does not phase his base. It only invigorates their hatred and assumptions about liberal bias in media. There is media bias, but it is not solely liberal. The factions are either Republican supporting or Democratic supporting networks. Fox News and CNN are the most recognizable symbols of this division in media. President Donald Trump plays on these factions of media to promote himself and his beliefs.Every single day becomes a media circus, with anticipation about what will President Trump do next. Considering social media makes information travel faster, the problem becomes more severe.
        Political corruption is a part of American politics, yet a interesting phenomenon has developed. The public does not seem to care about it. Trump supporters are content with his abuses as long as he continues to promote their conservative values. A large web of intrigue and deception has been present since 2017. When Donald Trump fired FBI Director James Comey, this started the Russia investigation. The Muller Report concluded that there was Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. This interference aided Donald Trump, which he sought to cover up. When James Comey refused to not drop the investigation, Trump sought to end it by removing him. President Donald Trump now has been impeached for abuse of power and obstructing congress. He attempted to extort Joe Biden through his son's business affairs in Ukraine. President Donald Trump demanded that President  Volodymr Zelensky  provided information on the Bidens involvement in Ukraine or else aid would not come. An anonymous whistle blower exposed the phone call, which them resulted in impeachment, The Republican senate will most likely acquit him and certainly will not result in his removal from office. Unlike President Richard M. Nixon, Donald Trump  has not fallen from political corruption. Donald Trump has not provided any evidence that he paid federal income tax. His refusal to release his tax returns raise questions about whether or not he has done so. While there have been multiple demonstrations against the president a mass movement demanding his resignation has not materialized. The public may not care or they feel too powerless to stop Trumpism as a political force. Even when the Trump administration ends, the movement he started will continue. The age of Trumpism has ushered in a more malevolent, hateful, and disturbing form of politics.