President Who??!!

We frequently find ourselves being asked about Donald Trump.  The questions tend to take the form of, “Are you people insane?”

We try to put it in a context that our friends can understand.  We talk about the rise in France of the Front National, the far-right party of Marine Le Pen.

The FN is a populist party that draws its strongest support from those who globalization has left behind, especially blue-collar workers whose jobs have moved overseas.  FN supporters feel that the country’s elites have ignored their plight for years.  They have no faith in politicians. 

The FN advocates a policy of economic protectionism, closed borders, and “France for the French.”  Marine Le Pen is a demagogue who channels her followers’ resentments and encourages their sense of victimhood.  She has a special talent for finding scapegoats, with her favorite being immigrants.

The FN has done well in recent elections and Le Pen has a reasonable shot at being elected President next year.  This scares the dickens out of the political establishment and many French citizens.

Does any of this sound familiar?

So we’ve made a deal with our friends.  If Trump is elected, we will fly to France and move in with them.  If Le Pen is elected, they will fly to California and move in with us. 

And if they both win?

Well, Canada is a nice bi-lingual country that we could all enjoy.

KVS