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The American clock is unwinding

Sunday, 08 November 2020 6:21 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 08 November 2020 6:50 PM ]

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US President-elect Joe Biden (left) and President Donald Trump

By Dennis Etler

The American Punch and Judy show continues. For half the country Trump is a culture hero, for the other half the devil incarnate. And the same applies to Biden.

Both have constructed a myth that doesn't reflect the reality behind their facades. Eight years of Obama on the one hand and four years of Trump on the other, did not solve the underlying systemic problems of US capitalism, and neither will four years of Biden.

But, the above analysis is too facile. Trump addressed many of the concerns of his base, and Biden will do the same.

The underlying crisis of capitalism, however, exacerbates the conflicts within society rather than resolve them. Promises made are seldom kept, but people still hold out hope, and when basic needs are met by the Democrats, such as DACA, Obamacare or other piecemeal reforms, people feel their prayers have been answered.

The same applies to Trump supporters. By responding to their deep seated cultural values the Republicans can cover for their predatory policies that disproportionately benefit the rich and powerful.

Both parties engage in shadow boxing. Time after time it's proven successful, so the political pendulum continues to swing from the left to the right and back again, keeping the clock ticking. But eventually the spring will unwind, the ticking will stop and the clock will come to a halt. Only then will real change occur.

US elections: The Trump interregnum is over

The Trump interregnum is over and American political life will return to some semblance of normalcy, Professor Dennis Etler says.

*Dennis Etler is an American political analyst who has a decades-long interest in international affairs. He’s a former professor of Anthropology at Cabrillo College in Aptos, California. He recorded this article for Press TV website.

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www.presstv.co.uk