Just read an interesting “theory” on why people get elected. And after getting elected to a public office, how they get things done. Being popular had nothing to do with getting enough votes to win an election, or to get things done.
Two factors play the largest roles in politics, bribes and fear.
Modern time bribes can be a politician making promises to provide some new service or financial help to specific individuals and special interest groups to gain their vote, such as the government providing more social programs (Bernie). A second form of bribe can be promising to improve the entire society’s standard of living, such as improving the infrastructure. (Trump) Of course, bribing other politicians for their vote/support has been a well exposed program to get things done.
Playing the fear card can take many forms. A politician that promises to provide more security can be seen as making the people safer and lowering the fear factor (Trump). Fear can also take the form of a politician blackmailing fellow politicians into supporting his agenda. Having a little “dirt” on a politician can go a long way in gaining their support to get things done, fearing they will be exposed. Trump likes to intimidate his opponents, causing them to fear him.
These are scary times. “My guess is”, Trump would have beat Bernie because Trump played all the cards he could use, bribes and fear. Bernie only played one card, bribes. Bernie maybe very popular with a minority of special interest groups, but that is not enough bribe votes to get him elected.
Now we have to see if Trump can get things done, and how he does it. But I don’t believe he will ever be popular. He will just keep winning as long as he keeps playing more bribe and fear cards than his opponents.
