Trump means business (in every sense)

A number of my colleagues, and executives I know, have been asking me what I think about the Trump victory. “It’s amazing,” I say enthusiastically to rather bewildered faces. I am a born optimist and see the glass half full. Let me elaborate.

Full disclosure: before being a supporter of Mitt Romney, I supported Herman Caine (the computer scientist and former CEO of Godfather’s Pizza). I also favoured Dr. Ben Carson (a paediatric neurosurgeon) to be the Republican nominee.

I am a lifelong Republican and first voted for Ronald Reagan. I have always supported the non-establishment candidate; especially ones leaning towards the “more freedom is always better than less freedom” philosophy.

So, how will America cope? My forecast is “just fine”. In fact, there is a very high chance it will thrive. Remember that we have previously elected movie actors, peanut farmers, rough riders and a whole assortment of characters to the presidency. We have also elected minority and physically impaired candidates to the highest office. Such outcomes are unheard of in progressive European countries, or even the vast majority of United Nations member states. This ability for Americans to value “diversity” is what sets us apart.

Back to President-elect Trump. Before the first primary, I stunned a few people by suggesting that Trump could win, despite everyone in the media saying the opposite, including Republicans. I was convinced of this by reminding myself that one of the most blue of blue states, California, elected a Republican governor not so long ago – and somehow Arnold Schwarzenegger managed to keep the lights on while Silicon Valley kept humming. Similar behavioural stories erupted before Scwarzenegger’s election, and he prevailed anyway.

Scary stories about Ronald Reagan starting wars everywhere were pushed by the media, but he was elected anyway and ended the cold war. The Tea Party candidates flipped the House of Representatives and US Senate, despite similar media noise. So, Trump was really nothing that new, except to people in the media. Anyone remember Brexit?

So, what can Americans expect from Trump, the latest anti-establishment hope? Here are my forecasts.