Dan/Michael, read Giles' link below first.

I agree with a lot of the points concerning mass attitudes of the common man. What I would disagree with is that this problem is an American problem. It is a global problem fuelled by globalisation (if that isn't tautology) and the inability of the western world to cope with the burgeoning economies of China and India and the lesser but still burgeoning economies from other nations in the Far East and south east Asia.

The changes result from political re-invention and a great shift from agricultural economies to manufacturing and technology economies, supported by revolution in the exploitation of resources and energy. There may well be an American uprising, but whilst there does exist a fairly useless political elite, that elite is also clueless when it comes to solutions because there isn't an actual solution available. What is ironically happening is the very embodiment of the Americans' beloved free market economy, except this time it's not the national economy of the USA which is centre stage, but an international one of the world. The elites are just doing what elites have done for centuries; they are closing ranks and they are hanging on to what they've got for grim death. Whilst they are doing this, they are staving off a real revolution by wooing ill educated masses with promises of improved basics, housing and health, but they are promises they cannot keep.

In Trump's case, he's obviously read "Mein Kampf", and the parallels are not ridiculous, because mass demonisation of notional "enemies" have historically been moderately, if temporarily, successful, but this time, I don't think he's got the critical mass he requires (thank God). In my opinion, we are in for a period of even greater elitism. If you look at the statistics, you will see that the polarisation of wealth is getting greater and greater in the western world and there is no indication that this trend will be reversed (Thomas Picketty's seminal work refers). There's literally about three billion people in the old third world who all want more: more TVs, fridges, cars, schools etc and they are prepared to work harder and for less money than moderately skilled Americans (or Europeans). So, the bottom line is that the easy old life enjoyed by 200 million plus middle Americans is in terminal decline and nothing is going to reverse that. Trump seems to favour some form of isolationism and/or protectionism, (along with his hate thing) but that is a proven method of ensuring failure. Even his business credentials seem highly dubious, so I doubt he'll come up with any bright ideas.

I think Clinton will just try a managed decline, interspersed with some fine, but ineffective rhetoric (probably supplied by Bill, he's good at that). In other words, Americans may fantasise that there is a saviour waiting in the wings, Hollywood style, but this really is just a fantasy - John Wayne is truly dead. There may be a wild card still waiting there in the shape of the information and technology revolution and certain corporations are definitely capitalising on that opportunity (and Americans are involved in that big time). But this isn't the mass economic revolution fuelled by the industrial explosion seen in Europe and America between 1850 and 1950. If anything, it might even encourage further elitism. In short, who wins tomorrow will make little real difference. The golden age is nearly over, but not quite, so I for one am going to go down with a smile on my face and a glass of Bordeaux in my hand.

Cheers!