Better To Have a P***y Grabber Than Just a P***y

“People who complain about something that they cannot do anything about are as irritating as those who complain about something that they can do something about.” - Mokokona Mokhoanana

Well here we are. Amerikkka has spoken and despite the legitimate gripes of over half the population who voted for Hillary, the world has to accept that the imminent ‘leader of the free world’ is a racist Dorito with a straw toupee. And whilst I sympathise with the increasing number of protestors enraged at being held hostage to an archaic voting system that ignores the concept of rewarding a popular vote, I’m vexed by some of the post-election analysis. Because some have suggested that part of the explanation for The Donald’s victory is due to a ‘lower than expected turnout’ from black voters and lower than anticipated enthusiasm from Hispanic voters. I call bullshit. There’s one significant reason why Drumpf won and it’s the same reason that Brexit became a reality. White people over 35. This shit is on you.

There’s been a cultural war for the past 40 years, one that has determined public discourse on significant issues like race, religion, gender and equality. Former colonial powers and industrial powerhouses had societies that ostensibly evolved to become inclusive and conscionable. As a result, the governments of these countries implemented laws designed to protect the people who had historically been the disenfranchised, discriminated and downtrodden. But the fact is that the people who were not the beneficiaries of this new ‘kumbaya’ approach to governing were quietly seething about it. They were angry at being told their viewpoints were out of kilter with the new way of thinking and resentful that white masculine privilege – and the sympathisers of that image – were a source of ridicule and derision. Nobody likes having their belief system and ideas mocked and this bitter demographic were just waiting for an opportunity to make themselves heard. War doesn’t determine who’s right – it determines who’s left.

The consequences have manifested in repeated scenarios but most profoundly in the cases of Brexit and the recent ascension of Emperor Beaker (sorry Muppets fans). With Brexit, 64% of those young people who were registered did vote, rising to 65% among 25-to-39-year-olds and 66% among those aged between 40 and 54. It increased to 74% among the 55-to-64 age group and 90% for those aged 65 and over. 73% of 18-24 year olds voted to remain, 57% of those with a university degree did the same as did 81% of those still in full time education. And in the UK, as in the US, white voters chose for the change option and voted to leave by 53% to 47% whilst two thirds (67%) of those describing themselves as Asian voted to remain, as did three quarters (73%) of black voters. Meanwhile, Americans faced with the option of a pussy-grabber or someone who owned one voted in similar fashion. Over four out of five black voters (88%), supported Hillary, whilst 65% of Hispanic/Latino voters, the same number of Asian voters (65%) and 56% of other minorities did the same. However, whites voted by a margin of 58% to 37% for the sexist tin of Fanta. And staggeringly, 53% of white women voted for him – and only 51% of college educated white women voted for Hillary.

So what does all this mean? Perhaps nothing conclusive but clearly, white people as the majority voters hold sway. And they seem to have said they are tired of not being heard and having their concerns dismissed (Oh, and political correctness; they really don’t like that). But what are these concerns? In reality, they are pissed at having to adopt lifestyles that resemble those of the minorities who they lorded it over economically. In both the UK and US, lots of white working class families are now working two, sometimes three jobs just to put food on the table with no pay rise in years and this wasn’t something they signed up. The growth of minority middle classes in both countries and an increasing number of women in positions of influence serve as an affront to that sense of white masculine privilege. And the challenge to the white man’s special place in society is blamed on these people and of course immigrants. The fact is the white majority, when given the choice between two polar opposites opted to blow shit up and take their chances, rather than adhere to a status quo they feel ignores them. They know the demographics are changing in their countries and fear becoming the minorities that so many of them had at worst discriminated against and at best, condescendingly tolerated.

But there is hope. All the evidence both anecdotal and statistical indicates that the vast majority of millenials in both countries reject the politics of insular, divisive fear mongering (God love ‘em). They are out protesting in force and letting the powers that be know how unhappy they are. But white people need to step up and take responsibility for these situations but minorities can’t be blamed for perceived apathy or loyalty to systems that have consistently let them down. As the inimitable and hilarious Samantha Bee said on her program Full Frontal, how many times can black people be expected to build the country? It’s time now for progressives, liberals, the left wing or whatever they want to call themselves to stop bitching and trying to shut people up by accusing them of isms and prejudice just because they don’t live in cities and don’t give a shit about how much a tall macchiato costs. Listen to them so that you can debate with them, find solutions and stop being so ****ing elitist.

Damn. I wish there was a knob on the TV to turn up the intelligence. There's a knob called brightness, but it doesn't work.