Trump is unfit so make way for Hillary

DONALD Trump was slaughtered by Hillary Clinton in the first of the US presidential debates, but in a world where more and more voters feel disenfranchised by a self-seeking establishment it would be premature to write his obituary.

This became apparent to me during the EU referendum, after spending a couple of weeks talking to people on the streets of my home town, Merthyr Tydfil.

It was clear we had sound points to make for continued membership of the EU. The infrastructure of the town had been transformed with the aid of EU grants, bringing with it much-needed jobs. The evidence of this was all around for everyone to see, but in spite of this many were determined to look for another way, and so it turned out with a majority in this constituency voting to leave.

It appears a similar mood is setting in on the European Continent, reinforced by our Brexit vote, with the rise of extreme right-wing nationalist parties in Austria, France and even Germany, threatening and challenging the political status quo.

In America too, Donald Trump is being swept along on a wave of popular discontent, with soundbites that resonate with the voters. His poll ratings remain solid, even after the most outlandish statements which would have torpedoed the hopes of any other candidates.

During the American debate his crass statements continued. On being reminded of what he said earlier, in that he had looked forward to the 2008 financial crash, in which eight million Americans lost their homes, because it would help him buy property cheaply, he retorted, “that’s business, by the way”. And again, when challenged about avoiding paying any federal taxes, he observed “that makes me smart”.

But change is afoot, and if the British Brexit vote is anything to go by, then anything is possible, even for a candidate with so little grasp of the subject matter, often meandering when answering questions, setting out to amuse viewers with jests and grimaces.

One can only hope that the final two presidential debates will prove to the American people that above all, Trump is unfit to have his fingers anywhere near the nuclear button and that Hillary Clinton will be the one giving the inaugural presidential address outside the White House next January. J L Stanfield, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfi