Donald's Dilemma

By SARAH CORBISHLEY '16
PTS Falconer Staff
Photo courtesy of Google Images

As the 2016 presidential election looms just around the corner, one candidate stands out from the ranks of his competitors. Even the most apolitical, technologically apathetic hermits are aware of Donald Trump’s clamorous campaign. Many have joined the bandwagon to support a candidate who “speaks his mind” despite his obvious obtuse and indecisive characteristics. Perhaps it is surprising that a “self-made” man can fail so greatly to recognize his faults, but this presidential frontrunner is restricted by his incapability to even attempt to rectify his learning gaps.

Trump has, in the short span of his campaign, secured the record for the most media coverage ever received by a single presidential candidate. On countless occasions, Donald Trump has exhibited his indefatigable tendency for incorrectness and blatant disregard for the guidelines of political rhetoric and discretion. He has entered the race to become the leader of the free world with no apparent plan to address any of the key issues that will largely determine the outcome. Unfortunately, Trump’s habit to misspeak and offend will not likely subside as the election proceeds. He lives under a delusion of grandeur and sagacity that gravely limits his credibility, and restricts his opportunity to achieve his goal of becoming the president of the United States.

After the overwhelming success of his career in business, many would suspect a man with such a background to have an air of sophistication or at least some knowledge of the societal expectations for a public figure, but Trump’s infantile conviction in the importance of free speech (without personal discretion) leaves those who witness the debacle that is his public speaking flabbergasted. He possesses the unique ability to offend entire nations and sexes with a single sentence, and regularly flip-flops on many of his public positions. On several occasions, he has given flippant statements demonstrating his ignorant and carefree approach to foreign affairs. He recently made the statement that he would learn the difference between Hamas and Hezbollah “when it is appropriate.” Clearly, this knowledge is not apropos to the campaign of one who hopes to become the figurehead of American foreign relations.

It should be obvious to every citizen following his campaign that it’s perfectly natural for a GOP presidential hopeful to lack even the vaguest outline of an initiative. After all, none of the other candidates have feasible plans either, right? Wrong. Trump, however, fails to see his own shortcomings. He is oppressed by his own ignorance of both domestic and foreign affairs, but fails to see a need to be briefed before spewing his every thought on international television.

Donald Trump is enslaved by his false sense of his own infallibility. His failure to acknowledge his shortcomings due to his elevated self-perceptions will indubitably result in a loss. To an outsider, the answer to his problem seems simple: Donald Trump should not be allowed to open his mouth until he has reflected for at least 30 seconds on the question at hand. Yet still, Trump is tied to his campaign promises of impulsivity and misinformation. Until he frees himself from his self-delusions, he will not be considered a serious candidate by many.