This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Today's presidential election cycle is exposing existing cultural and economic fault lines across the political landscape of America. These fault lines are purposely being fractured by reckless rhetoric of presidential candidates. If the fault lines are not accounted for and constructively addressed, they could open the nation up to grave consequences. Ignoring them may further factionalize the nation politically, culturally and ethnically. Wise leaders have never been more needed to reassure and reunite the nation.
A growing number of Americans feel so economically and culturally disenfranchised and so distressed about their future, they are increasingly supporting candidates that in past elections might be considered fringe candidates — too extreme in tone, in temperament and in their policy positions. These candidates have tapped into the fear and frustration of Americans and are exploiting them for their political fortunes. To the shock of many, the more extreme and defiant the rhetoric from these candidates, the more the number of their supporters seems to expand.
Increasing numbers of Americans are supporting candidates that are promoting ethno-nationalism. These candidates are peddling an "us against them" message designed to appeal to the anxiety of the citizenry over losing the nation to "foreign invaders" who have been identified as immigrants and terrorists. Their message is not only successfully appealing to the fears of the public, it is a message designed to twist those fears into anger to expand and mobilize support.
These candidates are provoking political passions they will not be able to control and that will not go away with the elections. The unleashed passions will not be calmed, but will instead incite discontent throughout the nation. Pirating provocateurs lie in wait to further exploit the discontent by combining and conspiring for their causes soon after the presidential candidates eventually pivot away from their feigned, fiery rhetoric that irresponsibly inflamed the passions of the people in the first place.
It will not be enough to order the distressed to calm down and stand down. Declining trust in the government and other social institutions will inevitably result in intensified factional conflicts that will tragically turn America in on itself. Without inspired and visionary political, educational and religious leaders to compensate for what is happening politically today, the public will be overwhelmed by more fear and distrust. The disgrace caused by these candidates is an embarrassment in the eyes of the world and diminishes all of America.
The very candidates that claim they want to "make America great again" are actually making it small, bitter and angry. They are fomenting hate and turning Americans against each other. They are appealing to the very worst in us. Instead of calling on "the angels of our better natures" and rallying us to unify our nation, they are poisoning the body politic to advance their tabloid tactics. We have seen these philistine politicians rise up before in our history. Nothing great has ever come from them and most certainly nothing good will happen because of them.
What America needs to be great again are leaders who will unite us and call upon the very best in us. What America needs are presidential candidates who will push through the pettifogging circus atmosphere of this election cycle and courageously promulgate an inspiring vision for the future—a vision that will replace fear and anger with faith and aspiration; a vision that will guide the way to peace and security; a vision that will provide prosperity for all, especially those who have the least; and a vision that will galvanize the goodness in America—the goodness necessary to truly "make America great again."
Stuart C. Reid is a former Utah state senator from Ogden.