COLUMN | Chile, the United States, and National Identity

Now more than ever, Chile needs candidates who speak to that essence, who understand it, who put themselves in its place, and, most importantly, who respond to it considering its principles. Otherwise, the disconnection from politics will deepen.  

If anything was left by the election of Donald Trump this week, it is a reflection on national identity and how to embody those values. The woke agenda of Vice President Kamala Harris overlooked that deep middle-class American who seeks a leader who is firm, clear, and who creates the opportunities that will allow them to develop.

That American will choose the candidate who does not jeopardize democracy and freedom, and for many, Donald Trump, with all the labels that may come to mind, represented that: the leader who puts the United States first. Now, voters will have to judge whether he embodies those values or not. There lies the secret of the American system; the checks and balances are defined in such a way that the President can be judged and must be if they do not meet the standards.

The American electoral system, with its indirect election, seeks to balance the forces between large and small states, something that dates back to the time of independence when the colonies fought against an absolute monarchy and rebelled against such an accumulation of power. Therefore, whoever best masters the electoral calculator has a higher probability of winning. This was already demonstrated by Trump in his previous election. The difference this time is that he also won the popular vote.

The national identity constructed from what the Founding Fathers created gives meaning to the United States, and each of its citizens is very clear about this. Those original values are sacred, and anyone who goes against them will not have the support of the American people, of “Deep America,” those who are not close to the intellectual elites of the coasts or the Washington establishment, those who, day by day, build the state with their effort and contribute to its development.

This is a great lesson we should take in Chile, especially in light of an electoral process where we elect parliamentarians and a President. A resounding victory like that of the Republicans in the U.S. cannot be achieved without appealing to that essence, to that heart, in other words, to national identity. Now more than ever, Chile needs candidates who speak to that essence, who understand it, who put themselves in its place, and, most importantly, who respond to it considering its principles. Otherwise, the disconnection from politics will deepen.

There are many labels used to refer to Donald Trump; the characteristics of the person did not help to diminish them. However, he managed to position himself among Latino groups, where some even justified their vote by appealing to the fact that he took a bullet for America and that this election is about America, that is, about national identity.

In our case, the election is also for Chile, for its essence. One that we must be clear about and protect, one that cannot be forgotten amid agendas that do not consider its principles. Thus, the candidate who places Chile and its foundational values at the center, and who is willing to invest their political capital, will pave a path to La Moneda.