The lethal coronavirus threatening to take American lives and destroy one of the strongest economic periods in half a century is also reshaping our political landscape. The 2020 election is no longer simply a Democratic versus Republican squabble. The United States is standing at a pivotal point, faced with two starkly different ideologies about what is best for our nation. On one hand, we have the threat of globalism, unsustainable open trade, diminished national sovereignty, and reckless open border policies pushed by leftwing socialists. On the other, we have the choice of a restored domestic economy, America First trade policies, and a lawful immigration system offered by President Trump and the GOP.
The foreign coronavirus – exported from China into much of Europe and eventually the United States – underscores the urgency of President Trump’s rejection of globalism. For the early part of the 21st century, globalism was seen as a net positive goal for the world. It signaled cooperation and wealth-building. But we have seen international trade, foreign dependence, and reckless immigration policies weaken our economy and threaten our safety. President Trump’s victory in 2016 was largely a rejection of those globalist policies, bolstered by an American working class who had been left behind. Trump, unlike any other political figure in either party, called out the destructive elements of globalism early on, and has consistently gone head to head with globalists.
“We reject globalism and embrace the doctrine of patriotism”. That is the vision President Trump espoused back in 2018 at a U.N. general assembly. He followed that statement up with a promise to scale back foreign aid to countries that do not live by American values, reduce foreign “peacekeeping”, and restructure trade deals in our favor.
The results of President Trump’s rejection of globalist economic policies speak for themselves. Before the foreign coronavirus threatened the global economy this spring, Americans enjoyed a soaring economy, rock bottom unemployment, and a massive bull run in the stock market. In late 2019, unemployment fell to its lowest rate in 50 years, at just 3.5%. The share of Americans in poverty fell to the lowest level since 2001. This year, right before the virus become a global threat, the Dow made it’s highest close on record on Feb. 12, 2020.
And yet, pro-globalists in government and media are already attempting to capitalize on the coronavirus to push for more globalist policies to “solve” the issue while ignoring the fact that globalization allowed it to spread in the first place. Democratic frontrunner Joe Biden’s plan to solve coronavirus includes funding foreign projects with American tax dollars, and sending Americans into infected zones as part of ‘disaster response.’ Does Biden plan on enforcing immigration laws and ending sanctuary cities to protect Americans from unknown numbers of foreigners entering the country illegally? Not at all. Instead Biden promises that only felons will be deported in his first 100 days, leaving illegal aliens from entirely unknown regions of the globe free to roam the United States in a time of deep health and economic concerns.
In the mainstream there is a blatant, pro-globalist agenda threatening to undo the progress we’ve made since Trump took office. The good news? The tide is turning in Western Nations, and especially among the younger generation, against globalism. A 2019 World Economic Forum poll showed a stark divide between how Western and Eastern countries view globalism and economic mobility. Lower shares of Germans, Americans, Brits and French respondents held a positive view of globalism compared to Asian countries, and these groups also held less optimistic views about economic mobility under globalism.
What’s more, younger voters, particularly Generation Z, show an increasing preference for non-globalist government. A 2018 poll of young people found low support for globalism, and a preference for policies that put their own nation first. The survey of over 3000 young adults between the ages of 18 and 23 in G20 countries including the US, the UK, Canada, Germany, Japan, Mexico, and India, shows Generation Z is politically aware and economically conservative.
Throughout the survey, desires to address economic issues and focus nationally as opposed to globally, were evident:
- 51% of Gen Z’ers favor a nationalist approach to public policy, while only 32% favor a globalist approach.
- Gen Z prefers nationalism to globalism by a margin of 18%.
- In the United States, 52% of Gen Z prefers nationalism by a 24% margin. Better than 2 to 1!
Market Research Foundation’s own comprehensive polling of 1,500 young people between ages thirteen and twenty-three revealed striking America First anti-globalist sentiment on issues like border security, foreign policy, and economic issues.
- 82% of Generation Zers think if the United States spent as much time on economic problems at home as we do abroad, our country would be much better off.
- 73% of Generation Zers support an “America First” philosophy, where the primary goal of any law or policy must be to focus on the needs of Americans, even if they are not in line with the interests of foreign nations and allies.
- 70% of Generation Zers think the U.S. should stay out of international conflicts and only become involved when we are forced to.
On immigration policies, lawfulness and border security stood out as top concerns to young Americans. Over half of Generation Z supports ending sanctuary cities (53%) and increasing funding for ICE (52%).
The coronavirus will absolutely impact the entire country and the world. It is already exposing the unsustainable globalist trade policies and reckless open borders policies pushed by leftwing socialists. President Trump has made putting America First and protecting the borders the bedrock of his administration, upsetting the globalist path our nation was on. It is easy to let fear and uncertainty in the coming weeks bend our will to the globalist solutions, but this is not the rational move. This election will, more than any election in recent history, force the issue of failed globalist policies and rampant illegal immigration. Unlike several of our European counterparts we have an option to reject globalism and a President willing to fight for our citizens.
