By: Frank Shannon

Last November I wrote about the conflict of visions that created fissures in both political parties – Nationalism and Globalization. Recent events call for a re-visitation of this subject.

America is under constant attack from foreign and domestic enemies. The various crises and protests all attack Americans and our traditional values. Trump is running a nationalist, populist campaign against the Republican establishment and Hillary, both of whom support the Globalist agenda of the past several decades. Time will tell where all of this will lead but if the past months are an indication, these attacks and protests have improved Trump’s standing with the voters.

Recently, he gave a speech in San Jose, just prior to the California primary. His speech was very inspiring to the attendees, invoking a strong patriotic feeling in the crowd. As his supporters left, they were attacked by protesters, some were injured, and blood was drawn. The protesters burned an American flag and were waving Mexican flags. The protesters were yelling F… Trump as his supporters tried to get onto the light rail system to get home.

This played right into the Trump campaign narrative: we need to secure our borders and remove illegal alien thugs. It also fuels the America First sentiments of his campaign.

Also aiding Trump are the minimum wage hike protesters. When these folks protest, it reminds us that declining wages and scarcity of middle class jobs need attention. Again, this plays right into the Trump narrative that we need to stop illegal immigration and that Globalization has pushed high wage workers down the economic ladder. Now we are to believe that entry level work must provide “a living wage.” Trump’s response is that there should be no increase to minimum wages at the national level and this should be left up to the states with widely varied economies and needs.

These protests also serve to strengthen Trump’s hand by reminding us that the middle class has been gutted by bad trade deals and Trump’s real solutions are resonating with voters. Again, this plays right into his campaign theme.

The only way to improve Trump’s situation is to have multinational CEO’s China, Germany, Korea and/or Japan protest Trump’s trade policies.

This reminds us that Trump, replacing multi-lateral agreements with bi-lateral agreements, would balance trade and destroy the gravy train these trading partners have enjoyed for decades and now expect. This would stoke more anger toward Globalism and feed the nationalist fervor sweeping the nation.

On June 12th, we suffered Islamic terrorism in Orlando in a gay bar. This highlights the Obama administration’s feckless response to these attacks. Now a Phoenix based LGBT group has said enough is enough and is endorsing Donald Trump. Social media “lit up” the following day from the LGBT community. Here are a couple of postings:

I’m American. I’m gay. I used to think Donald Trump was full of s…. Today everything changed. My friend was one of the victims in Orlando. I’ve never been more ready for Trump to take office.

I’m shaken. I’m a mess. I’m broken. But I’ve never been more determined for a leader to actually take charge and make a change. How do I get started? How do I help Trump lead us into a safer country?

As the anger grows over these issues, Trump is strengthened. As Trump gains strength, the anger increases, etc. etc.

These protests and attacks stoke traditional American sentiment and play into Trump’s narrative of America First. And, they are antithetical to Hillary’s Globalist View. The bad news for Hillary is the only way for these radicals to stop helping elect Trump is for them to sit down and shut up.

Not likely!!!

Frank Shannon served in the U.S. Army, was an engineering/operations manager for AT&T for 27 years, was the owner of a small Colorado manufacturing business for 23 years, served as Colorado Chair of the Coalition for a Prosperous America and moved to Mesquite in 2013.