I do not tend to post a lot about politics on Hive, but this is a momentous day. The United States of America has had a four year experiment in putting a mediocre businessman and reality show 'celebrity' in charge. I think it has been a disaster. I know a lot of people think politics is a broken system, but this was not the solution. I am speaking as a Brit who has not studied politics in great depth, but I care about the world we all share. The US presidency is one of the most powerful positions there is and it matters who holds it.
I have not seen many people writing about the election, but that will depend on who you follow. I did see this by 
I am still of the opinion that Trump did not really want to be president. He wanted the publicity of being a candidate to boost his media profile, but then things got out of control and he decided to get what he can from it anyway. He talked about 'draining the swamp', but then installed members of his family and business people in powerful positions. We may well see some of them run for office at some point.
He has a history of lying that puts most politicians in the shade and this has continued throughout his campaign and presidency. He will often make an outrageous statement and then say 'maybe it is or maybe not' to avoid any responsibility. As a prolific tweeter he has accused other presidents of not taking responsibility, but then he will not do it himself. Hypocrisy is another prominent trait.
It has been interesting to see how many of the people who worked for him in the White House have since turned against him. There has been a high turnover there. Even his own niece is a critic.
So why do so many people support him? It seems to be largely about what he can do for them. The religious right love him for supporting some of their causes despite not seeming much of a believer and having led a pretty 'sinful' life. As one of a wave of nationalists/populists he makes grand claims of simple solutions to difficult problems, but has been slow to deliver on some of those. In times of environmental threats, turmoil in the Middle East, the rise of China and dictators with nukes you need a smart, brave leader and not a so-called 'strongman' who is all bluster.
I am not saying Biden is the answer to all this, but I would hope he can try to heal some of the divisions Trump has created. The recent divisive politics have put a lot of people off it. I do not believe in blanket statements that all politicians are corrupt, nor all journalists. Trump has worked to sow distrust in the 'fake news media', apart from sources who favour him, although even Fox has criticised him at times.
It is not clear which way the election will go even though the polls favour Biden/Harris. The pollsters lost a lot of credibility last time, but I would expect they have been refining their methods. Trump has been preparing the ground for challenging the result by making false statements about the risks of voting fraud and stacking the Supreme Court in his favour. The result should be about votes and not legal challenges.
I have been following Thomas Miller on Twitter who makes forecasts based on betting markets. That is also favouring Biden/Harris, but Trump/Pence still have a chance.
https://twitter.com/virtualtout/status/1323501068760698880
- virtualtout
Nate Silver also has some interesting analysis. The turnout is going to be significantly higher than usual and that makes it harder to predict. The fact is that people have now seen what Trump is like as a president and not just what he said he would do. COVID-19 is likely to be a factor. His lack of empathy for those who have suffered is telling.
No doubt there will be surprises. Despite what Trump has said we should not expect a final result for some time. That is just how the system works. I just hope it does not result in violence.
Vote if you can for what you believe is right.