On the Harris-Trump debate and the degradation of American politics

Tuesday’s debate between Harris and Trump revealed the reactionary character of the entire political system and both the candidates of the ruling class.

Trump and the Republican Party are seeking to build up the framework for an authoritarian regime, whatever happens in the election. This threat cannot be opposed, however, through support for the Democrats, a party of Wall Street and imperialism.

Trump used the debate to escalate his fascistic rhetoric, including repeating outrageous lies about Haitians eating pets in Ohio. Trump seeks to tap into inchoate rage and anger, directing it not against the real source of the catastrophic conditions confronting broad masses of workers, but at desperate immigrants and refugees. 

As the Socialist Equality Party’s candidate for president, I denounce and oppose the fascist campaign being whipped up against Haitian immigrants, many of whom work in auto plants and other industries side-by-side with native-born workers. Our campaign fights for the unity of workers of all races and nationalities, on the basis of our common class interests.

While cloaking his program in populist demagogy about defending jobs, Trump’s agenda is that of the most ruthless sections of the corporate and financial oligarchy: The removal of all regulations on corporate exploitation, massive cuts in social programs, and further tax cuts for the super-wealthy.

Trump is only able to gain a hearing due to the fact that Harris and the Democrats have absolutely nothing to put forward to deal with the social crisis and the conditions confronting the vast majority of the population.

The Democrats’ central priority is the escalation of war. This was again on display in the debate, with Harris pledging in her concluding remarks to ensure that the US has the “most lethal fighting force in the world.” She also redoubled her support for the genocide in Gaza: “I will always give Israel the ability to defend itself, in particular as it relates to Iran.”

Harris touted her support from sections of the Republican Party, including former vice president Dick Cheney, the architect of the Iraq war, and various military officials.

Harris emphasized her full support for the US-NATO war against Russia, which has been the central priority of the Biden administration. The first act of any future Harris administration will be a massive escalation of the war, which threatens to develop into a nuclear conflict. 

To speak of a “lesser evil” between the two parties is politically meaningless. They are two representatives of the corporate and financial oligarchy that is driving the entire world toward catastrophe. 

Everything is done to exclude any discussion of the real issues. The terms “inequality,” “capitalism” and “socialism” were not mentioned in the debate. Even though every poll shows broad dissatisfaction with both the Democrats and Republicans, all other candidates are excluded, including the Socialist Equality Party.

The broad mass of the population confronts an increasingly desperate social and economic crisis. Workers and young people are burdened by crushing levels of debt, exacerbated by soaring prices. The cost of housing makes it impossible to afford a home or rent. A report earlier this year from Harvard found that 22.4 million households spend more than 30 percent of their income on rent, with 12.1 million spending more than half.

Wages are stagnant, and corporations are engaging in the initial stages of mass layoffs. Here in Michigan, one month from today, Stellantis is scheduled to layoff over 2,000 workers at the Warren Truck Assembly plant. In the tech sectors, companies laid off more than 27,000 workers, while more than 136,000 tech workers have been laid off by 422 companies in 2024.

So long as the working class remains trapped within the confines of the existing political institutions and parties, however, there is no way forward. 

The urgent task, in the next eight weeks and beyond, is to build within the working class a socialist leadership, opposed to both capitalist parties, that articulates its interests. Only on this basis is it possible to undermine the forces of reaction.

In the 2024 elections, the Socialist Equality is fighting to build a political movement in the working class to fight for our interests in opposition to the candidates of the corporations and the rich, the Democrats and Republicans.

Vote Kishore and White for president and vice president! Join the SEP campaign and fight to build a socialist leadership in the working class!