Trump won by not patronising the electorate

Readers discuss why Trump won. Other topics: Bernie Sanders, UAE football and littering.

Readers discuss the reasons why Donald Trump won the US presidential election. Mike Segar / Reuters

With regard to articles such as James Zogby's Why I won't accept what just happened (November 13), I think it is ironic that political elites such as him intimate that the scare tactics of the Trump campaign are different from his incessant, year-after-year fearmongering about United States policy.

It’s also ironic that the election of Mr Trump is attributed to social media, as if that’s a bad thing. What I think Dr Zogby and his ilk are saying is that average Americans – and indeed the world writ large – are not intelligent or informed enough to choose leaders who best represent their ideals and aspirations without their esteemed and sage guidance, and that we somehow need the overeducated elite to keep us, as ignorant children, from hurting ourselves.

Actually this is precisely the opposite of the American experience. Trump tapped into concerns – not fears – of the lower-educated masses and the working class.

This election result is not just a referendum on one man but highlighted how tired Americans are of the “pat on the head” paternal rule of the supposed intellectual elites. Much to the chagrin of the intelligentsia, social media provided a level playing field for information and allowed citizens of the world to see for ourselves if our emperors are actually naked.

As is the custom in the US, over the next four years we’ll assess and evaluate the Trump administration. If found to be inadequate, the people will ensure he is a one-term president.

Stephen Suttles, Abu Dhabi

I was for Hillary. I accept the results for the love of my people and my country and to be a good citizen, a good Muslim and a representative abroad.

Name withheld by request

My simple advice to Dr Zogby is to accept it and move on – and the sooner the better.

The American people have spoken. The winds of change have blown down the career politicians in favour of business people.

Business runs business, not politicians.

Randall Mohammed, Dubai

I am from Alberta, Canada, where we have a communist provincial party in power and a socialist moron as prime minister.

I am very unhappy about both, but they won the election fair and square. I don’t like them, but I respect their office and pray they don’t do too many idiotic things to ruin my province and my country.

Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi

Were Bernie fans the difference?

After reading Hussein Ibish's opinion article (After Trump's win, opinion polls are meaningless, November 13), an important but overlooked issue could be that millions of Bernie Sanders supporters were disillusioned by the nomination process and felt cheated.

Rather than vote for Mrs Clinton or Mr Trump, they didn’t vote or voted for a fringe candidate.

The loss of 10 per cent of the Democratic voters – compared to the number that voted for Barack Obama – was more than enough to give Mr Trump the victory in key states.

Owen Neale, Abu Dhabi

Once unknown, but now home

Your story, How the UAE's football team finally managed to reach the lights of Rome November 10), invoked some fond memories.

As a teenager living in Britain in 1990, I had no idea the UAE existed. As someone who loves an underdog, I adopted them as my second team – and then later, it became my home.

Matthew Penney, Dubai

Time to enforce anti-litter laws

When is something going to be done about the disgusting amount of litter on the streets of Abu Dhabi?

My office is in the city centre and I am disgusted to see the amount and variety of waste that people just toss on the pavements with impunity. Many people seem to have a culture I call “freedom to litter”.

It might help if the authorities actually imposed the fines the law allows.

The National ran a story in January headlined UAE inspectors threaten strict penalties for those caught littering. Where is the action?

I have seen many people littering but I have never seen any of them being penalised. While it would not be feasible to flood Abu Dhabi with “litter police”, it might be possible to give the Mawaqif inspectors an additional role to impose on-the-spot fines.

Let’s try to stamp out the scourge of littering and keep the streets of Abu Dhabi clean.

Jeremy Weekes, Abu Dhabi