IN her Democratic Party’s presidential nominee acceptance speech, Harris promises to “Make America Great Again” with hope and optimism. In contrast, Trump, bogged down by resentment and retribution, offers a rearview MAGA image of a country in decline, facing misery, crime and destitution. He is appealing to Christian voters by dividing America and taking it back to a 1642 Puritan-like age with Project 2025. Harris, advocating for unity, freedom and empowerment, emphasizes that women, who represent 51.1% of the U.S. population, are crucial in the 2024 election. She positions herself as a leader who will uphold the rule of law, accept election results and ensure a peaceful transfer of power, in contrast to Trump, who started the January 6th riot and continues to support those involved. Can Harris succeed in securing America’s positive future?
On the economy, Harris faces an uphill battle to fulfill her promise of lowering the costs of everyday items for average Americans. Trump has highlighted Biden-era price increases—gasoline (51%), electricity (32%), groceries (22%), rent (22%), eggs (47%), car insurance (54%) and K-12 food (66%)—as evidence of the broken ‘American Dream’ of upward mobility. To address these economic challenges, America may need to reverse the 1980 Reagan-Thatcher economic reforms, including mega tax cuts, privatization and deindustrialization.
Nationally, America is accumulating $1 trillion in debt every 100 days. Since budget balancing stopped in 1992, the total U.S. debt has reached $35 trillion, with $4.6 trillion in pension liabilities and $10.3 trillion due in debt rollover, alongside a $60 billion monthly deficit (Apollo Academy, February 3, 2024). The U.S. debt interest payment hit $1 trillion in 2023 (Visual Capitalist, April 16, 2024). Consumer debt is staggering, including $1.6 trillion in auto loans, $1.1 trillion in credit card debt, $17.3 trillion in house loans and $1.67 trillion in student loans. Average American households are paying $11,400 extra annually for the same standard of living (CBS). Additionally, 70% of young Americans cannot afford starter homes and 52% of young adults live with their parents (CNN). Women work two months for free due to a 15% pay gap (The Guardian, February 23, 2023). Single mothers earn about 56 cents for every dollar paid to fathers, violating the Equal Pay Act of 1963 (The 19th, August 7, 2024). Wages have stagnated for the last five decades and there has been a rise in child labor with eroded labour laws (The Guardian, October 20, 2023).
The high cost of privatized education is a root cause of the shortage of professional STEM workers, reliance on immigrants and threats to national security. Biden’s challenge includes spending $1.67 trillion effectively. To date, only 17% of $1.1 trillion allocated for climate, energy and infrastructure has been spent. Of the $54 billion set aside for the CHIPS and Science Act, only $700 million has been used and only $125 billion of $884 billion for infrastructure and pandemic relief has been spent. Furthermore, $525 billion in IRA tax breaks for EV, battery, solar and wind projects are still pending (Politico, May 8, 2024). Similarly, a senior UK Cabinet Minister has warned of more economic pain for the public, including pensioners and children. In his Tuesday speech, the Prime Minister accused Conservatives of leaving the country in “rubble and ruin” after over 14 years in power. The government discovered not just an economic black hole (£22 billion) but a societal black hole (The Guardian, August 25, 2024).
On foreign policy, Harris supports a robust defense of America’s essential role in the world. In contrast, Trump promises to end the Ukraine war within 24 hours of taking office and claims there would have been no Gaza war if he were in power. He wants to dismantle NATO to free funds for domestic spending and force Europe to finance its own defense. Bipartisan support for the Indo-Pacific policy aims to turn other states into strategic spearheads in the global south. Politically, Harris promises democracy in the 2024 U.S. presidential election, while Trump envisions a dictatorship with a one-party rule for 100 years (Trump has called to trash the Constitution, CNN). Republicans aim to win with electoral votes (12th Amendment), potentially reverting to the 1829 era when President Jackson won with the popular vote. Project 2025 envisions a presidency with unchecked power, reminiscent of the early 1800s, without bureaucracy and democratic checks and balances. Despite Trump distancing himself from Project 2025, its influence is evident.
—The writer is senior political analyst based in Islamabad.
