US presidential race and democracy muddle through

Tomorrow, one of the most bizarre US presidential races will come to a conclusion. For the general American public, the result will not be satisfactory either way although the “people have spoken” cliche will once again mark the end of a tumultuous campaign period. Always hailed for its “sportsmanship” in politics, America has witnessed a campaign marred by unprecedented mudslinging and grave accusations, so much so that the loser cannot look people in the eye and declare that they have elected a proper and dignified winner.
Not much else can be said about Republican candidate Donald Trump that has not been said before. He practically called his Democrat rival Hillary Clinton a criminal, which will put him in all kinds of problems if he loses and tries to be a gracious loser. The same can be said about Clinton, who has thrown everything at Trump and will face the same dilemma in the unlikely event of defeat.
The presidential race is described by many as a model for democracy. “Primary” elections, in which the Republican and Democratic parties hold their own internal contests to select their best candidates to compete against each other for the presidency, are supposed to be the first, and tough, screening. When the parties’ candidates face off for the White House, the process is supposed to be an honourable home stretch that will give the country the best ruler available. This election seems to mock the “best screening” concept every step of the way.
Trump became the Republican candidate despite having high-profile detractors left and right. Either his party was too weak to prevent the rise of a man like him, or the American party system is weak as a whole and is open to debate. But arguments for and against US democracy are too late now. Trump bears the torch of what some have said is one of the world’s greatest political parties.
Clinton was cruising towards election day, thanks to staggering controversies besetting the Trump campaign almost on a daily basis, until very recently, when she faced a big scandal of her own. The email server scandal was not new, but her camp wrongly assumed that it would not rear its ugly head just a few days before the vote. When the FBI announced. “a further investigation into alleged secretive email use involving Hillary Clinton”, what looked like a stroll in the park became an extremely nervous final journey. Suddenly, the White House, which was within her reach a few days ago no longer appears so.
Every presidential race has left the candidates bruised. The key difference between then and now is that previous candidates were bruised because of punches exchanged, whereas the current rivals have lowered themselves to a virtual spitting contest. And charges hurled against each other in this campaign have been so serious it makes onlookers wonder if the American election is about genuine patriotism or just a childish game.
The biggest issue in this election is politicians’ trustworthiness. Statistics have shown a sizeable number of eligible voters having quite a low expectation regardless of the outcome. Hillary Clinton’s email scandal and the FBI investigation have amplified a sense of resignation that stemmed from Trump’s highly suspicious character and background.
The race will be wrapped up and the new president inaugurated. America’s democracy will muddle through. It may yet be able to last 
a long time, but the same prob-
ably can’t be said about political integrity.