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Why I’m optimistic about Trump

US president-elect Donald Trump

I’m a Donald Trump optimist. Like the many who don’t support him, I am alarmed that he won. But I don’t believe he will be as bad as the worst fears. It’s a very modest definition of optimism, but I think it’s the best liberals can come up with.

The worst fears are widespread, serious, and may yet prove to be well founded. Still, my main reason for “optimism” is America’s tradition of liberty, its ineradicable pluralism - and (to sound a populist note) the American people.

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