^{By Joe Montero}

A huge lesson for Australia in Donald Trump’s election victory in the United States is that, like there, we have a growing frustrated and angry population. Living standards are dipping. This is particularly true for the younger demographic, which increasingly feels betrayed by the politicians and institutions. Buying a home is out of reach, and many can’t even get a proper job. They feel the political system has betrayed them.

Small business owners are going to the wall because customers can no longer afford to buy. They feel betrayed too. They see big corporations getting huge handouts while they are ignored. Meanwhile, the politicians are seen to actively work to pull down working conditions and keep wages down. These are lagging further and further behind the rising cost of living.

All this threatens to give way to a wave of discontent. Never before has there been such a gap between the seats in the parliament in Canberra and the states and territories, and the Australian population. Is it any wonder that there has already been a large shift away from the major parties? A much bigger rupture waits in the wings.

This is the type of scenario that gave rise to the coming of Donald Trump in the United States. The question is not if something similar will happen in Australia. It’s a matter of when. Over there, the political elite refused to listen. This particularly true of the Democrats, who have shown an amazing talent for living in their own word and denying the concerns of the populace. The Australian version of the political elite is doing the same thing.

Is it any wonder then that up to 20 percent of the Australian population regards Trump as a saviour and wishes we had someone like him here? The hook isa an embryonic understanding that political power is in the hands of a small group that uses it for its own interests and against the majority. The idea that this political power must be overthrown has immense appeal.

Donald Trump can play to this, and it’s only a matter of time before an equivalent to Trump merges in Australia and captures the mood for change. Those who charge that this is populism and a threat, would be more useful doing a little less name calling and trying to work out an alternative answer that captures the mood for change.

Much of the political left has so far failed to do this and consigns itself to being the champion of preserving the existing order. They argue that Trump like movements are a threat to democracy. In doing this they neglect the discontented, who have good reason to feel this way. Furthermore, the discontented are beginning to realise that we don’t really live in a democracy when the power in=s in the hands of only a few. These failures put the political left into disrepute.

Despite the difficulties, it is possible to come up with a genuine alternative. This needs vision, the dumping of petty squabbles, and a turning away from being defenders of the status quo in practice. It needs identifying strongly with the frustrated and angry, uniting with them, and taking up the cause to end the power of the small group that currently holds it in its hands.

This alternative must champion a collective type of democracy, where our shared and individual rights are protected and expanded. This is people power instead of authoritarianism. If this is neglected, the political left will help to pave the way for the wave of discontent to travel in the opposite direction.