Will
President-elect Donald Trump and the Republican Congress that swept into power
make America great again? That certainly
will be up for debate but the question that really begs itself is this: Can we make publishing great again?
The
book industry will be significantly impacted by the new government and here’s
potentially why:
1.
If
the Republicans cut taxes on corporations and the wealthy, as they’re stated
they would, the short-term impact will be positive on two fronts: the economy will grow and more money can be
spent by publishers and consumers.
Additionally, unfortunately, there will be long-term problems as a
result a government taking in less tax revenue than it needs to pay for social
services, from education, library funding, and literacy programs to all kinds
of programs that help veterans, the elderly, and disabled. Publishers will not be able to sell as many
books to libraries with slashed budgets.
2.
The
Supreme Court awaits the appointment of a ninth and decisive judge. Trump is getting the pick President Obama was
supposed to make. Further, with two liberal justices aged 80 and 83, there’s a
fair chance Trump replace one or both of them in his first term. If he goes two
terms he permanently remakes the law of the land for the next three decades –
maybe more.
3.
Trump
has talked about wanting to crack down on the media. Who knows what policies
he’ll try to push forward or squash or deny as he oversees the FCC and other
communications agencies. He doesn’t appear
to talk up the First Amendment the way he does the Second. Could he be the first president to sue media
outlets? Not only does he have the
legitimate powers and influence of government, he has billions of dollars at
his disposal, to be used to threaten the voices of others.
4.
Certainly,
there will be an explosion of books coming about this historical election. So much change is feared and anticipated, and
there will be plenty of books taking sides and analyzing policies.
5.
Trump
doesn’t’ appear to be an intellectual who will reference books the way Obama
does, but he’s not unfamiliar to the publishing world. He’s penned several bestsellers and many
books have been written about him.
Though he’s more likely to host a BBQ for military generals than have a
campfire roundtable with poets, Trump very well could pen books not just
once he’s out of office, but while in it.
6.
Trump
is simplifying language in his public discourse. His sentences and vocabulary level are not
complex or sophisticated. He overuses
superlatives like amazing, tremendous, great, and wonderful. Lexicologists will have to stuff cotton in
their ears during his presidency.
7.
If
Trump tears up trade deals and makes us a more isolated nation, or if the dollar
rises under his office, or if he makes the cost to other countries of doing
business with us higher, then our exports of books could suffer. Overseas book sales are challenged under a
Trump presidency, but at the same time, a decline in imports may occur as well.
8.
If
the economy rises and real estate grows, more bookstores that can’t afford high
rents could see themselves struggling to survive. This would be a problem for any president,
but the costs, could be accelerated when the president suddenly wants to double
our economic growth.
9.
Authors
depend on accurate, complete, public records to research their
books. Would a Trump presidency not make
all informant available? Would he de-fund certain parts of the government tasked with calculating and recording such
data?
10.
If
a Trump presidency severely limits immigration – and if he makes good on his
mass deportation, promise – will this leave us as a smaller nation with fewer
book buyers?
Will
Trump continue to hog the media headlines and drown everything else out to the
point that books can’t be marketed and promoted like they used to be pushed, simply because authors can’t compete with the Twitter-in-Chief?
There’s
a lot of wild speculation, fueled by divisive campaigns and a surprise outcome, but all of these predictions and projections mean little. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold,
both for the country and the book publishing industry. Will we see more Art of The Deal or more Art
of the Impeachment? Will we see publishing made great again or
will books get tossed into our cultural fireplace?
I
think back to Lord of the Flies. There’s a part where Piggy has his glasses
broken. He can no longer see. He
represented intellect and common sense.
Have we lost our way – or does a new vision await us?
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