There is also a great deal of ideological confusion among the electorate, hence the appeal of the Ross Perots and the Donald Trumps. Many people believe that political parties are the problem, that an outsider is the solution. The solution is a conservative who can come from outside or inside or from Mars as far as I'm concerned but he must hold true to conservatism.
Donald Trump is simply not conservative, he is an opportunist but he is an ideological and philosophical opportunist as well as an opportunist of personal ambition. He is not a deep thinker, he is ignorant of history, he is akin to any huckster, like Bill Clinton, who can read an audience and summon up the sociopathic skills necessary to persuade by pandering. Some of those emotional hot buttons about which he panders include issues with which you and I both agree such as our trade relations with China but about which I decline to be bamboozled.
Well yes, he is a sociopath. As are most, of the government/civilian “personalities.” Even, your own locals. Heck of a deal, now that social media has promoted that spiritual/mental illness to the deep and unending strata of selfishness. Hell is above ground.