Which Is Worse?

I am not American. I have never lived in the US. In the past two decades I've probably spent a combined total of 48 hours there, mainly inside airports.

And yet…

The American presidential election — this American presidential election — is happening on the world stage. It affects us all.

Over the past few days and weeks, I've been growing more and more frightened about this election. I genuinely don't know which outcome is worse. No, I don't mean I can't tell whether a tax-dodging, misogynist, fraud-committing, xenophobic, narcissistic, fascist, homophobic, vain, racist, vengeful, angry, hateful, paedo-rapist cult leader is better or worse than a competent woman who happens to be a bit stern-looking. I'm not a moron.


What I mean is, which is worse:
Donald Trump wins the election and single-handedly sets about destroying the country and the planet?
or
Donald Trump loses the election and his rabid hordes of supporters run riot — raping, pillaging, burning, and murdering everyone and everything in the country?

Genuinely, I do not know.

I know the election will be closer than it ought to be. I know Trump has more supporters than he has any right to. I know the left hates Hillary and many will abstain rather than vote for a candidate who is further right than they would wish. I know many on the right can't bring themselves to vote for a candidate from the "wrong" party and so will abstain. I know many people have bought into the line that she's corrupt and untrustworthy (in spite of all evidence to the contrary) and so will either abstain or vote for the Orange Hitler. I know that many people are frustrated and alienated by the current political establishment and will "protest vote" — much as a similar set of people did here in the UK a few months ago.

I'm terrified for this world and everyone in it.