I'm not a supporter. But I can't quite rid myself of the suspicion that Donald Trump is a cleverer man than his detractors allow.
So what seems to be happening is, Donald Trump is inviting all his prominent enemies in the Republican Party to trek out to his golf club and meet him, on the promise of a job. It is in the nature of such meetings that those enemies have to come out afterwards and tell the media what a worthwhile discussion they've just had. Some of them might get jobs. Some won't. But all of them will have had to say nice things about the President-Elect.
I'm not a supporter. But I can't quite rid myself of the suspicion that Donald Trump is a cleverer man than his detractors allow. Looking at both the US election and the revived Brexit debate in the UK, the question is not: who wins? but: how did we get here?
The outlook for both countries might look short-term negative, but I'd argue that it's likely to be long-term positive. In the UK, we're now discussing the Royal Prerogative, which I suppose still merits capitals. The vote on 23rd June has disrupted everything - disruption can be real, eh? - in such a way that absolutely everything is up for debate. Not to go back over it all, but political parties collapsing, constituent nations of the UK voting in opposite directions ... when the dust settles, everything will have been aired, so to speak. The debate in the UK could just about be framed as being between the establishment and the underprivileged, assuming both terms can be used very loosely here. But the more important points are, first, that the debate is happening at all, and secondly, that it's going so deep. And that a lot of hitherto unchallenged assumptions don't seem to be holding up too well under scrutiny. See also Robert Shrimsley's article 'Life as a victim of democracy' in today's Weekend FT magazine. But again - the rare thing is that there is scrutiny at all. This may be a bigger shift than we realise. In the US, there is an individual we are obliged to accept as the candidate of the Republican Party, and an individual ... ditto ... of the Democratic Party. Back in 2009, newly in office, Barack Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The new president's rhetoric about hope was new back then, and capable of inspiring even the Swedish establishment. Regardless of who wins the current election, it seems a fair bet that the 2017 Nobel Peace prize will not be awarded to a US president. I think Trump might win. Then what? |
What happens hereThis site is updated weekly, usually on a Friday although I might change that (again). I write it because (1) I like writing it and (2) I like having a deadline. More often than not, it works out as a commentary on the week just passed*.
There are no ads, no pop-ups and no tricky business with cookies. I don't take money for my own opinions. [Except when they come out in book form.] I write this for myself, without a set agenda, on any subject that catches my attention. If you're interested enough, it's not hard to work out my interests. Not impossible, anyway. *Although I seem to have gone away from that recently. Normal service may or may not be resumed. No data is kept on this website overnight. Blog posts are usually shared to my Facebook page. We can discuss them there if you feel so inclined.
Where are we now? We're hurtling round the sun, held to the ground by a weak force that we don’t begin to understand, arguing about trade deals between the land masses on a planet mostly covered by water.
The dolphins must think us ridiculous. No wonder they only come to the shallow water to play with us, not to signal their most complex philosophies. More. Riddle. It takes two to make me, but when I'm made, I'm only a memory. What am I? Scroll down to find out.
Is that a catastrophe I see before me? Could be. There was a clear sky earlier, but now clouds are encroaching from the North. We could be in for a storm. More.
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Welcome. Thank you for coming. But am I the right William Essex? Click here to meet some more. Read My Shorts?
Here is yet another page of old blog posts and other writings. Sorry, but I need my metaphorical sock drawer for metaphorical socks. The link to the page is right at the end of the paragraph here.
Roads without end
Here is a passage from a review of the book The Road to Somewhere by David Goodhart. I haven't read the book (yet), but the collected reviews would make a worthwhile set of political arguments in their own right. More.
State of the Union
Several commentators today saying that they've lost confidence in the US. Making their point by talking up the glories of the past. After two weeks of this administration, they're not going back.
Were they wrong, and they've seen the light? Or has the US changed? I guess the latter is the intended meaning. But we should at least acknowledge the possibility... More. Categories
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