The US primaries are over, and the contrasts between the two parties could not have been starker.

 

Trump believes he alone can fix America from the ills he see in every corner, from Mexican immigrants to terrorising Muslims and Chinese creditors. The whole of the Republican case for change is base

The US primaries are over, and the contrasts between the two parties could not have been starker.

 

Trump believes he alone can fix America from the ills he see in every corner, from Mexican immigrants to terrorising Muslims and Chinese creditors. The whole of the Republican case for change is based on fear and blame.  Fear of a dangerous world , which is rational enough, but Trump’s wildly varying messages of isolationism on the one hand and I’ll blast ISIS on the other smacks of a man who has little if any grasp of the complexity of foreign affairs.

 

Clinton and the Democrats looked and sounded more optimistic, more inclusive, and more savvy.  Despite the hullaballoo of the Democratic Party tampering with support for the primary candidates and the revelation that Secretary of State Clinton had taken some short cuts, the battery of the great and the good managed to push Mrs Clinton’s cause to unassailable heights.  She now seems unstoppable, or at least I hope she’s unstoppable.

 

I often ask myself what is it with American politics that makes it so vicious?  Even Saunders supporters seem hell bent on doing Hillary Clinton down because of the faux pas of the party machinery.  Yes someone may have been meddling where they should not, but that doesn’t negate the validity of Clinton’s candidacy.  Likewise the hoo-ha about the e-mails that were sent from her private server when she was Secretary of state, as the FBI guy said it was a mistake and a poor judgement call but in the great scheme of things it was a very busy lady making a small error with no real risk attached.

 

Take Trump University now there’s a crook deal if ever there was one – no one seems to mind that Trump lent his name to such a bogus and fraudulent enterprise.

 

The problem that continues to haunt Mrs Clinton is that she has given her life to her ambition and whilst she has been an undoubted servant of the American cause she has also been continuously in the public eye, she is now a very wealthy woman, she’s done well from her labours which most folk distrust from politicians, and frankly many folk have ‘Clinton fatigue’.

 

No one or thing is perfect when it comes to politics, especially democratic politics.  There’s a lot that could be better, a Joan of Arc figure fighting a messianic genius, but it’s not going to happen.  Hillary has her faults and has made her mistakes, she’s not perfect but she’s a survivor and a fighter who has always been a committed democrat. She’s bright and experienced and she values the ideals of a democratic society.  That’s not bad, in fact despite all the prejudice it’s pretty good.

 

As for Trump, don’t be afraid America, don’t listen to what’s wrong and the mean ways of putting it right. Be bold and vote for the promise of the future and vote for each other, in your great democratic land.

 

 

The US primaries are over, and the contrasts between the two parties could not have been starker.

 

Trump believes he alone can fix America from the ills he see in every corner, from Mexican immigrants to terrorising Muslims and Chinese creditors. The whole of the Republican case for change is based on fear and blame.  Fear of a dangerous world , which is rational enough, but Trump’s wildly varying messages of isolationism on the one hand and I’ll blast ISIS on the other smacks of a man who has little if any grasp of the complexity of foreign affairs.

 

Clinton and the Democrats looked and sounded more optimistic, more inclusive, and more savvy.  Despite the hullaballoo of the Democratic Party tampering with support for the primary candidates and the revelation that Secretary of State Clinton had taken some short cuts, the battery of the great and the good managed to push Mrs Clinton’s cause to unassailable heights.  She now seems unstoppable, or at least I hope she’s unstoppable.

 

I often ask myself what is it with American politics that makes it so vicious?  Even Saunders supporters seem hell bent on doing Hillary Clinton down because of the faux pas of the party machinery.  Yes someone may have been meddling where they should not, but that doesn’t negate the validity of Clinton’s candidacy.  Likewise the hoo-ha about the e-mails that were sent from her private server when she was Secretary of state, as the FBI guy said it was a mistake and a poor judgement call but in the great scheme of things it was a very busy lady making a small error with no real risk attached.

 

Take Trump University now there’s a crook deal if ever there was one – no one seems to mind that Trump lent his name to such a bogus and fraudulent enterprise.

 

The problem that continues to haunt Mrs Clinton is that she has given her life to her ambition and whilst she has been an undoubted servant of the American cause she has also been continuously in the public eye, she is now a very wealthy woman, she’s done well from her labours which most folk distrust from politicians, and frankly many folk have ‘Clinton fatigue’.

 

No one or thing is perfect when it comes to politics, especially democratic politics.  There’s a lot that could be better, a Joan of Arc figure fighting a messianic genius, but it’s not going to happen.  Hillary has her faults and has made her mistakes, she’s not perfect but she’s a survivor and a fighter who has always been a committed democrat. She’s bright and experienced and she values the ideals of a democratic society.  That’s not bad, in fact despite all the prejudice it’s pretty good.

 

As for Trump, don’t be afraid America, don’t listen to what’s wrong and the mean ways of putting it right. Be bold and vote for the promise of the future and vote for each other, in your great democratic land.

 

 

The US primaries are over, and the contrasts between the two parties could not have been starker.

 

Trump believes he alone can fix America from the ills he see in every corner, from Mexican immigrants to terrorising Muslims and Chinese creditors. The whole of the Republican case for change is based on fear and blame.  Fear of a dangerous world , which is rational enough, but Trump’s wildly varying messages of isolationism on the one hand and I’ll blast ISIS on the other smacks of a man who has little if any grasp of the complexity of foreign affairs.

 

Clinton and the Democrats looked and sounded more optimistic, more inclusive, and more savvy.  Despite the hullaballoo of the Democratic Party tampering with support for the primary candidates and the revelation that Secretary of State Clinton had taken some short cuts, the battery of the great and the good managed to push Mrs Clinton’s cause to unassailable heights.  She now seems unstoppable, or at least I hope she’s unstoppable.

 

I often ask myself what is it with American politics that makes it so vicious?  Even Saunders supporters seem hell bent on doing Hillary Clinton down because of the faux pas of the party machinery.  Yes someone may have been meddling where they should not, but that doesn’t negate the validity of Clinton’s candidacy.  Likewise the hoo-ha about the e-mails that were sent from her private server when she was Secretary of state, as the FBI guy said it was a mistake and a poor judgement call but in the great scheme of things it was a very busy lady making a small error with no real risk attached.

 

Take Trump University now there’s a crook deal if ever there was one – no one seems to mind that Trump lent his name to such a bogus and fraudulent enterprise.

 

The problem that continues to haunt Mrs Clinton is that she has given her life to her ambition and whilst she has been an undoubted servant of the American cause she has also been continuously in the public eye, she is now a very wealthy woman, she’s done well from her labours which most folk distrust from politicians, and frankly many folk have ‘Clinton fatigue’.

 

No one or thing is perfect when it comes to politics, especially democratic politics.  There’s a lot that could be better, a Joan of Arc figure fighting a messianic genius, but it’s not going to happen.  Hillary has her faults and has made her mistakes, she’s not perfect but she’s a survivor and a fighter who has always been a committed democrat. She’s bright and experienced and she values the ideals of a democratic society.  That’s not bad, in fact despite all the prejudice it’s pretty good.

 

As for Trump, don’t be afraid America, don’t listen to what’s wrong and the mean ways of putting it right. Be bold and vote for the promise of the future and vote for each other, in your great democratic land.

 

 

d on fear and blame.  Fear of a dangerous world , which is rational enough, but Trump’s wildly varying messages of isolationism on the one hand and I’ll blast ISIS on the other smacks of a man who has little if any grasp of the complexity of foreign affairs.

 

Clinton and the Democrats looked and sounded more optimistic, more inclusive, and more savvy.  Despite the hullaballoo of the Democratic Party tampering with support for the primary candidates and the revelation that Secretary of State Clinton had taken some short cuts, the battery of the great and the good managed to push Mrs Clinton’s cause to unassailable heights.  She now seems unstoppable, or at least I hope she’s unstoppable.

 

I often ask myself what is it with American politics that makes it so vicious?  Even Saunders supporters seem hell bent on doing Hillary Clinton down because of the faux pas of the party machinery.  Yes someone may have been meddling where they should not, but that doesn’t negate the validity of Clinton’s candidacy.  Likewise the hoo-ha about the e-mails that were sent from her private server when she was Secretary of state, as the FBI guy said it was a mistake and a poor judgement call but in the great scheme of things it was a very busy lady making a small error with no real risk attached.

 

Take Trump University now there’s a crook deal if ever there was one – no one seems to mind that Trump lent his name to such a bogus and fraudulent enterprise.

 

The problem that continues to haunt Mrs Clinton is that she has given her life to her ambition and whilst she has been an undoubted servant of the American cause she has also been continuously in the public eye, she is now a very wealthy woman, she’s done well from her labours which most folk distrust from politicians, and frankly many folk have ‘Clinton fatigue’.

 

No one or thing is perfect when it comes to politics, especially democratic politics.  There’s a lot that could be better, a Joan of Arc figure fighting a messianic genius, but it’s not going to happen.  Hillary has her faults and has made her mistakes, she’s not perfect but she’s a survivor and a fighter who has always been a committed democrat. She’s bright and experienced and she values the ideals of a democratic society.  That’s not bad, in fact despite all the prejudice it’s pretty good.

 

As for Trump, don’t be afraid America, don’t listen to what’s wrong and the mean ways of putting it right. Be bold and vote for the promise of the future and vote for each other, in your great democratic land.

 

 

It is easy to sneer at the things we don’t hold acceptable, and it is hard sometimes to stop the sneering at people who have the opposite view. I’m finding it hard not to, as the Republican Convention rolls on in Cleveland.

 

For centre ground democrats whether American, or any other nationality for that matter, the prospect of a Trump victory in the U.S. elections is unthinkable.  His rhetoric screams intolerance and bigotry yet he seems to strike a chord with millions of Americans. Question! Are all these Republicans equally intolerant and prejudiced as Trump? If so why? Is America building a society where bigotry and prejudice are becoming core values? Is selfishness and greed amongst the core values of the United States?

 

It seems that many ordinary Americans admire the brash billionaire for his no nonsense politically incorrect plain speaking.  ‘He speaks for us’. They say, but once more in the great tussle for the hearts and minds of the mass voters there is little understanding of what the message really is.  The assertions that Trump will build walls, exclude Muslims, annihilate ISIS, are viciously overstated, undeliverable so called pledges, which anyone with half a brain should not countenance, yet and yet, — many follow Trump.

 

I include below a brilliant piece from the Washington Post by Michael Gerson which expresses much better than ever I could the dangers of Trump and his followers

CLEVELAND — The notions that Donald Trump would make a typical presidential pivot, or that his divisive form of politics was merely a pose, lie dead on the convention floor in Cleveland. And it is now necessary to confront his unmasked contempt for American institutions.

Far from being confused or opportunistic, Trump has a consistent, well-developed view of the universe and his (prominent) place within it. The world is in chaos. Our country is being infiltrated by child-murdering illegal immigrants and a “massive flow” of disloyal, unscreened refugees. American communities are overwhelmed by violence, impoverished by unfair trade and betrayed by politicians who refuse to “put America first.” The institutions that are supposed to defend us are dominated by special interests and rigged by elites.

These claims are wrong, exaggerated or cherry-picked in nearly every respect. But the message resonates. A majority of Americans regard their country as being on the “wrong track,” and has for some time. Conservative media and “breaking news”-driven cable networks reinforce this sense of decline and crisis.

And our institutional challenges are not imaginary: A long-term, wage-earner recession (to which Republicans have offered little practical response). Educational mediocrity concentrated in high-poverty communities. Congressional dysfunction. A Supreme Court that seems overly political and outcome driven. Everyone can find some reason for disillusionment.

But there are two possible responses to such failures. The first is the institutionalist answer: To rebuild with existing materials. To reform, repair, reclaim and renew our patrimony. The second alternative is the promise of deliverance by a man on horseback — a single leader claiming to embody the interests of “the people.”

In Cleveland, Trump offered the second option with more forthright clarity than any politician in my lifetime. The speech contained almost no serious discussion of public policy or ideological argumentation. Instead, Trump said: “I am your voice.”  “I am not able to look the other way.” “I know the time for action has come.” “I will be your champion.” “I will fight for you, and I will win for you.”

As someone involved in GOP politics during a previous professional life, the moment was surreal, then emotional. A party with a distinguished history, generally led by men and women of public spirit and decency, has embraced a demagogue who may be a genuine threat to American democracy. Trump is cultivating a state of panic to increase public tolerance for political risk — in this case, the risk of a candidate who is untested, unprepared, unstable and unfit. And the requisite sense of emergency is being created by populating American nightmares with migrants, refugees and Muslims. Standing on the convention floor, I could see what the face of American authoritarianism might look like.

If Trump is elected president, he can justly claim a mandate to pursue the enemies of the people, foreign and domestic. If he tests the limits of executive power to punish rivals and intimidate opponents, he has hidden none of his intentions.

The Caesarian option — rolling the dice with a populist authoritarian, using democratic majorities to undermine democratic structures — is common in history. Any Latin American or African can tell you what strongmen or “big men” are like.

But Trump’s version of “Americanism” is not, in fact, very American. Our constitutional system was designed to make personal rule both impossible and unnecessary. The idea that political salvation might be found simply by replacing one leader at the top of government would have been regarded as perverse by the Founders. America has benefited from skilled leaders — a Lincoln or an FDR — at moments of genuine national crisis. But this is not such a time. And this is not such a leader.

Does institutionalism still have defenders in American public life? Certainly there are members of the Senate and House who would resist and balance the ambitions of a President Trump. But history has often shown that unscrupulous executive power can run circles around a divided legislature.

It is also hard for me to regard Hillary Clinton — whatever her other virtues — as the savior of institutional integrity. While she would be preferable, on this score, to Trump, she has her own history of disregard for the rules and procedures that govern other mortals.

However quixotic the attempt may currently seem, America needs a committed institutionalist in the presidential race. Those distinguished Americans who have taken a pass on running as a third-party candidate should watch Trump’s Cleveland speech once again, and weigh the very real risk to the republic. Bob Gates, are you taking phone calls?

(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group

I acknowledge the above copyright of the Washington Post Group*

 

 

Democracy, democracy, what a lark?

 

In the UK The Labour party, still the champion of the left, is tearing itself apart because of a democratic idea that one man one vote should determine who leads the parliamentary labour party. This might have sounded a good idea at the time.

 

However there is a contrary view which argues that the members of parliament are elected by millions of voters and it is those elected individuals who should choose their parliamentary party leader.

 

Most MP’s at least when they are first elected do so because of their ability to persuade the electorate that they are the best person to represent their views. Those elected MP’s represent not only those who voted for them but all their constituents irrespective of their party loyalties.

 

The UK electorate is by and large middle of the road with the classic divide of rural and urbanised classes.  Labour rule the industrial heart lands and the Tories the Shires and the services economic centres. There is a great cultural divide that effects the fringes of society, so as society moves from an industrial one to a knowledge based one, then there is a very slow shift from the left and right toward the centre ground.  Today the great mass of the electorate straddle the middle ground the centre left and centre right.

 

A small minority are marooned extreme left and extreme right.  They are very noisy from the UKIP right to the Momentum left.  These people are influencers, as shown by the great Brexit fiasco where another democratic experiment went seriously wrong for the governing party of the day.

 

It is now Momentum and extreme left affiliates who are dominating the struggle to keep Corbyn as leader of the labour party simply because these ‘extremists’ are motivated to buy a membership and buy the chance to vote.

 

Anyone with common sense must understand that neither extreme right nor extreme left will win British hearts and minds in a general election. If Corbyn is elected again and fails to gain the support of the parliamentary Labour party, then that will condemn Labour as we know it today into perpetual opposition.  Such a move will also effectively disenfranchise the ordinary labour voter.  Such a schism will almost certainly see the labour movement split into a Social Democratic party of the centre left and Marxist labour party of the extreme left.

 

The difference between the two, the moderate and the extreme is that the moderate understands the need to incentivise as well as to support. They see a dynamic society where aspiration and innovation has a place. The extreme left focus on social needs with an accent on the underprivileged, a focus on egalitarianism, social uniformity, and big government in everything from nationalisation to comprehensive education.

 

No one is saying that the sentiments of the far left are wrong, caring for each other in any context has to be right.  However many see the overbearing nanny state as something to avoid, and anyway hard left socialism doesn’t work. ( see: East Germany, Poland, etc)

 

In the USA, democracy has thrown up Donald Trump, I use the words advisedly.  Let’s hope democracy on both sides of the pond and from opposite spectrums, does not yield results that nobody wants

We mourn for the weeping people of France and abhor the despicable crimes of Nice and Paris.

Democracy it seems is not for everyone. The greatest threat to democracy is not violence but ignorance.

This assertion is in itself a difficult premise. For many who abhor the West and its self-satisfied democratic credo, see faith as superior to democracy. The snag is that many faiths deliver many tenets, from jihad to passivism. We teeter toward an ever more dangerous set of circumstances where violence and hate seem to be the common drivers. The Turkish coup has made even more perilous, the plight of the Turkish people and the already tinder like situation on the borders between Europe and the Middle East.

President Erdogan will undoubtedly use the failed coup as an excuse for crackdowns on the judiciary, freedom of the press and the idea of a secular government. It seems, if only superficially, that the majority of ordinary Turkish people agree with him and will happily allow him to govern as he pleases. Executions and persecution of the free press will become a daily occurrence in what was seen as a fledgling democracy. Turkey is a NATO member. For how much longer I wonder?

The USA the great bastion of Western democracy is descending into a violent race driven conflict which if allowed to rage unchecked will give fuel to an accelerated descent into mayhem. Donald Trump for President. Maybe? Surely not, but I wouldn’t bet against it happening.

The European scene is hardly brighter with most of the Brexit voters having no idea what they voted for. Or indeed in many cases what they voted against. Here is a single and outstanding failure of the democratic ideal. A large number of ignorant people voting for something they don’t understand and the Government of the day supporting the vote because ‘the people have spoken!’ At least they were allowed to speak, and they were allowed to speak without someone pointing a gun at them. They were allowed to speak even if they disagreed with their neighbour. They were allowed to speak even if they were ignorant.

They were allowed to speak because they have an unspoken faith in democracy, the freedom to say what they like, when they like, and to whom they like. (Incitement to hatred excepted.)

Now, if my faith is in a person who reinforces my religious beliefs then is democracy wrong? If I choose to follow him. Am I not allowed to follow my prophet who guided my forefathers? Even if I am ignorant of wider issues like my Brexit friends. Is this not democracy? These arguments lead us to hesitate before jumping to the conclusion of what is right and what is wrong.

However those who read this blog can give thanks that they have the unfettered right to do so.

Stymied! No government, no opposition, no plan.

It’s hard to believe that Cameron’s government have blundered into the referendum without planning for either possible eventuality. Beyond belief!

Now Cameron has walked away because he lost what he thought was a certain win and left the country in the lurch with no leadership at all. Very disappointing and indeed immature. How could he be so naïve? Whatever good he did as Prime Minister will now be forever lost as he will be remembered as the chancer who lost.

Brexit is now a fact and as I prophesied in my earlier blog, Nicola Sturgeon is on the rampage, the conservatives set for a contest between two untried ladies neither of whom has much experience outside their existing portfolios. Fortunately, for the Conservatives, the opposition is unelectable with Jeremy Corbyn and the left wing loonies unshakable in their delusion. The Liberal democrats hardly worthy of mention.

What the Europeans must think does not bear contemplation. We even have a foreign Secretary who felt that planning for an exit was not worth entertaining. Pathetic!

Cameron has a lot to answer for, not Brexit but his absolutely cowardly withdrawal as if all this was nothing to do with him. Who sponsored the referendum for heaven’s sake? His walking away and leaving a vacuum at this most crucial time is a shocking misjudgement which has really let the UK down.

Whoever wins the keys to Number 10 will inherit an unnecessarily weakened economy and the prospect of a General Election which will give rise to even more uncertainty.

Yes, we anticipated some short term problems on foreign exchange and unsettling arguments about future relationships, but we did not expect our leaders to fall apart and leave the country rudderless. Shame on them. The centre of British politics is now inevitably lurching right which aids and abets the extremes of racial conflict. Shame on us all.

Where is the collective good will and generosity of spirit that should frame the way forward with an optimistic drive for innovation and leadership? Where indeed? Thrown out with the bath water, let’s hope the new leader whoever it turns out to be , has the courage to pick up the ball and run it back to where Britain belongs – in the lead.