Slight correction to previous blog Maintaining Equilibrium. Roger Steer’s European Newsletter appears in NHSmanagers.net and not Brave New Europe for whom he also writes articles. Sorry about mistake. His piece for August 2022 can be found at:
https://files.constantcontact.com/9bc520cb001/18ef9922-8407-4f7d-b863-f936c62ec963.pdf
As to my own ponderings, there is an unpleasant feeling in the pit of my stomach about the next few months through to the 9th November, when the results of the United States Midterm Elections of the 8th November will be known. Also, by that time, the United Kingdom’s Prime Minister will have been decided on the 5th September.
The double tragedy of a Liz Truss premiership and a United States Congress under the leadership of the current Republican Party, is a scenario out of the worst Stephen King fantasy horror show. I hardly know where to begin in putting into words what this catastrophic occurrence will mean. It seems, rather like a planetary alignment (an interesting astronomical event) a sort of political alignment is developing along far right principles across the globe. Putin, Lukashenko, Orban, Truss, Trump and so on round the world. Like a belt being tightened around the waist until it becomes impossible to breath in free air.
Do I exaggerate the consequences? Is my knee jerk liberal Londoner reaction getting the better of me? I do not know, hence my feeling of anxiety.
There are events which ease the mind, such as the World Athletics Championships in Oregon. The Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and women’s football Euro 2022 in the UK. The coming together of sports personalities, abled and disabled, who represent universal individual achievements coming together in peace, competing and unifying at the same time. It is clearly possible to co-exist in peace and harmony, whilst displaying individual skills of the highest kind, and praising each other’s efforts. It is all achieved under a global organisation that endorses a global code of conduct. It plays by the rules. It respects the rule of law.
Naturally, because it concerns fallible mortals, there has been the odd glitch; but, on the whole, it promotes free association and supports human rights, to be able to come together and display the extraordinary capabilities of human beings, both physical and mental.
Somehow, the United Nations, although a global organisation, fails to deliver the same kind of unity. The coming together of G7’s and G20’s equally fail to achieve the necessary agreements to promote co-existence, harmony and freedom. Is there some serious flaw in the political makeup of humans? So far as I can tell, most people want the same things: shelter, food, health, safety, education and employment they can enjoy or at the very least tolerate. Over and above the basics is the pursuit of happiness. Surely, how that is achieved and organised can happen in peace and harmony? On the current evidence, evidently not.
Just what is Mr Putin trying to achieve with his ludicrous and criminal war? Just what is Ms Truss trying to achieve with her illegal legislation, breach of international law and criminalising legitimate protest? Just what are Mr Trumps’s acolytes trying to achieve with repetitive refrains of stolen elections, America First mentality and shredding of the very basic protections of the Constitution? There is nothing in the overriding agenda of this kind of political thinking that is of any benefit to any society living under their rule. For them to claim otherwise is to fly in the face of reason. That there is an electorate that allows them to continue in this fashion, is beyond understanding.
The United States has been suffering from a barrage of Making America Great Again. The United Kingdom, in similar fashion, has been suffering from a barrage of Taking Back Control. The problem is, that the authors of these mantras have no real idea of what makes America Great or just what it is they seek to control. I realise of course that they know what makes America great for them, and to hell with others, and they know that they seek to control what is best for them and to hell with others, but that is just the point, others matter.
The MAGA campaign has only succeeded in unleashing a mob mentality and there seems little chance the mob can be dispersed. The taking back control has only succeeded in isolating the United Kingdom, dissociating it from the rest of the world, and there seems little chance of regaining its former position. I am sorry to feel that the small and narrow minded have taken over, and hence the feeling of nausea in the pit of my stomach.
So I ponder, weak and weary, over many curious occurrences round the world. I nod off, nearly napping, but not a soul comes rapping, tapping at my door. There is nothing to tell me nevermore, and so it goes on. I will continue to enjoy the Commonwealth Games, despite the Commonwealth disappearing. I will continue to eat and drink, breath in and out and take the pills, which reminds me, I must not forget to pick up my next prescription. As the sun rises there is also happiness to pursue.
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