As we grow older we are expected to know stuff, to acquire something approaching wisdom through experience and observation. However, as I age bewilderment and disappointment far outweigh my wisdom. I’m disappointed in us. From the top to the bottom of society we act and argue like children forming gangs in the schoolyard led by the loudest and strongest bullies.
These Bullies take all forms from xenophobic politicians to the arms manufacturers and drug companies who successfully lobby and sway lily-livered administrators and distort truths to their own ends. War is good for business and opioid addicts are a goldmine. Leaders lie and people die — it’s an endless circle.
These truths are there for all to see. There are many others. Truths that would solve most of the problems on this planet if only we could address them together instead of remaining forever divided by bullies in whose interests it is to keep us divided.
Every despot in history has known how to cultivate and manipulate fears and prejudices to divide and conquer and that is exactly what Donald Trump is doing now.
But the harsh reality is that the fears and prejudices that he harnesses existed way before he was a blot on the landscape. He simply exploited them. His timing was perfect: Washington had been a farce for two Presidential terms. It was this self-serving, smug, entrenched, cocktail-swilling political corruption and intransigence that Trump offered to put end to when he promised to drain the swamp. He’s not one of them, he’s one of us his followers thought. He’s a successful businessman and reality show star they chorussed losing their grip of reality.
It shouldn’t matter to us Kiwis here at the edge of the world but it does. America is supposed to be the leader of the free world and I for one don’t like where it’s leading. On the other hand I was told quite forcefully recently that Trump is the only thing that stands between democracy and global communism. How can you argue against such intransigent conviction? It’s our intransigent convictions that have led us to where we are.
We all know that democracy is flawed in so far as two idiots can outvote a genius, but in end we get the leaders we want, or deserve.
If you think the world is in a mess don’t blame Trump He is not the cause merely the effect. We are to blame. It’s our ‘me, me, me’ attitudes. Our refusal to treat others with kindness and compassion. Our bloody-minded prejudices. Our determination to view any attempt to share wealth and create a fairer society as socialism and the first step to communism. Our selfish myopia.
When a tiny percentage of people have the vast bulk of the world’s wealth something is very wrong. Some of the world’s most respected billionaires are openly admitting this and seeking to redress it. Most admit that capitalism is broken or at least corrupted. Does that mean that socialism is the panacea? No. The answer lies with us. We need to stop arguing and start thinking clearly. To think ‘we’ and not ‘me’. To be more humane.
Try to employ a measure of empathy for all with a fair and empathetic point of view. Suppress your prejudices. Be open-minded. Understand that we are not all created equal. Some are just smarter, stronger and more able than others in every way. Some are born into privilege and some into situations devoid of even the basics like love, kindness, warmth and enough to eat. And in a world moving at something approaching light speed it’s inevitable that some get left behind or trampled in the rush.
Often our default position — especially when some homeless person is clearly high or drunk and abusing us loudly — is to use that as an excuse to attack welfare and various other well-intended measures designed to help the disadvantaged.
We can always find an excuse to attack or dismiss well intended initiatives when they have the potential to affect our privileged lives. Shock Jocks do this all the time. But Lord knows they have a receptive audience, most of whom would take issue with everything I’ve said.
Unless we start to vote on the basis of what is good for the planet and humankind in general we are doomed for a series of Trumps. Already populist leaders are raising their ugly heads around the world, plying fear and prejudice and giving validity to racism, religious prejudice and xenophobia in general.
The Hitler syndrome is in the ascendancy and we need to nip it in the bud. Now.
I say this often but let me say it again: Imagine a world where half of every country’s defence budget was spent the very real needs of people in their own countries and abroad. Within a very few years poverty, disease and hunger would be eliminated and people would not be forced to flee their homes in search of a better life.
Of course there will always be corrupt politicians and weapons manufacturers would lobby tirelessly and quite possibly fund, supply and encourage terrorist activity to keep us nervous. But if we refused to buy their bullshit, as Dwight Eisenhower urged us to, we, we might just get the leaders and world we deserve.
That’s what I think. Thank you for listening.
Very sound. I always say look at the policies not the person. I do not like personal attacks on any politician, I find it very childish.
Nice piece John. I have often wondered what the world would be like if our leaders actually made a point of trying to get along with each other. I would love to see an end to this “left” vs “right” nonsense, mindless ideology, fanatical nationalism, teams and gangs. It seems that, from a young age, we are all taught to be competitive, to be winners, to beat everyone. Maybe the problem starts right there.
Thanks Al. You at least get my point. I’m not sure where it all starts. Competition can be good. Winning at all costs not so much. In then end psychopaths and imbeciles hold sway — with the former exploiting the latter. Big subject. Far better to enjoy the garden and the music, Be well, mate.
Good article bro but just a little thin on your analysis on crony capitalism. Let’s remember poverty and inequality is good for business and Trump has rich Israeli backed cronies eg. Robert mercer whose main ambition in life is to reserve the money mandarins on Wall Street and in Tel Aviv…There is no cure for the ills of the earth as long a people like Trump keep being born ..ie rich racist philistines whose only concern is making money..the other Ill is low IQ anglos who are too stupid to know or care about morality or human decency ..and yes I mean the biggest danger to humanity are ignorant white religious fanatics mainly male who vote blindly for people like trump …thankfully China and India will prevail in the 21st C so that eastern morality and common sense politics will nullify the hate politics of the USA and the west…I can’t wait
Hi Dave, crony capitalism is one of the truths and a can of worms. The GFC and how they all walked free for instance. I hear what you say about what/who my ideals are up against. We are irrevocably divided and while we remain so the world is pretty much stuffed. That’s my whole point actually. Looking at the world from afar I think we’d have to agree that colonisation/borders and all that involves has not been good for humankind. Too late to turn back now and I’m so old what does it really matter? Time for this old dog to find sit in the shade and let the young pups fight it out. If only …
I enjoyed your read John, i always take the time to read your stuff fully, Your wisdom is Gold.
Thank you Frank. My wisdom might be gold but judging from the few who read this, it’s not popular. Such is life. John