Wednesday 15th February

In a strange way, it is not Donald Trump we should worry about so much as the people around him.  Michael Flynn, proven liar, has just departed – but there are others far more dangerous.  Trump is also lazy and not much bothered with details “just get on with it” is more his style.  Whereas Obama maybe was too considered, too careful and consulted widely; Trump makes decisions based on gut feelings, instinct, the belief that he is cleverer than everyone else, and why bother talking to advisors when you can Tweet in seconds.

And chief amongst those around him is Steve Bannon.  Not heard of him? That’s probably a bad thing.  He is Trump’s Chief Strategist, the man who whispers in the President’s ear, the fawner in chief and the director of Policy.  Until recently he ran a private ‘news’ service called Breitbart News; it was an unashamedly right-wing, homophobic and racist and sexist propaganda machine, not so much telling lies but completely inventing the news to suit his outlandish agenda.  And many Americans lapped it up; it was telling them exactly what they wanted to hear; Muslims were trying to take over the country, Hilary was a crook…etc, etc.

And he is a Christian.  Or, more exactly calls himself a Christian.  Americans are far more religious than most other nations, and in a strange unquestioning way; they tend to believe what they are told.  And one of their chief beliefs is ‘the Apocalypse’.  Selectively interpreting that most confusing of texts, the Book of Revelations, they are almost gleefully looking forward to the End of Time, when God in his infinite wisdom will destroy (or allow us to) the World.  And, here is the best bit, only true believers will be saved, taken up to Heaven and live happily ever after (just without all those Muslims and Jews and other Infidels).  And Bannon wants a war, not only to herald in the Apocalypse (and maybe not a complete one) but to re-establish America as the only Global Superpower.  In other words ‘Heaven here in the good old U.S. of A.’

Completely off the Richter scale of madness maybe….but he is in a position of great power, and he is the one pushing the agenda.

But don’t worry – all you have to do is become an Evangelical True Believer yourself and then, when the Apocalypse happens, you will be Saved….hahaha