Friday 11th November

I have spoken before about our childish belief in Leaders; Emperors and Kings, Prime Ministers and Presidents.  As if wisdom resides solely in the brain of one person; that one person can possibly change the world on his own.  But Hilary’s message of inclusiveness failed at the last hurdle, ‘stronger together’ was beaten by ‘let’s make America great again’; a pointless slogan, but hey…they are Americans.

And now we must prepare for President Trump.  Let us all hope that all that rhetoric was mostly just that; and that wiser heads will prevail.  And remember that behind every Power is the Throne.  And I am using the throne as a literal metaphor for the reality and the shit of being human.  Every day that Donald Trump is in the well-appointed bathroom of the White House, as he wipes his arse he will be reminded that he is indeed only a human being – just like the rest of us, wiping our arses at the same time.

And even though he has a Republican Congress and Senate it will not be complete plain sailing.  I have learned that Politics is as much a struggle within parties as it is against other parties.  He is intensely disliked by many elected Republicans and his economic plans for big tax cuts may look appealing but Republicans dislike Deficits far more than Democrats do.  As for Foreign Policy; I suspect that the famous wall will be a long time in the planning, and if some sort of rapprochement with Russia is likely we must welcome that.  As for the Middle East – good luck with that quagmire Mr. Trump – it may be best policy to quietly exit the scene and let the rival factions get on with it.

So, though sorely disappointed that Hilary could not overcome prejudice and lies we must all hope that the latest elected king will be reminded that although he has the Power he must also sit, like all of us every day, on the throne.