While I'm waiting for a rodent to be killed violently I may as well write about the elephant in the room. I've been swearing off commenting on the USA's election via Facebook, but we're here so get used to it. Like many, I listened to the mainstream media and I'm now stunned that there will be a President Trump leading the free world. If his policies are to be believed the rest of the world may not have much to worry about as he's only really looking out for the USA.
If the modern political sphere is anything to go by, there will be a Trump administration for at least 8 years too. Yes his policies seem to go against every fibre of my being. Yes, he seems to have promised the world and is now trying to back pedal as much as possible. Yes, I posted the George Carlin quote, "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large numbers". Please world remember this, we've been here before.
As much as I hate to admit it, seemingly unpopular, right wing governments were the norm in Australia in the mid 90's through to 2007. I hated all that Jon Howard (ex PM) was and stood for. I campaigned for Mark Latham over JH! When someone from Australia steps back and takes a moment to ponder the reason why a person like Mr Trump is elected, it can defy belief. Then a person like me switches their stereotype headset on (even though the iPhone 7 has no headphone socket) and it does make some sense. Large numbers of previously employed, a majority Christian population, a majority of those Christians being quite conservative, the people who aspire to have excess, the people who consider themselves "self made men" like Trump is perceived to be (not the reality).
It didn't happen in Australia until successive unpopular governments were elected. This gave a particular politician (who we really only knew from his part on national breakfast TV) the opportunity to ride a wave of disgruntled right wing and highly hopeful lefty superhero status to the Lodge in Canberra. Ask most people in that cabinet how things worked between Kevin07 and 2010 and one word that comes up is "shambolic". It led to Kevin Rudd being removed before then end of his first term.
The portrayal of Mr Trump ( I hope) is only a portrayal of him if that makes sense. The Jon Howard I met in 2005 (toward the end of his empire, and having staved off many challenges from Peter Costello at the time) wasn't the angry man slapping the podium I thought he would be. He was quiet, charming, dunking scotch fingers and talking to people about cricket.
I hope anyone living in the USA knows that the elections there are portrayed in Australia as a caricatured pissing contest. More like kids vying for SRC (class president) than actual President (All the way with Stephanie K). All I can say for my friends (maybe friend) reading this in the USA is I hope the country's experience with President-elect Trump will be no worse than our Kevin07 experience. I hope the depiction of his persona is just that. That one day you'll speak to him in a community club somewhere and realise he's probably a perfectly nice guy (as long as you don't discuss politics).
I.M
No comments:
Post a Comment