The divisive America of today longs for the time when the country united in one mission and selected a leader it could trust to accomplish the mission. The year is 1940 and the New York Times estimates that incumbent president, Franklin D. Roosevelt Jr. (FDR), a non-declared and drafted candidate for the Democratic Party (D) […]
In 1992, Francis Fukuyama published a book called The End of History and The Last Man. Fukuyama’s premise was that having ‘won’ the Cold War, American style liberal democracy and capitalism would be the perpetual and constant force guiding the world forever more. Alternative styles of geo-politics, government and economics were a thing of the past; a kind of erroneous trial process that had at long last reached the ‘correct’ conclusion.
Inauguration speeches are supposed to be about how perfect America is.
Inauguration speeches are also supposed to be about how American can be even more perfect under the leadership of the new President.
Inauguration speeches are supposed to be pompous, vague and full of platitudes.
I can remember a time, not so long ago, when the well-known figure, Donald Trump was remembered for frequent appearances on the US talk show circuit, endorsing various celebrity brands, selling pizza, mattresses, poor quality vodka, and his signature brand of steaks. I remember too when he hosted the Apprentice and made ‘you’re fired’ a household phrase.
Do away with elections? To even think such a thought is treasonous. An election, or should I say a presidential election, is one of the few occasions, or should I say the only occasion, on which we take a genuine interest in government. We are spectators at a sporting event, a mix of a bullfight, prizefight and a barroom brawl. We get into heated arguments about which team is “better” about who deserves to win, about which gladiator will be the best for the country. There is an uppercut, a right cross, a roundhouse and he or she (not too often) is down for the count. No, he is not out.
