Month: November 2016

Brexit Lunacy in the UK still in Play

 

Global economic markets have recovered, at least temporarily, from the shock of Donald Trump’s election victory. However, the Brexit madness in the UK is still in play. The British High Court offered some sanity by ruling that any triggering of Article 50 (to formally leave the EU) must be voted on by Parliament after debate and not just left to the PM, Theresa May.
Theresa May has appealed to the Supreme Court to overturn this ruling. However, it is quite likely that the Supreme Court will uphold the ruling of the High Court and the final decision will be left to the parliament.
In this case it would be wise for each MP to poll the opinions of his or her electorate. If the majority of voters in an electorate wish to remain in the EU then that MP should vote accordingly and likewise if the majority of voters in an electorate wish to leave then that MP should vote for the triggering of the article 50 and the leaving of the EU. In this way, voters who had initially supported the Brexit but now have changed their minds get a second chance.
The principles of democracy are still thus being followed but an unwise and short sighted referendum (that followed a largely negative and dishonest campaign) vote can be ignored.

The Brexit Trilogy – Anger trumps Common Sense

Firstly, there was the Brexit vote in June’s UK referendum and we have seen what a disaster that has been, even for most of those who voted for it. Then came the Columbian referendum, which refused a peace deal with the FARC. Those who voted against the peace deal were the ones least affected by the civil war in that country.
Finally we have the final playout in the trilogy; the election of Donald Trump as the next president of the USA. The anger against the political establishment is understandable as millions, in the USA and around the world, have been ignored and marginalised. Yet, these angry people in America seem to believe that a billionaire who is part of the economic establishment although not the political one, will somehow empathise with them and improve their lot. Not only that but they also believe he will be able to help them, despite a massive lack of experience in dealing with global politics.
The poor and dispossessed all too often fail to realise that in any economic showdown that promotes instability they are the ones who lose first. The wealthy and the elites are the last to suffer. So it is in the UK and so it will be in the USA. People, all too often forget the selfishness and greed that is endemic in human nature. Narcissistic and aggressive type A personalities tend to rise to the top. Every time one elite is wiped out another one emerges.
Getting back to Donald Trump. If he behaves like he promised he would during the election campaign we will have horrible world disasters. If in power he acts in a measured and reasonable way, as suggested by his gracious and conciliatory acceptance speech, then what he said during the campaign was simply populist bullshit. Either way those who voted for him have been deceived.
Hilary Clinton’s loss, although partly due to the US voters’ hostility towards political dynasties, is also largely her fault. If she had appointed Bernie Sanders as her Vice Presidential running mate she probably would have won the election.
It would seem that we are all in for a rocky ride. Is the apocalypse just one step closer?