November 07, 2024

Horse 3409 - ...And Now We're Forced To, Again.

Cue theme song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pl90ZByp4XY

Wheel of Democracy turn turn turn, what is the lesson that we must learn?¹ The lesson is that is that Donald Trump has been elected as the next President of the United States of America. Oceans rise; empires fall. I think that this is possibly how the world felt in 1933 after the mustachioed man came to power. Open Fascism as a technical term, which was promised in all but name by the presumptive president-elect, seems to be a viable and acceptable course of action to millions of people. 

With Republicans taking control of the Senate Majority in addition to the House and a generational majority on the Supreme Court, we can stop pretending that there is are any checks and balances to power at all. Domestically and with the Republicans in charge of all three rings in the circus of horrors (executive, legislative, judicial), it means that any and all progressive projects that they United States may have thought about, will be cancelled.  Get ready for "Jim Crow II: Electric Boogaloo" for fascism has arrived in America; wrapped in a flag and carrying a cross. 

America has decided that it wants a thirty-four times convicted felon and a rapist in charge; with unchecked power. Aided and abetted by a Republican Party which is nothing like the party which ended at the end of the Bush II Administration, we will finally see what happens when evil clowns get into power, they will laugh you into hell.

It speaks volumes about the character of the American people when two of the most qualified women in the country ran for President against an unqualified, openly racist game show host who had a history of committing fraud and sexual abuse and the country was still split 50-50. Furthermore, we should probably congratulate JD Vance on his ascendency to the Presidency in 2026; once Mr Trump has fulfilled his usefulness to the rich and powerful.

If there is anything to be learned from this is that people genuinely are willing to accept literally anything if it means that they have more money in their pocket. This is a natural consequence of human selfishness and it is something that students of sociology, political science, economics, and most religions already know; even if that promise is false.

As Donald Trump has become only the second person to serve two non-consecutive terms as President² and is elected to the office, there are some things which we can guarantee can and will happen due to executive orders by the end of January next year.

Firstly, as Mr Trump has already stated that he would end any and all aid to Ukraine in terms of any and all support with weapons, armaments, bullets, and funding, we can safely assume that this would happen before the end of January. I fully expect that if this is true, then Trump's promise to end the war in Ukraine would be fulfilled, by ending Ukraine's existential crisis. I do not know how long that Ukraine can hold out by itself as a stand alone nation but I can guarantee that without American backing, Mr Putin will be emboldened to want to roll tanks into the centre of Kyyv. I do not think that NATO would be able to mobilise very quickly; though they should start thinking about it by 10pm tomorrow night.

On that note, the second thing that Mr Trump has already stated that he would do, is try and end America's involvement in NATO. What is curious is that NATO was started in the wake of the Second World War, once it was determined that the Iron Curtain of Soviet influence should be draped over Eastern Europe. What the founders of NATO could have never have imagined is that when the Soviet Union fell to pieces from about 1989 and the various Eastern Bloc states all asserted their independence, is that Russia itself would basically shift very dramatically across the top of the political compass from top-left to top-right. The same people ended up being in charge but instead of being in charge of a leftist system, they are now in charge of a hyper-rightist system, where Syndicates replaced Soviets.

Also on that note, we can basically assume that the flag waving types in Washington, will also rally behind Benny from Cheltenham. Benny from Cheltenham would like to buy more smart bombs to equip its home-brew F35 air force and unlike Australia who is condemned to pay loyalty and fealty to big brother, Israel has very successfully convinced the religious right (who are prepared to accept a felon and a rapist as President) to fund their exploits. Admittedly not very much changes on the ground if you are an innocent Palestinian, you might want to start getting prepared to meet your maker much more quickly than you would wish to.

As far as Australia is concerned, we must be very careful in future when dealing with the new administration. We must assume that AUKUS is worthless and even the idea that we're ever going to see any of the submarines which we've signed up to pay $368bn for. That money is as good as burned. From a foreign policy standpoint, the two options for Australia are for the Albanese Government to retain Joe Hockey or to  appoint either Scott Morrison or Tony Abbott as Ambassador to the United States in the hope of buddying up to the new administration, or to follow New Zealand and run away from the nuclear armed bear. Do not poke the bear.

The result of this election, which might very well be the last for quite some time, is like someone stepping out of the shower and deciding to put their soiled underpants back on. 

¹ - Today's Lesson is: don't duck tape your head to the side of a tractor

² - the first being your loveable pal, Grover (Cleveland). 

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