Other Politics

“Trade wars are good, and easy to win” – President Donald Trump, by tweet, 5:50 a.m. ET, March 2, 2018.

Excuse me, but Donald Trump is a fool – a blithering, dangerous fool.

This is the 21st century. Trade wars are never good. In today’s interdependent world, they may be impossible for any nation to win, even the United States, which is no longer the economic colossus that Trump, stuck in an isolationist time warp, believes it is.

Social media is a faithless lover, as Justin Trudeau learned to his pain in India last week.

From the moment he was elected in October 2015, the prime minister was the darling of the web. With a few churlish (and generally right-wing) exceptions, social media loved him. He was so handsome, so virile, so articulate, so caring and compassionate – so unlike Donald Trump. He was stylish, and cool. Did you see his tattoo? Just look at his darling socks! What colour will he wear tomorrow?

Many of the globe’s big shooters in government, business, the arts and media will assemble in Davos, Switzerland Tuesday for the start of the annual four-day World Economic Forum.

The political landscape they will review has changed dramatically since they gathered a year ago, due primarily to one leader who may or may not show up. That’s U.S. President Donald Trump whose attendance, as of this writing, was contingent on the absurd government shutdown drama being staged once again in Washington – the 19th shutdown “crisis” since 1976.

Even political junkies must agree: it’s time to slow down. From mainstream media to the insatiable demands of cable TV and social media, the news cycle has gone out of control in the age of Trump. Before the public has a chance to absorb one event, disaster or outrage, another wave of information (or disinformation) sweeps over us.

“Actually, throughout my life, my two greatest assets have been mental stability and being, like, really smart. ...I went from VERY successful businessman, to top T.V. Star to President of the United States (on my first try). I think that would qualify as not smart, but genius....and a very stable genius at that!”

Who would have believed it?