Politicians and democracy

The American lawyer was very clear about the strategy he employed during a trial. “When the facts are against you,” he said, “you argue the law. When the law is against you, you argue the facts. And when both the facts and the law are against you, well, hey, you just argue.” We were in his office in San Francisco and he was talking of the advice he had been given in law school, advice which had propelled him to a very lucrative career as a personal injuries lawyer.

Right now the “you just argue” strategy works far beyond courts of law. It is the key strategy which signals that a politician is in deep trouble. Politicians claim to seek power to enable them to solve difficult problems in the public interest. But when they realise they cannot do the hard work of government they are often tempted to make up phoney problems which they then pretend to “solve.”

Obviously, these are tough times for leaders. The problems in the real world — income and wealth inequality, terrorism, migration, climate change — are chronic and extremely difficult to fix. The result is that desperate leaders manufacture problems which can be “solved” before most citizens have woken up to the idea that the “problem” even exists.

Recent years have seen North Korea display increasing strength in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development, while Kim makes provocative statements threatening to attack his enemies. In November, North Korea claimed it had the capability to attack any part of the US mainland. The UN Security Council has voted to ratchet up sanctions in response to the continued development of North Korea's nuclear program. Last month, the US conducted another round of military exercises with South Korea, which Kim called for South Korea to end in his New Year's statement.

But Kim's call for talks between the two countries at the beginning of the year struck many observers as noteworthy, and South Korean leadership has been receptive to Kim's potential openness to dialogue. The spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in said South Korea also hoped for a resolution between the two countries.

Moon said he would look to restore communication between the South and the isolated North, and that he welcomed North Korea participating in the Winter Olympic Games, which South Korea is hosting next month.

Although there hasn't been any evidence that points to direct collusion between Trump and Russians, there is no denying that the Russians interfered in the presidential election. Still, the President continues to do just that -- despite evidence of Russian meddling. As PolitiFact pointed out, "Trump could acknowledge the interference happened while still standing by the legitimacy of his election and his presidency -- but he declines to do so. Sometimes he'll state firmly there was "no collusion" between his campaign and Russia, an implicit admission that Russia did act in some capacity. Then he reverts back to denying the interference even happened."

I wish Trump would give a speech accepting this award. I could see him thanking himself for being one the greatest fabricators ever. Trump would then slam the "haters and losers" and of course those in the "fake news" who doubted he would ever win such an honor.

But simply recognizing Trump for this one lie is unfair to all the others he told in 2017. So let's take a quick stroll down Trump "Pants on Fire" lane, courtesy of PolitiFact, to look back at some of the other tall tales he gave us.

Take the “problem” of Christmas. Donald Trump has “solved” this “problem.” You see, American citizens dared not wish each other a Merry Christmas. Or, as  Trump put it: “People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!.” Having solved the Merry Christmas problem,  Trump no doubt will turn his mind to solving the problem of the America-wide ban on saying “Happy New Year” and “Happy Birthday”.

Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, the real world threats from North Korea’s nuclear weapons, mass shootings, stagnant living standards, racism, political corruption and his own profound personal unpopularity might eventually appear on  Trump’s radar. Until then, solving the “Merry Christmas” scandal has Made America Greet Again. Even if — and here are some boring facts — in all the years I lived in the United States, people said Merry Christmas to each other without fear. Barack Obama was a serial Merry Christmas wisher. So was George W. Bush. And those terrible liberals, Bill and Hillary Clinton, even hosted Christmas events at the White House during which Merry Christmas greetings were repeatedly exchanged. Bill Clinton was later impeached, although his “high crimes and misdemeanours” did not include failure to mention Christmas. Britain begins 2018 with the Westminster government also existing in a parallel universe. Just before Christmas Prime Minister Theresa May — beset on all sides by rebellions within her own party, forced to sack key ministers and unable to shift the perception that she may not long be in power — turned her talents to solving a problem which hardly competes in the public mind with child poverty, the affordable housing shortage, regenerating the British health care system or successfully concluding Brexit negotiations.  May decided as a matter of urgency to change the colour of British passport covers.

From 1920 until 1988 British passports were dark blue. Changing the colour to Burgundy red was not a condition of EU membership, but even so the British government of Margaret Thatcher — yes,  Thatcher,  May’s great Conservative party hero — decided to issue passports in the same colour as other EU countries. Now triumphantly,  May has announced on Twitter that “the iconic blue passport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019”.

Passports are many things, but an icon is an object of veneration. Much as I like my passport, I do not know anyone who would venerate it. Personally I would describe  Thatcher as an “iconic” British leader.  May is merely a desperate one.

The writeris a commentator

on global affairs

The sad truth is that all this suggests that 2018 will be the year of the politics of distraction. Drowning men clutch at straws. Drowning politicians clutch at anything. Like my San Francisco lawyer, when failing politicians can neither convincingly argue the facts nor even argue the law, when they have no real successes to trumpet, and when they have no vision of the way ahead, then those leaders will make up problems they believe they can solve, and “just argue”.

It is a dangerous and cynical game. My American lawyer friend argued to create doubt and dissent to benefit his clients in the courtroom. When politicians do it, they create doubt and dissent in public life by cynically exploiting the fault lines in already divided societies.

What is unforgivable is that real and difficult problems require thought, action and energy. They also require bringing people together. The sad Christmas pantomime of the politics of distraction sucks the life out of real politics. It drains the credibility from politicians who have plenty of other matters to worry about. And that damages democracy itself.

 

Politicians and democracy

The American lawyer was very clear about the strategy he employed during a trial. When the facts are against you, he said, you argue the law. When the law is against you, you argue the facts. And when both the facts and the law are against you, well, hey, you just argue. We were in his office in San Francisco and he was talking of the advice he had been given in law school, advice which had propelled him to a very lucrative career as a personal injuries lawyer. Right now the you just argue strategy works far beyond courts of law. It is the key strategy which signals that a politician is in deep trouble. Politicians claim to seek power to enable them to solve difficult problems in the public interest. But when they realise they cannot do the hard work of government they are often tempted to make up phoney problems which they then pretend to solve. Obviously, these are tough times for leaders. The problems in the real world income and wealth inequality, terrorism, migration, climate change are chronic and extremely difficult to fix. The result is that desperate leaders manufacture problems which can be solved before most citizens have woken up to the idea that the problem even exists. Recent years have seen North Korea display increasing strength in its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile development, while Kim makes provocative statements threatening to attack his enemies. In November, North Korea claimed it had the capability to attack any part of the US mainland. The UN Security Council has voted to ratchet up sanctions in response to the continued development of North Koreas nuclear program. Last month, the US conducted another round of military exercises with South Korea, which Kim called for South Korea to end in his New Years statement. But Kims call for talks between the two countries at the beginning of the year struck many observers as noteworthy, and South Korean leadership has been receptive to Kims potential openness to dialogue. The spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in said South Korea also hoped for a resolution between the two countries. Moon said he would look to restore communication between the South and the isolated North, and that he welcomed North Korea participating in the Winter Olympic Games, which South Korea is hosting next month. Although there hasnt been any evidence that points to direct collusion between Trump and Russians, there is no denying that the Russians interfered in the presidential election. Still, the President continues to do just that -- despite evidence of Russian meddling. As PolitiFact pointed out, Trump could acknowledge the interference happened while still standing by the legitimacy of his election and his presidency -- but he declines to do so. Sometimes hell state firmly there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia, an implicit admission that Russia did act in some capacity. Then he reverts back to denying the interference even happened. I wish Trump would give a speech accepting this award. I could see him thanking himself for being one the greatest fabricators ever. Trump would then slam the haters and losers and of course those in the fake news who doubted he would ever win such an honor. But simply recognizing Trump for this one lie is unfair to all the others he told in 2017. So lets take a quick stroll down Trump Pants on Fire lane, courtesy of PolitiFact, to look back at some of the other tall tales he gave us. Take the problem of Christmas. Donald Trump has solved this problem. You see, American citizens dared not wish each other a Merry Christmas. Or, as Trump put it: People are proud to be saying Merry Christmas again. I am proud to have led the charge against the assault of our cherished and beautiful phrase MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!!. Having solved the Merry Christmas problem, Trump no doubt will turn his mind to solving the problem of the America-wide ban on saying Happy New Year and Happy Birthday. Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, the real world threats from North Koreas nuclear weapons, mass shootings, stagnant living standards, racism, political corruption and his own profound personal unpopularity might eventually appear on Trumps radar. Until then, solving the Merry Christmas scandal has Made America Greet Again. Even if and here are some boring facts in all the years I lived in the United States, people said Merry Christmas to each other without fear. Barack Obama was a serial Merry Christmas wisher. So was George W. Bush. And those terrible liberals, Bill and Hillary Clinton, even hosted Christmas events at the White House during which Merry Christmas greetings were repeatedly exchanged. Bill Clinton was later impeached, although his high crimes and misdemeanours did not include failure to mention Christmas. Britain begins 2018 with the Westminster government also existing in a parallel universe. Just before Christmas Prime Minister Theresa May beset on all sides by rebellions within her own party, forced to sack key ministers and unable to shift the perception that she may not long be in power turned her talents to solving a problem which hardly competes in the public mind with child poverty, the affordable housing shortage, regenerating the British health care system or successfully concluding Brexit negotiations. May decided as a matter of urgency to change the colour of British passport covers. From 1920 until 1988 British passports were dark blue. Changing the colour to Burgundy red was not a condition of EU membership, but even so the British government of Margaret Thatcher yes, Thatcher, Mays great Conservative party hero decided to issue passports in the same colour as other EU countries. Now triumphantly, May has announced on Twitter that the iconic blue passport will return after we leave the European Union in 2019. Passports are many things, but an icon is an object of veneration. Much as I like my passport, I do not know anyone who would venerate it. Personally I would describe Thatcher as an iconic British leader. May is merely a desperate one. The writeris a commentator on global affairs The sad truth is that all this suggests that 2018 will be the year of the politics of distraction. Drowning men clutch at straws. Drowning politicians clutch at anything. Like my San Francisco lawyer, when failing politicians can neither convincingly argue the facts nor even argue the law, when they have no real successes to trumpet, and when they have no vision of the way ahead, then those leaders will make up problems they believe they can solve, and just argue. It is a dangerous and cynical game. My American lawyer friend argued to create doubt and dissent to benefit his clients in the courtroom. When politicians do it, they create doubt and dissent in public life by cynically exploiting the fault lines in already divided societies. What is unforgivable is that real and difficult problems require thought, action and energy. They also require bringing people together. The sad Christmas pantomime of the politics of distraction sucks the life out of real politics. It drains the credibility from politicians who have plenty of other matters to worry about. And that damages democracy itself.