The text of
this comes from a post of the same heading on 7th November 2012. Tell me the old, old story.
Quote:
Now that the
US Presidential Election is won and lost it will be about 30 months before the
process begins for the selection of candidates for the 2016 election. In the UK it is perhaps 25 months before the
next election of 2015, if not sooner, if the Cameron administration collapses.
If that
election is inconclusive or left in a state of confusion by the Scottish
Question, then there are a number of intricate uncertainties ahead. Germany has an election due next year, what
that might come up with is also not certain.
So this leaves France with newly elected Hollande as President more or
less as the only long term one amongst them.
I exclude
Russia, China, India and Brazil from all this because they may well have a lot
to think about at home and in their own areas rather than bothering with the
coming and going in the West. Given that
President Obama is not enthusiastic about UK or European matters, the West
probably has a leadership vacuum.
But to be a
leader internationally, you need to be in control and secure at home. But because of globalization, the ongoing
effects of the financial crisis, the divisions opening up in many countries of
incomes, identity and beliefs it is arguable that none of the governments of
the West have much real control.
The situation
is that in most places the political elites will be hanging on desperately,
bidding for the money and support of a limited number of wealthy and secure
international companies and trying to play off one group against another to
retain some authority and ability to make decisions.
If some things
go against them, or there are either events or developments that are seriously
disruptive, there are all the pre-conditions in place for serious difficulties
of one sort or another. At the moment,
the USA might just be able to manage a real war, but none of the others could
without politically imploding.
The same
applies to financial management and control.
This is now outside the real capability of our governments. Because too many let it rip and then did too
little too late and now cannot agree effectively to deal with all the problems
that arise they face serious tax deficits along with major spending
commitments.
This is not
sustainable. So by the time all the next
elections come round it is very likely that they will be going on when there is
either a crisis about to unfold or one already under way.
None of these
governments will be able to handle it.
Also, none of them seem to have policies for energy, food supply, water,
or the management of disease that add up.
In 1969, David
Bowie came up with “Space Oddity”, also known as “Ground Control To Major Tom”.
It might well remind us that it all can become too much.
There ain’t no
ground control any more Major Tom, so just keep going.
Unquote.
Where are you
when we need you, Major Tom?
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