The Making of History

Submitted by Lindsay
Melbourne Australia!

What we may be witnessing is… the end of history as such.
- Francis Fukuyama, 1989

(12/2020) You may not realise it, but the 2020 election has made world history.

For the first time, the result of a democratic election produced a result that was not based on political beliefs or ideology, party registration or history, but one based on a simple Yes/No question: ‘Do you want Donald Trump to lead the Nation?’

The result was an overwhelming ‘NO!!’ as about 60% of you pulled back from the brink of total collapse. Beliefs about capitalism, socialism, free markets and world leadership were disregarded. The disgust at the lies, the lack of decency, the total immersion in narcissistic self-glorification, the cover ups and arbitrary sacking of anyone who would not lick his shoes – all this became more than could be borne.

Yes, he was and still is liked (‘revered’, may be closer), because his message and attitude resonated with the millions who had been trashed by their employers, left destitute, ignored by the Democrats, (Hillary Clinton’s ‘unfortunates’ was more than insulting), and screwed by the system. They and many other republicans had been made to fear the arrival of, horror of horrors, communism. That arch-enemy of Democracy, Rupert Murdoch, stirred up a storm of fear in all his media companies, yet even that could not hide the smell of imbecility emerging from the White house every day.

So we have a new President in what, in some ways, is a new country. One that has passed from plaything to working model needing an oil change and grease. And that is going to be the hardest task anyone has ever undertaken, and one that will not get done quickly – but he will start. And he has the best VP ever elected. Vice President Elect Kamilla Harris has impeccable credentials, wide experience, and expertise in areas Jo does not.

She too is part of history – the first person of colour to be vice president, whose values are totally democratic, who speaks without rant or hypocrisy in such a commanding voice that you want to listen. A capable team that was needed as never before.

Their immediate task is to turn back the COVID-19 tide that is swamping the country, because growth will stall until it does. In this the governors of most states will be on board – politics notwithstanding – because they are aware of the consequences if they don’t.

Yes, vaccines are being developed with unbelievable speed, but they are by no means guaranteed to be available for mass inoculations next year, and competing brands will confuse the results.

It is not just those who can pay for it that will need it, but everyone – or the virus will keep on keeping on. That means a government led universal and free service, which is, of course, socialism. The old system was becoming incapable of working properly in this day and age – population growth, pollution, the top 5% with 95% of the wealth – all these make fending for yourself impossible, but something like Obama-care will emerge.

I’m sure the senate will block it, but the need will not go away and America will never be great again until ALL the people are considered.

COVID-19 is not the greatest challenge, of course. The next is the economy. Yes, manufacturing is up, but the cost of the virus has not yet been felt. It will be greater than anyone imagines, (although there have recently been some excellent articles on this), and will affect businesses for years to come.

But the crown goes to China. They have been snapping at your heels for decades, determined to redress their perceived humiliations of last century by becoming the most powerful and influential nation. They set out to do this when Mao went. Not bothered by rules and protocol, they stole, copied, subverted and tricked businesses and technology into obtaining whatever was needed. As the world’s cheapest manufacturers of household goods, they gave credit to whoever would stock their goods, finishing up owning about 30 % of your economy. A state run economy could do that, and it soon became a battle of ideologies – Communism vs Capitalism – and until recently it was obvious who was winning. (Yes, it was Capitalism).

Then the Trump cancer arrived, taking systems off the table and replacing them with narcissism.

Well, that was new, but so stupid that once China had recovered its wits they knew it was time. Time to to flex their muscles, their currencies, their superiority in technology and their grasp of international finance.

And get this: The research that produced the first 5G network took 20 years, a far longer time than any U. S. company would allow.

I’m sure Joe Biden is aware of all that, and I’m glad it’s him and no one else, because he has the experience and intelligence to appoint aides and ministers capable of pulling this rabbit out of the hat. Already the stamp of reason is appearing, and while his predecessor is hanging onto his comfort blanket, Joe is preparing to fight the biggest battle the world has ever seen.

At the same time he is beginning to repair the international damage Trump wrought. Allies are valued, not insulted. Threats are identified and named, not fawned upon. Trade relationships are being reexamined, America’s reputation is being dry-cleaned, the Stars and Stripes are being raised as symbols of strength and hope.

And for us here in Australia, we have had to grow up quickly. Caught between China and their purchase of iron ore, which is a mere 36% of all exports, and yourselves, to whom we look for support as an ally, and who has been the nation we saw as our big brother (no pun intended) for seventy years, we faced a choice that left us gagging.

It was a choice we feared had been removed when Trump asked for an explanation of why China had unleashed a virus on him – and we, brown nosed to the last, did the same.

Instant and continued trade sanctions. Wine, coal, exotics like rock lobster – all were found unsafe or unfit. And with an economy reeling from Covid lock-downs, any loss of income is terrible.

We began to imagine what it would be like under Chinese rule. We quaked and cringed, but now – at last – a gleam of light.

O say can you see by the dawn's early light
What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?