Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The Sad Decline of a Pioneering People


You have to hand it to the Anglo-Saxons, namely the British and later on the Americans, for shaping much of the modern world. While the British were not the first colonizing power, they were perhaps the smartest. While the Spanish looted the places they went to, the British created a system of never-ending trade relationships with their colonies, which produced better returns than the instant looting of the Spanish. To their credit, the British did leave behind a physical and legal infrastructure in the places where they colonized (though let’s be clear, the intent was not to benefit the natives but to ensure the colonies would be properly administered from London).

When the centre of power moved across the Atlantic, the name of the game changed. While the Americans have been involved in countless wars, their dominance of the world has primarily been through their multinational corporations and universities.

In all fairness to the Anglo-American geo-politics, we live in “rules-based” system built by Britain and America. Even as China and India become the world’s largest economies, they’re doing so in a “rules-based” order built by first the British and then the Americans.

One of the reasons that the world gives Britain and America a certain amount of reverence was because these were the nations that pioneered things like individual liberty, freedom of speech and expression and the ability of an individual to prosper regardless of his or her social status. The US Constitution, which is the world’s oldest, is considered a “masterpiece” in political science. While the American founding fathers were by no means saints (some owned slaves and women were noticeably absent in their calculations), they set about creating a nation that broke with the ancient ways of thinking and made the right of an individual to pursue happiness.

America has been lucky. A fresh stream of immigrants has always given its culture a certain sense of dynamism and as Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first Prime Minister once alluded to, America has had the luxury of using the brains from the rest of the world. The Old Rogue used to make the point that Silicon Valley would not exist without Taiwanese and Indian migrants. Openness was also good for Britain. When the African states decided to “Africanize” their economies, in the 1970s and kicked out the Indians (Specifically the Guajarati’s), Britain welcomed them and in return they gave British economy a jolt of energy.

The openness of the Anglo-American world made them great and this was underpinned by news people who were allowed to take on the establishment. Yes, there are “sleazy” hacks working for sleazy publications aimed at the lowest common denominator (think News of the World, the Sun, the National Enquirer) but at the same time, there are also serious journalist working for serious publications (think Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Times, Guardian and Telegraph). Leaders from the West were kept in check by a press willing to take them to task.

Unfortunately, the nations that pioneered things like individual liberty and rewarding people for excellence have decided to pioneer the reverse. The nations that lead the world in opening up trade and innovation are now pioneering the opposite. We only think of “Make America Great Again,” and “Brexit.” Part of this pioneering effort backwards has been to wage a war against people who might be a little critical.

Let’s just remember that the term “Fake News” only appeared in the 2016 Presidential Campaign. Previously there was news and there was libel, which was used to protect people from being slandered by the press. Suddenly, when the Donald, who is famous for his rather lose relationship with facts, was being challenged by the media on his outlandish claims, we suddenly heard the terms “Fake News,” and “Alternative Facts,” being used.

The Tough Guy (only Americans thought so) who could insult others but couldn’t take a hit (who else will do something and warn the other side not to retaliate) started to do things like “dis-invite” members of the press into the White House Briefing (only friendly media and in fairness, Fox News called him out on this) and he actually entertained ways in which he could legally try to investigate media as the report below shows:


Things are not better across the Atlantic. While Mr. Boris Johnson cultivates an image of being a “loveable buffoon” as opposed to Mr. Trump’s, “Everyday Sleaze,” Mr. Johnson has shown himself to be no less willing to take on the institutions that have protected the very things that have made Britain a decent enough society. Just as the Trump wanted to ban unfriendly reporters from the White House, Mr. Johnson decided to do something similar in the Downing Street briefings:


Seriously, the UK is supposed to be a bastion of freedom of the press. If Reporters Without Borders reported on a place like Russia or China or dare, I say Singapore, I could expect it – but the UK, really?

I don’t know why Americans, especially under Trump get so worked up about China becoming the world’s biggest economy. China has more people and logic has it that as China prospers, her GDP figures will increase. The average American and European will still have a better lifestyle than the average Chinese and Indian regardless of GDP.

So, the question is why is America, under Trump, with Britain following suite, trying its best to make itself more like China. China sends students to America to learn from America. These students are part of a demographic that will help China become more like America and while things may be messy, will eventually propel China into greatness. So, what is America under Trump and Britain under Johnson so afraid off? Why is America trying to be the worst of China? The nations that gave us FDR and Churchill have now given us Trump and Johnson, who are leading once great nations into a proverbial cesspit.  

No comments

© BeautifullyIncoherent
Maira Gall