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.
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