‘If I could turn back time’

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Easter Sunday marked three months since the inauguration of the US president, although it may seem a lot longer. So much has happened in the second coming of Donald Trump, with dramatic policy changes effecting many lives at home and abroad.

Looking at those at the centre of the maelstrom in Washington along with elected officials dealing with the consequences in many capitals around the world, it becomes very evident that the world’s most capable people are just too clever and smart to involve themselves in this murky world of politics. There’s been a dearth of political leadership around the world for quite some time, as the long-suffering hoi polloi watch bird-brained buffoons of all political stripes flap their jaws and scream from their perches. World media has been invited into the Oval Office at an unprecedented rate, filming press conferences, meetings with foreign leaders, signing of executive orders, and other events. It has been entertaining, to say the least, but never forget that Mr Trump spent years honing his skills as ringmaster of the circus by hosting a television reality show. That has proven a distinct advantage in attracting his followers, who enjoy such fodder as the somewhat scandalous minutiae concerning members of the Kardashian family and Real Housewives from any given American city, etc..

Frequent television events in the Oval Office reveal changes in its décor; a lot more gold-coloured ornaments are on display, and a large portrait of President Ronald Reagan is very prominent. It was the “Great Communicator” who spoke about America as the “Shining City On The Hill”, and whose 1980 campaign slogan was “Let’s Make America Great Again”. Ironically, it was during his time in office that most of the globalization, outsourcing and off-shoring took hold as US companies moved abroad, first to Mexico, and then to China and other countries in the Far East, because of cheaper labour costs. It sounds a little back-asswards for President Trump to order coal mines to reopen, and factories to return from abroad to produce American-made products that will be the envy of the world.

He seems convinced that he’ll be able to reverse what has taken place over the past half century, and it reminds me of a song title from 1989 : “If I could turn back time”. That was a chart-topper from Cher, who, believe it or not, was born in the same year as Donald Trump. Having adopted Ronald Reagan’s campaign slogan, now is the time he adopt Cher’s song title which suits his ambition perfectly. Wouldn’t the world love to see President Trump dressed in one of Cher’s “barely-there” stage costumes singing : “If I could turn back time “.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada