Boletus Edulis
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Sep 12, 2016
- Messages
- 2,679
- Reaction score
- 648
- Points
- 113
- Location
- Plymouth
- Supports
- Argyle (and West Ham)
Political commentators often try to see trends sweeping the world, uniting countries, such as the north african spring, anti-austerity in Europe and now an anti-liberalism. I think we can see some similarities between Corbyn and Trump, the core one being that they represent quite distinct constituencies who feel let down by the political establishment and norms of politics. They in effect represent those that feel they are outsiders. The strategy of both is not so much to reach out to the middle ground, which has been the orthodoxy of political campaigning in Anglo-Saxon countries for a long time, rather they take a different approach. They seek to identify, reach and mobilise their supporters, everyone else is not really relevant to them.
However, I think that there is another fundamental similarity, they and their closest advisors, are largely incompetent. It may be because they reject the established ways and have not developed the naunces required to lead within this system, but whatever, they both have made a series of quite stupid rookie mistakes. And both keep repeating them. In the UK I observe that people who once thought Corbyn was the way forward realise that he should not be allowed near Number 10, and are gradually abandoning him, which given that he is not reaching out to the middle ground is a major problem. I suspect the same may happen in the US. Trump made a number of clear promises on the stump, and now he is finding how hard it is to deliver, last night's health bill debacle being only the latest episode. Anyone who has been involved in politics know that the first thing a competent political manager does is only act if they already have the votes. I am stunned by the incompetence of Trump and Paul. I believe that the long term affect will be similar to what is happening here with Corbyn, that Trump's supporters will lose faith not because they disagree with his policies, but simply because he cannot deliver.
I recognise that both Corbyn and Trump could argue rationally that of course they will have setbacks, they are after all fighting a long standing establishment and biased political system. Maybe, but if that is the case neither has demonstrated that they have the abilities to fundamentally alter that system.
However, I think that there is another fundamental similarity, they and their closest advisors, are largely incompetent. It may be because they reject the established ways and have not developed the naunces required to lead within this system, but whatever, they both have made a series of quite stupid rookie mistakes. And both keep repeating them. In the UK I observe that people who once thought Corbyn was the way forward realise that he should not be allowed near Number 10, and are gradually abandoning him, which given that he is not reaching out to the middle ground is a major problem. I suspect the same may happen in the US. Trump made a number of clear promises on the stump, and now he is finding how hard it is to deliver, last night's health bill debacle being only the latest episode. Anyone who has been involved in politics know that the first thing a competent political manager does is only act if they already have the votes. I am stunned by the incompetence of Trump and Paul. I believe that the long term affect will be similar to what is happening here with Corbyn, that Trump's supporters will lose faith not because they disagree with his policies, but simply because he cannot deliver.
I recognise that both Corbyn and Trump could argue rationally that of course they will have setbacks, they are after all fighting a long standing establishment and biased political system. Maybe, but if that is the case neither has demonstrated that they have the abilities to fundamentally alter that system.
