Madness in America !

Amazing scenes in Washington, the capital of the United States of America, this week as  thousand of Republican party supporters heeded the thinly disguised encouragement of defeated US President Donald Trump and forced their way into the seat of government with a threat to the elected representatives meeting there.

Trump has never accepted the result of the November election in which Joe Biden defeated him in his bid for a second four year term. Without a shred of proof, Trump claims he won the vote and that the voting was rigged against him after those votes went into the ballot box.  This claim has been soundly rejected by every authority up to and including the American High court.

What probably sparked this crude attempt to form a new civil war was the news that two critical Senate seats in the state of Georgia had been won by Democrats and as a result Joe Biden would have a majority in his favour in both houses - and the White House. This has cleared the way for Biden to more easily take his reform policies into law.

By failing to concede when the election went against him, Trump is employing the tactics we see in the " Banana Republics " of Africa and South America.   Despots clinging to office with the help of armed supporters and employing repressive policies which cause their citizens to escape over the borders in search of a better life.

For the last three centuries America has been the beacon on the hill for  the oppressed of the world.  The place they seek to escape to in the hope of a better life, a form of prosperity from hard work and that promise to be able to seek the " pursuit of happiness ".  It was America that made them welcome when other countries closed their doors.

Trump presented himself as a " different " type of presidential candidate and that found favour with the " redneck " strata of citizens.  The hype and bluster convinced a majority to give him their vote and once in office he reverted to type - capricious and taking America out of associations that had long sought peace and stability in world affairs,.  He openly admired the ruthless exponents who reduced democracy in the  countries they ruled.

Now that Trump has openly tried to create a civil war in Americas it would be reasonable if he was forced from office and held accountable by the court system, but that will probably not happen. He will be eligible to stand for office again in four years time and he may use his skills to retain public attention, but - hopefully - the Trump era is over.

The Republican political party may eventually recover from the damage Trump did to it while in office but first America must come to terms with critical issues such as the colour question and the brutality of its police forces.

What happened in Washington this week was an abomination.   America must learn from that shameful experience and make concessions across the political aisle.  It is necessary for it to reengage with the world !