Trump, morality and reality
There has been a huge, emotional outpouring of doom and woe about the election of Donald Trump (Guardian Weekly digital edition, 11 November). It is probably much ado about nothing very different. In reality US presidents have very limited powers. Just ask Barack Obama. He never could close Guantánamo and it took him until his second term to get some modest health care reforms and an inadequate minimum wage. Trump will have many of the same disadvantages as a Democratic president because he is not really a member of the Republican establishment and they have few common values. He will most likely be in the position of an independent president and cannot rely on the support of Congress for good or bad initiatives.
The main independent presidential power appears to be to commit aggression. George W Bush and Tony Blair killed a lot of innocent people. Obama and Clinton between them launched lots of bombs and drones and Clinton probably deserved the warmonger jibe that Trump threw at her. So why do we think he will be worse? Calm down, it will soon be business as usual.
Ray Ferris
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
• There is any amount of analysis of the disastrous outcome of the US presidential election, attempting to explain economic, political, sociological and psychological factors in the electorate. But there is something missing: the factor of individual moral responsibility. We should not confuse understanding with excusing.
Consider each voter, standing privately in the voting booth, pencil hovering over the box next to the name “Trump”; at that moment every single voter knows full well that this candidate is a predatory, misogynist, racist, narcissistic, demagogic bully, so if they choose to mark a vote for him they are demonstrating their collusion with him, effectively sharing some or all of those characteristics. There is absolutely no excuse for that individual act.
Felix Ansell
Dreia, Portugal
• I’ve come round to thinking that Trump is far cleverer than we all thought. His philosophy is to appeal to our worst “angels”, our basest instincts, and then to rule us – probably to everyone’s relief, by calling forth our better angels. Hillary and the elites operated the other way round.
C Lendon
Canberra, ACT, Australia
Political arrogance over trade
I too thought that people power would end these EU free-trade deals (28 October) and was sure that the hundreds of thousands of people who had demonstrated against the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in September had convinced governments to give it second thoughts. Indeed, for me it seemed blindingly obvious that these deals are highly undesirable: they threaten environmental and social legislation, will nudge countless small- and medium-sized businesses into bankruptcy and leave governments wide open to malicious legal cases from powerful corporations.
So I was deeply disappointed when Brussels browbeat the Walloons into agreeing to the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement between the EU and Canada. Indeed, I was so affected by this that I ended up taking the train to Brussels to be there at the historic moment when our leaders “signed away” our democracy. It was a sad affair outside the building with barbed wire and riot police present to keep just a handful of harmless demonstrators “at bay”.
When politicians show this level of arrogance and just carry on regardless of strong public opinion, then it is any wonder that voters drift away to radical parties? I can see us arriving at a highly dangerous situation where even engaged, moderate voters either don’t bother voting or decide to vote for “anything but the establishment”.
Alan Mitcham
Cologne, Germany
Empathy is universal
As I always read the Guardian back to front, Owen Jones’s article on empathy (4 November) hit me in the face. Maybe it was the most important article in the issue because it’s about every single one of us.
Personally, my parents, whose ancestors came from all over Europe, brought me up in England, with the open door ethic. Our house was often buzzing with foreigners – be they students, au pairs, distant relatives, friends of friends – seeking temporary board and lodging.
Just recently I welcomed Feras, a Syrian asylum seeker, into my home here in France, while he was getting his papers sorted out. He is now settled with his wife and children not too far from where I live, so I can keep up the new friendship.
So, my advice to anyone who really has empathy and a spare bed, is to try sharing your living space with people fleeing war and strife: you then find out how enriching this simple gesture actually is.
Lea Yauner
Pessac, France
• Owen Jones argues admirably that “We all possess a natural empathy for other human beings. But once we lose that, it is easy for injustice to flourish”. He is only repeating a founding principle of the three Abrahamic religions – Judaism, Islam and Christianity. In this age of closing borders and hostility to refugees, let us remember that God tested Abraham by sending angels, disguised as travelling strangers. Without asking any questions (or checking their visas!) Abraham welcomed them in, washed their feet and gave them food and shelter.
Constance Lever-Tracy
Adelaide, South Australia
Human rights and wrongs
With amusement and astonishment I read that Russia has lost its seat at the UN’s human right council (4 November). I agree that Russia, as a perpetual right abuser, shouldn’t have a say in this.
But it makes me wonder that Brazil, with its displacement of small-scale farmers for soy monoculture; Egypt, with thousands of protesters in prison; or civil-war Iraq made it into the circle. Not to mention the US or UK, which waged illegal wars, or Saudi Arabia with stoning and beheading by sword. Though it is badly needed, what is the use of such a council with such members?
Steffen Müller
Hastings, UK
Easy business decision
The choice for Nissan’s management to invest in its UK Sunderland plant was really not much of a choice at all, even though it had to deal with two scenarios (4 November). On the one hand there was a relatively distant possibility of Brexit impacting negatively on Nissan’s UK profits. On the other hand there is the 15% devaluation of the British pound against the euro and, in turn, a 15% extra profit for every Nissan car made in Sunderland and sold in the EU.
As good management theory goes, one could predict the choice of Nissan’s management, as profits, or what managerialism calls “shareholder value”, remain imperative. In short, return on investment topped a rather illusory policy problem (Brexit) somewhat down the track. Nissan’s choice was predictable. Easy, really.
Thomas Klikauer
Sydney, Australia
Cash is no longer king
In response to Gaby Hinsliff’s column about the future of cash (28 October): it is true that more people are using less cash and more cards. It is also true that the banks are beginning to try to close down branches, especially in small towns. So long as we go along with the dominance of massive global corporations and elect politicians who are obsequious valets to these corporations, her scenario seems logical.
However, in Canada we have a local food movement that has drawn many people away from large companies, especially in the warm months, to purchase local food directly from farmers. It has been a boon to farmers and to public health as the food is largely organic.
For the last four years I set up a locally based business. It was meant to sell the work of local artists and artisans but grew into a place to sell second-hand books, furniture and even antiques. Most of the money went to the suppliers who provided the goods. I made money by selling my own goods. Every penny spent in my shop meant that it was not being spent at the big box stores.
So in these dark days when it seems that everything is run by large companies, it is up to us to find alternatives to retain a living, human economy that spreads the wealth. It won’t come from the top down.
L MacDowell
Toronto, Canada
• Gaby Hinsliff’s article reminds me of my son’s experience on a New York-to-San Francisco flight. He attempted to buy a sandwich on board, but could only come up with cash, and they accepted only credit cards. Not having a credit card, he did not have a meal until he reached his destination. Plastic had more power than good old American cash.
Other example include parking garages in downtown Portland that have signs that only credit cards will be accepted. I notice that Massachusetts is eliminating all toll booths in favour of credit drive-through. Who knows – maybe the next time the tooth fairy comes, it will be leave a plastic card under your child’s pillow.
Fiorello Ventresco
Portland, Maine, US
Briefly
• While Zoe Williams is writing about the European response to refugees (28 October), her language goes to the heart of the matter in describing what’s happening in Australia: men, women and children being held in offshore detention for years “for the crime of needing help”, and the “unfettered nastiness” of the policy driving this situation. It raises the question of what we have come to as a nation.
Wendy Flannery
Brisbane, South Australia
• Thanks to Sport in brief (28 October) for the recognition of that rugby powerhouse the Cyprus Mouflons. The mighty All Blacks are still trying to beat several world records that they hold: the consecutive international wins you mention as 21, is actually 24 according to their website. Too bad that they were banned from participating in the 2015 World Rugby Cup on a technicality.
Anthony Walter
Surrey, British Columbia, Canada
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