Mindless stupidity, Denying historical parallels, Undermining core principles and Sabotaging economies while Accepting corruption

First-hand reporting from the political coal-face

Published: 2023-06-08

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A Politician, a Professor and an Analyst

Imagine you know of a politician who possess a bunch of principles with which you align. Simple principles of avoiding war at all costs, maintaining your nation's political independence, calling out corruption when it becomes apparent, the belief that the core role of government is to care for the citizenry and to listen to their voices.

Consider that you are aware of an academic, a professor who has studied political economy in corners which are generally shunned and come to the conclusion that the general public rhetoric on these unpopular topics is poorly misconceived. You've come to know this professor through some work he has done in independent media, and you know that becoming a professor is not an easy professional road. It requires success in publishing peer reviewed articles. You know this because you have worked at a University with assistant professors and associate professors as well as professors.

Lastly, throw in a geopolitical commentator who covers interesting topics and expresses ideas which you often believe have merit. He has made some mistakes in his life and rebuilt himself from his first profession into this new role. From his previous profession he has learned the basics of oratory. He is, unfortunately somewhat verbose which means that you find yourself lacking the time or otherwise dissuaded from listening to his solo video publications. However, in a combined interview format he shines.

And that politician is brave. She will stand before the parliament and call a spade a spade in no uncertain terms. She has no fear of receiving opprobrium from her parliamentary colleagues or the media.

Denying historical parallels

A violent geopolitical event has occurred which has accelerated an already worrying development in the parliament and political body in which the politician serves. The narrative being delivered through the dominant media about the conflict has been unified, dominant and largely wrong. She, the politician, and a few colleagues have stood up and been counted in their position of calling for a far more rational response to the event rather than succumbing to the emotional pleas spewed forth by other politicians and the media.

Imagine that this politician, this woman, comes from a country which was oppressed by a larger neighbor, not for a few weeks or a year, but for centuries. She lived through the period of achieving a political solution which did not satisfy either side completely, but yielded peace such that people on both sides of the political, religious and national lines could live their lives and raise their children without constant fear of terrorism before terrorism became a political expression.

The current geopolitical event holds many similarities to that experienced by this politician. She and some of her colleagues called for negotiation and dialogue rather than arming the conflict. For this they have been described as aiding "the enemy". She has seen the space for considered discussion shrink as the media hound anyone calling for diplomatic efforts. She has, at close quarters, observed her political colleagues cower in the corner for fear of receiving the rhetorical retribution of the media.

Accepting corruption and sabotaging economies

This politician is seeing the political body in which she serves morphing into something akin to the pay for play corruption which has been on display in the US for many years. Major industries are funding think tanks and lobbyists to influence political, and thus legal, outcomes feathering their nests and those of the politicians. She is in the thick of it, can feel it. We are now informed of this direct corruption through recent scandals proving that this corruption is happening, that this transformation is occurring.

The political body’s main response to the conflict has been an attempt to use economic sanctions to attack “the enemy”. The result of the 11 rounds of sanctions has been for them to rebound upon the economies of nations of the political block, rather than the intended target.

An Interview

Then, all of a sudden, an interview hoves into view out of the mists of improbability.

This professor and the geopolitical commentator interview this principled politician for almost an hour. All of these topics of history, political independence, corruption, the malign influence of the media, the absolute insanity of the body in which she serves' response to the war, the relevant experience of her nation's people; all of it is discussed. One can hear from this "politician with a spine" and learn how she sees the perilous state of political play.

The geopolitical event is the conflict in Ukraine, the final section of the historical parallel is known as “The Troubles”, the professor is Glenn Diesen, the analyst is Alexander Mercouris and the politician across all of it is Clare Daly.

The interview awaits.

Sources

Decline of the EU w⧸ MEP Clare Daly, Alexander Mercouris and Glenn Diesen interview Clare Daly, The Duran, 2023-06-07

EU Commission proposes common ethics body for all EU officials in wake of corruption scandal, Samuel Petrequin, Associated Press, 2023-06-08

Analysis: EU unity over Russia sanctions falters as Europe's economy wilts, John O'Donnell, Reuters, 2022-12-19

Culture

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