Trump's Legacy

 He's Gone. The 45th US President put up a largely discredited rear-guard action but in the end he had to go. But what of his legacy?

In a difficult and dangerous world under attack from, for example, epidemics and climate change each Country's well-being may depend on the stature of its leaders. Strong leadership is essential and Trump seeemed to fit the bill when he was faced across the top table with the likes of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un and Xi Jinping. It will annoy Trump that he was so easily deposed when these others just keep on going despite their records or the wishes of the people. Even Yoweri Museveni, president of Uganda manages to retain power in perpetuity. It is because these men hold real power. The question for all US citizens is: is nice Joe Biden tough enough to make America Great Again?

He is described as empathetic but is this what is required when his post demands putting his Country first in all things? His first actions are to join some UN institutions and re-sign the Paris Accord on Climate Change despite the evidence that these have some anti-US bias. From the start, Biden is trying to be all things to all people; to unite the Nation.

Biden has four years to prove he is right or will Americans look back on the Trump era more sympathetically? In four years time one can almost be sure that Putin, Xi Jinping, Kim, Yoweri will still be in power.

Time to invoke the Rule of Two

 The Rule of Two tells us that nature always requires a minimum of two solutions to most problems, if not all. This requirement is a condition of the nature given paradox derived from the there being two, rather than one, square root of one, unity.

See:   https://www.kevilldavies.com/2009/12/rule-of-two.html

The worldwide pandemic caused by Covid19 might offer an opportunity to test this theory as world leaders wrestle with a global threat to humanity. Although vaccines are on stream to counter the current threat there is no certainty that more and deadlier strains will not emerge. It remains to be seen how they will react if the situation deteriorates. At what stage does the world unite against a common foe?

Apsaras Trilogy

 Are you looking for a good read to entertain you during the lockdowns? Look no further than this compilation of the three full novels of the 'Apsaras' series.

Priced at just 6$ for download to your e reader, this represents excellent value for money giving hours of pleasure. 

Follow Jack Benson's adventures following his founding of a refuge for disadvantaged women in Thailand.

For a full list of books by Kevill Davies go to:

https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003FO2E70

Trumped

 This blog once had high hopes of the Trump presidency. It held the possibility of political power moving from the hands of career politicians, those who made a living entirely from the public purse, to a man who had lived and thrived in the real world of commerce. Sadly, he also brought to his office the traditions and misconceptions of a tyrant, incapable of compromise or rational debate.

He was right about one thing, though. That in a democracy electoral fraud is not only possible but exists worldwide and almost certainly was present in this presidential election. The price of failure is now so great that desperate measures are taken even in the most advanced nations, especially when the contest is so delicately balanced.

Biden is said to have won with 52% of the vote. Not a big victory; roughly the same as the British vote taking the Country out of Europe by the same margin. 52% for Brexit. This bi-partite stasis gives rise to heightened tension.

This electoral polarisation amply demonstrates my rule of two which states that any natural system, open for options, will eventually settle down to present just two alternatives.

see: https://www.kevilldavies.com/2009/12/rule-of-two.html

I suggest that this situation could lead to problems in Democratic countries that will not constrain those such as China and Russia where decision making does not involve prolonged debate. That said, the US experiment with a 'supreme' leader did not end well.

Sex-for-rent

 A report by the Daily Mail suggests that since March 2020, 30,000 cases have been reported of landlords asking or demanding sex in exchange for rent or payment of rent arrears

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9105215/Preyed-sex-rent-landlords-Men-touting-rooms-exchange-sexual-favours.html

In a sense, where a voluntary agreement exists, this amounts to bartering, one service for another, but where it is not agreed then the landlord is effectively becoming a pimp and forcing his tenant into prostitution. He is then, effectively, living on immoral earnings. The situation is exacerbated by the pandemic.

Where such cases can be proven can the perpetrators be executed and failing that can they have their properties confiscated and awarded to the victims free of charge.

Bitcoin? What's the point?

 What is the point of Bitcoin? One has heard of it for a few years; people have claimed to make 'real' money trading with bitcoins and the inventor, is said to be worth 6 billion dollars through his holding of bitcoins.

The problem I have with these crypto currencies is that they exist, it seems to me, to make money for a limited few people without actually making anything, providing a meaningful service or exploiting mineral resources. In other words it is a way of making money for making money's sake without having to do any work. It may also be a device for avoiding paying relevant taxes. It is difficult to avoid the suspicion that the motive for the existence of crypto currencies is greed.

As with other schemes such as share trading, (as opposed to share holding) for each successful deal yielding a gain there must be a corresponding loser and most likely it will be someone who can ill afford a loss.