Trump, Hitler and the PNM

THE EDITOR: Former US president Donald Trump has been indicted on several criminal charges, including money laundering, illegally storing national security information, conspiracy to defraud the US Government, and election fraud and racketeering.

However, many Americans still support him. Will their continued opposition to the federal government be the end of the greatest experiment in democracy the world has ever seen, as it has existed for the past 247 years?

There have been despots before Trump. For example, there was WWI, blamed on Germany, Russia and the Balkans. Whenever there are alliances between nations, such as in WWI with Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria and the Ottoman Empire against the rest of the world, and in WWII, the Axis Alliance of Germany, Italy and Japan, there is bound to be a dominant leader who will see himself as the one to lead them all.

Germany always saw itself as the de facto leader in both wars, but more so under Adolf Hitler in WWII.

Such is the case with Trump, who has set himself up as a larger-than-life figure who bullied his way across New York and worldwide with his unchallenged economic hubris. Will this force of nature be finally brought to his knees by the American judicial system despite his appointees to the Supreme Court that dominate the federal judiciary? Or is Trump setting up the US for the union's downfall?

Many others have tried to emulate the success of the most powerful nation the world has ever witnessed. Front and centre is the 1993 formation of the European Community, which eventually morphed into the European Union. But since the British put a spoke in that when it withdrew in 2020, the wheels of a united Europe may never be fully realised.

Here in the Caribbean, we have also tried our brand of unity – first the failed West Indies Federation, and now Caricom. But we know that Caricom is not about political affinity as in the US, but primarily for economic support of the disparate island-nations.

On this our 61st independence anniversary, politicians of all stripes keep beseeching God to bless this nation. Instead, shouldn't we ask God, "Why have you deserted us?" Moreover on this Independence Day, we should ask ourselves this question: Did we deserve to become an independent nation when we have failed so miserably?

After trillions of dollars spent, why is there so much poverty, not enough water in this tropical nation blessed with many months of annual rainfall, deplorable roads, and, despite what the statistical office and politicians boast, and too many without jobs?

While our first Prime Minister did not achieve the federation he desired, can the PNM achieve Caribbean economic unity in its current self-serving configuration? Our unitary status is at risk, not just with Caricom but also with Tobago.

This PNM Government sees Port of Spain and its environs as its redeeming feature, for that is where many of its supporters live. Even so, that does not excuse it for deserting the others who did not vote for the governing party.

REX CHOOKOLINGO

rexchook@gmail.com