Oh ****!
Back in 1980, Isaac Asimov wrote A Cult of Ignorance. Trump's re-election seems to underline the truth of Asimov's thesis. He wrote: "There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge."
Dear Peter,
Well, I was rather hoping for a reply from you that would perhaps be a little longer, more detailed and informative. However, I completely agree with your sentiments. I don't understand how it is possible for the majority of the population in America to have re-elected that scumbag, that liar and fraudster. On the other hand, someone once said to me, "Never underestimate the stupidity of Americans." I mean, Trump becoming President again just about proves it, 100%, and so you do not need any more of those YouTube videos about how many Americans have such limited intelligence.
From your point of view, there is of course a silver lining to the Trump cloud: it means that you will win your bet! It very much looks as though I shall have to pay for that very yummy and expensive meal in a posh restaurant. Now that Trump is President-Elect, can he be sent to jail? Could he pardon himself? Sentencing is supposed to happen on 26th November, but my guess is that now the whole thing will be cancelled.
Irena hopes that Trump's election will mean an end to the war in Ukraine. Somehow, I doubt that things will be quite so simple.
We are still back in VT and this morning I went for quite an enjoyable walk with the VT Walkers, no less. Sveta Gora is a big park on the far side of VT, next to the university. It is one of the many places that I was planning to take you last year, but unfortunately assorted electrical jobs took rather longer than we had anticipated,
I also had my computer repaired, as various bad things were happening. The chap in the computer repair shop installed a new hard drive and everything works much better now.
Best wishes from VT,
Simon
Dear Peter,
It is always great to receive an email from you. Are you still on half-term? Or have you gone back to the grind?
Yes, we are still in VT and I must say that life is not exciting. We take a fat little dog out for a walk or else we go shopping.
Irena was NOT happy when I suggested insulating the loft. She says that it will not make any difference, it is a waste of money and it will make a lot of mess. Hmm.
At the moment Irena has some sort of allergy that is making her feel awful. She also has a strange bump on her forehead. We have an air purifier in the apartment, but I do not know what else I can do. It is a bit similar to the health problem she had in China.
Is it possible that Trump really can bring an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine? It would be amazing if he could achieve this. Some commentators seem to think that he will threaten Putin with increasing military aid for Ukraine if Putin does not do some serious negotiation. But what is negotiation? It means that both sides get some of the things that they want, but probably no one gets everything. If the war ends, then you could say that everyone is a winner and, if it carries on, then everyone is a loser, especially Russia and Ukraine. Neither side has enough troops, enough equipment and enough strength to get total victory. So there should be some sort of compromise deal that will end the war. Then the death and the destruction will stop and Irena can at last go home to see her family (and then I can get on with some insulation when she’s not around…)
I still cannot get over the shock of Trump’s victory in the American presidential election. How was it possible for that criminal to win? The Americans have a saying, “It’s the economy, stupid!” Putting it very simply, I think that many Americans thought that they were better off financially when Trump was President and so they believe that their economic situation will be better if Trump goes back to the White House.
Following COVID, prices in the supermarkets have gone up dramatically. Recently the rate of inflation has eased a bit, but even here in Bulgaria we have noticed that prices have surged over the last two or three years. A lot of stupid people in America have said to themselves, “Well, we were better off when Trump was president, so we will be better off again if he becomes president for a second time.” Of course, it is quite possible that many people really did feel better off and less worried about inflation during Trump’s first term as president, but that may have had little or nothing to do with Trump’s policies. Trump has already said that he will bring in tariffs on lots of imported goods, so that is going to push up inflation. Other countries might respond by putting tariffs on American goods, all of which will harm international trade and lead to unemployment. As for Trump's plan to deport lots of illegal migrants, many economists say that it will be very expensive and hard to implement, as well as damaging to the US economy.
Any other news? Not really. Yesterday we took that fat little dog for a very nice walk in the woods, the splendid walk that was interrupted and cut short by an urgent need to visit a bathroom!
Best wishes,
Simon
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