Arguably the history of Britain, indeed the world has been damaged by 'religious fervour'. Experts and those claiming an elite right to rule have, through the ages, clung to beliefs that damaged society. When Robert Peel split the Tory party on free trade and led many, including Gladstone into opposition he espoused a sensible solution to the problems of his time. Free trade benefited Britain. By the 1880s that was increasingly not true. The USA and Germany had become protectionist. They challenged Britain's economic well being, but the ruling class refused to adapt. Free trade had become a religion. There are many other examples. The Gold standard, fixed exchange rates for example. All pursued with a single minded Jesuit like determination.
Added to the natural inclination of 'experts' to believe they know the answer, enter Socialism. Marx so detested religion that he created a new one. One that has caused death and misery throughout the world. A religion that has failed in everything except to reward its priestly class. It is almost impossible to believe that Britain is now in the grip of yet another Socialist experiment. Much of society has been subverted by the hard left, from education to the civil service and social services. The result is a government led by a Trotskyist supporter of extreme envy politics.
I have always thought it odd that a great nation like the US is seemingly incapable of consistently producing great leaders. The choice of Trump or Harris seemed an unfair reflection of the talents the US represents. That said the result is potentially one that could save the western world. Joe Biden's address to the Nation displayed the leader he could have been, but chose not to be. Away from his wise words, the left went into meltdown. Reportedly, professors at Harvard cancelled classes out of concern for student wellbeing following Trump's win. The Guardian newspaper offered its staff counselling. To a democrat this seems odd. To a religious fanatic it's not. Torturing people who do not accept their god is a common theme in all religions.
To ensure control elites throughout time have relied on zealotry and exclusion. Whether peasants or women, since the eleventh century sections of society were excluded. It all seemed to change in the twentieth, but the new socialist religion challenged that. There arose the need for new ways to influence and control. Wokery was born. Suddenly the world is overwhelmingly populated by people suffering 'mental health', or, cynically, are there too many leftie therapists?
Charles Dickens wonderful paragraph from A Tale of Two Cities is apposite: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of light, it was the season of darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way–in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only".
It was true of revolutionary France. It sums up the dilemma the world has faced so many times since then. The challenges facing the free world are existential. Climate fanaticism is destroying the wealth of nations and the livelihoods of people. Free trade (again) has allowed an antagonistic China to rise and dominate swathes of the world, to say nothing of the economic damage inflicted.
Is it possible that the seriously flawed Donald J Trump could actually save us? It is an enormous challenge for a four year term. To reset society and clean the Augean stables requires someone who does not much care what the self regarding great and good think of him. The left shedding tears are repelled. What they fail to understand is that Trump is their fault. They have been so busy wrapped up in their religious bigotry and self righteousness that they have failed to acknowledge the result of their actions. They enjoy their metro bubble. The majority of citizens do not enjoy, benefit from or support the illiberal posturing woke class that selfishly rule for themselves. The mass of people crave common sense. Trump offered that and has been rewarded with the people's mandate. Whether we like him or not is irrelevant. For all our sakes I wish him well. We desperately need a reset. We need the concerns, hopes and ambitions of ordinary folk to once more take centre stage.