The FT has named Donald Trump its person of the year.
It made me wonder who I would name if I had to do so. And I was stumped. I'm good at some sorts of lists, but not 'my favourite things' ones: choosing my Desert Island Discs would be one of my definitions of a nightmare because I just don't think that way.
Others might though. Who deserves to be person of the year? Or is it just an absurd idea to suggest that anyone can aspire to such a thing at the level the FT implies?
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There it is a nutshell, Richard. We look in vain for a ‘Person of the Year’ in this time of crisis.
Why not you, Richard?
Because I would emphatically not deserve it
But who does? I don’t see any avalanche of suggestions here.
In terms of impact it’s not easy to think beyond Trump internationally, or indeed Farage here in the UK.
But in terms of those who are beginning to think our way out of where we are, who might we look to?
Well maybe to a (an ostensibly dull and even rather nerdy?) provincial accountant, who has a handle on the detail and the willingness to take his analysis where it leads and to rethink things.
I’ve not read much of Vanis V, but on the occasions I have heard him in the media, he has been consistently challenging and interesting. Would he provide more challenge than JC and JMcD, I wonder? Picketty. In journalism, George Mombiot perhaps. Craig Murray can be interesting too on wider topics.
A personal list only, and not necessarily one you would agree with.
Congratulations on breaking your record. I first came across Tax Research some time ago, but have become a regular reader since the Brexit vote. Thanks for what you do.
Thanks
And for the record, I accept that I am a nerd
My person of the year would be Jo Cox.
Her death highlighted the hate mongering in our political and media systems and got some of the mongerers to stop and think about what they were doing albeit briefly.
She cared about her people right to the very end.
And she is the sort of person we need more of in Parliament.
As for the FT – their validation of Trump is nothing but the worship of false Gods that we have seen thoughtout human history.
I have to say she is one of the few who did occur to me
When Thomas Mair was convicted there was a front page picture of Jo Cox in her wedding dress looking absolutely fabulous – I think I may have cried – such a beautiful person slaughtered in her prime. Given the gratuitous liking of the Daily Mail for beautiful women it was all the more bizarre that the reporting of the murder was relegated to a page after 30.
PSR a good choice.
Sadly the person most rubbing his hands with glee I suspect is Vladimir Putin. Not sure how much Brexit is due to him, but may have pushed Trump over the finish line.
The circumstances surrounding the fall of Aleppo seems to demonstrate his complete contempt; or rather his deliberated destabilisation of the region. A few more million refugees heading towards Europe.
Jo Cox.
Not sure she should win but one person I believe should be on the shortlist and up for consideration is Gina Miller.
Gina Miller, for taking the Government to court about article 50 and parliamentary sovereignty, sticking to her guns despite the naysayers and the trolls, standing up for what she believes in, and doing the right thing.
Putin has decided to play the same games as the biggest rogue state in the world: the United State of America.
I was watching the U.S. UN Rep castigating Russia and others over Syria and all I could think of is what successive American Governments have done in El Salvador, Cuba, Iraq – the list goes on and on since the end of World War 2.
Talk about the kettle calling the teapot black. It was sheer hypocrisy. I could not take them seriously if I tried. It’s going to be like two bullies squaring up to each in the playground.