To Crown an American Monarch

coronation of Tsar Alexander III of Russia in 1888- his reign proved short and largely ineffectual in implementing reforms to reverse the decay of his empire.

Eyeing the progress of the US presidential election from the comforting impartiality of a forgien continent, I can’t quite surpress the feeling that I have absolutely no emotional investment in the outcome. I know its important, sure. Despite the gleeful prophesying of America’s gradual decent from the stature of first world power, it’s hard to deny that anointing the leader of the worlds most affluent economy has its consequences. At the moment, that’s almost what it's feeling like. A coronation. The current unsavoury autocrat is slipping begrudgingly towards a well earned death; and his somewhat more palatable successor has already begun ordering the blackest of wreaths and most patriotic funeral decor possible. Ignoring my admittedly clumsy metaphor ( Biden is a full four years older than his “predecessor”), you can’t retreat very far from the bloodied animosity of modern politics to realise there isn't a great deal to differentiate the two contenders.

Both are caucasian men approching the end of their respective careers, one in the sphere of, and this is with the broadest possible definition, business, and one in career politics. Those worlds intermingle far more regularly than one might care to admit. Both are ardent capitalists, who believe in the autonomy of the free market, and it’s almost divine ability to rectify the worlds collective woes. Waging foreign wars in areas that have have the audacity to evade American influence is good and federal responsibly for health care is for the Marxists and Europeans. Lastly, both have a fondness for hand acrobatics and, allegedly, practising with female colleagues in the workplace. One conceals this habit, while the other vindictively broadcasts it to endear himself to Americas extremities.

The above is quite evidently a slightly indulgent generalisation, but the crippling tragedy of this years final election scramble is its hard to do much else. A public endorsement of the two candidates seems to connatate either a blind ecstasy of Conservatism or resigned embrace of banality. Emily Tamkin in the most recent edition of Londons’s the New Statesmen summarised her perspective by stating that, in the event of a Democratic victory, America would be greeted with “a politician” not a “reality star” who would, once again, “be president.” A conclusion who's hopeful twang can not quite conceal the violent pessimism bubbling…