Good morning ,
I'm baack! Wonderful trip to the beautiful states of New England in the
US, meeting my North American correspondent's extended family and surviving American restaurants. Hint: never order an "entree" - that's what they call a main meal and the portions are unattainable. Instead, order an "appetizer", which is what they call an entree. That will suffice. Or, alternatively, order an "entree" but share it between two. Even Americans can't manage to eat a whole entree; the practice of taking home the leftovers in a "box" (or several boxes) is common. These boxes tend to
go into the back of the fridge, where they appear to moulder forever more.
I would like to say - and do say - "Happy New Year". But perhaps more appropriate would be "Good Luck for the New Year". In 2024, about half the world's population in democratic nations will be voting in an election - including the US, the UK, Canada, the EU and India. And Queensland, the NT and the ACT. The result in the US, in particular, could be catastrophic.
In our Lead Stories, an academic analyses how, in these dangerous days, the human yearning for freedom is merging with the tendency for authoritarianism (on the left as well as on the right). It's now incontrovertible that the MAGA movement has morphed into a modern form of fascism and that should worry more than those in America who are bewildered about what is happening to their country.
Good to be able to get back into a semblance of routine.
PS: if you like reading these little missives, could I ask a favour? Could you please persuade a friend or a colleague to subscribe? Let's see if we
can get to 2,000 subscribers this year ...
