Light after the rain

I don't feel it is my place to comment on the outcome of the US election, but it is such a historic event that it would be remiss of me to ignore it from my journal. Firstly, I cannot say I am surprised at the outcome - Adam, who has been following the campaigns very closely for months now, predicted this outcome. When the supposedly greatest democracy in the world comes up with below par candidates like Trump and Clinton, no outcome was ever going to be a good one. Sadly the choice of candidates is not an entirely democratic process but one driven by who can afford the costs of those ludicrous campaigns. Until that changes there was always the risk that the US would end up with someone like Trump.

This result represents the general political climate in the west, that of the return to populism. Clinton was seen as the corrupt elite, while Trump - well lets face it, he got the vote of the people who felt he represented their views and value. As we in Britain could not believe the result of the Brexit vote, so too many American woke up today in shock and horror at the outcome. But like us they will now have to suck it up and get on with it.

Personally I hope that the Senate will manage to keep a tight control on some of his more ludicrous ideas, and heaven knows what the effect will be on trade relations, with the US being the single biggest importer of British goods. But like the sunshine that appeared on these leaves after a horrible morning of rain, wind and grey skies, we hope there will be some light after months of a most vicious and bitter campaign by both parties.