The first day of 2020

This blog will continue in 2020, I hope. The key inspiration will remain to combat delusion and irrationality in politics. This objective takes into consideration that some of our political leaders seem to have lost contact with reality and the aspirations of common people.

Best wishes for 2019

Time to wish all my readers a very happy 2019.

And to promise I will be around, as much as possible, and try to propose balanced views, innovative analysis, and the appropriate critique, when necessary.

That’s a very demanding agenda, I agree. But that’s what is needed at this time of confusion, superficiality and self-centred communication that is nothing but distortion and egoistic promotion of one’s agenda.

Let’s move on.

End of 2018

To my Portuguese readers, today I sent a message closing the year 2018 with three short sentences about Taoism. I should do the same for my international readers. But before, I should say that 2018 was a complex year. That’s the best introduction to a philosophical approach to such complexity. Now, I add the three words that summarise the phrases I wrote in Portuguese: accept, connect and smile.

And I wish all of you a very tranquil end of 2018.

Holidays and the change that is coming

Christmas 2016 is about to happen. It is therefore time to close this shop for a few days and enjoy the family.

But before closing for the holidays, I spent a bit of time thinking about the role of the elites as we get closer to the New Year and all the changes it will bring, in the US, in the UN, and also in some parts of the EU, in particular those more affected by the Brexit discussions, the nationalism extreme and the related immigration issues, security challenges, and by complex electoral processes. Elites will have to be very clear in their communication endeavours, very sensitive to the difficulties and anxiety many people face, and also very responsible when talking about the way forward. The interaction between the elites and the ordinary citizen will be a major issue as we get back from the holidays and start confronting the world of 2017.

The New Year this time will bring a real change.

In the meantime, let´s enjoy the break. Happy holidays, then.

Happy New Year and bring confidence back

As we start the New Year, we also realise that one the great challenges ahead, as far as the European leaders are concerned, is to regain their credibility. They have to take into account that public opinion is a strategic variable in matters of politics. And they have to endeavour to get the voters ‘confidence back. That should be the main topic of discussion in the political circles as we get into the first working week of 2016.

In the meantime, and just as an example, let me refer that Le Figaro´s edition of today organised a poll on President Hollande´s New Year Message. The daily newspaper got close to 46 thousand responses to the question. 92% of the readers said the message was not convincing. That´s an incredible negative reaction. It´s true that most of those who read Le Figaro are rather on the opposite side of Hollande´s politics. But still, such a percentage is just too revealing: political confidence is one way avenue. Once lost, it is almost impossible to recover.

Just to complement, on this same day another survey has shown that 3 out of every 4 French citizens do not wish either Hollande or Sarkozy to run for the presidency in 2017.

2016 is indeed a very promising year on the leadership side of politics.

Brussels cancels the New Year...

The Brussels mayor has just decided to cancel tomorrow´s fireworks and other street celebrations that were planned for New Year´s night.

A lot of people seem to be shocked by the decision. They basically argue that it gives up to all those who aim at destroying our way of life. They see it as capitulation.

My advice is to accept it and also to consider that such a decision was certainly not taken lightly. I see behind it a lot of ponderation, analysis and discussion among people who know the situation.

Actually, if we take into account that the mayor opted for it, notwithstanding the many costs it carries, including those related to the reputation of the city, we should also conclude that the menaces are much more real than what we had thought. And such conclusion is certainly a matter of concern. 

Happy Days

Time to wish every one of my readers a very happy Festive Season and a New Year full of great and pleasant surprises. 

Towering towards 2011

Copyright V.Angelo

Hymn to the imagination, and happy New Year.