Life in politics

Mark Siara - Mon 07 Apr, 2008

Beleaguered politicians are victims of circumstance

An interesting email found its way into my inbox recently. Innocuous enough at first glance, it contained some artwork depicting the face of President George W. Bush. The entire piece was made up of cuttings from magazines stuck together to give the light, shade and colour of the leader of the free world’s features. That’s all very clever and there’s nothing wrong with that you may say. On closer inspection however, it became apparent that the clippings were taken from, ahem, adult magazines. Very specific parts of those magazines it turns out, the parts that in polite society remain covered up. Those parts that nubile, supple, young women have no hesitation in displaying on the centrefold (watch those staples!) and elsewhere. You getting this now?

The implication, while not subtle, is obvious. The artist was clearly not Dubya’s biggest fan and he chose to air his displeasure through the medium he knew best. I suppose it’s similar to here at the Daily Reckoning or in the national newspapers or on the blogs, except that words are used instead of images to criticise, correct and condemn. But are we collectively being too harsh on our elected representatives; do they really deserve the mauling they receive daily? They are, after all, just trying to do their best in very difficult circumstances, often circumstances they did nothing to create.

Take AlistairDarling who inherited the poisoned chalice of Chancellor last year. I know it seems hard to believe but, in June of last year, being head of the Exchequer was actually one of the most desired jobs in government; the unofficial number two to the Prime Minister. But then came the credit crunch, Northern Rock and falling house prices. Darling turned from Sub-Prime Minister to the Subprime Minister in a few short weeks. So what was his biggest mistake? Was it the apparent dithering as the money markets locked up? What about the purloining of Conservative tax ideas? Or how about producing a non-budget when something – for once – needed to be done? Of course it is none of these things, lamentable as they are. The biggest mistake he made was to take over the job from Gordon Brown at a time when everything (on the face of it) was going well.

The same can be said of Brown himself, although he is more complicit. The poor fellow, taking over from the hugely popular and successful Tony Blair and riding high in the polls until the events of last summer. It’s a different story now and it’s all about timing. If only he’d waited a few more months he could have come in as a new leader with a mandate to start afresh, clear up this unholy mess and move on. Instead he finds himself embroiled in the worst financial crisis for many a long year. How was he to know everything would start to unravel with such speed? He couldn’t have of course; all he could have done after ten years at Number 11 is make sure the UK was prepared for a downturn. The jury is still out on that one – it’s not that they’ve not made up their minds; it’s just that they don’t want to return and see a grown man cry.

Then there’s Ben Bernanke, a man who looks and acts more and more like Mr Potato Head every week. Too hard a pat on the back (not likely right now) and you think his face is going to fall off. Bernanke took over from Alan Greenspan in early 2006 when the US consumer was happy. Deluded but happy. A buoyant stock market, rising house prices, low inflation – everything in the white picket - fenced garden was rosy. Not any more – the flowers have turned out to be plastic and weeds are choking new growth. Yet again, it’s all about timing – if he’d been appointed a couple of years later he could have come in as the saviour of the US economy, although he’d have to behave more like Paul Volcker than Alan Greenspan.

So, spare a though t for our beleaguered politicians; they’re only victims of circumstances after all. The general rule seems to be: don’t take over when things are going well. Aspire to power when things are at their lowest, when the electorate are crying out for change. But in politics as in life you have to play the cards you are dealt. When there is a downturn, being a politician is not the most popular of professions, up there with estate agents, lawyers and second-hand car dealers. Or baggage handlers at Heathrow ’s Terminal 5. But in these situations all you can do is your best, be honest and upfront with the electorate and hope for some good luck. If things go well you may be re-elected. If not, like the picture of President Bush, you may end up with a lot more than just egg on your face.