In my callow, youthful days I thought you became all of 'these' people who guide the Ship of State by merit and hard work, not grift, political murder and bullshit. Plainly, I was wrong. Certainly there are people of merit, those who work untiringly for the common weal (think AOC, Sanders), but the majority seem to be mediocre at best, downright evil and selfish at worst.

What I fear here in Australia is the RWNJ backlash as has happened just now in USA. Dreadfully, however, we do not have a bombastic, self-proclaimed millionaire who does deals, but a person who is a failed, putatively racist ex-cop in one of the most right-wing, redneck states in Australia - Queensland. Alarmingly, he is mediocre with as much flair and charisma as a cold in winter. He speaks in snake oil nostrums, mouthing platitudes which appeal to the working class and those doing it tough. Like Harris, our PM Albanese speaks to those of the middle class and those of the upper quintiles, rather than the original supporter base of the labour movement. Therein, for Labor, lies the paradox that they (and the educated élite of the Greens Party) are now the party of the middle-class and above, leaving those less fortunate in their wake.

It is indeed possible Ms Wiles might be a mitigating force for good in a Trump administration and some of the appointment will not be total ratbags (*Aus colloquialism - means as it sounds). While that chance might be slim (looking at *you*, Elon), she might be given a chance to expand his coterie beyond his narrow view to unknowns who have a record in other administrative or civil fields which may soften the dreadful blows which surely will follow should Trump be as good as his word about his new world order.

I wait with bated breath - Australia has an election any time in the first 1/2 of next year. The parallels are as unfortunate as they are dangerous.