Rich democracies need an acute crisis to trigger real change
The tragedy of Jimmy Carter was one of timing, not talent. It is almost impossible to sell voters on drastic reforms until their nation is in acute trouble. The chronic kind isn’t enough.
I once met a sweet old couple in west Texas who still felt sore at Jimmy Carter. His crime? Enforcing the 55 miles per hour speed limit on the nation’s roads some four decades earlier.
Bashing the 39th US president, who died on Sunday, was never just a conservative sport, though. He was a recurring punchline in The Simpsons too. This was harsh on a decent and often far-sighted man whose governing struggles – with inflation, with Iran – were largely outside his control.
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Financial Times
Janan Ganesh is the principal political columnist for the Financial Times.
