Jeff Kennett: A divided States is a threat to us all
Donald Trump’s divisive words and actions risk splitting the US just at the time the western world needs a unified America, writes Jeff Kennett.
Opinion
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Good leaders, whether they’re from political, commercial, not-for-profit or sporting organisations, usually succeed when they’re able to take their communities with them.
For the purposes of this article, I’m going to focus on political leaders.
In Australia we are fortunate that our political system and model for democracy was inherited from the United Kingdom. No leader has absolute power. Their influence lies firstly in the support of their party room colleagues, secondly in the majority their party enjoys in the House of Representatives, where government is formed, and the Senate. There are several checks and balances in our political system.
Where there is disunity within a political party and it is publicly expressed and apparent to voters, there is usually a heavy price to pay at the ballot box.
The same is true when policies are offered that are seen to be to the detriment of individuals. The party responsible is usually dealt with harshly by the electorate.
During an election cycle, the public will be offered a variety of policies and positions.
But regardless of the heat generated during an election campaign, when the result is in and there is a clear winner and loser, once the jubilation or disappointment has subsided, life for the community goes on without rancour and certainly without acts of violence.
It is an aspect of Australian life about which we should never become complacent. Our political system is a functional, participatory democracy that serves us all very well.
Because of the strength and stability of our political system, we tend to judge the operation and effectiveness of other political systems based on our own. We do the same for political leaders.
I am often asked who I think are the best leaders across the world. Of recent leaders, I have had great respect for the former prime minister of New Zealand, John Key, and Angela Merkel the Chancellor of Germany.
India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Chinese President Xi Jinping both have considerable influence at home and internationally, even if I do not agree with all of their policies. Neither should be underestimated.
Until recently I had been prepared to give Donald Trump the benefit of the doubt because the electoral system in the United States is very different from ours and the position and authority of the President is very different from that of our Prime Minister.
But I am increasingly concerned by two specific patterns of behaviour exhibited by President Trump. Firstly, his continual use of Twitter to express not only his views on a range of issues, but also policy pronouncements.
It must be almost impossible for his senior ministers, the secretaries of his departments such as health, defence or education, to discharge their responsibilities with any confidence or consistency. It is little wonder there has been an almost unprecedented turnover of secretaries since Trump took office.
But what is even more disturbing has been the President’s deliberately divisive words and actions. Good leaders do not deliberately goad and divide their communities but Trump is doing so with what seems an increasing regularity and a sense of satisfaction.
His attacks last week on four female Democratic congresswomen of colour, three of whom were born in America and who are US citizens, were appalling.
Not only were his attacks a failure of leadership but he deliberately repeated those attacks, further dividing his community.
I cannot remember in recent history, in the western world, a situation where an elected leader has so deliberately set out to divide his community.
It has never happened in Australia and I am confident it never will. I don’t believe it would happen in the United Kingdom either despite the country facing difficult policy issues such as Brexit. Differences of opinion over policy should never be used to belittle or divide. doing so can only weaken a nation, so Trump’s outbursts are troubling at best and dangerous at worst.
Nations succeed when they are economically and socially strong. To deliver that strength a country needs leaders who inspire, unite and deliver.
Trump seems convinced of his own authority and rectitude that his words and actions are becoming more divisive by the week.
Outside of the United States’ domestic affairs, there have been tensions around trade relations with China and now the disputes with Iran which could develop into a major international incident.
But because of Trump’s discordant behaviour, it might be hard to mobilise the US population as one if America is challenged.
The global community must, of course, accept the decision of the US people when they vote in the next presidential election, but I am increasingly worried about the Trump Presidency and what it might mean for the United States, Australia and the world.
Fomenting disunity as Trump has done is highly dangerous and he risks leaving the United States as the Divided States at the end of his tenure.
The US is an important partner to Australia. We want and need it to be economically and socially strong. because when it is divided, we are all at risk.
There is talk in the US that many Democrats want to attempt to impeach the President but that in itself is divisive.
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They would be better served focusing on policy and promoting positive, public discourse on the issues of the day and, hopefully, finding an acceptable candidate with broad appeal for the next presidential election.
The public will decide, but we all have a strong interest in the stability of the United States.
Have a good day.
— Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria.
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