Perhaps

[poliphilo]

Perhaps the manifest uselessness of most of our leaders in the face of coronavirus et al will begin to cure us of expecting them to offer us comfort and inspiration. Perhaps. But the archetype of the divine ruler is still powerful with us- and we keep on looking upwards for our salvation when the only place to look is within...

How many incompetent presidents, incompetent prime ministers, incompetent chairmen will it take before the penny drops.

Comments

[cmcmck]

And this you ask a historian?...............

[poliphilo]

You'd have thought we'd have settled the question once and for all when we cut that long-haired bloke's head off but...

[cmcmck]

Then we invited his idiot son back.............

[poliphilo]

You probably know this one...

"Here lies our mutton eating king
Whose word no man relies on.
He never said a foolish thing
Nor ever did a wise one."

To which Charles reportedly riposted. "Just so, because my words are my own and my actions are my ministers'"

I have a certain regard for Charles II. He took an informed interest in the science of his day, got laid a lot- and- crucially managed to keep his throne (which was more than his father and brother achieved.)