Bargaining, competition, and the complex and subjective way in which the value of things is assessed add yet another complexity and dimension to the market which governments simply do not possess or understand and in turn compels governments to ultimately accede and acquiesce to the market. Simply put, there are some things in life which simply do not have a price tag, given their cultural significance or their sentimental value. And all of this is determined by market forces and dynamics which operate in ways which governments will never understand. And if there is a lack of understanding, then interference in what is not understood can make conditions and matters worse instead of better.
One of the ways in which we see that governments can make conditions and matters worse instead of better is the way in which Joe Biden has developed his political strategy as of late. Given his lack of credibility and legitimacy and his lack of popular support, Biden is now relying largely on a “divide and conquer” strategy based on race in order to stay alive politically. Whereas everyone else – especially the younger generation – is focusing on policy and issues, Biden is trying to turn every little thing into a politics of race. And this is the most dangerous and precarious form of politics, given that race and ethnic nationalism and culture wars can bring out base instincts and raw feelings and sentiments which add to both polarization and to the destabilization of the basic social fabric of the country.
Thus, it would be better if Biden either stood aside and let the people decide how to steer the political and social process of their country or go ahead and participate in the upcoming election but not steal the election from Bernie Sanders or anyone else as he did the last time around because it is an established fact that he will not win in a fair and free election. Either way, it would be a departure from the dangerous and precarious politics of culture and race which has torn down other countries and societies in the past and which Biden is trying to advance. Moreover, many Americans do not have the eidetic experience and memory which would enable them to understand what is going on in their government and society at the moment. Given that I come from a background where such things have happened and that I have personally been acquainted with leaders from another country who have resorted to this kind of dangerously polarizing politics, I carry an eidetic experience and memory which allows me to analyze and decipher the current situation in the United States in a way that differs from others but is nevertheless a relevant and proper analysis and deciphering of the situation.
Hence, while analytics, empirical methods, facts, statistical models, and technology are all important in determining or discovering trends and outcomes, the human factor trumps everything else when all is said and done. As Henry Kissinger wrote:
“Facts are rarely self-explanatory; their significance, analysis, and interpretation – at least in the foreign policy world – depend on context and relevance. As ever more issues are treated as if of a factual nature, the premise becomes established that for every question there must be a researchable answer, that problems and solutions are not so much to be thought through as to be ‘looked up.’ But in the relations between states – and in many other fields – information, to be truly useful, must be placed within a broader context of history and experience to emerge as actual knowledge. And a society is fortunate if its leaders can occasionally rise to the level of wisdom.”
And given that too many factors and issues to account for have now converged to prompt a political and social crisis of an unparalleled and unprecedented character and nature in the United States, we need to take opinions and views which incorporate a bit of eidetic experience and memory, employ intelligent analogies and comparisons instead of the hackneyed and flimsy ones, and reckon with history into consideration.
Adam A. Azim 