G20: A 'new world order' is simply fantasy

Telegraph.co.uk ^ | April 3, 2009 | Simon Heffer

[Scanian]

Those who thought that Dr Goebbels came to an end on a stretch of waste ground in Berlin in 1945 have been forced to think again. The piece of theatre that concluded in London on Thursday was one of the great confidence tricks of our lifetimes. Just getting the 20 most important heads of government on the planet together in one place and not being unpleasant about each other was, we must concede, something of an achievement. But it won't make a blind bit of difference to the world's economy.

Nor, I imagine, will it have any effect on the result of the next general election. In the months ahead, as thousands more people go on to the dole every week, more businesses go under and confidence continues to seep out of a system wrecked by politicians, few will link in their minds the words "Gordon Brown" and "triumph". I have long thought that our Prime Minister was around elevenpence ha'penny to the shilling. His fantasy press conference at the end of the G20, with his grandiloquent (and preposterous) claim to have founded a "new world order", confirmed it.

As I wrote here a few weeks ago, this international act of posturing was pointless; because despite having caused the problem, the political class had none of the requisite skills to sort it out. It also seems that some great issues have been fudged. Is the New World Order in favour of a new fiscal stimulus or not? It pains me to say so, but I have been impressed by the Germans (with the French hanging on to their coat-tails) holding out against recklessly pumping money into the economy as Mr Obama and, to a lesser extent, our own Government have done.

[Scanian]

"The international act of posturing was pointless; because despite having caused the problem, the political class had none of the requisite skills to sort it out, says Simon Heffer."

[slowhandluke]

I think this is the article's best line "Roosevelt's New Deal failed because it hindered people from helping themselves".

I've asked a couple of liberals the question: If the general population needs so much help in their daily life, where are you going to find all those government employees who know how to do what the general population doesn't? The question just makes them mad. But it also highlights their elitism, as the only answer is that getting a liberal arts degree and a government job identifies you as a superior being.

[Scanian]

It also demonstrates rejection of scripture. You know, the part about teaching a man to fish, etc.?

[slowhandluke]

Yup, same thing.