“Can you define politics?”
“Depends on where you are.”
“Perhaps in years past but at present it depends on the character of the head of government.”
“That justifies the strategy of decapitation doesn’t it? Get rid of the head…”
“OK I know where you are going with this, Iran was prepared for it, but which other country is prepared for it I ask you? Are we?”
“Well as a nation we are quick to select all heads, maximum a week of canvassing, and viola the selection is announced.”
“Don’t be facetious anyway we aren’t into decapitation. The US engaged in decapitation in Iran and the result was that President Trump had to be surreptitiously and need I add very uncomfortably transferred to a catering truck….”
“Hey I am sure he was comfortable in it.”
“Don’t be stupid – there are limits to how comfortable a catering truck can possibly be for anyone leave alone President Trump used to a life of luxury. You reckon the shelf dedicated to dessert storage would provide a comfort….”
“I get it but my way or the highway is the policy supported by most Western heads of government these days even though the highway is leading to deindustrialisation and general decline in the economic wealth of their public which, incidentally, opposes their policies and….”
“Right let me narrow my question: how would you define politics in the Land of the Pure?”
“Oh well the pundits refer to taking questions from the media and coming up with a narrative that is more powerful than the narrative of…of the Opposition….”
“The Founder who has not been heard for over six months?”
“Don’t be facetious that’s not what is meant by politics. Selling a narrative…..”
“A narrative in our country sells only when a party is in opposition; not when it is in government. Take up the manifesto of any party, and I mean any party at any time in our history, and they propose remedial policies that can be supported but once in power….”
“So?”
“So the way forward is to divert attention and I reckon it has been effectively diverted. The focus on increasing the number of provinces which incidentally would increase the number of bureaucrats to even more than at present, remember their salaries and pensions eat up more than 4 to 5 percent of our taxpayers’ money….”
“I never thought of it that way, but you know even though it would be a challenge to change the constitution to accommodate more provinces….”
“Challenging amendments have been passed repeatedly…”
“OK but who is talking about the imminent demise of the government now?”
“Gotcha.”
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026