Imagine visiting the newly elected President of a major friendly country in a time of economic stress, and arguing that the very people who elected him to office should not be given preference in his decisionmaking. Instead, they should be delivered up to the abstract opinions of unaccountable international bureaucrats.

1. Who would be so insensitive to the democratic settlement even to harbour thoughts of more global institutions?
2. Who could be so boneheaded as to set foot in “the land of the free” arguing the ideas of international socialism and world government?
3. Who on earth would then start talking about a “special relationship”?

The answer to all three is: Gordon Brown.

It was apparent from the barely-disguised “when will this end?” expressions on Barack Obama’s face that he was not particularly impressed by Brown. Furthermore, he’s not going to deliver anything of substance at the G20 Brownfest in London next month.

Let’s be clear, mild protectionism — as in “ABC jobs for ABC workers” — is an absolute duty of faith to anyone ELECTED by the people of a nation state. That is the democratic bargain. Why vote, otherwise?

Believing it’s almost a crime to be partisan towards your electorate in hard times is a mental disability for politicians. It places your own sensibilities before the needs of those you are elected to defend. In other words, it’s an act of unforgivable selfishness.

In the second chapter of the Indian Bhagavad Gita, Arjuna is about to lead his army into battle against nearby enemy forces. He’s helped of course by having Krishna, “the supreme personality of Godhead”, as his charioteer.

“How can I fight these people,” he says, “they are my uncles, cousins and nephews?”

Krishna replies, “Because it’s your duty to protect your own people. You are their leader. They have no-one else. Your task is clear. Fight and win the day. The time for compassion is when the battle is over and your people are safe.”

Gordon Brown needs to rethink his “moral compass” and decide between his overblown intellectual pretensions and the people he is contracted to support and defend. Let him read the Bhagavad Gita and recognize that he too is confronted with Arjuna’s Dilemma.

This is no time for self-indulgent student Marxism.

John Evans

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