The Second Law of Thermopolitics

I do not want to speak too soon, but I will. I detect that already Trump’s regime is beginning to weary of its early burst of energy. As we know, the Second Law of Thermodynamics shows how heat is dissipated (and not recovered), leading to entropy. Anyway, that’s my interpretation of the application of this law in politics. The energy of this current woeful presidency is being fired in all directions all at once to fulfil Steve Bannon’s ‘shock and awe’ tactics, designed to overwhelm not just the opposition but any critical reaction whatsoever. It’s a bit like the use of very powerful RAF fighter jets flying low over primitive Afghanistan villages to frighten them with the sheer power of their noise. (Unless you’ve experienced close proximity to a fighter aircraft in full throttle mode you won’t know what I’m talking about). Can full throttle be maintained all the time is the question. I don’t think it can, not for a machine that requires a lot of fuel, nor for a politician that requires a lot of political capital. How much of that has Trump got? His poll ratings have slumped to historical lows already, even before his attempt to crash the global economy.  What does someone in his position do now? Double down! With three and bit years to go, he has to demonstrate that at least to himself (what else matters?) he was right. This means, regardless of evidence, that he will indeed double down and things will become ever more deranged. There will be  a lot more noise, and indeed some more very harmful outcomes as Trump’s fuel runs out. But it will run out. What then? Actually I dread ask. Watch this space.