US author Anand Giridharadas, who could probably be described as left-leaning, has taken a decidedly different tack on possibly the most divisive president his fellow citizens have ever elected. He believes they should give Donald Trump lots of credit. That credit is due, says Giridharadas, "for flamboyantly discrediting the bullshit of the past few decades". The "bullshit" he refers to is the combination of Reaganomics and Friedmanite monetarism that was rolled into the free market fundamentalism that, since the 1980s, has overseen the creation of a dangerously unequal society. The author, who recently released an insightful and scathing analysis of philanthropists (Winners Take All), says that after Trump no serious person "can think billionaires are especially equipped to know what’s right". Essentially, Giridharadas believes all Americans owe Trump for being "the earthquake, the tsunami, the life-threatening disease" that is always necessary to get people to think of change. Und...

Subscribe now to unlock this article.

Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).

There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.

Cancel anytime.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.