Precedent vs Hindsight

          When the cover on my e-reader (not a Kindle) finally disintegrated, it was cheap and easy to replace. (By the way, this is just one of the advantages these devices have over printed hardbacks with their flimsy dustjackets.) After twenty minutes online, and for less than eight quid, I had a new one delivered directly from China. Even though I am not a citizen of the USA and cannot claim to understand fully the economic theories underpinning free trade, this simple transaction is enough, surely, to raise questions about the logic of President Trump’s tariff war? Especially considering the precedent set by President Hoover, whose protectionist tariffs screwed up international economies in the 1930s.

          Not that I intend to dwell on the crass antics of a bullying braggart but, while economists ponder and speculate over the eventual outcome of his diktats, whatever it is Trump is up to is, I’m sure, intended to enrich himself and the even wealthier billionaires for whom he toils so blatantly, shamelessly and relentlessly.

          Meanwhile, far below the level of macroeconomic and geopolitical jousting, populations at large suffer the divisive effects of widening income inequality and endure the vanishing prospects of job security, as businesses put profit before social responsibility. If we want to rein in the excesses of corporate greed and rescue what little is left of society’s commons, we might try playing them at their own game. I, for one, avoid buying from Amazon whenever possible, though I can only hope that millions of others will come together to boycott such monopolistic companies, causing their share prices to wobble and their oligarchs to concede that a more compassionate distribution of wealth is not only affordable but also beneficial to society as a whole.

          The fact that this is unlikely to happen is somewhat depressing, so it’s best not to dwell on it. Fortunately, there are still some small, inexpensive pleasures with which to distract oneself, such as poking around in local history - which is why I boarded a train for an afternoon excursion to nearby Exeter. I was aware of the rivalry between Exeter and Plymouth, the two cities of Devonshire, but did not know the root cause of it. Apparently, it stems from medieval times, when Exeter was a cathedral city and Plymouth a maritime town. Thus, the driving factors are snobbery on the one part and resentment on the other: what’s more, they are remarkably persistent.

          Plymouth has a much larger population but that of Exeter is posher, as evidenced by the fact that John Lewis is on its High Street. Exeter has a magnificent medieval cathedral and all that goes with it: extensive grounds bang in the city centre, with properties, including a posh school, all owned by the Church of England. The centre of Plymouth was erased by bombing during WWII and rebuilt in a modern, architecturally coherent style that is magnificent in its own way but commonly dismissed as ugly by many.  And it wasn’t until 1974 that a reorganisation of local government freed Plymouth from the humiliation of being ‘ruled’ from Exeter.

          No doubt the list of grievances goes on but, in a corner of the ancient church of St. Martin’s, next to the cathedral, I discovered a nugget of history that links the cities despite themselves. Plymouth made the national news last year when there was a dispute over the felling of trees in the city centre to make way for modernisation of the major boulevard, Armada Way. The council insisted (despite strong objections from many citizens) that the trees be removed, claiming that they served as cover for ‘undesirables’ and their nefarious activities. The CCTV cameras needed a clear field of vision.

          It seems the precedent had already been set. The same argument was used at St. Martin’s in 1555, when John Hooker, chamberlain of Exeter, cut down the elms that graced the boundary of the church “because under and behind the trees did hide many evil persons”. He got rid of the trees but, I suppose, the evil persons just relocated. Perhaps it's a good idea to look for precedents.