Time for Old Time?

Here are some of the thoughts that have been occupying my mind in recent times:

• When you think of the sabotage, disruption and worse visited upon the western political and social process by the Russian misinformation apparatus,one just hopes that, behind the scenes, Putin and his mob are getting paid back in full measure. My main grouse is that we are forever reacting to events, never precipitating them.
• How is it possible that a person as revolting in every way finds himself in a position of power one year down the line? Is the problem that getting rid of him would involve getting rid of his truly ghastly family as well?
• More seriously,  and if we are to compare the US with the  UK, we might say that, whereas both countries suffer from the same original sins, we in Britain have had a little longer to come to terms with them, while in America the process has only just begun.