Boris Johnson was a long-term mistake

This writer came away with two overriding impressions of Boris Johnson. One was the overwhelming impact of the breadth of education and classical knowledge of the British Prime Minister. The second was that his commitment to power and political success has dubious ethical overtones. He describes Augustus in very flattering terms, "The man who made it all possible," yet Augustus acceded to the proscriptions that killed 130 senators and 3000 Romans. Cicero was one of them, yet as noted, Johnson believes that Augustus concurred with the killing.

One of the themes of Johnson's thoughts on Augustus is that "it will be very hard to create a single European consciousness without such a figure." (p.76)

This writer, however, does disagree with Johnson on BREXIT in several respects. Many have noted that Europe after centuries of constant conflict had enjoyed its longest period of peace in its history. In 2012, the EU was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The European Union has also proved its worth as a counter to the unpredictable follies of presidents of the United States, particularly on Iran. But finally, there are the disastrous economic consequences in Britain of BREXIT. With the possible exit of Scotland, and even Wales, Great Britain could become a Little Britain.

This writer is thankful to Boris Johnson in one respect. He had always wondered why the people of Rome, and the Senate, accepted Augustus as emperor when they had earlier assassinated his uncle Julius Caesar, for claiming the imperial crown. The answer appears to be Augustus' ruthless streak, his ambition, and high level of competence, attributes that Johnson himself in his book has stated that he admires. The conservative political faction in the late Roman Republic, formed in reaction to the reforms of the Gracchi brothers - and the Populares who favoured the cause of the plebeians. Many politicians of the Republic postured as Populares to enhance their popularity among the plebs, notably Julius Caesar and Augustus, who enacted many of the Populares' objectives during their rule.

The usurpation of power by Caesar, and then by his nephew, Augustus, was the start of the decline of the colossus that was ancient Rome.

Boris Johnson did not initiate the decline of Britain, but he has certainly contributed to it. His book gave us warning. Brexit was the first. The Guardian describes the failures of Brexit as an enduring folly. The largest consequence is possibly the breakup of the United Kingdom.

Covid-19 has inflicted huge social and economic damage. It hit the Prime Minister's popularity. Even so, he can pin his hopes on good news about vaccines.

The 2005 allegations of sexual misconduct by the former Conservative Party Deputy Chief Whip, Chris Pincher re-appointed by Johnson, was another mark against the Prime Minister. And then there was "Partygate," a scandal involving rule-breaking pandemic parties at Downing Street, earned Johnson the ignoble prize of being the first British prime minister to be charged with a crime while in office.More than 100 MPs pulled support as Cabinet told Boris Johnson his time is up. Johnson resigned on 7 Jul 2022.

Boris Johnson is undoubtedly talented. Dictators throughout history have possessed talents above the ordinary. Augustus, Napoleon, Hitler, even Stalin and the subsequent Russian leaders, including Vladimir Putin evidenced early capabilities. Even Donald Trump. He is not a dictator, but we were warned in Johnson's case. His endorsement of Augustus is very questionable.

What then is the answer to power hungry politicians? That is another research project. The answer, it could well be argued, is the elimination of social systems that facilitate the rise of power-hungry dictators – political parties, the army, even political systems like communism. Independent thinking, and candidates, in our parliamentary decision-making systems, is another possible long-term response.