In rich and established democracies; UK, France, Germany, but not Spain

In rich and established democracies, what people want from life goes up until no conceivable government can provide it. 

Notice that one of the few major western countries to have a popular leader right now is Spain. It is a place with recent memories of dictatorship.  

Low expectations, born of a low starting point, is most of the trick to happiness. 

Sir Keir Starmer. No UK leader has collapsed from landslide-winner to national joke with such speed. 

The trouble is that, if I am right, almost nothing can be done. 

Britain cannot choose to have a Franco in its recent past to make it grateful for a well-meaning plodder/someone who works slowly and continuously, but without imagination, enthusiasm, or interest/ like Starmer.

Janan Ganesh Financial Times 9 May 2026

https://www.ft.com/content/14152ab1-864d-4ff7-8524-afc7b08821b3?syn-25a6b1a6=1

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