Which story tells the truth?

I went to see Jackie last night.  A very moving film, it showed the emotion, and brutal side, of politics and the transfer of power in the USA.   Instant.  No longer was Jackie the First Lady. 

But, as the film showed, she wanted her stamp to be on the narrative that defined her and her late husband, John F Kennedy.  Not rewriting history, but certainly having it written in a way that tells the story the way you want it.

And so it is already with Barack Obama.  Former president.  Eight years in office.  Over the past few weeks we have been treated to a list of his achievements.  It’s like he is getting his story in first in the hope that it will be the one that survives.  All well and good. It sounds like a good story.

But sometimes the un-spoken things tell a story that is less comfortable as a legacy.The untold story.

Obama hasn’t talked about the $20 TRILLION debt he leaves behind, double what it was when he came to the office of president.

What of the 13 million more Americans on food stamps than when he came to office, that is a staggering total of 1 in 7 citizens in the USA relying on them?  Or the increase in gang and gun crime which are completely out of control in Chicago.  What of the fact that most black people are worse off than ever?

Or the greatest wealth disparity ever?  The militarised police?  The most extreme use of executive orders?

On the international stage, what of the USA dropping bombs on 7 countries it is not officially at war with? Or Presidential authorisation of those to be assassinated by drone or supporting the overthrow of the elected government in the Ukraine?  How about Special Forces operations in 138 countries or having the security state apparatus unconstitutionally spy on people at home and overseas including Angela Merkel.  

And not closing Guantanamo.

Which story will be the one that is remembered?

Now, so far, all we have had from incoming president Trump are words.  Some of them not very pleasant it has to be said.  But he clearly has defined the issues as he sees it.  From the crumbing infrastructure to the spiralling poverty that both Republican and Democrat politicians have done nothing about.   

In four years’ time we will be able to judge him.  And be able to start to write his story.