The Village Timekeeper

There was, once, a retired sea captain to whom time was everything. In his retirement, he would sail out to sea each daybreak to reminisce about his glory days. 


Sail closer to the shore he would, to better listen for the boom of a distant cannon that went off at noon, and thereat hoist his flag to mark this precious noon. Only at sunset would he lower it again. 


Now, the cannon operator was a retired soldier, who kept the local time. Knowing the exacting sea captain, the horizon he would spy through his telescope, for the captain's vessel and flag which appeared at precisely noon. Once manifested, "boom!" with a resounding resolution he would fire his cannon to announce noon to all of the town. 


So, who had the correct time? 


That's what is happening here with populism and leaders like Donald Trump. They have no clue about what is right or wrong but peg their actions on the populist and misguided crowd.

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