A novel warning of what will happen

Sir— In his novel The Plot Against America (2004), Philip Roth conjures an alternative US in which a racist politician is elected president and America descends into a dark, fearful period during which xenophobic policies and attitudes become the norm and “undesirables” are quietly removed from society.

Sadly, fact often trumps fiction. Once upon a time there was a politician who was avowedly racist and whose colourful, passionate speeches roused millions of his countrymen. He pledged to restore law and order, make his country great again, and sort out the nation’s enemies, internal and external.

Media critics and political opponents dismissed his over-the-top ranting, while supporters blithely ignored the more outrageous aspects of his behaviour and ideology.

Some who voted for him did so out of frustration with the tired old political establishment of the day.

They never dreamed he might actually win. The good, old protest vote.

Opponents wrote him off, pointing to his comical gestures. People beyond his country’s borders laughed at his speeches. But not his supporters.

At his rallies, anyone who showed up with a placard to object was wrestled out of the stadium. And his supporters could be heard giving vent to racist taunts in the packed halls.

His own supporters, like everyone else, were astonished when he was voted his country’s leader in a free and fair election.

Congratulations poured in from around the world, including (through gritted teeth) from those world leaders who denounced what he stood for.

He went on to tackle law and order, but not in the way decent and naive folk expected. And he fulfilled his pledge to make his country great again.

Millions died in the resulting conflicts (though he lacked the A-bomb) and he led his country to ruin.

Later, people who voted for him were interviewed and their response sounded like a broken record: “If only we had known.” John Fitzgerald,

Callan, Co Kilkenny