Trump shows us that no venture can survive if human dignity is not respected

‘You’re fired!” is the ultimate fear of contestants in the original US version of BBC hit reality show The Apprentice, in which Donald, now President, Trump originated the role filled here by Lord Sugar.

Being interviewed after the Manafort and Cohen trials President Trump was asked by reporter Ainsley Earhardt from Fox News about the talk of impeachment.

His reply was revealing: “I don’t know how you can impeach somebody who’s done a great job.”

Mr Trump’s mind is conditioned to reject anything deemed to be negative or critical towards himself. He proudly claims that he embraced the teaching of Norman Vincent Peale, the author of The Power of Positive Thinking.

What Mr Trump doesn’t embrace is this philosophy’s vital context that insists on dignity and respect for others – in other words, the value of each human life.

President Trump’s mindset refuses to believe that he can do wrong, so when something goes wrong it’s always a “push back”, somebody else’s fault – Fake News, a witch hunt, Hillary Clinton etc, etc.

The biggest failure associated with Scotland in recent times was the collapse of RBS in 2008.

For many years before the collapse many people, primarily in private, challenged a leadership style that only valued short-term results and refused to truly value those who worked for the company, their suppliers or shareholders. In 2007 we can imagine its leader saying: “Why would you fire someone when they are doing a great job?”

2008 is testimony to this mindset being exposed as toxic.

Only time will tell what will befall the Trump presidency. However we can, we must learn that without a mindset which respects the dignity and value of each human life, as a priority, no business success, charity offering or election victory can be sustained. This is a salutary lesson we all need to heed in these days of confusion.

GAVIN CARGILL Edinburgh Road, Linlithgow