Thomas L. Friedman’s column in the Times begins:
When future historians look back on 2022, they will have a lot to choose from when they ask the question: What was the most important thing that happened that year? Was it Brexit, Chexit, Ruxit or Trumpit?
Tom, no. Please don’t.
But Tom continues:
Was it the meltdown of the world’s sixth-largest economy, Britain, fueled in part by its reckless 2020 exit from the European Union? Was it the demented attempt by Vladimir Putin to wipe Ukraine off the map, which has decoupled Russia from the West — what I call Ruxit — creating havoc with worldwide energy and food markets? Was it the near-total infection of the G.O.P. with Donald Trump’s Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen — Trumpit — which is eroding our democracy’s most cherished asset: our ability to peacefully and legitimately transfer power?
So let me get this straight, Tom, Britain’s decision to exit the European Union is “Brexit,” but Russia invading Ukraine is “Ruxit”? And Donald Trump’s lunatic lies about the 2020 election are — somehow — “Trumpit”?
What? How does that make any sense? Does the New York Times not employ editors anymore? Is there no one over there who can say, “Actually, Tom — this is a stupid idea for a column. Maybe you should revise and refile”?