RECENT events would suggest that, while people are still interested in politics, they have lost faith in politicians.
Their disdain for the voter has seen the rise of the Scottish National Party and Ukip, both tapping into a vein of public dissatisfaction.
The mood is similar elsewhere.
If polls can be believed, Marine le Pen may soon lead France to ‘Frexit’, while in Germany Mrs Merkel has just been knocked into third place in local elections by Alternatif fur Deutschland, which primarily objects to uncontrolled immigration.
Over the water, the American people will elect the next leader of the free world in November.
Most Americans would rather not choose between Mrs Clinton and Mr Trump, both of whom are universally disliked, for different reasons.
Hillary is widely seen as dishonest; Donald as dangerous and, some would say, mad.
Yet, unthinkable as it may seem here in Europe, Mr Trump may be gaining the ascendancy, simply because he’s seen to be independent of the political elite.
He is seen by disenchanted voters as a straight-talker, seemingly not afraid to say it how it is.
There’s a freshness with this approach which is clearly pressing many of the right buttons.
In contrast, Mrs Clinton has, in my view, mistakenly dismissed Trump supporters as “a basket of deplorables”, a sweeping generalization which echoes Mr Cameron’s description of Ukip supporters as ‘swivel-eyed’ and ‘fruitcakes’.
The Brexit vote should be a salutary lesson for any politician who is disrespectful of the voter.
Returning to the US, I predict a Trump victory.
If that is the case, we can only hope that a new President is guided by wise counsellors, who appreciate the great trust invested in them by the people who put them there.