The Lamborghini Theory

2026-03-09 - 08:44

It’s appropriate that I first heard of the “Lamborghini Theory” of political power in an Italian restaurant. I’m not sure it helped my appetite though. I was invited for lunch at Café Milano, which the Washington Post called “Washington’s ultimate place to see and be seen,” by my dear friend Steve Livingston. Steve, in his late 70s established and then sold more than seven successful companies, in manufacturing, trade, music and AI. He also had served as a government envoy focused on Africa, the Middle East and Asia. I passed through a snowbound city to get there, and I can tell you that DC is as ill-prepared for snow as Cairo is for heavy rain. Steve greeted me and introduced me to the two other guests at his secluded corner table: Michael Hudson, CEO of a well-known think tank in DC, and Sharon Stevens, a professor of International Relations in a very highly-ranked university in the Carolinas. We ordered after about 15 minutes of pleasantries and explaining how Steve and I first met many years ago. I asked for smoked salmon as a starter and dover sole and steamed vegetables as a main. Sharon went totally vegan and Michael ordered a “Milanese style” veal chop with asparagus. As our server departed with our orders, Sharon turned to me, pushed her spectacles up on her sharp Roman nose and, with a small smile creeping onto her lips, said: “You are a regular at the World Economic Forum and the Munich Security Conference, what’s your point of view on the state of the world?” I smiled back and told her that the WEF is no longer committed to the mission of its founder Klaus Schwab, which was “to improve the state of the world.” It has become a commercial operation, a money-making venue to marry business and politics. I added that the way the WEF treated Klaus Schwab was shameful and a reflection of what the forum has become. “As for the Munich Security Conference, it has changed from something designed to strengthen transatlantic relations and improve global security to a forum for America and Europe to express their distrust with each other and a stage for competition amongst leaders to increase their military budgets. Not one leader used the words peace, negotiation or mutual common interest except, surprisingly, the Foreign Minister of China.” “In a nutshell,” I concluded, “the so-called international order is undergoing destruction in plain sight and the world is watching.” Sharon responded, “Why do you see destruction? Why not consider that