If the Bombardier bust-up didn't convince you then maybe Jeremy Shapiro will. An Obama aide, he has said that our "special relationship" with US is only special to us. Rather like a philandering spouse, the US representatives assure us how important we are to them... until they meet the next delegation who then becomes their most special darling.
They joke amongst themselves about our overweening pride, that we swallow this hokum and even boast about how we are their one and only. They twit us to our faces - Mr Shapiro used to insert references to the 'the Malvinas' (the Argentinian name for the Falkland Islands) into press conferences.
We aren't the only cuckold: 14 of 25 EU countries believe they have a special relationship with the US. Mr Shapiro said our relationship was much the same as the rest That hardly rates as special - more like being 'friends' on Facebook.
On the other hand, maybe we need to believe the most powerful nation in the world has a special regard for us. Like the man who brings presents to a beautiful call-girl, treating their relationship as significant for her, blinding himself to the other clients, because he needs the fantasy of connection to bolster his own self-regard.
There is a price. As Mr Shapiro says, "I think Donald Trump will be willing to exploit the UK's need for a special relationship to get a good trade deal."
Of course, we may well be grateful for whatever we can get. Chlorinated or not.
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