Author: Richard

I am not sure, as ever about using a new word (to me) but I want a word that describes a very deep seated hatred of the orange twat! He has threatened both Hamas and Ukraine with the same dictat – do as I tell you or else. He does this whilst siding with Israel and Russia. He sees Hamas as a crushiable organisation with no consequences for himself – ‘all actions have consequences Dickhead!’. The Ukraine is more complicated – I honestly think he is trying to undermine Europe and cause chaos so that American companies can clean up! Greenland and Panama maybe more fanciful notions in his ancient brain?

China has made itself very clear regarding the “trade war” that Trump has started. Or any other type of war! Taiwan should be worried – has protection by the USA enabled its existence? That could end soon? So Trump farts about claiming to be the great peace provider. But the reality is that the world is becoming more dangerous by the second! American hegmony has enabled peace in most countries for the last 70 years. No longer.

His acolytes have already proposed him for the Nobel Peace Prize – what a fucking laugh. The man who may cause more deaths than any other POTUS? His reduction in the Aid budget alone may do this.

Trump suspends aid to Ukraine to try and force it to the negotiating table – on its terms. Trump was elected on America First. He is demqnding Ukrainian minerals in return for past aid. With wealth comes responsibility! Much is made of our “special relationship” with the states – analysis shows it to have been a one way street since WW2, when did we finally pay off the debt? Why have so many American companies had preferential treatment over here? It is not currently feasible for Europe to step up supplies to counter the USA, but “there are more ways to catch a monkey?”

By pursing prefential trade deals for the USA and creating an isolationist foreign policy he could be putting the dollars primacy as an international currency at risk? I think most commodities are traded in dollars which creates a healthy income and support for the American financial system? I am not sure I fully understand the way it works but a move to the Euro or Yuan would be disasterous for America – I think?

Trade tarriffs have been imposed on China and Canada. Canada can respond by upping energy tarriffs – 30 states get energy from Canada. Canada and Mexico requiring visa for entry could be a great deterrent and fund raiser.

Europe (EU) is reluctant to use frozen Russian assets as it would be detrimental to future investment by China and Saudi Arabia?

Other knock on effects – would the American isolationist policy embolden China to invade Taiwan – it seems unlikely but ….? Will Putin be emboldened to threaten Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, and perhaps even Finland and Sweden?

When I see someone make a complete prat of themselves my first reaction is to laugh at them and their stupidity. Then my conscience cracks in and I feel sorry for them, and especially for their supporters/family. This is where I am about Trump. The derision has passed – America is a laughing stock – when the Daily Mail comes out against a former ally and hero we know that his stock is irrepably tarnished. Trump has surrounded himself with puerile sycophants – criticising Zelenskyy for not wearing a suit and not saying thank you enough times. Tactics or just moronic behaviour.

Things may yet go spectacularlywrong – Does Putin feel embolden by Trump. Will Europe rearm and form an alliance of sorts (Canada and Turkey may also participate). Already Starmer has released £1.5 billion of Russian funds to be used to make anti-aircraft missiles in Belfast. American weaponry is not streets ahead and I am sure Europe could develop its own. Remember that Trump has also alienated the Arab world with nonsensical bollocks about Gaza. China is already alienated. Cutting aid has surely alienated much of the poorer world. So he has friends in Israel (until their next election!).

He has preached isolationism but behaves like a NY Mafia boss from the 1930’s – bull in a china shop is too sedate as a description. Europe has its own internal problems with migration – but the main stream parties will surely benefit from jingoistic policies inevitable with rearmament. A trade war with the USA would result in the development of new markets in Asia and Africa. The British Press are left inthe dire situation of supporting the EU against the bloated capitlism of the USA (The Express is already making an effort to decry Starmer).

On which a digression. A friend has said that his is all a godsend for Starmer when his policies are failing at home. There maybe an element of truth – taxes and prices have risen, energy costs are rising, NHS waiting lists are not noticibly down. But I am also aware that there are no quick fix answers to 15 years of Tory misrule. Energy costs are a world wide market – but more home grown green power generation will ultimately lower costs.

Back to the crunch. Is the world safer? As much as I hate to say it, the USA has been the worlds policeman for the last 75 years. And yes, like the Met.Police, they have screwed up big time in the past. Maybe Libya was their worst digestion, but the contra wars in Nicaragua and adjoinung countries, abandoning peoples in many countries but in general we have had peace since WW2?

Russia has said there will be a new world order decided by them, the USA and China! Russia has diplomatic relationships with both. But they ignore Europe. What I love about Europe is the lack of hegemony – it is diverse and organic. Bits are reforming at all times. And whilst I believe an EU military force is inevitable, the volition of Europe is what gives it the edge.

1-10 Obviously is Trump

2. Arrogance and entitlement expected by white American Males (especially but not exclusively)

3. McDonalds and fast food outlets that have destroyed our cafes

4. Cola brands – as above.

5. Internet dominance – becoming challenged by likes of tikTok – but still persuassive

6. Racism

7. Misogyny

8. Ignorance by much of the population – the American school system must be fucked to enable people to think Trump is a good … whatever, I suspect many think he is a twat but like his bravado.

9. Hollywood and its male dominance.

10. The dollar – perhaps the worst thing to pervaded the world? I hope crypto currencies are better, but without legislation – unlikely.

I am not a royalist. Polite diplomacy demanded an invitation to Trump I suppose – but we are paying. After the discourtesy shown to Zelenskyy we should set the rules clearly for a visit by the POTUS. Limit the visit to him and immediate family, no Musk or Vance. He will then probably throw a hissy fit and refuse to come – what a fucking shame! he attempted to out prance the Queen last time – so Charlie should be prepared for antics if the C*** does come.

Inviting Trump is not popular – a well co-ordinated plan would make any visit uncomfortable for all involved. drones over Balmoral, blocking the M4 and if necessary Heathrow? The opportunities are endless!

Zelensyy is seeing the King later so we can get an early one-up on Trump!

Budgety things! The governemnt has proposed diverting Russian assets seized to fund Ukraine – a start. Defence funding will inevitably rise – taxing MNC’s would seem a good way to do this!. I am sure the Uk, Germany, France and other countries can agree this! What must not happen is the cutting of important budgets like education, health, aid, and green progress. This later cound be funded by tax breaks rather than direct investment. Nuclear power plants are funded by promises of guaranteed pricing per watt. Similar schemes were used for solar panels – do it again. Some labour investment plans will take years to pay profits but this should not stop them. Steps are already being taken to increase efficiency – council changes should speed these things up.

The would be tyrant gets upset when everything does not go his way. Zelenskii probably just disagreed, how dare he stand up to the bully in a choreographed TV setting! Macron and Starmer beware – Trump and his cohorts are not trustworthy in any way or form. Trump seems to be threatening Ukraine with a demand for access to minerals or else. Ukraine will have to concede some land, but surely needs every penny for rebuilding the damage done to its infrastructure and cities by Russia. Maybe Trump sees Odessa as further chain in his planned resorts from the ashes chain?

So David Lammy and Keir Starmer stop sucking up to the twat – he will fuck you soon enough if you do. Alignment with the EU and possibly strengthening Commonwealth links, especially with Canada would seem to be the way forward.

The man who does deals! I have heard praise for him from unlikely sources saying that he gets things done! Actioons have consequences! America will find this out in the next few months – trade tarrifs will cause a rise in inflation. American products will be shunned, greater reliance will be made on home grown products in Europe and elsewhere. Will US deals for minerals in Ukraine be met by China increasing its deals in Africa?

And our king, the turncoat, invites him to Scotland – not London! Hopefully the Scottish Parliament will shun him! And then the Tate brothers who must be amongst the most vile people on the planet are released to the USA. They should be told that if they come to the UK they will be arrested – whether we would want the hassle involved in extraditing them is debateable.

As he flies out to meet with the Bully Keir has a stark choice. He either sucks up to him and alienates pro-Europe groups and possibly pro-Ukrainian groups or; he tells him that he will not be bullied, that the USA, as the richest nation on Earth has responsibilities that extend beyond renaming areas like The Gulf of Mexico and risks alienating the right wing press and Brexiteers who still yearn after a trade deal with the USA (whatever the cost!).

We may not have the power and even respect of the rest of the world after Truss and Johnson trashed us, but enough remains for Keir to stand tall, tell Trump to man up and stop playing silly power games with his techie pals. Has Ukraine done a mineral deal with Trump? Regretable but probably a sensible way to get America to keep Putin out!

Putin has little to gain or play with here! He wants Trump to stop supporting Ukraine, has dodgy support at home (although if push comes to shove it will solidify), and knows that even without American support he will have problems taking Ukraine IF the EU and and UK are supportive of Zelenskii. I am not sure he has recovered from the fact that Kiev did not just cave in when invaded. Funding by Moscow of RW groups has only been moderately successful with support less than 30% in the west of Europe. And this is based on racist migration policies rather than economic values. Putins economic wealth is based on raw materials and oil/gas. These can be sold to the east as well as west – but the west is decarbonising despite the pro-carbon body and mis-information. Militarily the loses faced by Russian troops have been serious (as are the Ukrainian ones) – but if NATO is willing to put troops on the ground (or even European ones the table would become weighted towards the Ukrainians.

I guess Putin will settle for Donesk and regions taken, with a return of the area taken by Ukraine. EU/NATO troops with USA ones if Trump gets mineral deal. And then peace and Trump will have achieved one goal. This is not to be decried – ask the Ukrainians who lose family membars and property to Russian strikes on a daily/weekly basis. Is Crimea a happy place – I have no idea!

So Trump may get a peace deal, but the likelyhood of one in Gaza is very remote. Firstly because he made the mistake of totally siding with Israel (Russia did not comply it appears); Secondly the rest of the world is appalled at his suggestion (even with AI images); Thirdly I doubt it makes economic sense is mainly for pro-zionist propaganda purposes.

So the Aid budget is cut to fund the defence budget. Of course as a liberal green voter on the left I am not keen on this, but Trump must not be allowed to destroy Europe! If Trump cuts the defence of Europe then the retaliation must be to make American firms pay their taxes. Putin must not be allowed to exert his influence over Eastern Europe.

Cutting the aid budget could be counter productive – Aid is is a minor way of addressing the disparity in wealth around the world. Will migration increase with greater wealth inequalities. Aid is also a simplistic generalisation for a myriad of projects from education and development to disaster relief. The big IF here is that if it was worth spending on Aid in the first place, it is still worth it today. Just as Labour needs to ignore those claiming that we should cut back on our Net Zero commitments, the government should stand firm on this. National Health England is to cut many of its 13000 jobs. I suspect there are many more admin style cuts to come in many areas. Local councils employ chief executives at inflated salaries whhen much of their work is out sourced. Schools are the same – Heads out source everything from meals to trips, so why pay them so much? It seems that we have a duplication of roles by Whitehall and local government and even schools. Just because funding for schools is largely central government, that does not need micromanagement of the individual finances. Why does any head teacher need to be paid more than the Prime Minister. If it can be justified by work load or pressure/responsibility – then the system is wrong.

Major hair cut was overdue, and the birds need nesting material! But it is cold without a hat!

A quick read of the new Crie Bill makes sense. Your phone is nicked and you track it, why should police then wait for a warrant to search? The only proviso is that the police are still racist and have dishonest elements. There are similar concerns regarding off the road vehicles – who determines it to be a nuisance? There are regular offenders with no respect for the countryside and environment, but whilst off roading is not an offence per se (a thought!). Child grooming reporting is also fraught with difficulties; as a teacher I had doubts about one girl who always looked tired – but she was bright and got great grades and attendance was excellent – no other indications. Should I have formally reported my suspicions, I did mention it to the HoH but only in a passing comment? Would a formal report have caused unnecessary trauma for no reason or …. These are dilemmas that teachers can do without. Child abusers are by nature aggressive and often violent. Whenever there is a horrific case of child abuse the press are quick to accuse professionals of incompetence but rarely praise the dedication those same people show. In my teaching career I had two instances where girls confided that they had been raped – both were not straight forward cases and despite being able to pass on to someone else to deal with the experience was exhausting on each occasion. So please do not let the balance between common sense and dedication be come ruled by the gutter press.

Changing the law on shoplifting is again common sense but where will the extra police come from? Maybe just like the security vans that collect and deliver cash to shops, maybe there should be mobile security officers with training to a lower level than police, but with powers of arrest and detention. A family member was arrested for blatant shoplifting and the police were brilliant, time in the cells and a fine line between threat and sympathy worked wonders. But then good people have guilt and a feeling of humiliation – others seem to care not a jot.

So in general I am in favour of the law change, but it must be matched by rehabilitation where appropriate. Street crime and anti-social behaviour are a problem with causes beyond the crimes themselves. A society that deals only with the acts of crime is a failing society.