Author: Richard

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.

There is an underlying theme here! Trump wants Greenland for rare minerals, Ukraine basically being threatened with $500 billion demand for rare minerals, Canada has rare minerals. Trump has courted Musk and other techies who need – wfmsideways – rare minerals. Peace in Gaza if the territory is signed over to the orange bastard.

Bullies beware of what you wish for! Trump believes he has all the cards for a winning hand. But consider. The EU is too big to bully. Airbus when started was a minnow compared to Boeing – but where are they now? The same fate could befall te tech companies. China has already shown that it can innovate and produce EV cars cheaper and better than TESLA. TikTok uploads something ridiculous like 16000 videos per minute. America does not have a monopoly on innovation and tech. ARM was a UK company that designed the chip in most phones (now owned by Japanese bank but up for sale again.

Threats to companies and countries will result in innovation and competition. OTTO is already competing with Amazon as is Cdiscount in France. Personally I am happy to pay 3 or 4% more to thwart the mega rich (maybe more!).

Much has been said about the German election swinging to the right – but the very RW Extremist group AfD still only received 20% of the vote. The left and Greens collapsed due to past mismanagement so not the glorious begining that the RW Press world wide have stated. Germans have more to be concerned about with the migration instigated by Russia having an impact. The AfD despite endorsements and support from Trump, Musk and Putin are still at 20%. Their hate against muslims and jews is however popular – the question I have is – WHY?

I am not sure I am impressed with his domestic performances – however he is proving his worth on the international scene. He is showing negotiating skills way above others who trade sound bytes! Whilst Trump trills away about having done nothing to end the war (technically correct) Starmers measured responses have been welcome. Trump may believe he can bully his way to a financial dividend up of Ukraine but Europe may not be as divided as he seems to assume.

At home the press are still banging the tired BREXIT Drum, this time regarding migration of young workers within the EU. Farmers still whinge about the end of farming (I still think putting no sale inheritance notices would work – if subsequent generations sell land then they have to pay back dated inheritance tax at the full rate paid by everyone else.

Papers have conflicting information about the economy- tax income was lower than expected; firms are hiring more than expected or not hiring due to Nationl Insurance increase. This last one seems to imply that companies have a god given right to maintain/increase profits regardless of societies needs. I get that a farmer reliant on labour to pick crops may have to increase pices to remain in business, but I will shed no tears for the likes of Tesco’s bemoaning the fact that their profits have taken a hit – one which is unlikely to be reflected in executives pay or shareholders dividends!

Trade Wars – should Trump start our response should be easy. A money made by trading in the UK will be taxed according to UK Law – no loopholes. Tax will be due on sale/transaction. This would be true for Amazon, and tech companies like Apple and Meta. Attempts to hike prices should result in fines.

Water companies have been allowed to syphon money off and fail to meet legal commitments. Prosecutions should ensue and companies allowed to go bust. Re-Nationalisation should ensue with commercial style commitments. Perhaps making every homeowner an owner of the companies on a regional basis, with larger companies broken up. Current shareholders could be given a 10% share in lieu of debt. (which they could not sell for 10 years _ and then only by offering shares to current homeowners first!

What else – sun is shining – new washing machine in, car sorted. I will plant some chilli tomorrow although it might be a bit too cold still? and is the day long enough?

And as no one reads this nonsense I might as well go personal! I an 71 (birthdays matter less now days). At this age one considers ones mortality although one does not have the medical care of royalty! I can honestly say that I regret nothing – yes I made some fucking awful decisions but how can I regret the mistakes that lead to Maz and Mart and Tams and then Erin, Adam and Corinne and Ottilie? Would my life have panned out differently – of course, for better or worse is irrelevant. Maybe I should stop here! No regrets

What is his game? Let Russia crush Ukraine and then divi up the wealth?

Some of the weird things he has said “Ukraine was to blame for the invasion” (Ukraines push to join NATO was possibly enough to cause relations to deteriorate, but surely not enough to cause an invasion). “Zelenskyy is a dictator” – he was voted in and remains popular. “Zelenskyy has made personal profit from the war” – absolutely no evidence of this. “The USA gives more financial/military aid than Europe” – a blatant lie! Both are around the $115billion mark although many countries have given a higher proportion of GDP like Denmark, and the Baltic States. “Russia wants peace” – at no time has Russia expressed this. “Russia is capable of wiping out Ukraine militarily”. – again bullshit! Russia has had to deploy North Korean missiles and soldiers whilst their loses have been huge.

Meanwhile our very own buffoon (BlowJob Johnson) posts on twitter (X) that Trump is joking and that Russia and Trump want Ukrainian wealth to rebuild the country. Hopefully any comments from Truss have been ignored for the silly whining it has become – like an elusive gnat that just irritates as you are trying to drop off asleep!

Some facts from Eurostat, UK Office for National Statistics. Lots of good stats https://www.theguardian.com/world/ng-interactive/2025/feb/19/the-rise-of-the-far-right-global-trade-and-ukraines-future-why-the-german-election-matters-visual-explainer

The key ones for my argument are that the total pop of the EU will fall to 419m by 2100, UK will rise to 86 million. However without migration the numbers are 295m and 48m. Stats for Spain and Italy(pop with no migration would halve!) and Germany are equally large. On the face of it, for the planet and its environment this is good news. However without migration the number of over 65’s increases from 21% today to 32%. This comes with commensurate health and care issues. With AI perhaps resulting in a dumbing down of jobs will we see a growth in care type jobs for those unable to achieve doctor status?

Whatever, the topic needs addressing – many hospitals across Europe rely on migrants to function (and heir own countries would benefit from their prescence at home!). It is not just health and care sectors – the UK seems to have a work problem? 3 million UC claimants not looking for work? My immediate reaction is. that maybe the right sort of jobs are not out there? Maybe neighbourhood office style centres with support and cafes could provide an answer? ZOOM calls do away with the need for commuting. I have no idea of the skill sets of these people.

Again – we need a proper discussion without workshy accusations.

Next day! Discussing this in the shop A made the comment that only the rich and the poor can afford children. I think it is more complicated. Yes the cost of mortgages makes the traditional set up more difficult, but the trend is across Europe! Other factors must come into play. 1.- smaller families – one or two children is definitely the norm. 2. -Getting married later (or not getting married at all, so starting a family later. 3.-Thus having the one or two children later. 4. -Job security is diminishing. 5. Then there is social media, it is not designed to be family friendly? 6. – fears for the future, it was a factor back 50 years ago, but the future has not got brighter? 7. – decline in the extended family makes it more difficult to raise a family. 8. -Women needing to work to pay the bills (this hits the middle classes

Daily Mail blames Starmer for lack of defense spending! The spending has remained reasonably constant over past 15 years although down since Tories took office in 2010! And which magic money tree does it suggest to get greater spending? Farmers? OAP’s?

The question as to how to pay for Defence is the event of USA isolationism remains. Putin (like Trump) is an unapologenic expansionist. Europe needs defending from not just Putin but the American right! Vance made a blatant speech to support the right in Europe. Budgets across. the board are tight. Wheeling out some ageing retired general is pointless and boring (and so old hat!).

I am now going to say something controversial – sales of poppies for 11 Nov remain high – the number of ex-soldiers will,if not yet, soon fall rapidly. I find charities rather daunting! If there is a need in society, then surely the state should provide. There are 165000-170000 charities in UK! School PTA’s and children’s charities are a stain on civil society. Animal charities I have more sympathy with – they have no natural funding via Income Tax or VAT on nuts! I bet the rich love that they support charities – I bet their ego’s love it. Support the nurses who give their all 24/7. Food banks should never be necessary. I am thinking here! the RNLI is a charity which if government run would probably have left people to drown in the past – so should there be exceptions? Are charities more efficient without a bureacracy above them, but they would not need fund raisers!

Putting restrictions on social media would be unpopular but sensible. I am sure the techies could come up with something!

Little has been said about Iran in this ferment! Locationally a buffer to Russia, politically (WTF! ), socially and culturally an anaemia (whatever – I have no idea how to spell!). It is Israels enemy and apart from historic memories – maybe not dissimilar to Trump?

It seems that the new government in the USA seeks to make America Great Again via bullying. Vances comments about freedom of speech in Europe is beyond comprehension. The law regarding demonstrations outside abortion clinics shows Europe and the UK at its best! Yes you can protest, but not intimidate! A 20m gap or whatever seems very fair. But not to rabid dogs who think they should be allowed to bully.

Just as a thought – does America have less protests than anywhere else? France certainly knows how to protest! Rumour has it that Hollywood and the news channels will be next for their appraisal! McCarthy might be shown a thing or two! Two years of a MAGA majority and then how will America vote? Lots of battles to be fought before then!

Ukraine is a battle that is rolling on. Neither side has dominance.. Unlike Gaza where Trump can claim any old bollocks as a victory as the battle is uneven (but even then not won!). Not involving the EU is petty and counter-productive. Putin has failed against the Ukraine – his weapons destructive but not brilliant. North Korean troops have apparently been sent home? It seems a bit of a stale mate – but will either side admit it? Russian speaking areas may lean towards Moscow but could there be a free vote?

Slagging off the rest of Europe will not enhance the USA or Russian position. Russia continues push against former USSR states regardless of public opinion in the areas! Why the attacks against Latvia ?