Category: Politics

INTERESTING

Trade deals with USA have a clause inserted to prohibit a country introducing legislation that would endanger the American companies profitability.  Philip Morris did this to the Australian Govt. when it introduced anti-smoking legislation.  The govt. won but it was time consuming and expensive.  Another good reason for trade deals with Europe.

Starmer and Labour down in the polls – Reform up.

Well no surprise there.  What have Labour actually done so far?  I follow the news and cannot see much evidence.  NHS is struggling as before.  Schools are laying off teachers.  Boat people keep arriving.  Are houses being built?  (Those that are maybe on floodplains)! The news is dominated by Trump and America.  

Whinging on about a multi billion black hole is boring.  

Whitehall employment expanded with Covid – time to cut costs of central government. Elections in May should see powers shifted to local authorities.  So transfer the dosh too! And the jobs.  The Department of Education could be slashed – Local Authorities could prioritise spending to areas which need the help.  

NHS – whenever I visit the Docs for a repeat prescription I am astonished at the lack of patients.  I have no idea who my designated doctor is (do they exist).  Any phone calls result is questioning by a secretary, if lucky a doctor will phone back at their convenience.  Is that what they do – talk on phones?  Do they have reams of paperwork and targets?  Whatever – efficiency is not a word used?

The armed forces – Israel had 70000 bombing raids on Gaza and still Hamas kept hostages!  I am sure I read somewhere about keyboard players needing x amount of hours to become proficient.  There must be a huge potential workforce there for drones?

Climate change still gets short shift in the papers.  Artic areas are suffering from melting and the release of methane.

EV’s – some are being introduced in Putney – max speed 20mph (why MPH and not kph?).  Looking a little like pope mobiles for the poor they take one passenger.  But the concept is good!  A Chinese rival to Tesla is apparently really good, and cheaper.  Bring it on!  If European car companies cannot compete, they will collapse.  BT/Morris etc. did!  However the market make morph into a more niche market.  About town vehicles for hire, or basically mobility scooters (the scooters have taken off).  And then more luxurious vehicles for longer journeys – again hired.  Garages are being converted anyway, perhaps they should become battery rooms?

Basically Economics is guff!  Don’t like it, then change the rules. Trump takes these measures to extremes, even changing the law to suit himself.  However he is, like all egoists – so sure of his own ability that he will accept no criticism.  The USA has been the foremost world super power for the last 75 years.  With a couple of blips its military has ruled the world, its companies have dominated trade, its largesse has given it a controlling power in the IMF, World Bank, WHO and even the UN. Hollywood and Google/Facebook ensured that American culture ruled.  Military might was matched with soft power. Russias influence waned after the collapse of the USSR.  China has been extending its influence for the last 20 years, especially in Africa.

Trumps abrupt end to much USA Aid was met with shock and horror.  But the real cost will come as the vacuum is filled, mainly by China.  He who pays the piper calls the tune!  The latest shock to American hegemony was the reveal of a Chinese competitor in the AI market.  Chinese EV’s are begining to impact the world market.

Much is reported about a stagnant EU economy, but the very nature of the EU will ensure that sustainability is a key factor.  Its key markets are internal and thus less likely to suffer from fluctuations in demand and profits.  The UK should note – reliance on US products is harmful to our economy! Breakfast cereals, burgers and wings, etc. should not dominate the marketplace.  

Taking back control was a mantra of Brexit – my targets would be the tech behemoths and MLC companies.

OMG – I should like Trump!  Aaaargggh.  But NO – not fair!  We should grow more, develop quality, support international charities, promote equality amongst all citizens.  

Something different – NHS. This government has admitted that it cannot be fixed in a way commensurate with its creation.  I still lack understanding.  I am sure there are many inefficiencies in the NHS – its overall structure seems a little top heavy – but I know nothing.  However I have noticed Nat.Ins. going up.  I thought this was nominally for the NHS?  It is not tax deductible, or avoidable?.  So make this the funding for the NHS exclusively.  It would make it clear that the NHS comes at a price worth paying.  Similar schemes should ring fence and openly display spending.  Education, Prisons, Police, etc.  At the moment government at all levels hides spending in accounts with vague figures or sums too large to comprehend.

WORSE

So Trump is worse than expected – fuck, how is that possible?  Last time around he had some moderating advice.  This time he has surrounded himself with psychophants / sickofants (not sure how to spell!), Cutting US Aid is a cruel and heartless thing to do, and is counter productive to the international influence.  Then he imposes sanctions of the ICJ – because he disagrees with their verdicts.  The fucker seems to be out of control!  Gaza as a real estate project may appeal to abself obsessed lunatic on paper – but the ethnic cleansing of 1.5 million people is horrendous.  McKinley was assassinated – Trump is heading the same way as he upsets ever larger groups of people.  How long before he demands that Ameri-Indians are deported to Canada?  

I am not conversant with the American constitution in detail.  At present he has control of Congress but in 2 years there will be elections.  Rather than expanding it is possible that states like NY and California will vote overwhelmingly for an alternative.  I am vague here because there does not seem to be a strong Democrat opposition at present.  Bernie Sanders is too old, and Harris has disappeared.  

Where is the opposition in the states?  The media is sewn up, like here, What is needed is a massive economic downturn – a possibility?!  The trade wars will impact prices but America is large enough to take up gaps caused in the market.  Any trade war inevitably causes a reduction in movement and thus increased prices.  Will the EU open up to Chinese imports?  Where is India diplomatically?  I suspect aligned with the USA!  Modri is a “strongman leader” with fascist tendencies.

Back to ethnic cleansing – was India/Pakistan the last big one?  That has not panned out well!  I guess Trump is relying on every Palestinian home to have been destroyed, therefore they have to leave?  See you next Tuesday!

SMALL MODULAR REACTORS

The same questions exist whatever the size – waste, location, security and cost.  Starmer listens to big business when it asks for a subsidised electricity provision – why not the individuals?  I know people who would put up the cost of solar panels and heat pumps if made profitably.  A 5 year return on investment would enable millions of solar panels to be installed – however the energy giants would lose out!  Imagine Sandford with solar panels on most houses, heat pumps and a couple of wind turbines on the hill.  Add in a large scale battery and low cost energy is provided for all.  Yes there might need to be a need for the National Grid, but not on a large scale.  Hinkley C will eventually come on stream and will provide power for 50 years or more – that should be enough back up for the South West!  

So SMR’s are only going to be needed in the South-east! – And then where do you place them?  Not near houses!  Well that fucks that idea.  So put them in the north and west, or maybe Clacton (They are already rabid there).

SPRING

I hope the weather warms up soon – we have had a rather long cold sequence?  I am surprised the RW Press has not been filled with stories of death and hardship due to the cold weather.  Lovely to see Goldfinch on the Evening Primrose seeds again.  But garden looks dead at the moment, but 4 weeks from now it will be full of growth.  I hope that a myriad of insects have survived the winter and can procreate this spring!  The decline of insects is mega worrying!

The main tech giants have refused to take down videos viewed by the Southport killer of 3 beautiful little girls.  How many more deaths will be caused in the name of “free speech”?

I do not understand the arguments hate content being banned?  META have just paid Trump $25 million in compensation for banning him after the Capitol attack.  

In a very similar way smoking was allowed and promoted for decades after it was shown to be harmful – indeed a recent Health Secretary said we should do away with the ban on smoking in public places.

So homophobic, racist, misogynistic videos are promoted as being macho (memories of Marlborough smoking adverts!).  Social media is worse than smoking in many ways.  It can be hidden and cause damage on many levels.  The macho image of “strong men” where violence is acceptable.  The undermining of masculinity has reached silly proportions with a name given to those who blame women for spurning them.  Andrew Tate is seen as a hero despite accusations of rape, organising prostitution and promoting violent behaviour.  Then Trump who is also a convicted felon for sexual offences, who says that it was OK to grab a girls fanny!  And tens of millions voted for him!

Not only that but the porn sites desensitise the young and make ‘saying no’ to anything prudish. Porn is the major winner, financially, of the internet!

But there are other insidious impacts.  My oldest grandchildren have used their phones at the dinner table – although if I am honest discussions with a rarely seen grandfather was a bit stilted!  But they would have benefited from joining in?  Conversing with others not present should not be permissible unless shared?  

On this topic I was privileged to visit my girls recently.  The only time phones were used was to share information (new employers – Hotel in Fowey – information), or to develop a conversation.

So phones and the internet, used sensibly is good.  However whilst the main providers remain oblivious of the problems, or more likely determined to extract maximum profit.  

So yet again we need to have a sensible discussion about social media.

Can someone develop a format for discussion of relevant products similar to the 20 minute slots on   TED Talks  – but in a discussion format?  Proper journalism!

Trump

So Trump sees himself as an expansionist President like McKinley – look how that ended!

He started off with Greenland and Panama, expanded it to Canada, backed down over Mexico and then a stunner – Gaza.

Gaza – Trumps plan – make Gaza’s move out to Jordan and Egypt, USA would take over area and rebuild with Israeli help?  To create a “Dubai” on the Mediterranean.  This may make economic sense but has no place in the modern world.  Israel will love this intervention.  

Is it bullying tactics or just an obscene sense of self worth?  Canada becoming the 51st state must be just a destabilisation tactic – surely?!?  

Greenland could be seen as just a treat to NATO to fall into line or else?  Panama could be seen as part of the trade war with China.  And Gaza!  What the fuck is he thinking?  To displace 1.5 million people?  It could cause migration problems across Europe which he would revel in.  

I vaguely accept the need to disrupt the status quo – but for good not bad!  His motivation seems to be money and power – maybe he has a small dick!

Fucking thick – Braverman at PMQT made a comment about the need for us to drill for oil – the same day temperatures at the North Pole were 20C above normal!  I fucking hate people who are willing to pay Russian roulette with my, and my offsprings lives!  P.S. they are all so brilliant !

Other news – Letwyn maybe not guilty – if so the papers must be liable for huge damages?  Evidence was always dodgy!

Ed Miliband for Labour Leader?  He would get my vote.

The moron is in full flow! Tarrifs imposed on Mexico and Canada are virtually nothing to do with trade but an interference in the internal politics of countries. Mexico is targeted because of drugs and Canada with the exhortation to become the 51st state of USA! Many products in North America move between the countries so how the admin works will be interesting. With future tarrifs against the EU it is likely that retalitatory taxes will hit US consumers. Many American companies have huge involvement in other countries. Even a small consumer boycott would have an impact on companies that already face tarrifs.

The UK will not be affected at first, but we should stand with the EU. Africa may benefit from increased sales of food products? Will the EU import more from China (especially EV’s?). If the UK avoids sanctions by Trump – will they be imposed by te EU? Surely the EU would not sit by and allow the UK to have free trade with both blocs? Also Trump is devious and could impose requirements for the UK to avoid tariffs (most tariffs are related to trade goods whilst major UK exports are services and financial). The whole thing may unravel quickly – me, I will buy maple syrup and tequila! I am sure there is a solidarity cocktail there somewhere!

Is it that criticising Israel is seen as anti-semitism? Why is being critical of migration seen as racist? I am sure there are many other examples, in the opposite direction like Why is being anti-slavery seen as being woke?

Howver it is migration that I want to consider. I am aware that most migrants are black (non-white) especially after the Brexit con. My argument is very different. The UK has grown in population by several million in the last few years. I know that with an ageing population we have employment issues for carers, etc.. But it is not sustainable to keep expanding the population on a small island.

I am done with Labour and their inaction and promotion of growth at the expense of the environment. However that leaves a diminished field. Lib-Dems who may have a hope of power or the Greens. The Greens are naive in many areas and do not have a charismatic leader who can get them much needed publicity. LibDems are great at a local level and are also drowned out nationally.

Basically I think I want someone with a ‘fuck you’ attitude. Someone who will face up to the problems and give us real alternatives.

So Chris Philip, a tory MP thinks the UK needs a better work ethic. He is just dumb! Create good working conditions and pay and the problem is solved. As ever I would preach being clever is the answer. Limited studies have shown that reduced hours increases productivity. Better pay would also attract more people off benefits. The huge growth in disparity between workers and FTSE100 directors tells a story of its own. How can e.g.Tesco pay out dividends and huge salaries whilst full time workers do not receive enough to get off benefits.

As ever it is the rich and privileged who cast the blame. Yes I am sure they work hard in their own way – but with their nice cars and homes and holidays, they should be careful of casting accusations. Zero hours contracts and minimum wage with no prospects is not the way to increase work ethic. The social contract for the young is broken. Work hard at school and succeed and then go to University and get £50 grand of debt, but then find that the jobs available are poorly paid, or even if reasonably paid, the cost of housing is extortionate. So big debt, shit job and shit housing -so Chris Philip you are awarded knob of the day!

John Lewis style packages should be mandatory. Why would an employer not want to encourage an inclusive work ethic. As a teacher I experienced a variety of management types. I will also add that maybe I was not the most subservient employee! However I was allowed to enjoy my job, most of the time, and never threw a sickie. DrWratten was awful and imposed a dictorial rule which alienated staff and kids (but the arse lickers got on!). At least with education the teacher is in control of their work space most of the time.