with how and why USA did what it did so emphatically. As a proud woke, liberal left person with a degree and life spent in education I find it hard to understand. I avoided an argument and probable punch in the face yesterday when I mentioned to Kate what a sad day it was, only for a white van driver to pipe up that it was a brilliant result. I refrained from asking him to detail the good things! TBH he did not appear to be the shiniest star! That is horribly elitist of me, I know, but … unless my eyes deceived me!
DEMOCRATS
With all the fuss about Trump – Democrats need to look at their failure in Congress.
SHIT HAPPENS
Although this is a massive dump! We wait with trepidation for what happens next! Republicans also have control of both Houses in Congress. So basically Trump has a free hand. However democracy needs checks and balances (just like Labour here). This has the potential to be a disaster for America and the world.
But lets start with the positives. Americans got what they deserved! We did the same with Brexit and most would agree that that ws an unmitigated disaster. Biden has been boring – Chinese proverb – may you live in interesting times! harris was nice but had not had time to develop policies. The American economy has stuttered rather than progressed rapidly (like the rest of the world). Its place as the only superpower has receded, Oh the positives! I am stuck with the excuses and not so bad!
NEXT
They will not be opening the polling stattions yet – but the world and many Americans are holding their breath! It is unlikely that either party will accept the result ofr days, even weeks. With millions believing the lies told by Trump about the last election, it is likely/probable/possible that MAGA diehards will take up arms. And whilst Democrat supporters are less volatile, they are also armed to the teeth! American elections have been riddled with rumours/suggestions of corruption (Nixon/Kennedy; Bush/Gore) in recent times.
PULP
So the royals have no conscience about charging public bodies and charities for use of properties gained dubiously in medieval times. This includes charging for parking ambulances – fuck me – how nasty.
Also in the news is the King of Spain being pelted with mud by the residents of Valencia. Hey Charlie and Willie – are you watching. Time for change is coming!
ROYALTY
Apart from a scandal or two – Like Prince Andrew screwing girls shipped in my his friends, Meghan being pillioried by te establishment and ‘old firm’. So it becomes common knowledge that the entitled bastards are ripping off the public – and still the suckers adore them!. What do any of them actually do to benefit society. Leave toursim alone – the tourists would come to ogle the wealth and history anyway. I was in Prague and the Republic had a changing the guard cermony at the castle! I do not believe Buck Palace should be rented out to the homeless – no rent it at extorbidant rents to the rich and famous and use that money for the homeless. Many castles could also rake in £billions as film locations! I would give them a long lease on Sandringham and sell/rent the rest. Security savings alone would be £millions.
TRUMP
I am not a pessimist, but do panic! So to counter this I am playing what if! He wins.
Definitely not good for America, but we saw last time that a lot of what he says will not happen. Perhaps the worst thing he did last time was the stuffing of right wingers into the Supreme Court. Hence the anti-abortion legislation acroos the country. However this is not generally popular. Will Congress allow him extra powers? States do not always swing red or blue with the president. Musk is a more concerning figure – he has stated that he would like to see a crash in the dollar, whether Trump is party to this I know not, will Musk force a U Turn on carbon fuels? The USA is also less taxed than we accept here. The U.S. economy has been doing OK and it is unlikely that Trump would disrupt that – he does not appear to be ideologically driven, just ego-driven
World wide there are issues! Would he cut funding for NATO – realistically why should America subsidise one of its main competitors Europe. I am sure he admires Putin personally, but is he daft enough to act suppline before him. The same is true of Xi Jinping. Both are Democratic dictators (is that a possibility or an oxymoron?). America’s power as a superpower has diminished Israel ignores advice and warnings without hesitation. However there are hidden influences there? But should Taiwan be worried? Probably but more in the long term. Eastern Europe – recent election in Georgia has showing growing Russian influence. Will Trump allow that influence to be converted into military action? Latvia has already had cyber attacks. Hungary is already sucking up and Poland must be concerned.
Russian influence world wide has not diminished with Western sanctions – rather it has just spread east. China and especially India are now buddying up due to natural resources in Russias control. Russia also seems to be playing a role in destabilising North Africa? Given the solar potential of the Saharan and Mahreb countries this is not surprising.
Back to Musk – he will find it easier to deal with dictators who can be bribed rather than democracies where public opinion is not so esily swayed (although the British media do their bit!).
Not bad for a Saturday morning before 10.17am. Levant prepared but I am still not happy with Millie! I have been to supermarket, done the papers at the shop. Stewed apple next!
CLIMATE CHANGE
Much has been made of the lack of preparedness and warnings in the Valencia Region. But are we any better? Certainly the Met Office and Env. Agencies have plans and warnings but do they call wolf too often? And does anyone take any notice anyway? Parents evenings at school 10 years ago continued despite warnings and the evidence outside! During the Covid Crisis it was apparent that there was no locally based planning or organisation. The local council disappeared completely. New housing developments will/may excabated the situation. Locally I believe that a syatem for closing the road to Puxton should be an obvious duty for the council if weather warnings are issued. Churchill traffic lights are often flooded and new housing nearby may increase the problem. As an A road this situation needs attention urgently. Other problems seem to have been solved after floods about 10 years ago. However there are very local situations that can affect one or two houses – contingency plans need addressing.
CLIMATE CHANGE
So we have had the budget. Personally it seemed OK, But nothing much on the environment – only an increase in tax on private jet passengers which no one should have a cause to complain about (who the fuck actually needs a private jet of their own?). Fuel tax remains unchanged which is probably sensible for businesses. The only controversial one I have seen is the cut to inheritance credits for farms? However the elephant in the room – climate change was not mentioned. I was expecting the announcement of a major investment in the Green Energy Bank or whatever it is called. Just investment in carbon capture which is purely to appease the oil companies – carry on polluting and we will invest in the clean up. So it was an economists budget which will appease most of those who voted Labour.
FERTILITY RATE
Something I am qualified to comment on! So Uk rate is 1.44 which is half that from 1963. Add in a further complication about the age of mothers and we have a demographic problem that has epic implications. Let me simplify this – women are having fewer kids, woman are having kids later, the % of working aged people is shrinking quite rapidly. Add in long covid and mental health issues and this becomes a crisis.
AI and robots may help with the job scenario. But fortunately we are not the first country to face this situation, South Korea, Italy, Hungary and others are already facing up to the problem. The immediate answer that comes to mind is migration? Some areas of London already have nearly 100% of births to non-white parents. Not a problem to me but some will object.
I also have an environmental concern about the growth of our population – both UK and world. So we have fewer workers and more old needing aid. The economics need to be spelt out – and fast.