…..and diminishing critical thinking.Democracy cannot survive in an era of social media and AI.
…..and diminishing critical thinking.Democracy cannot survive in an era of social media and AI.
I’ve just made a bid on a cave ..I’ve already bought a set of paints/brushes and a bow n arrowThe earth used to be in the ice age
The planet has always continued to warm up
We just cry about it more now
it hasn’t. The earth has had at least 5 ice ages. It’s this type of stupidity that has got us to where we are now. An off the cuff comment which is factually wrong. FFSThe earth used to be in the ice age
The planet has always continued to warm up
We just cry about it more now
Christ alive...The earth used to be in the ice age
The planet has always continued to warm up
We just cry about it more now
Can’t fault him, he even executed a load of his toadies when it rained too much. Just as well Michael Fish didn’t put an appearance in downtown Pyongyang.Dunno. Ask someone who lives in 'The Democratic People's Republic of Korea'! They seem to like their leader - never been voted out yet!
It seems to me democracy can be bought more easily now by the likes of Murdoch and Musk.
Let's vote on it...oh wait!I'm leaving party politics and my personal opinions aside when I post this, but it seems as though on either side of the Atlantic there is a widening gap between what politicians say in their election campaigning, and what they deliver when in power.
There was a time when you knew what Tory and Labour, Republican and Democrat stood for. They maintained core principles, but now those have become blurred and inconsistent.
We are told the US electorate cared most about the economy so elected Trump, rejecting some pretty good numbers in the context of the G20 re growth, unemployment, interest rates coming down. US voters believe Trump, yet if we take Trump at his word we know tariffs, lower taxes and plans for mass deportations will all be inflationary and interest rates will have to rise as a result. This will make things worse, not better, for the average US citizen.
He won't end the war in Ukraine or the Israel - Arab conflict in a matter of days, he won't end inflation, just like he didn't build a walls and make the Mexicans pay for it.
Similarly, Boris did not "Get Brexit Done" or "Take Back Control", Cameron stayed quiet in the 2010 campaign then immediately foisted austerity upon us, Lib Dems promised an end to tuition fees but did a 180, Labour stayed deliberately quiet in the 2024 campaign, then borrowed shitloads of cash and foisted huge NI increases on employers and higher tuition fees on the students that just voted for them. This disconnect between words and actions goes across the political spectrum.
We also seem to get every incoming government blaming the previous government, thus excusing all sorts of draconian action immediately they seize power.
And we just know Trump is going to get away without a custodial sentence despite all of his various crimes and misdemeanours, in the same way we know the Johnson government will get away with wasting billions and billions on dodgy Covid contracts, many of which enriched his party friends and associates.
And at the end of all this voters lose trust. Without trust what have you got? Who do you believe, and what basis have you got to really believe anything that they say?
…..and diminishing critical thinking.
And the autocrats (current guys) will do nothing to help that.Wait for climate to real take hold and it will.
1.5c of warming announced yesterday for the first time.
The global south is heading north as climate change created by rich countries takes hold.
Cue the wannabe fascists who say it doesn't exist, don't want to act and seems these grifters have all the answers lining their own pockets in the process
Yep, we're in trouble and I'm afraid its of our own making.
Blair in 1997, Cameron in 2010 and Starmer in 2024 have all employed the ultra-cautious "Ming Vase" strategy to getting re-elected after a lengthy period out of power, with the last two especially light on manifesto detail.No - I'm agreeing with you that not keeping promises erodes democracy and the democratic process. But changing your mind when you find out the true cost of something is a bit different than telling blatant lies like Johnson / Trump.
I see election manifestoes as nothing more than a wish list. Believe it all at your peril.
I only get upset if the manifesto states something in particular which either the party knew could not be achieved or does not yet know enough to make such promises. I am afraid I would put the labour party tax and spend promises in this year's election manifesto into this category.
Do you know what, I think you're on to something here with some of these points. And I don't normally think that, let alone post it.Its got nothing to do with the internet. Left is getting more middle class and right more working class. Working class wont put up with all the toxic insults aimed at them and will throw back. That is one reason they went for trump.
The left needs to totally de weaponize their language.
Do you know what, I think you're on to something here with some of these points. And I don't normally think that, let alone post it.
And what team you support !!Yes. It feels to me that standards have dropped immeasurably in both British and American politics.
Either that, or modern communications have laid bare a lot of subterfuge that could perhaps have been hidden away in a pre-social media era. For example, resignations of honour have become increasingly rare from all sides of each house, and on both sides of the pond. This perhaps being fed by the “never explain, never apologise” mentality.
If I might make a suggestion, don’t allow politics to rule your mood or your life. Politics is important, but not as important as politicians would have you believe.
See post #9507 on the US Election thread (sorry I don’t know how to link to a specific post between threads) particularly the final paragraph.
While politics shapes the framework of our lives, politics doesn’t define us. It’s friends, family, possibly pets and the weather, plus our attitude to others and resilience that determine who we are.
And what team you support !!