European General Politics #1

[BBsq69]

On 10/31/2018 at 3:53 PM, Thestarider said:

I like this guy, He is spot on !!!!

 

This is the guy that right wing racist party UKIP kicked out. No wonder you guys keep backing Trump.

He's about the most obnoxious person we've had in UK politics

The guy complained about MPs employing family saying he didn't employ any - in fact he employed 3!

He's a thoroughly nasty hypocrite who talks economic nonsense for his own purposes as the Tea Prty does in the US, even though he's aware he's talking bollocks. To equate household debt to the running of a country is just plain fucking ignorant (which he isn't), but hey that's the kind of person he had Trump are trying to appeal to.

If Spending > Revenue is bad(*). Solution reduce Revenue - the argument of a moron. BTW I take it he never had a mortgage.

* Strength of the economy means you can run a debt unless you believe your country is going to become poorer in the long term.

As a politician he managed to come 5th in an election as a Tory quite an achievement in a country that had 3 major parties. At least he did become self aware enough to realise he wasn't suited to party politics.

[BBsq69]

 

[BBsq69]

Actually at the end of this clip, here he is in action.

The irony of this clip which I have just realised, if you listen to the previous rant, is that in that he said women were no good in the board room because they couldn't play cards. Victoria Coren, the woman in this clip, is twice European poker champion. Actually another right winger suggested she should learn some arithmetic ... unsurprisingly she was what is known as a gifted child.

 

[BBsq69]

Well the day has come and May got it past her cabinet - although I won't be surprised if some don't think it politically expedient to resign, but then politicians are the same everywhere - although whether she can get it past parliament (dealing with the right wing and those ******* Northern Irish) is very dubious to say the least.

In addition she did not speak tonight unlike the EU negotiating lead, Michel Barnier who spoke and answered questions for nearly an hour tonight. The 27 other countries have clearly a far more united position than the Conservative Party.

Maybe tomorrow it will all blow up in her face.

[BBsq69]

17 hours ago, BBsq69 said:

although I won't be surprised if some don't think it politically expedient to resign

 

17 hours ago, BBsq69 said:

Maybe tomorrow it will all blow up in her face.

Well I hate to say I told you so - and I really do mean that - but it's happening. The UK has been plunged into chaos - even more than over the last 2.5 years - and this is only the start.

[ipiratemedia]

On 10/31/2018 at 11:53 AM, Thestarider said:

I like this guy, He is spot on !!!!

 

The Amazing Truth!

[Foamy T. Squirrel]

On 11/15/2018 at 7:50 AM, BBsq69 said:

 

Well I hate to say I told you so - and I really do mean that - but it's happening. The UK has been plunged into chaos - even more than over the last 2.5 years - and this is only the start.

So far it's not looking good for the EU either politically, culturally, or economically. It's not that pride and nationalism are the problem. It's that the EU's Imperialism is not compatible with the various cultures that constitute the various nations of Europe. Then there's the problem of democratic socialism -- they've voted themselves free stuff, and the free stuff is now too expensive for them to afford. This is at the heart of the current troubles in Paris and Brussels.

Think of me as a free-trade capitalist and globalist when it comes to economics; and a nationalist when it comes to culture and politics. A European Economic Union idea is fine with me because it promotes trade; but centralized political control from Brussels looks like a non-starter. There's a reason why the French are French, the English are English, and the Germans are German. It was Nationalism that destroyed the Holy Roman Empire, and nationalism that defeated the Soviet Imperialism in eastern Europe, and it was Nationalism that destroyed Hitler's united Europe. Nationalism not the bad thing that Macron said it was.

Viva la France. I hope they work it out without much destruction and violence.

 

[BBsq69]

France aside because maybe that is what happens when you elect a populist President when all their appeal is invested in themselves - once the mirror cracks there is nothing substantial to put it back together.

Meanwhile in the UK, the 48 insane Tories have decided to try and change the PM during the most crucial period of our history since the Second World War. Then David Lloyd George, a man so confident he had his mistress in No. 10, move to put Churchill into power. This is not war and there is no Churchill.

The US and France think they have problems ... not even started yet. 

[ipiratemedia]

On 12/12/2018 at 4:01 AM, BBsq69 said:

invested in themselves

Yes! "Their appeal invested in themselves." You mean they invested in their Doctrine? Populisms’ appeal is largely based upon its doctrine of care for ordinary people. Therefore, the interests and conceptions such as fear and hope that the general population holds are placed in contrast to the prevailing social and political interests. (I believe that is why there is chaos in France) The existing status quo is challenged, and predominant politicians and parties are put on the defense during a crisis of indifference. But there is a fix to a cracked Mirror; it's called the truth, meaning or replace it with other Mirrors...Anything or anyone can be replaced now.

On 12/12/2018 at 4:01 AM, BBsq69 said:

 The US and France think they have problems - Tories -

Of course, every country is going to have their problems. Here in America the leftist looneys are mostly the blame and believe me; they don't give a dame circulating dilutional messages to their minions around the world. When you use the word Tories, are you referring to a member or supporter of the Conservative Party or an American colonist who supported the British side during the American Revolution? Dumber-crates, have already changed 3/4 of our system and ignore our rights for there own personal agenda or gain! And trying their hardest to remove our President. I which you guys did have a Churchill. We are grateful to have our Churchill in office whether people like him or not.

[BBsq69]

On 12/12/2018 at 4:27 PM, ipiratemedia said:

Yes! "Their appeal invested in themselves." You mean they invested in their Doctrine?

No, I mean invested in themselves. As for their doctrine, often these politicians don't even believe in the doctrine. Many people say they believe in small government but equally many of them really believe in low taxes for themselves and in order to bring that about ... cut government spending. But I'm not talking about that. I am talking about politicians such as Macron, Trump and Johnson who revolve or will revolve their political campaigns about themselves. Personally, I doubt very much if they really care much about anything else but their own personal advancement but again that is not the point. The point is when campaigns are based so much on them as a person and what they are going to do rather than the belief in their ideas, the popularity is necessarily fragile. Many populists as we have seen with Putin, the Italians, Trump and UKIP use racism as a card usually not directly. They claim that they are merely giving voice to a working class minority (usual white) who in reality they give not a flying f**k about. Blaming immigrants for their problem is an easy win. In reality they care far less about immigrants and more about winning votes. Most of their policies - and Trump is clearly different here because he has followed through with his attempts to bring jobs to the rust belt even if they may be at the cost of other things but on the other hand if he had not his ratings would be as low as Macron's - look after the wealthy first and punish those on welfare.

On the other hand you have the left wing populists who may have started off with altruistic motivations but quickly get corrupted by power. They look to spend lots of money on the lower sections of society without regard with how it may effect the overall economy. Their targets are not immigrants (actually in some cases it still is) but the wealthy whether they deserve to be pilloried or not. They also get hijacked by ridiculous conspiracy theorists such as the one prevalent in the Labour Party that the Jewish bankers the Rothschilds run the world which makes them suspicious of Jews. To me these conspiracy theories do not stand up. Banks, Oil Companies and Weapons Manufacturers are pretty open in the way they lobby. Politicians are just corrupt so they are merely taking advantage of their greed. Something wrong but nothing half as sinister as the left implies.

Now I'm not saying that dogma particularly on the left is not a driver for large number of politicians particular at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Macron tries to position himself in the middle (perhaps pretends to be left when he is really right - something Blair was accused of, but he was popular (with a big emphasis on WAS after the Iraq War) rather than populist) and Trump is certainly more liberal than the right wing of the Republican Party even if sometimes he seems to pander to their views. Maybe the UK is lucky to have a constitutional monarch so the PM even ones like Blair and Thatcher are always reminded of their place when they have to visit the Queen. It just acts as a check on their meglomania and boy did they need it. Trump has cleverly made sure he holds on to his base which is rather easier in a 2 party state like the US but Macron has been brought down to Earth by the French people who have protest built into their psyche which the US probably due to its size never really has.

Protest is not really the way of the British either. It is therefore somewhat ironic that our next PM but 1 (because there will be a Tory after May now) could be someone who has spent his life protesting. Honestly Corbyn protests about everything but while his populist movement is often accompanied by the "Whoa Jeremy Corbyn" chants, the truth is the Marxist organisation behind him will very happily get rid of him if he doesn't play ball and will replace him with someone who does. Thus taht particular populist movement is not invested in Corbyn and has something more substantial behind it and thus a much greater threat.

I dislike populism and have never like dogma. I prefer people make decisions through pragmatism and a general philosophy - people who do that are must less dangerous than those who worship every detail of dogma or like Boris Johnson believe in absolutely nothing ... Johnson naturally admires Trump.

[ipiratemedia]

11 hours ago, BBsq69 said:

No, I mean invested in themselves. As for their doctrine, often these politicians don't even believe in the doctrine. Many people say they believe in small government but equally many of them really believe in low taxes for themselves and in order to bring that about ... cut government spending. But I'm not talking about that. I am talking about politicians such as Macron, Trump and Johnson who revolve or will revolve their political campaigns about themselves. Personally, I doubt very much if they really care much about anything else but their own personal advancement but again that is not the point. The point is when campaigns are based so much on them as a person and what they are going to do rather than the belief in their ideas, the popularity is necessarily fragile. Many populists as we have seen with Putin, the Italians, Trump and UKIP use racism as a card usually not directly. They claim that they are merely giving voice to a working class minority (usual white) who in reality they give not a flying f**k about. Blaming immigrants for their problem is an easy win. In reality they care far less about immigrants and more about winning votes. Most of their policies - and Trump is clearly different here because he has followed through with his attempts to bring jobs to the rust belt even if they may be at the cost of other things but on the other hand if he had not his ratings would be as low as Macron's - look after the wealthy first and punish those on welfare.

On the other hand you have the left wing populists who may have started off with altruistic motivations but quickly get corrupted by power. They look to spend lots of money on the lower sections of society without regard with how it may effect the overall economy. Their targets are not immigrants (actually in some cases it still is) but the wealthy whether they deserve to be pilloried or not. They also get hijacked by ridiculous conspiracy theorists such as the one prevalent in the Labour Party that the Jewish bankers the Rothschilds run the world which makes them suspicious of Jews. To me these conspiracy theories do not stand up. Banks, Oil Companies and Weapons Manufacturers are pretty open in the way they lobby. Politicians are just corrupt so they are merely taking advantage of their greed. Something wrong but nothing half as sinister as the left implies.

Now I'm not saying that dogma particularly on the left is not a driver for large number of politicians particular at the extreme ends of the spectrum. Macron tries to position himself in the middle (perhaps pretends to be left when he is really right - something Blair was accused of, but he was popular (with a big emphasis on WAS after the Iraq War) rather than populist) and Trump is certainly more liberal than the right wing of the Republican Party even if sometimes he seems to pander to their views. Maybe the UK is lucky to have a constitutional monarch so the PM even ones like Blair and Thatcher are always reminded of their place when they have to visit the Queen. It just acts as a check on their meglomania and boy did they need it. Trump has cleverly made sure he holds on to his base which is rather easier in a 2 party state like the US but Macron has been brought down to Earth by the French people who have protest built into their psyche which the US probably due to its size never really has.

Protest is not really the way of the British either. It is therefore somewhat ironic that our next PM but 1 (because there will be a Tory after May now) could be someone who has spent his life protesting. Honestly Corbyn protests about everything but while his populist movement is often accompanied by the "Whoa Jeremy Corbyn" chants, the truth is the Marxist organisation behind him will very happily get rid of him if he doesn't play ball and will replace him with someone who does. Thus taht particular populist movement is not invested in Corbyn and has something more substantial behind it and thus a much greater threat.

I dislike populism and have never like dogma. I prefer people make decisions through pragmatism and a general philosophy - people who do that are must less dangerous than those who worship every detail of dogma or like Boris Johnson believe in absolutely nothing ... Johnson naturally admires Trump.

Thanks, for the effort  BB and for pointing things out... Simplicity and Interesting.

[Foamy T. Squirrel]

I'd give a dissertation on history, but the general answer is that Nationalism destroyed Imperialism in the 19th and 20th Centuries. I will site the history of this upon request.