If you're not in the U.S., what's up in your part of the world? Showing 2,601-2,650 of 3,266

[Ian]

Theree have been similar marches here, but the authorities have so far managed to keep the two sides from meeting in the same space.

[[deleted user]]

If there are any middle-aged people out there, who, like me, are wondering if they're becoming nostalgic by thinking life ain't what it used to be, don't worry...life ain't what it used to be...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023...

The crowd were busy taking selfies, instead of throwing the man a life jacket.

Full marks to the police for not doing the same.

[Ian]

Unbelievable!

[Ian]

Meanwhile, we have the US (OK, John Oliver, but he claims he is doing what the US does) and is actively interfering with a NZ election!

https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/5...

[J.]

The sad part is that most Americans don't think he's particularly funny, and we don't understand why he immigrated here from the UK when he seems to hate everything American.

[Philip]

J. wrote: "The sad part is that most Americans don't think he's particularly funny, and we don't understand why he immigrated here from the UK when he seems to hate everything American."

He is occasionally on UK TV on one channel I sometimes come across. He can be amusing and seems, at times, to want to be a campaigning investigative journalist interspersed with poor jokes. Don't think it often works but he can explain some US policy well.

As usual its criticism without alternate solutions.

[[deleted user]]

Never heard of Oliver but I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to J and other US group members for sending them James Cordon.

[Scout]

J. wrote: "Probably be a pain in their arses."

:-)

[[deleted user]]

Our Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, is one of the left's main hate figures, and she's under attack yet again:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...

There's no doubt she's got her finger on the pulse of the Tory grassroots, while her ethnicity probably allows her to be more publically forthright in her views than if she were a white right-wing politician.

While I agree with some of what she says, I think a Home Secretary needs to be above all this - at least publically. The position requires a certain gravitas and the ability to unite, rather than divide, the country.

The things she is saying strike me as a sort of impotent, frustrated cry of anger against a set of circumstances that have spiralled beyond her control, things which a more competent Home Secretary would be able to manage with far less fuss.

[Philip]

Beau wrote: "Our Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, is one of the left's main hate figures, and she's under attack yet again:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politic...

There's no doubt she's got her fing..."

Unfortunately she seems to have joined the list of either incompetent idiots or rabid right-wing nut jobs that have desecrated one of the great offices of state. The Conservative party like the USA Republicans have decided that pandering to their narrow vociferous base is the route to power. The job is to rule or govern for all the people or all their constituents. they seem to have forgotten that and go for divide and conquer.

I have just written to my own MP complaining about his stance. I've met him, seen hi around town. I thought he was a decent human being (Left of Conservative Party) Turns out he's with Farage Truss and the rest - sitting next to them at a fringe conservative party event.

The manifesto he was elected on has been abandoned to madness and further incompetence. Now who do I vote for?

[[deleted user]]

I had a chuckle over your post, Philip, but can't really disagree with any of it.

I'm watching what's happening with a slight sense of alarm because when there are extremely vociferous voices on both the left and right stirring things up, we need strong, steady leadership to calm things down. Instead, we have a vacuum of leadership.

Like the US, there are a growing number of people over here, from both left and right, who have become radicalised and, with it, rabid. Add in the extraordinary global events of the last few years, which seem to keep happening, and it's a dangerous cocktail.

I think we're heading for big trouble at some point but I don't have any answers. All one can do is keep one's dignity and make honest choices. My choice, for what it's worth, will probably be to vote Green at the next GE. I'm certainly not on board with zero carbon, but I've seen enough of them at a local level to know they tend to be good, honest people, with a bit of substance to them.

Btw, you mentioned Truss. That woman sums up this Parliament. A joke.

[Nik]

Without going into specifics, which I don’t know, it’s important to both call things out and be prepared to handle things and take them on a chin

[[deleted user]]

The concern over Saturday's pro-Palestinian march clashing with Remembrance Day commemorations is just the latest in a long line of divisive stuff being fermented by both left and right, Nik.

Actions speak louder than words and a competent Home Secretary wouldn't need to fan the flames. They would be doing whatever they deem necessary behind the scenes, while showing public calm.

Honestly, I know I'm sounding like an angry middle-aged man again but whenever you discuss politics, or the state of the country, with someone in real life now, there's a genuine sense of despair, and I certainly don't reside in any sort of echo chamber. Nobody at all seems happy.

[Nik]

Despair and a lot of anger. Here things weren’t as bad just a year ago

[J.]

Beau wrote: "Never heard of Oliver but I'd like to take this opportunity to apologise to J and other US group members for sending them James Cordon."

To understand Oliver, picture Rowan Atkinson. Remove his confidence, intelligence, and talent. Now add a constant need for approval, a lack of subtlety, and cringe inducing wokeness.

As for Cordon, I don't believe y'all sent him here as some sort of attack, so I don't think there's a requirement for an apology. I'm more concerned that whatever jacked his estrogen levels to such ridiculous levels might be an environmental or contagious element in your country. If so, y'all need to do something before you start losing entire generations.

[J.]

A few thoughts on what is tearing apart western democracies:
https://youtu.be/iVlxOV4LxRs?si=ngYCT...

[J.]

Apparently, the Australian government wants to be the ultimate arbiter of what is or is not true.

Why is Labor’s bill on combatting disinformation so controversial?
https://www.theguardian.com/australia...

From what I've read, this platform and its content, generally, do not fall into one of the bill's "excluded" categories. Further, many posts on these threads is contrary to the stated positions of the Australian government (ie. our COVID thread). So if this bill becomes law, the newly created regulatory body could look at this site, because it isn't excluded. They could read my posts suggesting that the WuFlu came from a CCP facility, Graeme's posts about big pharma profiteering with a "leaky" vaccine, or all of Beau's posts on the Coof, and then decide that this platform is disseminating information which the Australian government has determined to be false. They could then fine, prosecute, or otherwise force Goodreads to delete our "misinformation and disinformation" in Australia.

There's nothing like a quest to safeguard the moral and intellectual purity of the people to unmask tyrants.

[[deleted user]]

I think I'll give Oliver a miss then, J. Re Cordon, it's a conundrum. Do you lock him in a cupboard to save national embarrassment or export him in case it's contagious. It's a tough one :)

[[deleted user]]

Re J's point about internet censorship, see my post on the AI thread.

The internet obviously can't be uninvented but I wonder if it's now reached its high point, in terms of being a hub of information and ideas, and if we're now going to start seeing it decline in importance.

With the advent of AI, is the internet going to eat itself?

[[deleted user]]

From what I've read, the MET deserves credit for how it handled the Armistice Day protests and counter protests. Yes, there was small scale disorder, involving both sides, but considering the numbers involved in the march, the day seemed to pass off quite respectfully and peacefully.

Well done MET.

[Philip]

Beau wrote: "From what I've read, the MET deserves credit for how it handled the Armistice Day protests and counter protests. Yes, there was small scale disorder, involving both sides, but considering the numbe..."

Given the criticism it's faced over last few years (actually since Lawrence) I think they did well yesterday. Unfortunately idiots remain determined to cause trouble.

[J.]

Beau wrote: "...Re Cordon, it's a conundrum. Do you lock him in a cupboard to save national embarrassment or export him in case it's contagious. It's a tough one :)"

Y'all have cupboards that big?

[Scout]

J., post 2618 isn't good news for us on Goodreads. I've always felt safe here voicing unpopular opinions because I thought we were just a little book group on a book site - how dangerous could we be to the establishment? Why would we even be noticed? Should I expect black SUVs to pull up to my house at some point?

[[deleted user]]

Well, Suella has been sacked:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-po...

Inevitable, I suppose. Meanwhile, David Cameron has been seen at No 10. Looks like a political comeback, maybe as Foreign Secretary, as part of a reshuffle.

[Philip]

Beau wrote: "Well, Suella has been sacked:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-po...

Inevitable, I suppose. Meanwhile, David Cameron has been seen at No 10. Looks like a political comeback, maybe a..."

Confirmed on Cameron - next step new referendum, Liberal Dem coalition and rewind to austerity, not that we've left it.

None of this will save Sunak who should never have appointed Suella a week after she was sacked for breaking ministerial code. He should have sacked her several times since then especially last week.

For none UK readers - Conservatives won 365 MPs out of 650 in 2019 election (reduced by a handful since then). Some forecasts have them winning <100 at next election which could be next year or as late as Jan 2025.

[Philip]

Hot of press - UK's Supreme Court has just ruled that it's plan to deport refugees is illegal. Lots of interesting reasons including a similar scheme used by Israel to Rwanda where Rwanda then clandestine moved asylum seekers to another country where they were attacked.

Some on the rabid right in UK now want the UK to leave the European Convention on Human Rights which the UK drafted after WWII - another stupid plan by stupid people baying to racists but covering it with trying to stop people smugglers.

Virtually every country in Europe has more refugees in it than UK but you wouldn't believe it from rhetoric especially from now sacked former Home Secretary.

Refugees for asylum, war, or economic are an issue we all need to grapple with. They will not stop coming if they see prosperity and safety elsewhere. We therefore need to address housing and social care for existing population as well as migrants - mores socialism... Perhaps tax some billionaires to build housing hospitals and schools.... Maybe even in original countries so that migration isn't seen as so attractive.

[J.]

Ulez camera vandal ‘couldn’t afford to pay £12.50 every day’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023...

Let's say that you can't afford to just buy a new car, but you still have to drive to work. That would be £12.50 per day, 5 days per week, 52 weeks per year, that's £3250.00 per year from people who already can't afford a new car. It seems to me this is by design an inescapable tax on the poor.

[[deleted user]]

There's no easy answer to the migration crisis. It all stems from the ill-thought-out military interventions in N Africa and the Middle East. Chickens are now coming home to roost.

Still, we are where we are. International law doesn't appear to have been updated to deal with the situation, but if countries don't have the power to control migration then it needs updating fast. Otherwise, nation states become obsolete.

The Government must know this, so why the rhetoric and Rwanda gimmicky? Answer is, they want the migration for cheap labour, they just won't admit it to their core support.

[[deleted user]]

It is, J, but the people of London keep voting for it.

If you're a tradesman, add it onto the Londoners' bill. ULEZ payments are a storm in a tea cup.

[Philip]

Beau wrote: "It is, J, but the people of London keep voting for it.

If you're a tradesman, add it onto the Londoners' bill. ULEZ payments are a storm in a tea cup."

Central London already had the congestion charge. London also has good public transport which is what they want the public to use instead of their own cars. It's dressed up as to reduce pollution (Good thing having worked in the place) reduce carbon etc but it's a tax to pay for the transport infrastructure and the politicians expenses.

[[deleted user]]

I used to enjoy the smell of diesel fumes when I worked in the city, back in my 20s. But life moves on and as Londoners keep voting for Khan, his charge must remain.

The underground is a good service but poor value.

[Philip]

Beau wrote: "I used to enjoy the smell of diesel fumes when I worked in the city, back in my 20s. But life moves on and as Londoners keep voting for Khan, his charge must remain.

The underground is a good serv..."

When I picked up my EV from Brent Cross you could taste the pollution in the air. I hate to think what the air quality is doing to children's health. Then again look at pictures from India and China. Pollution so thick it looks like a London pea-souper from pictures of the 50s. Diesel reduction will help and older vehicles pay more or are banned from ULEZ. There are others around the country and the UK was not first to introduce congestion charges.

Cars of all types have provided excellent freedom but their costs have also been extensive, not just pollution but road building especially bad road building - cheap nasty and inefficient.

[[deleted user]]

Honestly, Philip, if we had public transport like they've got in Germany or Holland, I'd be happy to give up my car. As we haven't, I won't.

Reminiscing, one thing that beat the smell of diesel in the city was the smell of pipe smoke on a football terrace. Ah, nectar!

[Scout]

Pipe smoke, love it. Can't remember the last time I imbibed.

[[deleted user]]

Meet Argentina's new president, who makes Donald Trump look like a bland centrist:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-lati...

That'll end well.

[J.]

I'm surprised the BBC didn't try to connect him to all of those quaint Bavarian villages that were built in Argentina after WWII.

[[deleted user]]

Tbf, the Beeb isn't as bad as some for describing anyone right of centre as some sort of rabid fascist but this guy still doesn't look like good news to me.

I find the new political polarisation appearing around the world pretty depressing. A choice of woke, authoritarian cancel culture or survival of the fittest near nihilism.

Neither appeals to me and neither will end well.

[Ian]

I suspect it is desperation from the voters. So far, all we get are politicians that try to "look good". run up the debt and do nothing for the people except seemingly dig the hole deeper. In pre-TV days, politicians had to announce policy because the only guide to voters was what they could read or hear. Of course in the 1930s that still led to fascism in the hope that would get some out of the economic slump. Now most people sense things are not going well, but no politicians seem to have an answer except tax cuts, so people tend to vote the current lot out, and the more extreme in, in the hope they will do something special. They overlook the fact that change can equally make things worse.

[J.]

https://youtu.be/whR41-GnVWk?si=H6Zy5...

[Philip]

In among the news of how bad the UK is and pathetic soundbites from politicians of the fiddling (while Rome burns) to tax and economy we have this news

Net migration to UK this year will be 670,000 extra souls



That is legal and illegal immigration - for some reason a lot of people want to live here....

[Papaphilly]

Philip wrote: "In among the news of how bad the UK is and pathetic soundbites from politicians of the fiddling (while Rome burns) to tax and economy we have this news

Net migration to UK this year will be 670,00..."

Maybe it is better than everywhere else....

[Philip]

Worrying news now from Republic of Ireland which has some similarities with the car accident in Buffalo. In the car accident Fox described it as a terrorist attack and immediately blamed it on poor border controls backed by stupid tweets from normal idiots. The dead American couple on USA side of border driving a Bentley at high speed was ignored in desperate attempt to push political agenda. Then claims of FBI cover up.

Yesterday afternoon on Dublin high street a group of children and their teacher were attacked. Immediately on a right wing TV station it was claimed this was done by an Algerian man. (Since then suspect is believed to be Irish man who was prevented from further attacks by a Brazilian man) That evening a riot broke out stoked by the false TV report and usual social media rubbish. This resulted in a near riot destroying the crime scene and of course attempted looting of shops and assaults on the police. Multiple arrests and police injuries.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/world...

Commonalities
False TV report in right-wing media
False claims on social media
Socially inadequate and deprived locals responded and were looking for a fight
Claims of cover up

The instant TV and social media age is causing problems even without AI.

What we don't need is politicians leaping to comment before the facts are known. They are supposed to know better but are so eager to blame they launch.

[[deleted user]]

You're right about the dangers of fake news, social media and jumping to conclusions, Philip. But equally dangerous is the current level of immigration into Western Europe. Yesterday's graph goes some way to illustrating the problem.

Demographics everywhere are changing before our eyes, while the UK is being gaslit by politicians into believing we've always been a nation of immigrants. We haven't. I would imagine the numbers over just the past 5 years exceed those of 1066 - 1950 combined. I'm sorry, it's completely unacceptable.

Incidentally, an off the wall, more trivial question for non-UK group members...

Do your TV programmes and adverts vaguely represent the make up of your population? Because ours don't. If you watched modern UK TV, you'd think you were living in sub-Saharan Africa. It's gone from being diverse to being frankly embarrassing. Wonder what's behind all this lol?

[J.]

Progress!

Fewer cousins marrying in Bradford's Pakistani community
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-67422918

Before Beau chimes in about the immigrants, weren't the parents of the current king, second cousins?

[[deleted user]]

J, everyone knows aristocrats interbreed, which is why they're eccentric and have six fingers on each hand. Just like people from Herefordshire.

I don't have any issue with immigration. In a rational world, it's a good thing but, like any good thing, when it's taken to an extreme it becomes bad. In the UK, Ireland and the rest of Western Europe, it's now completely out of hand.

The TV point in my last post - honestly, it has become farcical, with regards to race. Everybody outside of 'polite society' (and I presume bit-part actors) is laughing at it. You wouldn't appreciate the scale of the shift unless you were here.

Regarding Dublin, looks like the truth might be half way between the 'far right fake news' and Philip's news. Seems to be someone who is now an Irish citizen but previously wasn't. The Brazilian man deserves huge credit, but he wasn't the 1st on the scene to confront the attacker. He's been singled out in the MSM for whatever reason.

[J.]

Funny, I thought that for descendants of Victoria it was hemophilia, members of the House of Bowes-Lyon suffered from mental retardation, and famously the Hapsburgs suffered severe prognathism and mental retardation. Which line has polydactyly?

[[deleted user]]

I don't know them well enough to identify the exact line but, on reflection, we shouldn't be too critical of their mental faculties and physical abnormalities - especially when considering them next to your President and the leading Republican candidate,

[Ian]

Beau wrote: "You're right about the dangers of fake news, social media and jumping to conclusions, Philip. But equally dangerous is the current level of immigration into Western Europe. Yesterday's graph goes s..."

Our TV ads sometimes reflect who actually runs the economy, and who cares about the people. Thus a number of car ads have the cars driving on the right hand side of the road.

[J.]

To quote the great Alice Cooper, "Left handed shifting is like dyslexic driving."

[Ian]

The only time I have owned an automatic was in North America - to avoid right hand shifting. (Also because I got a really good deal on it.)