That is right and im not defending him. Politicians have to be judged on competence and character. The problem is that more and more, it is based on character.

Let's be honest. The super rich are bulletproof in virtually all cirumstances. They don't play the game, they own it.
The rest of us fight for the scraps with any means legal, and sometimes not so legal, at our disposal.

Christopher Hitchens died at the 'fag' end of 2011. They say Christopher Hitchens's last words were, 'capitalism, downfall'.

Some might say that habits die hard with an old Trot but It was a time where a lot of analysts were still coming to terms with the financial collapse and the response to it.

When Tux posts he often chimes in with fiscal catastrophe as his main theme and it has to be said the west and indeed the developed world runs on debt and everything is on the 'never never'.

The markets are based upon confidence and it all feels uncomfortably like a deck of cards where the 'busts' are more like explosive detonations and the 'booms' are more like recoveries.

Economics isn't a strength of mine but looking long term the gradual social political changes don't feel me with optimism.

Working out what the personal direction should be for the future is the real test of intelligence.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)

Maybe. Im indifferent to social changes, as i see it as a sort of evolutionary constant, as in if you managed to live in england between 1700 and 1780, there would have been a social change, maybe not so much in regards to immigration, but quite probably in thought and behavioural acceptability. I would also imagine it is the same in Africa, North America, Asia, etc. Change is a constant, imo, not a variable.

Im not of the opinion that we are at the end of days either, because, at least in the uk's situation, we have much more sovereignty than we have been led to believe, which cannot be said for all the other countries in the euro.

It is quite amusing to me how the working class have been duped into believing the rich though and blindly supporting them and the social elite blindly supporting the greens or labour and, with regards to the working class, it's because a pish english voice is seen to be associated with intelligence and competence. That is what i have seen 1st hand from my parents. They sent me to sort of posho schools to try and give me a better life than theirs. The problem is that i still ended up sounding like steve parish

So, im not totally down on the world, but i think the answer is education, discussion, moving towards a more inclusive and eventually direct democracy.

Thanks Chris 123.

A very minor BY ( not BI ) election in one very labour ward is not really much of a guide to national election.

Most pundits been wrong both 2017 GE and EU referendum so who know.

Labour front bench is a Star Wars bars of maniacs, imbeciles and self interested patronising champagne socialists ( remember white van comment ) and anyone who isn't at a minimum silent on anti semitism doesn't get a look in.

God save us if they form a government.

Whilst I think Corbyn is appalling at least he is consistently so

Edited by HKOwen (16 Nov 2019 2.08pm)

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.