USA. Your Time is Running Out.

Posted on 25th Oct 2024 by Cassandra

ITALY-FRANCE-WEATHER-FEATURE

Yes USA. You as many a nation before you are being called to account. You stand at a crossroads. You may have been told this is all about Liberty. You will have been warned that there is a risk Democracy could be taken away from you. You will have been told that Intolerance and Bigotry will be rife.

Indeed, all possibilities, and then things could get worse. Much worse. Worse than you may have imagined. Or maybe dreaded.

Exaggeration you say?

OK. Look at it this way. This winter, there will be weather warnings about heavy snowfalls. I take it you will take precautions to try to minimise the effect. I expect you will not ignore them, unless you are suffering from conspiracitis. (A terminal disease). You will pay attention.
So why do you not pay attention to the warning of what can happen if the Right once more win this presidential election? Or if they lose have another spoiled brat tantrum?

Think you worst possibility, then think worse again.

Ah dear reader I am done writing mild(ish) balanced posts. This is an updated version of another post, from another blog

https://politicsandhistory359465094.wordpress.com/2022/05/08/a-spectre-to-be-exorcised-communal-violence/↗

I very much doubt if this will be read by the numbers of folk my words are intended for, it is probably too late and I have written this theme over and over again down the past few years.

So why bother?

It’s not about my nation, the UK. It appears to be a self-inflicted folly by a portion of a nation who gave up thinking of Implications and Consequences and either switched off or dreamed out the jagged cutting parts of the ideas fed them.

Why bother?

Because it is my duty to bother. Because in this world of instance communication, complex interlockings and interactions, where after two Global Wars and a series large enough conflicts with attendant social eruptions, whatever happens ‘There’ will be implications ‘Here’. Because if I claim to embrace a set of values which generally aims for Compassion, Tolerance and Respect, it is not acceptable to sit back, shrug and do something pleasantly diverting.
Because the forces which are set out in the Broadness of History constantly roiling are at a stage at which they threaten to erupt. History you say, is always written by the victor…..Nonsense. History has a long, long reach and victors of one time do not stay thus.

It can be argued that no two nations histories go along the same lines. However there are tides and there are commonalities, particularly in the areas of discord. If one grouping feels another grouping is imposing upon it, in a heavy and unjust way, then there will be a reaction. The group of course doing the imposition will feel that it is justified to do so. Lines will be drawn, discourse will be closed down, each will turn unto themselves. And when the side imposing the will does not have the unconditional support of all the security or defence forces personnel having made personal attacks upon them, it is then that unpleasant and unthinkable possibilities arise.
And in the USA this is being drawn in a very ever thickening line. For neither side has the will or ability to reach over to the other; despite the efforts of some very brave folk, there is no general consensus for this polarisation to stop. Thus from here the chances of physical conflict are raised upwards, to volatile states as one ‘But they can’t / wouldn’t do that’ gets swept away by the next newsfeed.

Some foolish folk will welcome it, thinking of a replay of the Civil War, or some sort of boardgame set up (yes they are out there, rather naïve ideas of the opposing forces) and there’s a very, very politically unsatisfactory unrealistic film going the rounds too.
It would not be like that. Look not to Syria of the past decade as an example, turn instead to Northern Ireland of the late 20^th century, and maybe with an edge of mutiny within some of those charged with order.

Writing this it is difficult not to have the ageless Dylan song ‘Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall’ in my head. Listen to its lyrics and fit them into this time and place in the USA.

One final thought. Of course, there will be other nations seeking to take advantage of this. The motives are inscribed in the International Relations playbooks. If I was living in and devoted to that nation and fearful of the USA I would be expecting my government to do something to benefit ‘our nation’

A handful days of deciding and one day of voting to go. I personally only have Hope left in my resources. Hope for my friends in the USA, Hope for the folk of Ukraine, Hope for Hope’s sake.

Hope that the 6th of November will be decked in an allegorical sunrise.

And Hope that over the course of the next year, this post will be made to look ridiculously overblown and alarmist. A small price to pay.

Before You Go Any Further on Palestine

Posted on 20th Aug 2024 by Cassandra

Protests at DNC

Foreword / Forewarning : We are going to some very unpleasant places, where choices have to be made in which no one wins all that they want. There is no easy out either, it’s so narrow, even not getting involved is a choice, and maybe when considering the stakes and options, the very worst. Welcome to the Reality of The World. Accept the harsh facts. What ever you will do, you have to hope it was the least worst option. Bleak? I am afraid so. For many around this world, even in your home region, it is a way of Life. Read on.

It is understandable that folk are upset, angry, furious or incandescent at what has been taking place in the Gaza region of the Middle East. Even though there is a fearful and dread predictability to it, you only have to travel a few hundred miles north to learn the same type of slaughter took place a decade and less ago; the difference being at least in the UK the demonstrations were not to get involved at all, apparently Assad was entitled to slaughter his own people and the government was criticised for trying to get involved.

Yes folk should be horrified. At any slaughter or mass abuse. I have listed them before, if you don’t know about any others I would suggest checking on Wikipedia under ‘Genocide’. Of course folk will tell me the difference now is that the ‘our’ governments are supporting Israel and supplying arms. This is a good and relevant argument, in part that is, for the simple, grim, unavoidable reason that this event in Gaza is not taking place in isolation. One of the many factors it is linked to is what is and will be taking place in the USA from now until 5th November 2024. The stark choice between a possibly less than perfect Democratic candidate of Kamala Harris and thence her administration, and the manifestation of all that is wrong with the USA’s political and social judgement Donald Trump along with the cabal of Right Wing reaction behind him. The forces which are restricting women’s right to abortion, censoring to what can be read in schools, intimidating the right to walk safely in public places by allowing guns to be proliferated, the persecution of the right to be of any sexual orientation, the eradicating of an administration staffed by folk who do not necessarily agree, with the president and of course whether you will be allowed not to believe in a god of their manufacture. Make no mistake it will be one or the other. Make no mistake if Trump is let back in at a time of his own questionable judgement there will be a whole group of folk with him with their own agendas, and as long as they feed his ego that will be just fine.

There are folk demonstrating at the Democrat Convention, raising the political tensions. Distracting for events in their own back yard, truth be known. There appear to be some 750,000 voters who have made much of being undecided about voting democrat because of the current administration’s support for Israel. As unpleasant as they might find that stance, I cannot see what solace they would have in by withholding their votes and possibly allowing a Trump administration in, or how they would believe that administration would be sympathetic to the Palestinians. And this is a terrible fact. If this body of voters withhold their votes and by default Trump gets in, then they will be complicit in whatever fate befalls the Palestinians.

And it gets worse. Not just the Palestinians but the Ukrainians. Does anyone need reminding that for some twisted reasoning many Republicans like Putin, he is their kind of guy. And if that were not bad enough. Read back to the summary two paragraphs above. Withhold those votes let Trump in and those 750,000 will be complicit in the misery of women with unwanted or dangerous pregnancies, the fear gripping the LGBT communities in many states, the pressure on teachers to teach ‘The Right Way’, the questionable religious indoctrination of communities, the intimidation of minorities and of course the pardoning of several individuals found guilty of riot and assault on the seat of government.

By now I can imagine some readers may be shaking their head or howling at my words. Demanding what solution do I have then? Am I content to let an extreme religiously fundamentalist government slaughter thousands. Firstly I would have to say ‘no’ and then follow up with asking where were those asking that question when previous genocides were taking place? If you care, you don’t get to pick and chose which Crime Against Humanity you feel is worthy of your attention. Secondly and more importantly at this juncture, at this crossroad, at this challenge to the stability and democracy of The USA do you, questionnaire feel you have the right to destabilise or hinder an attempt by the forces of true Democracy and Tolerance to halt the march of Intolerance and Regression in your own land? Because by your demonstrations and your other actions that is exactly what you are doing.

Some choice huh? Get behind a government that supports Israel or allow another in which will not just support but encourage Israel. There is no ‘wriggle room’ here. There is no space to shout loudly in one direction and refuse to support them because they are not being perfect for you. When the Harsh Realities surface on your newsfeeds because everyone knows that the Middle East makes good copy, there are no simple choices involved. Not now. It’s not as simple as it was in previous wars. There has been one going on in your own backyard these past twenty years and it really heated up when an African American was voted in twice to the Whitehouse.

And there is the grimmest of all choices. You stick to your outrage, and you risk letting Trump back in.

Simple as that.

Welcome to the Rest of the World. There are people making choices like this all over the world. Compromise, take the least worst path, for the alternative will come back to haunt you.

No escape from that. You can’t switch it off like a TV or a Video Game.

About this guy. Vance, Trump’s Running Mate. A View From Across The Pond

Posted on 18th Jul 2024 by Cassandra

Vance

Of course there has been and is going to be a lot written about anyone who is chosen as a running mate in a US Presidential Election. The only ones that rule doesn’t apply to are incumbent VPs who unless they do or say something singular just get a few lines here and there and the odd photo.

Now Mr. J D Vance. For starters ‘J D’? I mean, that’s fine for a writer of novels ‘Another wonderful addition to the pantheon of work of J D Vance’ Yep, that sounds good. And he did it, didn’t he? ‘Hillbilly Elergy’. Or front man in an indy band ‘Once more J D Vance’s combination of lyrics and meoldic voice take us to places we can only dream about, I’d buy the album, straight off. But in a politican? I mean what are wrong the names James, David ? Surely those are sound solid all american names? ..JAMES, DAVID...VANCE. Some folk might vote for the ticket on that score alone ‘Truth be known, ah never cared much for the name Don-nald Trrump. Ah mean when y’all get down to it sounds too northern slick. Him a Noo Yorker an’ all. But he’ll be gone soon being in his seventies…An’ then we’ll get a fellah with a real name….James David Vance…Yup. Can’t go wrong with James-David-Vance,’.
Truth be known the name struck a chord in the memory, some sinister and then it came to me this morning….J J Hunsecker the monsterously creepy columinst as played by Burt Lancaster in The Sweet Smell of Success. What an unfortunate association…..No, must be my febrile imagination…Socialism does that to you; apparently.
Anyway, we’re stuck with ‘J.D’ I guess. Maybe it’s all to do with that book. Somehow though for a politician, a class who are supposed to be all about openess and honesty (stop sniggering you lot in the back of there), publically calling yourself ‘J D’ – well jus’ don’t seem right y’all . Sounds like….well…enter-tain-ment.

And there’s that index finger and thumb gesture with the other fingers held delicately forwards
Vance 2

Trump does that all the time, now he’s doing it. I know with the fingers held upwards it means ‘OK’ or ‘Cool’ .But that way? So prissy. Reminds me of a lesser Jane Austen character explaining to a salesman just what sort of toothpick he’s looking for. No, give me a clenched hand firm of purpose. I mean you don’t, see Putin being prissy do you?

Anyway those are the lesser, but physiologically telling niggles out of the way. (What do you mean I am nit picking? The republicans do it all the time? I recall Obama couldn’t wear a flag pin right, according to them anyway). Now let’s get to the important one relevant to the United (sorta) Kingdom anyway. Mr J D Vance’s recent observation about the UK.

The following is part open letter to J D but dear reader please feel free to take any part you like and use it in any way you care….

No kidding; the guy reckons Britain under Labour might be the first Islamic nation with nuclear weapons…..read this if you don’t believe me

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn07e2ep20no

Now it is something of a short-sighted and breath-takingly ignorant article of faith amongst british activists all of stripes that all americans are either devious, neurotic or plain stupid. Yet speaking as one brit who has defended the American in general for decades ~~klutzs~~ fellows like Mr J D Vance don’t make the task of defence against the last accusation easy, bearing in mind this guy might be a sneeze or a hamburger away from being President.

Hey J D. I say old chap, a quiet word or two

OK FIRST POINT J D. Pakistan- islamic country…wait for it….Has nuclear weapons! Kind of Counts ????? Now I know possession of a politcal or social or militray atlas may be way down your list of must haves. BUT since you were in the US Marines, and made much of the lessons you were taught. AND were a military journalist I would have thought you might have got the idea of which nations are nuclear powers into your nogging. You having political ambitions of the highest order an’ all. ‘Pakistan kind of counts’……Jeeeezzz Loooooeeezzzz!!

Now Second point J D. A few stats, as per last census.

Brits who consider themselves Christian (going to church optional) = 46%

Brits who consider themselves aethists and agonostics = 39%

Brits who consider themslves Muslim = 6.5%

Now while you are figuring out how 6.5% are going to take over 85+ (others)% with 18 muslim Member of Parliment in the Labour party total of 411 Members of Parliment. Let us look at a background.

The UK muslim electorate has expressed concern if not distrust at Labour (government) for Keir Stammer’s support for Israel’s right to be…. well Israel. Which is uncomfortable for Labour, but since Labour has a majority of 174 and the nation on the whole is focusing on internal issues the Muslim influence on government overseas policy is going to be minimal.
4,000,000 folk voted for the extreme Right-Wing party Reform. Convincing those voters to drift back even to the Conservative Party in the hard world of Realpolitik will be a task uppermost in some minds. Now go and work that out for yourself yo-yo.
Immigration is a ‘topic’ in the UK, but the simple idea that there are waves of folk of Muslim faith flooding in and thus taking over the UK. Well you are talking in a million a year J D, over 10 years, maybe . I’ll keep it simple for you….An’t happening

There are other factors which are subtle and work in quiet corners of places folk would rather not talk about in public and probably would go over the head of someone who thinks that Alex Jones is a source of information, so I won’t press you on that. However you are designated Interfering Fool for making an unwise statement which will be only of value to far right-wing thugs like the English Defence League and add another layer of problems for the Muslim population of the UK which suffers enough from intolerance and stupidity

Now we all sound off from time to time and make statements which are either meant to be sarcastic or satirical or just end up being plain wacko because we are either angry or have been ingesting too much of something, but that statement???…. The last time I heard something along those lines was from a very excited teenage London muslim lad who said there would be the Crescent flag flying over ‘Number 10’ (that’s where the PM lives J D), next year…..that was about fifteen years ago.

I suppose (big sigh), being on the side of US politics you are still fixed with that idea that Labour is an authoritarian, police-state, censorship, state imposition sort of party….like the 2025 agenda thing you guys have got going over there….Did I get that right? Or, like you, did I just make a stunningly inaccurate generalisation about politics in a nation I do not, nor have ever resided in.

Look J D buddy, if you want to hold that VP cum hopeful President post, you better do your homework on the nations you will be dealing with, otherwise, well somewhere down the road Europe is going to close its doors on the USA and quite frankly you are not big enough to stand alone, not up against Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, and a few other states who will climb on board. Well not unless you want to use those nuclear weapons? Now there’s an ironic thought, a religious fundementalist faith-based neo theocracy with access to nuclear weapons. Britain?……

Nope- Guess again.

Closing note: Honestly dear reader, Realpolitik Roger can comprehend and accept with hostility, hardened professionals doing what they do on the International scene, whether I like them or not, that’s part of History, sadly. What I cannot abide is half-baked Amatuers with perceptions so blinkered they make walking near a cliff edge in a fog with just a key ring torch a sensible move. Now they are the real danger.

J D Vance- Vice President….Could make some folk wanna wish Trump a long life- yep if you ask me…. that bad! (Proves there’s always someone worse y’know)

Take care all of you. We live in the Age of Yo-Yos

Elections Beckon. A Series. Part III. Three Days into The Aftermath and I am still not inclined to be Singing and Dancing

Posted on 7th Jul 2024 by Cassandra

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and his wife Victoria Starmer greet supporters outside Downing Street 10, following the results of the election, in London, Britain, July 5, 2024. REUTERS/Hannah McKay

It takes a singular mix of incompetence, arrogance and unsatisfied (or unsated?) ambitions to go from an 80+ parliamentary seat majority to losing 251 of those seats in the space of less than five years. Whereas Labour did make substantial gains; 211 seats, and a majority of 86 the results seems only to fortify the quirks of the UK’s First Past The Post (FPTP) voting system.

For those not familiar with the UK system and to be brief. A General Election is based around winning a parliamentary seat in a constituency, the candidate who polls the most votes wins and legally all the other votes ‘get binned’. Thus the party which wins the most seats and not the most votes will be the one which forms a government, assuming it has an overall majority, simply having the largest number of seats is not sufficient, as the 2010 and 2017 elections showed; that is where deals have to be done and later on promises reneged. Simple yes? Right now onto the quirks.

The Conservative Government Party had become unpopular, since the Labour share of the vote remained in the region of 32-34% with an increase of 1.6% the result was a substantial vote against the Conservatives and not for Labour. In previous Conservative regions the moderate Liberal Democrats profited to a great degree and although they polled 3,519,199 votes to win 72 seats, it must be borne in mind that the Right Wing Reform polled 4,117,221 and yet only gained 5 seats. Therefore an overall move to Reform away from the Conservatives opened the door for Labour and The Liberal Democrats to profit. It can therefore be argued that aside from severe disenchantment with The Conservatives, the other factor which decided the election result was the FPTP system. Results however need to be considered in the light of percentage of votes cast. In rough terms there were 48,000,000 voters but only 28,000,000 cast, which in itself is not a vote of confidence in the system. With questions on the futures of parties, Government’s ability to turn around the current situation and the low turnout, the future is not set to be one of Bright Hopes and Sunny Uplands. We must however turn to look at the parties in the aftermath.

Labour- Whereas Keir Starmer brought a long needed discipline back to the one credible alternative governing party in the UK and his willingness to make compromises or ditch policies for the overall image of Credibility shows, like it on not, a theme of Realism and Practicality. Thus the very small increase in the overall percentage of the vote and the strong showing of the Liberal Democrats in terms of seats with Reform enjoying 5 seats and those 4,000,000+ votes will be facts not lost on Stammer and his team. Nor the fact that whereas a lot of folk are saying it’s a Tory(Conservative) Free Wales- all seats lost, the Reform vote increased in the Principality of Wales.
One outcome Labour will be celebrating is the defeat in Scotland of the ‘Auld’ foe, The SNP, the ‘ruling party’, lost 39 seats, 36 of them to Labour. ‘Thus the balance is resorted.’ Small wonder Starmer is off to Scotland Sunday the 7th, to ensure that what was once Labour Heartland remains that way.
As for how this Labour government will work remains to be seen. Rachel Reeves the UK’s first woman Chancellor of the Exchequer has the most unenviable task amongst a whole room full of them. Deputy PM Angela Rayner with left of centre credentials and battle-hardened also has the role of ‘Levelling Up’ (basically fair shares for all regions). One relatively minor role which brings a promising sunbeam is the appointment of James Timpson as Prisons Minister, CEO of a company with a policy of hiring ex-prisoners; whereas not an elected MP, he gets to be made a Lord, which says he can sit in the House of Lords and thus in the Starmer’s Cabinet (That is a quintessentially UK ‘thing’- it’s all you need to know for the purposes of this post).
It bears repeating, there will be little time for celebrating and how many holidays will be cancelled on re-scheduled is anyone’s guess. Labour will have a very short time scale in which to be seen to be turning things around. And the bane of many a Labour set-up, party discipline will be something of a priority. There may well be something of a ‘wartime’ mentality.
It bears repeating. We shall see. We shall see.

Conservatives- Ever since the day when Margaret Thatcher was effectively told by those about her in government ‘It’s All Over Now Baby Blue’. There has been an air of more than the normal atmosphere of unsettlement you’d find in a political party. The rift was initially between Thatcherites and those they thought traitors, this morphed into pro and anti-European sentiments, but as time went on the Right Which Should Not Speak Its Name, grew bolder and finally the ill-equipped Boris Johnson was made Prime Minister, deft in some respects but woefully inadequate when it came to the grim, hard calls, however his tendency to appetites caused his downfall. There was the brief flirtation with the Ridiculous in Liz Truss and then back to the traditional ‘Rather Decent Sort of Chap’ with Rishi Sunak who played the role quite well. Even so the damage had been done and no one in the UK likes a party prone in-fighting, mixed with incompetence and in this case the Conservatives out-did even Labour on a bad day.
The aftermath may turn into something entertaining for the neutral and a useful distraction for the Labour Government when it moves into the area of bringing controversially minor but important details. The scale of the sheer disaster for the Conservatives suggests a line up between the traditional near moderate conservatives with a small ‘c’ and the activist-prone those who would be king/queen on the hard wing; as demonstrated by Labour in post 2019. Battle lines have already been drawn between those already saying ‘More Like Reform’ and the ‘Utter Tosh’ response. To write off the Conservatives as a spent force would be folly, they have an in built resilience, although with That Reform there could be a very messy four-way fight for the Heart and Soul of the basically Not Labour / Liberal (as in Lib-Dem) wing of society. Rishi Sunak will continue to play the ‘Jolly Decent Chap’ caretaker role in the meantime and many a moderate might mourn his passing. It will be a time when new names will rise.

Liberal-Democrats – It is hard not to view Ed Davy as someone who bought a strip of lottery tickets and found he’s the winner of the multi-million currency prize. Back in 2010 ignoring history, leader Nick Clegg made a catastrophic formal coalition with David Cameron’s Conservatives, was gently pushed aside by their machine and earned the ire of a hard-built up support, dooming the party to single figures, which was its fate, until now. No doubt the beneficiaries of Conservative-Rejection, the current grouping of 72 MPs will be in a totally understandable parliamentary mindset of ‘Golly-gosh. What do we do now? Oh my. Oh my,’. It will take some very cool and pragmatic heads to lower the temperature to a ‘This is promising’ constructive level and use the bounty as a foundation for a possible long haul back to taking the centre-ground. If the Conservatives do slide to an entrenched Right wing stance, such a re-positioning with the Liberal-Democrats could be possible. The Liberal-Democrats had been written off either as ‘Nice Folk but…‘ or ‘Total Sell-Outs’ . Maintaining their composure and producing a solid and believable platform could well resonate amongst moderate folk, particularly across England who are weary of the ‘Old Two Sides’. They will need to set their sights firmly on the years ahead though and stick to the No Coalitions strategy. Another thorny issue for them; for years they have campaigned for Proportional Representation and not FPTP, now since they have greatly benefitted from the latter, how loud will their voice be?

Reform UK – 5 MPs and 4,000,000+ votes, with hard-line Conservatives desperate to hang on saying ‘Perhaps we should chat to them’ and Farage finally getting in Parliament. It is folly to ignore this grouping, even though they attract unpleasant folk who despite and maybe because of their nasty comments did not affect the voting bloc. It has to be accepted anti-immigration and the associated ‘R’ word (despite denials) played well. This said Reform has its own problems some of which will have occurred to its more astute followers or observers, and other issues which lurk for every party at some stage.
First- Its leader. Farage is a consummate salesman, for he has kept the Right-Wing anti-immigration,’ Out of Europe’ policies alive and thrashing throughout the years and in several forms. And yet in debate with other politicians he is a light-weight and tends to form a party which should be all about him. He was sharp enough to ditch some very nasty characters who slithered out during the campaigns and tried to distance Reform from the vile White Supremacist thugs. That said, does he have the stamina for the Long Haul? It’s one thing to be on the side lines banging a drum, it’s quite another task to work in Parliament. He will face debate after debate there, and it is a brutal place.
Second- What is Reform? Extreme Right- White Power? Social Revolutionaries intent on truly reforming the entire system? Folk looking to take over from a moribund and divided Conservative Party? Are those Five MPs truly united, and will they live up to voter expectations. It should be borne in mind amongst all their expected rightest policies there was the very Left Wing re-nationalise The Public Utilities.
Third- The Conservative question. As stated earlier some Conservatives are fluttering eyelashes at Reform; there again Farage appears to have sniffed very dismissively at the thought. Thus in the coming Conservative turbulence, will Reform be drawn in and thus find its own internal pressures to say ‘Yes’ ‘No’ or ‘Maybe’. A four-way very arcane struggle could take place.
Four- The question which they would rather not discuss. A very wealthy Asian, Islamic business man Zia Yusuf donated a very large sum to the Reform coffers (figures vary). Now actually there is nothing unusual about someone who is not white thinking a Party like Reform would be a could thing for the UK. The previous Conservative Government had a wider ethnical base than the new Labour version. Mr. Yusuf has made his fortune in the UK and would like things to stay ‘as they were’ when his parents arrived in the UK. How is that going to play with the very unpleasant wing of Reform is another matter. Also it has been noticed that Mr Yusuf is quite the public speaker. Just saying, that’s all.

SNP- Brits reading could well be thinking on the classic TV sit-com ‘Dad’s Army’ and the Scots character Private Frazer with his catch phrase ‘We’re doomed’. The SNP were always in danger of suffering a backlash as a result of their recent years’ tenure as Government at the Scots Parliament at Holyrood, Edinburgh. Failure to push policies through, debates over deliverance on Independence, scandal and the collapse of a coalition with the Scots Greens over environmental issues. On the whole the feeling they were taking the Scottish vote for granted played into Labour’s hands. An additional factor would have been that the Conservative Government could overrule SNP legislation, such as in the case of recent Gender Recognition, therefore the idea in Scotland that a complete Labour overhaul across the UK might be a better option would have played well.
It’s a long hard road back for the SNP, and they must be looking to the Scots election in 2026 for a revival of fortunes hoping discontent has set in at Labour by then. A lot can happen in one and a quarter years.

Plaid Cymru- Have to be feeling just a bit pleased. They now have four seats, and the whole of the western part of Wales, which looks good on a map. They polled nearly 200,000 and their percentage of the Welsh vote went up slightly now at 14.7% Whereas not earth shaking by any means, it will prove that they have not faded back in obscurity, and will look to make inroads into the Eastern Vote. Their current opponents would be Reform who have increased their vote in Wales. So forget that ‘Tory Free Wales’ triumphant message; the Right is alive and festering. Plaid are the ones to take it on.

Greens (England and Wales)– This party must be feeling very happy. One extra seat, taken from a Conservative rural heartland which must be a optimistic rune. 1,841,388 votes 6.39% of the vote increased by 3.9%. Another party which suffered from the FPTP system but must feel they have befitted from scandals over sewerage being pumped into rivers and coastal sites, along with concerns over rural lands being turned over the building and roadways, then there are the environmental issues. For various reasons the Greens of Scotland and Northern Ireland are two separate parties, neither made any inroads, but they are both battling against entrenched issues. Overall though the Greens will look to build on this, if only to continually come second or third. 4 seats in the House of Commons is not to be sniffed at.

Overview

To begin I apologise to any readers in Northern Ireland for not mentioning their results and the implications. As stated previously Northern Ireland has it’s own particular take and traditions and to make some overall statement from ‘The Mainland’ is simply just not right and proper. If anyone from the region wishes to write their own post on those implications from their perspective, please do so.

In the Mainland UK the numbers, therefore do not tell the complete story. It can be argued that even Labour had mixed fortunes, losing two contests. One to Reform and another to an Independent standing as a result of the war in Gaza. With this in mind it would appear the Muslim community in at least substantial part will currently expect a pro-Palestinian stance by parties to earn their vote. That said Labour has won back the Jewish vote previously lost either deliberately or by fearful incompetence.

The main concern amongst parties, (aside from Reform and paradoxically The Green Party) will be the lack of votes. The results seem to have demonstrated that a truly representative election system will be a Proportional System (PR), normally the preserve of liberal and left of centre parties. However the idea of Reform, The Greens and The Liberal Democrats united on the issue is an interesting concept. Meanwhile for many the thought of Reform getting seats on the basis on their share of the vote will have them thinking that maybe FPTP is not so bad for Britain, after all.

There is therefore still much to be concerned about. Studied disillusionment. A turbulence in many an overseas location. The continued progress of the Far Right. The wreckage that is the Nation, is this beyond repair in less than a decade and can folk accept that price and strain? And for those of us who support Labour, will this be a victory strong enough to handle the strain or just another paper one?

Even after this election it is still We Shall See.

4th July. USA. A few Words on Patriotism

Posted on 4th Jul 2024 by Cassandra

Patriotism: The love of one’s nation? A fair enough statement I guess. Love comes with a certain price though, doesn’t it?

Let’s consider love of one’s nation then.

Firstly that love will have a certain wish all will prevail, be nurtured, grow, flourish. Make you happy to be in that love of your nation. Look to each day with at least Hope.

So what is a True Patriot?

A True Patriot looks to the stability and continuation of their country.

A True Patriot works, as best they can, to ensure that stability and continuation remains.

A True Patriot realises their nation is composed of a variety of folk and communities, and whereas some of those may mystify or even annoy them, the True Patriot accepts the dictum It Takes All Sorts.

A True Patriot will grumble a great deal about what is wrong, but will support the infrastructure, while working somehow to help to improve it.

A True Patriot will realise there is not just One Way to improve but many notions and whether they like it or not will have to work with and in some measure respect others they disagree with in a spirit of compromise.

A True Patriot does not resort to violence to change things, in that The True Patriot realises each action has its reaction. A True Patriot accepts defence with a heavy heart.

A True Patriot celebrates the kaleidoscope of communities and innovations that makes up their nation.

A True Patriot regrets but is not afraid of the errors made by the nation in the Past.

A True Patriot is an optimist.

A True Patriot thinks for themselves and does not accept at face value what they are told, but ponders on the variety and makes a judgement for the good of the nation.

A True Patriot rejects Conspiracies but looks for The Incompetence and Complacency.

A True Patriot accepts they have been gifted this existence in this land and works to ensure it is not abused.

A True Patriot does not deny flaws in their leaders or spokespeople

A True Patriot if they have been fortunate to have been given an opportunity to vote takes part in that process as a duty.

A True Patriot cares about the well being of future generations.

A True Patriot does not try and limit the mindset nor cultural diversity, for therein lies growth.

A True Patriot does not condemn another solely on the basis of their theistic or atheistic stances, or anything in between.

A True Patriot is always alert to and rejects opportunism, profiteering, hate-mongering, and hypocrisy.

A True Patriot accepts Disappointment, but Hopes and Works for Improvement.

A True Patriot accepts things will not always go their way.

A True Patriot concerns themselves for the overall good of the nation.

A True Patriot is someone who does not need a special day or a flag or a badge or a weapon to prove the love for their nation.

A True Patriot will be voting on Tuesday The 5th November 2024 to ensure 2016 is not repeated.

Defend this:

130306205822-the-bill-of-rights - Copy

Make Her Proud Again:

Statue of Liberty

I’m counting on you:

Uncle Sam

and by the way, being A True Patriot is not easy.

Elections Beckon. A Series. Part II The U.K – We Shall See, We Shall See.

Posted on 2nd Jul 2024 by Cassandra

The day after tomorrow all of the official campaigning should stop. The British convention being that all candidates and parties to their relevant locations or headquarters return and wait firstly for the exit polls, fret over those and then once the polling stations close at 10.00pm attention will be on those places where ballot boxes will be opened and candidates will prowl nervously or if they are new and with little chance just sit back and drink in the experience while awaiting the results. There is always a bit of a competition as to which constituency announces the first result at which point the pundits, journalists and academics will spring into action reading the runes; charts will be activated and the long night begins. There is a bit of a difference of opinion in our house, we do not wait up twitching over each result but should my dear wife wake up at night she does tend to check something while I prefer to try and sleep through and wait till a more conventional time to see what has taken place.

The results eh? Some innocents may be assuming the Big Result is a given and the only interest is in the minor details of which big names went down and how the minor and nationalist parties faired. Some might say it doesn’t matter, but it always matters, UK General Elections bring change even if the governing party wins, for there will be a shuffling in and out of ministers and some manoeuvring on how to turn election pledges into workable policies. Anyway, that Big Result. 12% or one in eight voters have not yet made up their minds yet, that of course is open to demographics and in turn exactly where those numbers are, concentrated in regions or parts of urban centres. Whatever; it gives hope to some and a valid reason for others to wag fingers at complacent or euphoric party workers. That said, in what can be seen as mere hours (at time of writing 30-ish) of campaigning let us look at the parties.

Conservatives – Firstly there is the hope of undecided and the unknowns; Rishi Sunak places some credence or desperation in that quarter as he is on record thinking he can still win; although leader ‘thinking’ they can win might not be the most inspiring rallying call. What will have given the Conservatives some comfort is the arrival of the hoped for tribulations of Reform and the attendant defection of some candidates to their ranks. Other than that all the Conservatives left in their campaign ammunition chest is ‘Give Us Another Chance’ and the grimly fatalistic of ‘It Would Worse Under Labour Y’know’ . Conservative loyalists would naturally rally to those, but again hardly vote winners amongst the majority. One issue has caused a lot of recent damage and that is the scandal of some MPs either betting on the date of the election, or even less amusing candidates placing bets that they would lose the campaign in their own seats. Still UK General Elections like football (soccer) can be a ‘funny old game’ (older Brits will recall the origin and value of that remark).

Labour- Have still not produced their traditional list of expected or at least potential fratricidal / sororicidal issues which might derail a campaign, and such is the apparent devaluation of the Conservatives none of their campaign promises seem to be have been a big issue of debate amongst the public. They even seem to be able to field the ‘Immigrant Question’ off despite some searching questions by both sides of the debate, which should have been a weak and divisive spot. The hard question might be, in American parlance the fair enough ‘You can Talk the Talk, but can you Walk the Walk?‘ They have also managed to make other senior figures appear to be invisible and the main image being all about Keir Stammer, whose mostly serious or determined image sometime cracking a mature restrained smile is seen everywhere. That said, anyone showing a sign of anything more than a low key calculated IF instead of WHEN We Win will be seriously admonished and the year 1992 intoned at them. The press seem to be reduced to a ‘Where’s Wally’ hunt for potential damaging issues. This makes the writer feel if anyone is trying hard enough, or are they so fed up the current government they would like to see Labour win. Such back-handed confidence in Labour must be keeping the Campaign teams very sleepless. Sporting metaphors of your choice maybe applied.

It is likely Labour’s nightmares will start should they win an election. The major problems arguably could run to double figures.

Liberal Democrats – There seems to be a possible ‘What The Heck’ freewheeling attitude. Ed Davy carried out a bungee jump backing up a ‘take a leap’ appeal to the voters. This is unlikely to appeal to a lot of undecided voters, aside from that rare breed in this election – the cheerful ones. They continue to hack away at likely Conservative seats. Ironically damage might be done by the trouble in Reform’s ‘paradise’ as solidly right-wing voters rally back to the Conservatives.

SNP – Are continuing to battle on two fronts. Attack the Conservatives in Central Government; defend on their home ground as governing party. It is a curious situation as outlined in the previous post. The SNP may well have to rely on a nationwide dislike of the current Government to maintain their bloc in Westminster, since the Scots Conservatives are left with the ‘SNP / Labour will take away jobs’ tactic, The SNP will have to give their attention to Labour.

Plaid Cymru- There is a wide spread concern across Wales about social issues. Drug-taking; anti-social behaviour in urban areas or small out-lying communities. The perceived crisis within the NHS does not go away, and the Labour grouping in the Senydd has not recently inspired. Whereas there is not a great surge towards Plaid, they will be looking to their 3 seats and maybe snatch one. Plaid are always looking to play The Long Game and this time recovery from that outbreak of voter myopia in the last election.

Reform – Aside from the occasional tentative dabbling with a slight pat on the back the Right-Wing press have kept their distance. This was a wise move. The predictable racist and attendant inflammatory comments by some members of the Party on the back of Farage’s inane pro-Putin remark have been gifts to the Conservatives which may solidify their vote. Labour can of course fold their arms and looking to those of the Islamic community unhappy with the Gaza stance say ‘Told You’. Over the past week Reform have been certainly on the backfoot. Their ‘Conspiracy’ / ‘Agent Provocateur’ comments do not play well in the UK; this is not a frantic, neurotic Right-Wing USA vote they are playing for. Aside from the knuckle-draggers semi-literate the far-right, the UK right-wingers are wiser. All Reform have left is ‘The Waves of Immigrants’ ploy which The Conservatives have managed to package and hold up as The Party who can deliver. At this stage Reform look to hope the defector seat will be retained and a few marginally held conservative seats can be snatched, with a large bloc of votes in the second and third placed candidates, so they can campaign for PR, which will place them with The Greens, and the Lib-Dems; not a happy combination. And Reform will be the best argument against PR, ever.

The Green Party – Continues to plod on. An investigation that big companies and local authorities are using recent government legislation to keep environmental protestors away from controversial sites and arguably try to stifle the movements could well gift them sympathy votes and damage Conservative votes in some seats. Again a party with a Long Game Perspective.

Summary – Immigration, Taxation and for some The War in Gaza / Israel should have been issues to have dominated the headlines and yet the main themes appear to have been.

A. How badly the Conservatives have been doing.
B. Labour’s continued impassive stance.
C. Reform’s dirty little secrets made public.
D. What about those non-committed voters?

I maintain. We will have to wait and see. All indications are for a Labour victory and a big one. And yet there is this nagging feeling we are all missing something. Will there be a Labour Victory but not big enough to win an overall majority? Or maybe the votes will not fall Labour’s way in our First Past The Post system in the revised constituency boundary revision. (That by the way is not a parallel to the Gerrymandering as beloved by the US Republican Party. This is a bit of arcane British Parliamentary procedure where voter population and distributions are reviewed and everything is jiggled about- our constituency has had this and I can’t help but wonder if the Conservative MP might hang on).

Only on Friday morning UK time will we have a true idea as to how things have gone. Keep watching,

Previous posts on the same subject:

More Than ‘Just an American Holiday’ This Year

And We’re Into The Final Quarter (UK General Election 2024)

Elections Beckon. A Series. Part I. The USA – Stark Reality

Posted on 30th Jun 2024 by Cassandra

Statue of Liberty

Foreword: Although the US and the UK elections are the main attractions on both sides of the Atlantic, it bears reminding that France is, this day, involved in the first part of a parliamentary election, the next taking place next Sunday. The style and nature of French politics does not lend itself to established parties of long histories; more a question of Right, Centre and Left forming groupings- and that I fear is an anglicised over-simplification. Suffice it to say, at the time of writing this UK morning time there is an indication that the Far Right under the name of Rassemblement National (National Rally) has a strong lead in the polls. French politics are a quite different matter from those you and I are used to so I elect to say no more on the subject. Just bear in mind as a backdrop what is going on on Europe’s mainland.

Oh and by the way, this will not be analytical. This is an unashamedly partisan post. I will not stand by and let my adopted nation be dragged into ruin.

My attention should be focused on the 4th July because there is a UK General Election, and yet there is the constant worry that whatever result comes to pass in the UK our stability and overall well being will be conditional on the result of the US Presidential Election. For to understand how this world works it is essential to be realistic, and the fact is that whatever comfort and stability we have grown used to has been because of the overall world stature of the USA. We are fortunate, us in the UK that through a combination of factors we are been able to indulge in our way of life, thanks to those dynamics.

At least that was how it was. US governments of various shades and intentions rose, stayed, declined and took their place in history, and yet the USA with its own myriad particular collection of flaws and abuses carried on while adhering to a set of conventions. Some seemed to outsiders a given. There might be odd laws in some states but they stayed in those states and anyway someone was always challenging them in either the state’s supreme court or the country’s version. There politicians who caused eyebrows to be raised, but if they were found out to be going too far, with their hand in the cookie jar, or ending up in court, their colleagues and public shied away from them, leaving them lost or humbled to re-invent. There were dangerous extremists, but like most they had a self-destruct button and the majority of the media could be guaranteed to take a condemnatory stance. And on the whole The USA was making it own stumbling, far from shortest route towards a more open and flexible society. The danger there was, those forces opposed to progress and flexibility never rest. Humanity’s flaws of Intolerance, Suspicions, Conflict, Greed and Ignorance never rest, these offer excuses for a person’s own shortcomings, inadequacies and guilty sectarianism and how many gratefully accept those toxic gifts.

The route and advancement taken by these corrosive factors ran parallel with those of progress and tolerance but since most folk prefer Sunny Stories with Happy Endings the grim alternatives were in general not noticed, or thought of as a minority or treated as a source of entertainment. All was well, you could see it in the media, in entertainment; after all there were plenty of folk of different races and different sexual identities in major roles and look at all those action-type women. Yes, the nation was getting better.

Except it wasn’t. The warnings had been there in the Culture Wars. The hysterical outrage at ‘one of those people’ winning the Presidential Election not just once but twice, with unarguable majorities, and all the Right could do was quibble over where he was born and his name. Then ferment conspiracies about the national army holding manoeuvres in various Republican strongholds.

And then came the direst warning, although most of us including professional shrugged it off at first. Trump had decided to play at politics. Despite the sight of mocking the disabled, Vietnam War veterans and encouraging his followers to attack demonstrators his progress continued, despite the fact that more voted for Clinton that him, he reached the Whitehouse. Despite the chaotic 4 years, the vote was still close. Despite his tantrum and incitement to a mob attack, despite a guilty verdict in an open court, he is still here, with a following urging him on the greater excesses.

And he should not. By all the conventions of politics his campaign should have floundered at the first attempt. Only by the fervour and fanatical urges of his followers to see all that has been accomplished swept away does he endure. He dances to their tunes. This is bad enough. But his presence has encouraged and emboldened those with more focused minds and agendas. The loss of Women’s Rights to Abortion and the attendant respectability of misogyny. The banning of books in schools and public libraries. The campaigns against LGBT+ communities. The complete halt of any progress on Race Equality. An unpromising imposition of Christian teachings up in public again in a stark intimidating way. And all of these conducted against a backdrop of physical intimidation by mob or by gun, by hate mail on social media, by stalking and threats. What these folk who revel in all of this do not seems to realise is that for their actions there will be reactions, by folk who embrace the same mindset as them, who will decided that they can intimidate, attack and level their own guns as justifiable responses. Those who take away Rights, who would endeavour to limit or indoctrinate somehow expect the opposition to meek and servile to knuckle down because they say so. This situation is the principal concern. Trump one day will be gone, but the force that put him there unless challenged and exposed will not, and worse unless challenged by civil and legal means, consistently will in turn encourage that worse alternative.

This the fundamental issue. There is a movement stalking the USA which will demand more than attention, it will require adherence to a Right-Wing doctrine into the every aspect of Life. It will not be content to live alongside a freedom of movement or expression. It will expect acceptance, submission and dutiful obedience. It will withdraw in upon itself and enclose everyone into an isolationist mentality. It will try an achieve the impossible, complete domination over a five time zone 300,000,000+ population. It will face opposition and then will be frustrated and will seek more intimidation. And there will be conflict on many levels.

All the above have been discussed and written about. You all know what the alternatives are if this Extreme Right-Wing Agenda is allowed to continue. Not just you personally, but those you will hold dear by family or friendship will be under threat. Folk who are moderate conservatives, who are true to a solid but quiet Christian faith will feel the pressure too, for they will be expected to join ‘the ranks’. No one will be secure.

Now, in the past days there has been disruption in the ranks of the Democrats, the fear that Biden is not up to the task of dealing with the fury of the Republican Dis-Information Machine has brought into question confidence in him. There will be a debate, which I can understand. But

Let the debate be short, and precise

Once the decision is made, stand by it and without a second thought turn all your energies upon discrediting the Republican Machine. The time for the discussions on the niceties of Economics, Overseas, Health Care, to name but a few have passed. You know full well how The Red Machine currently works. It will lie and it will distort. Let that be your target. They are vulnerable. Go for their weaknesses. Highlight the hypocrisies, the inconsistencies, the downright law breaking, the danger to the Constitution, the threat to The Individual. Those are the issues of this campaign. There is no hope for a delicate and reasoned debate. This is a brutal contest. You will be fighting for the heart and soul of America. The true America which grows on variety, which is not afraid of the Future, which rejects the failures of the Past.

Shake out those who feel there is no point in voting, alert those who say ‘it will all blow over’, demand of those who think not voting for Biden will save the life of one Palestinian. And once the decision has been made on who will be the Democrat Candidate, be loyal, be united and insist upon it with others who oppose Trump. Only in that Unity will there be strength.

The USA requires, you the true patriots to rescue the nation.

And We’re Into The Final Quarter (UK General Election 2024)

Posted on 23rd Jun 2024 by Cassandra

UK General Election 2024

Foreword: With twelve days of campaigning and one of voting to go I could not resist this tile. Just for my American and Canadian friends.

Some carrying on from the last post on this subject:

More Than ‘Just an American Holiday’ This Year

Firstly let us remember that aside from The ‘Big Two’ there are arguably six other parties and maybe some ‘independents’ who could have a say in the final composition of a new government either by seats won or votes taken away from Conservatives and Labour. That said, aside from inevitable stories about who might affect the vote, the majority of stories are always going to be about Conservative and Labour. The possible dire straights of the former and considering the 2019 result the maybe greatest comeback of the latter. There again…Who can say for certain? I remain in the ‘We Shall See’ camp. Although at this stage my vote is firmly for Labour because aside from anything else I do not care for the current Conservative MP and wish to see them gone.

That said, let me give you my opinions on the current state of the Whos, Whys, Whats and Whichways.

The Conservatives – 77 of the party’s current MPs are not seeking re-election. Folk retiring for one reason or another are not uncommon. Be honest it is a mostly thankless task since the public opinion is mostly biased and uninformed against MPs as a group. However the media ever eager do like to find a high profile figure because it looks like ‘Jumping Ship’ particularly when it involves high profilers such as Michael Gove, associated with several governments. There have been a couple of glimmers on the economy and the Conservative faithful in the press and elsewhere claimed Rushi Sunak got the better of Kier Stammer in their first and ill-tempered debate. However the party as a whole does not seen to be gaining much traction and the stories of Conservative Apocalypse still abound. Their current main problems come from Reform and the odious Farage leeching votes, regrettably more about them later.

Labour – Apart from a few blips, the party is currently holding together, and its projected vote steady. Whereas the usual clutch of hostile folk on Right and Left can be heard, along with the fashionably cynical, over all it appears folk might be willing to let Labour have a try; bear in mind this is quite different from the public having a great degree of enthusiasm, which there does not appear to be. Overall Labour balances on a high wire of being all things to all folk in a firm but fair manner. This requires Stammer to continue with his Authoritarian-Lite grip; anyone who talks of or who has talked of sympathy for the Kremlin gets thrown out into the cold to the wolves and just be careful what you say about the Middle East. Maybe folk are attracted to this; as they perceive it- a leader who demands party discipline. How durable this image is remains to be seen, Labour have ditched or diluted certain promises made recent years back, currently a large swathe of the public don’t seem to care though, they just want this government gone. Maybe not the most best of endorsement, but if it works, it works.

Liberal Democrats – Looking to be possible king-makers by hoping to take Conservative seats and saying there will be no, they repeat NO coalition with The Conservatives, but as for Labour their stance might be…‘Well. Hmmm……(pause for Lib-Dem horizontal hand waggle)… We’ll see,’ . Currently holding steady. Leader Ed Davy has been campaigning like a trouper with humorous photo ops; these have had some saying in a sour way ‘Uh! Supposed to be serious!’ But the papers like it. Past ghosts come to haunt him though over the UK’s Post Office Scandal, when he was responsible minister in the 2010 Coalition. (This related to the unfair prosecutions of sub-post office owners through an inaccurate computer programme accounting system and the resulting Post Office cover-up). Since feelings are high on the issue and the party relies more than others on the profile of the leader, there may be some damage and leaking of votes.

Scottish National Party– At present seems to have patched up its own internal issues, and circled the wagons. The SNP though is facing a type dual identity problem. In this General Election it is a large minority party in Westminster. However in Scotland it is the governing party, and with a record which of late has left it open to attack by the other parties. Thus whereas this election should be about the SNP’s stand on issues which the central UK government has responsibility, eg overseas policy, the other parties are going for local matters eg NHS, Education and Scottish Law which in theory should be for a later Scottish election. Naturally folk are going to tend to focus on local matters. And there you have the paradox. Thus the SNP will still have to rely on the ‘Do You Trust Westminster?’ theme. Which voters might lose sight of. But in this time of possible overturn of a Conservative Majority in Westminster like the Liberal Democrats the SNP will hope to be in a position to be king-makers; without that is of infuriating their own voter base or floating voters in the next Scottish election. Another high-wire act.

Plaid Cymru – Currently like the Liberal Democrats battling on in a Wales, which in 2019 in some regions voters suffered a severe case of political myopia, and thought they could place a collective trust in a Conservative Westminster. Wales has its own complications. With a Senydd (Parliament) in Cardiff run by Labour who are not doing well, there is a situation similar to that in Scotland, the biggest issue being the NHS. Plaid might benefit from this or being seen as a ‘Gosh. We wish you well, But we must get the Conservatives Out’ party might get squeezed. One issue in the borderlands of North East Wales which dare not speak its name could be the number of folk who live in Wales (cheaper) but work in Chester, Manchester, Liverpool (better pay more jobs) and might not have an emotional attachment to Wales and thus still vote Conservative. Plaid wisely stay clear of this ‘Nationalist’ question as it is a minefield. They may secretly just be content to keep their current heartland seats and be seen to increase their share of the vote in other places as a bedrock for future campaigns.

‘The Greens’ – Recently took a bit of a dent when it came out that candidates had been sharing social media messages relating to the current war in Palestine / Israel which could be seen a simply antisemitic. There was a bit of a swift purge. It may come as a surprise to some but Environmental parties are not always purely ‘liberal’ and tolerant. The German Greens in their heyday had a suspiciously loud right-wing faction. And this can still turn up in some anti-capitalism grass-roots mindsets. Even minority parties have their balancing acts to attend to. That said they may pick up one of two rural seats because the pollution issue of raw sewage into rivers and seas is another topic which unites voters. They continue to make inroads.

Reform – Is causing damage to the Conservative vote and they are getting into public spats, which suits the other parties fine. There are the usual clutch of candidates or activists who have been found at some stage to have made misogynist, racist or in one case pro-Hitler remarks, the latter sort demonstrating the extremists (be they Left or Right) usual lack of historical knowledge. Farage of course continues to be unapologetically odious, this case over being sympathetic to the Kremlin and sitting down in the ‘Russia was forced by NATO to invade’ supremely ignorant camp of international politics. Both Sunak and Stammer were only to happy to pounce of this display of foolishness. Reform’s manifesto declares it will nationalise all public utilities, which if that gets out in the USA will cause some general anatomical scratching. The latter and the previous pro-Moscow comment will have folk on Labour’s far Left also scratching their existentialist heads as Nationalisation and loyalty to Moscow are usually their ‘things’. Agreeing with Farage? You have to love the irony. Whether the large bloc of anti-Farage feeling will galvanise folk to vote for Anyone But remains to be seen.

Other- Last time I mentioned George Galloway’s Lawrence of Arabia cosplay. He might remain a problem in some Labour Areas where some parts of the Asian Islamic vote understandably feel Labour might have been taking them for granted. The problem for the cool-headed folk is that he is a divisive creature whose image and remarks play fine for the very unpleasant White Extremists looking for any excuse to attack Asian Islamic communities both verbally and physically. There is no more to be said about the fellow that I haven’t said before.

Overview – For those who do not live in the UK in the light of the opinion polls and troubles of the Conservatives there may be some puzzlement as to why Labour and its supporters are not already out waving flags and singing Hosannas. Again I refer to previous comments, basically Labour has more than once seen certain victory evaporate like Spring Showers followed by a harsh summer’s morn. There is the concern or in the Conservative’s case hope over the unknown factors of those not yet committed and those who said they would not vote suddenly deciding to do so. In this I refer you to a very incisive report by Laura Kuenssberg a clever and veteran reporter and don’t listen to any trash talk about her from any UK Left malcontents.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c722eezx9n4o

Basically, in the last quarter there is always room for a remarkable come back. At this juncture I leave sports fans to go looking for a reference in their favourite sport.

Keep watching. The 5th July will reveal the final picture.

An Open Essay To The Current Protestors of The USA On And Off Campus

Posted on 6th May 2024 by Cassandra

US protests

Foreword: For those not familiar with my site. Just a brief introduction. British. 73 years old. Christian (slightly heretical- I’ll square it with God when the time comes) . Left Winger but not of a type you would be likely to recognise. 65 years with an interest in and an affinity to the USA. 60 years interest in politics. A possible affinity to Martin Luther of Eiseben without the vitriolic antisemitism common to his time. OK. That’s me. Let’s get down to issues.

Warning
There will be harsh statements, there will be very uncomfortable points of view, there will be a number reminders about The World, there will be questions asked of the reader, directly. And there will no simple arguments or points of view or answers

Overview
It has to be accepted that the current one of the many outbreaks of full scale violence between Israelis and Palestinians has attracted the attention of the world. Emotions are running high as well as broadly justifiable feelings at the violence and the loss of life. Looking out from my allegorical window you must accept me thinking. ‘What a pity such demonstrations had not been expressed in other recent times for other peoples in their own sufferings through violence. The events were on accessible on the news and received sustained coverage on the Internet,’ I am not just discussing Ukraine here. Just check the word ‘Genocide’ and look back over the past twenty years. That said we must move on, for there is a future to discuss. We can learn from The Past. We may act upon The Present. But We must prepare for The Future. Your Future. The Future of Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Next, something about The Past and The Nature of Events.

Events, Reactions and ‘Causes’. The Shadows and Shrouds of History
Political and Social Events which make the news do not have simplistic backgrounds, they have complex histories, and History has a way of extending itself back and back and back. There is no sudden start point. Back into the deep past there will be a gradual build up of a momentum which at some juncture reaches the Deluge or Avalanche or Earthquake stage and from there on those Earlier Events will have a strong resonance in the causes of Subsequent Events, and so on. Each one causing its own set of ripples or fault lines, criss-crossing the Human Geography of Peoples and their Communities, while calling up the echoes and resonances of the Past at a pace and frequency which leaves the observer possibly embracing the notion that Time is not linear or moving in one direction.

To witness October and onwards and put these in full focus requires what some would call an unsatisfactory and arguably heartless approach. Some would in the spirit of outrage at the loss of life simply deny. Usually these opening words of mine would be a conclusion of a paragraph. In this case just take them as warning of where we are going, a place where Death and Ruination have often walked, and the participants comfort themselves with many justifications, which depending on your view can appear strong but reasonable. We start in A Place which will have a focus in History. 7th October 2023. A concerted incursion by Hamas into Israel causing a very heavy loss of Life.

Of those protesting ‘Regrettable’ some might say. Even condemnatory. However they will add, for there is often an ‘However’ in these matters ‘Just look at the way Israel has treated the Palestinians. That is terrible and has been going on for so many years’ . Well in the harsh prism of History, yes that is an understandable, even acceptable outlook. Treat a people badly and there will be a violent reaction. There is a problem though with that line. The Jewish peoples of Europe (Russia gets included whether it likes it or not) for one thousand years or more were subjected to similar treatments and killings. When they finally get back to what they call their lands they have a long history of their own justifications. They learnt from ‘Europe’ (since there still appears to be a majority of American citizens who can trace European ancestry that includes You too). Therefore the tacit acceptance argument which is used for Hamas gets comparably morphed with a bloody swiftness and ease into one of ‘understanding’ the Israeli approach. Still be horrified? By all means be so? Tell me I am distorting the position? Be outraged. Point out that the death toll in Palestine exceeds that of Israel 30 fold. That is your right. Of course.

Now dip into the bloody, wide, deep, tribute river of War, one that ever flows from the larger River History. 350,000-500,000 German civilians in the allied strategic bombing campaign of WWII. 70,000 British civilians in the German aerial campaigns by bomb or rocket. True that is ‘only’ 7 fold. At the time the governments accepted the other sides losses- ‘they started it’. Thus do not be surprised at the Israeli response. It is one that takes place with regularity throughout the world throughout the ages, and no one seems to have a solution which puts an end to it.

You may now, if you wish express more outrage, only please do not accuse me of justifying Israel’s response. I am merely pointing out to you the Horror. This is how it works. I cite a few others. Ask the Syrian’s. Ask those Chechen folk not in a warlord’s pay, ask the Tamils, ask the Uyghurs, ask The Iranian Women and the Afghan Women (although the latter two were not bombed or shelled, just beaten up and locked up, only ‘a few’ died the other thousands upon thousands only live in terror and cohesion, and being locked up ). Ask the Women where Rape is used as a weapon of war. Keep on asking. You should. Keep on asking. For if you have taken up the Palestinian Cause, it does not end there, not in this troubled turbulent dangerous world. Marching on one Embassy, up and down one street is not going to trouble the worshipers at the Triple Altars of Death and Ruin and Oppression

“We can learn from The Past. We may act upon The Present. But We must prepare for The Future.”

Into Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow

Now to you. You who have taken up a Cause. You who have felt the need to protest. What will you do now?
Pack up and say ‘I did my bit’, then go onto the ‘rest of your life’
Continue with the Palestinian Cause
Or sign up for the Great Struggle.-The one where the Oppressors, Merchants of Violence, Hate Mongers, and Opportunists With Guns are legion. The one where the victims are counted in their millions, be they dead, dying, sick, injured, terrorised, brutalised, violated and ever on the move or sitting in hapless squalor. All located somewhere on the inside pages of a newspaper, maybe mentioned as a filler on a news channel, or when some anniversary comes along, or to be found by following a few links on the net. Those dead and those anguished faces, along with those dulled-eyed with the whole horror, forgotten. What comfort do they have? A few dogged journalists? Charities working ever hard?

If you are truly honest, if you truly care, you will learn a lesson from this time in Palestine and in the South West of Israel. You will realise there is no respite, there is no time to congratulate and go home to Sunshine and Lollipops. Hate. Violence. They never rest. They are never cowed permanently. If you are not ever alert, keeping a weather eye, willing to challenge not just your government but the ones who gave the acquiescence to pull the triggers, then somewhere, somewhen Some Folk will be suffering. One episode of protest does not cut it. If you care, you do not get to select the Cause. The Causes will come to you and ask for at least some attention.

Just take some time out and take a lot at the Amnesty site, or Medicins San Frontières’ or UNHCR, or – you just look.

Did you? Will you? When you do, be prepared for the shock and the feeling of absolute helplessness. Be ready to say without thinking ‘But I Can’t Be Everywhere!’.

No you can’t. Nor can those in the charities which work through the world. They try and they spread slender resources. I know how you feel. I challenge myself every day. As I write this the nagging thought burrows deeper. ‘Fine Words. Now What Else Are You, Roger, Going To Do?’ and ‘Do you know you are in danger of sounding like John Bolton. An old guy demanding younger folk sacrifice themselves for your ideals?’

But I am not trying to stir the passive or the complacent or the apathetic. I am addressing You, those who have seen it right and just to take up a Cause, remember it is but one piece of a larger, bloodied ghastly picture where blood, tears and body parts are the paints and the canvas is human skin.

This in Palestine, as it did in Ukraine, in Syria will pass from the headlines, it already has started. At least it made the headlines. Learn then from this which will become the Past and realise there will be more of the same next year and the year after and so on. Unless we all in same way, somehow, some-constantly do whatever we can, how we can, where we can, when we can.

My generation with its flowers, face paints, gaudy clothes and music which at times was over-long and self-indulgent, we quite frankly failed. We went to a music festival or two, we might have marched, most certainly purchased the right albums, and then? We in the UK voted in Margaret Thatcher, You in the USA did likewise with Ronald Regan and two Bushes (the elder Not So Bad, The Younger in Comparison with now…?). And in our later years We welcomed Boris Johnson and Brexit and You let Donald Trump, the Action Toy of MAGA be placed in the Whitehouse. Don’t fall into the trap of complacency or that curse of ageing which tends to set in in the 40s the ‘Huh! In My Day’ response as if what will take place will be nothing to do with us ‘We did our bit’
Yes, about that

One Final Message, Wrapped Up In Fable, A Warning And Even Admonishment

And this year. This possibly fateful year. The one which made decide whether the USA carries on, stumbling as do all nations, or slides off that time-honoured road, down the one where there are always storms and you can only just make out the sign-post ‘Warning. Rock Slides Ahead’. You have seen the intentions of the Right, you have heard the ravings of the spolied Brat who did not forgive for losing the last Presidential Election. To elaborate let me tell you that fable:

There was this guy. A man of simple Christian Faith, who prayed every morning, noon and night. He did not doubt God for a minute.
One day he hears on the radio a severe weather warning, storms are on their way, bringing heavy flooding. At once he gets down on his knees and prays to God to protect and deliver him. The rains start, the worst he has ever seen. He prays. A little later, a knock at the door, a police officer is there ‘Sir. You’re house is in danger of being hit by the flood. You best evacuate,’. The man assures the officer God will protect him, he will pray. The officer doesn’t argue, he’s got more houses, anyhow the fellow will soon change his mind when the waters come. The waters come, his house is cut off. An emergency crew in a boat turn up, hailing him. He tells them the same thing. They get a call on the radio, a woman not far off is in labour. Well she comes first. Off they go. The waters rise. The man is now on the roof, still praying. Along comes a rescue helicopter. He waves them off calling up that God will protect him. The crew have been on a long shift, the storm is getting worst. They can’t hang around, they got kids to save. So the house is swept away and he drowns.
He arrives at Heaven’s Gate, greeted by and angel with a clipboard. The man complains at sound length about how he prayed and yet still was drowned, How does that figure? Why didn’t God listen and help? The angel consults his clipboard.
‘Well dear friend. God sent you a radio warning. God sent you a police officer. God sent you a rescue crew. In the end God sent you a helicopter. What more did you want?’

So then, I ask you, in all sincerity. What is this business about not supporting Biden? Have you not had enough warnings about what the Right has in store for you and the rest of the USA? They’ve made it very clear, give them that. They are going to roll up their sleeves and they are going to do their level best to sweep away liberal reforms. They are going to display their ignorance of socialism, squawk about this ‘woke’ word like crows with indigestion, get hysterical about what other folk do in their privacy, pick bits out of the Bible like stale crumbs and their followers are going to love it, then as a special treat they will throw minorities to the mob.

I would ask you, do you think, not just for one spasm of angry thought, but as a whole agenda that your selective punishment of Biden over Palestine is going to help those folk? Must I remind you that the alternatives are locked into an style of Christian Fundamentalism that is quite content for Israel to do this? If Trump gets back in the Whitehouse and you still stuck with your own fundamentalist agenda then you in part will be responsible for any more Palestinian deaths. Yes. Cause and Effect are terrible twins. In this ever tightening world none of us are actually free of them, but some choices can have more bitter effects than others. You do not get to try and parse your way out of this one. It is Biden or it is Trump. You cannot hide from that brutal truth. This World I have to emphasise is ever complex, nothing is easy, nothing is straightforward, nothing has but one answer. It is all hard work and dirty words like Compromise, Accommodation, Acceptance, Deals, Manoeuvre, Politics and all the rest that get the job done. You might wish for a better one, you might even be working for a better one, but in the meantime, you have this one.
There are other implications to punishing Biden and the danger of letting Trump in. Other aspects you will have to take in part-responsibility. You will have to explain to the LGBT+ community, to women living in fear of getting pregnant, to librarians, to minority groups, to teachers, to the future casualties and families of mass killings how your stance in punishing Biden was the right moral choice.

I am aware I appear cutting, but there is no other way. Implications hang heavy on the shoulders of anyone taking up a cause. They have the challenge of getting the balance right. and the challenge which turns inevitably into a responsibility. There is no way out. Nothing is simple. Ever. You might call me cynical. You are mixing that up with Realism. If I was cynical I would not have taken ten hours over four days out of my time to work on this. (That doesn’t include the thoughts running through my head while doing chores). I would have ‘let them get on with it, they’ll find out in time,’

In Conclusion
You will, I expect be holding fast to your beliefs that your opposition to Israel is the right course for you to take, that this is not a passing phase in the summer of 2024. If this is your choice may I make a plea in these points.

Remember the target is the current Intolerant Fanatical Government, whose brothers in Hate reside in Tehran, who gifted Trump the playbook on how to get The Big Seat. The target is not the Israeli people. And curses upon those who tell you it is the Jews. The target is the government, don’t forget.

Reach out across the distances to those in Israel who are angry at their government and wish to be rid of it. Support them. If they are demonstrating , then you should be in sympathy to. Have them realise there are friends out there, that they don’t have to circle the wagons with the unsavoury fanatics. Israeli politics is another complexity, one shove in the correct direction can bring change.

Research just who are the internal oppositions in Israel, the ones who for long years have tried to preach the creed of accommodation and partnership with Palestinians who also tread that dangerous road of recrimination and violence from within their own communities. For too long The Western Groups supporting Palestinians have not taken that road. When it is the blindingly obvious one.

We must prepare for The Future. Your Future. The Future of Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Presidential Election 2024: Why Good Intentions About Palestine Remind Me of Cuba October 1962.

Posted on 6th Apr 2024 by Cassandra

Roads to Hell

The latest war between Israel and the Gaza Strip Palestine strikes us all in some way or another. I have to subsume my anger at the protestors, I wanting to know where they were when the Rohingya, Sudanese, Uyghur and Iranian Women, to name but just four examples were and still are suffering. I have to remember that tens of thousands of Palestinians are dead, dying, injured, brutalised, traumatised. homeless, starving- in short also unjustifiably in Hell.

I can see the strategy of those who mobilised the votes in Wisconsin and Rhode Island for “uncommitted” or “uninstructed,”. The idea to put pressure on Biden to move to a stronger stance on Israel has its merits and is more useful than joining loud parades up and down the streets of America. And it can be argued that in an election years where every vote will count the strategy has played a part in Biden taking a tougher stance. So far so good then.

However every action has its historical resonances; part of History’s construct lies within its echoes, some do not come in a straight line, they flow in from over hills and far away. For their full effect maybe you had to have been there at one point in the long path.

For me the echoes are coming in from October 1962, when as a child of eleven growing up knowing the fear of what nuclear war could bring if only in a tabloid comic book form it was a fearful few weeks. Particularly as the filtered down news was suggesting atomic weapons would be used. In later years it became apparent there were generals and officials pushing for their use. First strike, Get the hit in. Frighten the other side into backing down. And these were not the ridiculous cartoon characters of the dangerously frivolous film Doctor Strangelove. These were men trained and school in a fearful ominous world of threat, counter-threat and then the unthinkable. They were the ones who saw the use of Nuclear Weaponry as a Necessary Eventually, far better displayed in the film for grown ups Fail Safe. Cooler, more pragmatic, subtler heads prevailed. Realpolitik came into play. Everyone had puffed up their chests. Now time for the deal to salve pride. And avoid the catastrophe.

Very well. Enough background for my allegory. Just bear in mind those last words, And avoid the catastrophe

At this stage parts of the allegory have to be separated from the current situation.

Today the principal issue is the Democrat vs the Republican candidate Biden vs Trump. One a politician of balance and traditional perspectives. The latter an egotistical insensitive fellow feeding off of the desires and beliefs of Right Wing coalition of the disaffected, fundamentalist, and outright intolerant. In effect if elected their meal ticket, their flag of approval in all matters domestic. Bear that in mind.

No, Biden’s administration is not perfect. None is particularly when it comes to foreign policy and day to day responses. In this world you can forget consistently fair minded and ethically clean. And not just governments either. Need I have remind you about a comparative public lukewarm response to the suffering of other populations in equal numbers? It is not just in the tens of thousands in Gaza where Hell has come a’ calling. If you care about Human suffering as a principal you do not get to be selective. Selective means preference which means agendas or worse tragically naïve. But that is an argument for another day. Because we are all culpable.

So let us return to the Domestic situation and the Risk of using this for International Ends

The current polling suggests that the race between Biden and Trump is tight. This is sobering news for those who have fought long and hard for a more tolerant and forward thinking society, for those of once lived in shadows for fear of discovery, or realised from their very birth they were considered inferior and viewed with suspicion. For those who practice their religious beliefs in quiet open-mindedness.

Not only are the polls tight, but the reaction of the hysterical right in 2020-2021 should be born in mind. These folk do not subscribe to democracy, unless it is on their terms of course. Thus unless there is a mobilisation against The Republican MAGA grouping and their nominated Trump, the situation does look grim for those who seek an equal and tolerant society as the norm.

Consider what has already happened in some states. The persecution of the LGBT+ community. The limiting of education and reading matter. The effective removal of Women’s independence of their own bodies. The underlying threats to any community not White and apparently Christian. The tolerance of violent neo-nazi quasi-militias. And there are the manifold Risks. Some might say this is all hyperbole and turning to their personal matters assume someone else might do something about it. And you have seen Trump’s attitude to the judicial system, his rantings roared on by his sponsors, MAGA.

Therefore these are outlined the risks involved in not concentrating the Biden vote and the necessity of mobilising those who would normally not vote.

Now comes the very hard and some will find upsetting part.

I appreciate the sentiments of those who have read so far and are in strong disagreement with me, particularly when the matter of the Cuban Crisis Allegory is returned to.

Those who thought the Nuclear Strike was a balanced, correct option. Dare I compare those with today’s Folk who in all goodwill are looking to contribute to ways to ease the sufferings of the Palestinians? Have I any right to suggest such a strategy and its tactical deployment carries, morally similar risks?

Yes, I do.

In a time of narrow gaps in the polls, when one side in violent in its language, imagery and implied resorts to physical violence, all under a blasphemous mix of their ideas of ‘Liberty’ and ‘Christianity’ – the same basic ideals as those who would have used nuclear weapons?

Yes, I do.

Because one false move, one minor poor calculation, one gifted gap to the Republicans. One suggestions that your actions will encourage Trump to announce he could solve the problem; he who says he will solve something, never does and throws a tantrum, yet still convinces folk he can solve the next one, and inconsequence have some folk switch to him.

All far-fetched are they? No. Sixteen years ago, Trump would have been thought an impossibility. But It happened. A discredited fellow in court still a viable presidential candidate? Could still return? Those are the possibilities. And this very dangerous strategy of tampering with the Biden vote makes the allegorical nuclear result likelier. Because you who subscribe to this strategy cannot be absolutely certain you will not play a part in Trump returning to The Whitehouse, and with his Evangelical pushing him on to their Book of Revelation scenario, how will that help any Palestinians? You cannot say for certain what will happen. Other than it will not be a sunny uplands for every American.

If you are still offended by Cuban Nuclear Allegory then I will give you another take on risks. Any responsible driver will take note of extremes of weather. Going out in such conditions does not automatically lead to an accident with fatal or near-fatal repercussions, but you take heed of the warnings. You check your speed. You are alert to dangers. You will have taken precautions. Even if you must go out you do not drive as you would on a calm, clear day. You limit the risk, the reason may be urgent, but you still take care, you do not rush along, you rein in your emotions. Getting there is the important thing.

Therefore those who are using this strategy to influence Biden or think they are taking a moral stance which is worthy. Bear in mind the risks you are taking with this. If Trump does get into the Whitehouse and the statistics reveal that your actions played a part in that, what will you think in the future when the Right runs rampant through the nation.

You have gone far enough. You have had your say you may have played a part. Think on what might happen if you persist.

All actions have consequences, and I regret to say, in this world, there are no easy options, and no option comes without a price to pay.

Writing Despite Computers and Programmes

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Category Archives: Elections

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An Open Essay To The Current Protestors of The USA On And Off Campus

Presidential Election 2024: Why Good Intentions About Palestine Remind Me of Cuba October 1962.