I think you have contacts and friends who don't know what they are talking about OR based on my experience of living in the States a long time ago, say one thing and vote another. I was there for the 72 Presidential election. I cannot remember meeting anyone who had anything but abuse for Richard Nixon. But he won the election by a landslide, every State but 1 I think. When I asked all these Nixon haters who they voted for they all to a man said Nixon. So when I ask why, you've been moaning about Tricky Dickie for months, the common reply was we know he's a lying fraudster but prefer to vote for the C*** we know rather than the one we don't. Don't see what Biden has done wrong yet which is a whole lot better than Trump for a start, but who wouldn't be, but he is also better than many of his predecessors so far. The big problem with the US system is you basically only get 2 choices for President, one of the World's key positions and those 2 win the chance very often by money alone (Trump). Same as everywhere in the West to a large extent but particularly in the US.
? A rather unpleasant attack on people you have never met Oslo, and an irrelevant one at that. People who voted for him don’t rate Biden. Look at his approval ratings. Look at black voting intentions. Look at his failure in the areas he promised to deliver: - Build Back Better - his ‘big idea’ couldn’t get through Congress, even his own side voted against it - Voting rights legislation - got nowhere on trying to ensure ease of voting - withdrawal from Afghanistan…… - promise to cancel student debt……err no - COVID - reactive strategy, vaccinations stalled, still over 1500 daily deaths, 48% disapproval rating on his approach - inflation- 7% and rising (the positive figures on employment are a continuation of the trend under Trump) - immigration - promised humane approach, protecting asylum seekers. In fact has reinstated Trump approach of keeping refugees in Mexico, over 7500 reported murders, rapes and serious assaults on them so far. To be fair, he delegated this job to his car crash VP, who has moaned about it being ‘too difficult’ whilst seeing her staff resign on a weekly basis. The UN has urged the US to end its ‘repressive policies’ Still, if you can’t see that he has done anything wrong yet, that’s fine. If he only has to be ‘better than Trump’ that’s a stunningly low bar. Of course, the biggest issue with him is his increasingly obvious cognitive problems. Whether this is the onset of dementia or simply old age forgetfulness I’m not qualified to say, but even if the latter it’s hardly an inspiring look in a leader.
Like most, if not all world leaders, he promised so much but has delivered so little. It’s bizarre that anyone can see him as anything but ‘the norm’
P&O, which claims to be on the edge of financial collapse, owes the Merchant Navy Pension Fund £140 million, after being given a let off last year because of its dire financial position. The year that its parent company dished out £250m in dividends. What a brilliant opportunity for Grant Shapps, Kwai Kwarteng, Rishi Sunak, Boris Johnson etc to show that they stand up for ordinary Britons against the exploitations of big business. I won’t hold my breath.
I read an article recently about how the motor trade was given millions for furlough payments by the government and now it has massively bounced back and are looking at giving out vast bonuses and extra payments to directors and shareholders. Am I basing naive in thinking the government have made a massive error in saying that once these industries came back to profit…then some, if not all, monies given should be paid back ?
I heard it reported on the wireless last night that they turned in a c. £650m profit last year. It was also commented upon that there’s some obscure government scheme against which they can claim some of the costs of the cheaper overseas workers. I didn’t understand how it worked at all, but the outrage was clear. An employment lawyer said they’d clearly broken the law, but they’d made a calculation and decided that the penalties likely from the anticipated number bringing unfair dismissal claims (12 months’ pay max) would be significantly less than taking everybody through the legal process and treating them properly. Utterly shameful.
Couple of good articles here... Firstly about the geo-politics that led to Putin ordering the invasion Ukraine war: Putin has redrawn the world - but not the way he wanted https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-60767454 And this one about the complacency he had in thinking it would be a stroll in the park for his forces Ukraine: What have been Russia's military mistakes? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-60798352
I’m sure they will argue that they are paying it back through existing tax. Which is bullshit of course. Easy way to pay some of it off would be a windfall tax on the oil and gas producers benefitting from incredibly inflated prices.
The thing is though Steels, isn’t it still an undeniable fact that if this war continues like it is now, and with Russia seemingly more at ease with using “weapons of attrition” and indiscriminate bombing….that however heroic our Western propaganda states the Ukrainian defenders are…..eventually Russia WILL win ? Yeah it’s been slower and harder than expected but surely it’s just a matter of time ? As someone who has far greater knowledge than me in these matters, your thoughts are always appreciated
