Off Topic Politics Thread

I may not have faith in this government but I have a lot of faith in the British people! We have been on our knees before. We have survived as we will do again after this is all over. I just can’t go along with all this negativity. I accept it will be difficult but we will get there if we try mark my words!!!

 

Are you talking about the economy or the pandemic? I am sure these will and I think communities have been more together in recent months, however I imagine a lot of people are suffering hardship and hate messages and the rise of political blame and populism has seen racism rise sadly.

 

The government should free issue one of these to all.

 

I, too, have faith in the British people, however, we have voted this shower in for another 4+ years, they have a massive majority which is highly unlikely to be overturned, so we’re stuck with them. They may well sacrifice “good old Boris” because of the crap ratings he’s getting, but the people pulling his strings aren’t going anywhere, so there is, precisely, nothing, short of a massive uprising (and we know the British aren’t too good at that - despite the pictures from the weekend), that can be done.
Call me negative, by all means, but then tell me how this can actually turn out in a positive manner? The fat cats will get fatter, more people will be hit by austerity, we’ll lose our biggest trading partner and go, cap in hand, to Trumpland ...... Not a great deal to be positive about.
I’m glad I’m a pensioner (though a lot poorer since my pension fund crashed) but I feel so sad for the workers who are likely to be hugely affected and the youngsters who will lose their chance to travel.
For the first time, I’m *seriously* looking to move away because I fear what this country is likely to become in the next 4 years. Perhaps, if the British voter remembers at the next election how this mob screwed them so badly for their own ends and votes them out, I might consider returning - assuming I’m not pushing up daisies by then .....

 

I too wish to go but no one will have me. I am too old and too expensive. So I am stuck with this shower of ****. Perhaps my anger with those who voted them in and before that for leave will be understood now. I really could cry seeing what they are about to do to us. They have destroyed our reputation for decency, integrity and democracy.

 

Nah. This govt are too:

 

Johnson is c$#@struck no doubt of that.

 

Perfect timing for the Tories to blame them if there is a second spike. Nothing to do with their mixed messages, mismanagement and ineptitude! This is how they roll. Cummings will be plotting now I'm sure. This has been brewing with Farage's divisive Brexit rhetoric and dog whistle racism, not to mention the 'misquoted' Boris Johnson on letterboxes and piccaninnies. Establishment twats.

 

I have to say that I find the pulling down of the statue yesterday and the clamour to pull down the statue to Rhodes to have interesting parallels with our past. To be honest, the whole concept of statues erected in peoples' honour is extremely fascinating because those people protesting about the fact that we should be unapologetic about our past are right about our inability to change history yet absolutely fail to recognise that statues have always been pulled down as political circumstances changed. I feel what happened yesterday is entirely in keeping with history. The Romans had a principle called "damnatio memoriae" which means "damned from memory" and this principle was employed throughout the Roman Era when an unpopular Emperor, for example, was ousted. This could result in his statues being pulled down, his coins defaced and the stele / plinths / altars having the person's name chiselled out. There are 100s of examples of this and there was a small exhibition in the British Museum a couple of years ago to this effect. In the museum at Vienne in France , there is a large bronze statue but the head of the original person was removed and replaced by a slightly out-of-proportion new head belonging to someone deemed worthy to replace the first dedicatee. In the Middle Ages, our churches and cathedrals were full of statuary and it is reckoned that 80% of all medieval art was lost during the Reformation. You also get a preponderance of statues dedicated to King William III in this country simply because he is seen as the origins of constitutional monarchy. The nearest example is in Petersfield. The most famous example of a statue being vandalised in Britain is that of Claudius whose statue in Colchester was pulled down in Boudicca's revolt in 60AD. (You can see the head from this statue in the British Museum too.)

Therefore, when I see what happened yesterday, I see this behaviour as not only being understandable but also totally in keeping with the history of this country. the protestor's behaviour is no different from their ancestor's 100s of years ago. They are in fact, patriots.

However, I would say that simply pulling down a statue may get the headlines with week but the movement really needs to be more ambitious. They have the momentum and people behind them and I think that , if they put their minds to it, they could propagate much more significant change. In all honesty, their ultimate goal must be the removal of this government from power. It should not be anything less if the lessons of Windrush are not to be learned. Quite how they have failed to join the dots between the killing of George Floyd and Johnson's "pickaninny" and Muslim "letter box" comment is all part of the same issue. Casual racism such as Johnson's leads to the kind of tragic incidents involving George Floyd. Whilst I have no problem with a 125 year old piece of mediocre statuary being thrown in the Severn, it is disappointing that no one has jumped to the conclusion that Boris Johnson is a racist and really ought to follow him! If BLM want to seriously promote change, that change will need to involve the current government being kicked out of office.

 

My problem too - much as I’d like to, I rather doubt I’ll find many places to take me unless I have a super expensive medical plan which I can’t afford. Doesn’t stop me looking though .... seriously

 

Going to watch on I player tomorrow.

 

Do you not think that Farage will ultimately get his comeuppance? This has been the obvious thing on the political landscape for years. He is overdue a spectacular fall albeit I feel that he will ultimately get a dose of his own medicine.

 

I hope so Ian, I really do. Most Charlatans get found out!

 

I have that someone at some point is going to get very disgruntled with Farage, whether it be a racist comment or someone who has lost their job due to Brexit. At some point in the future he will be incapable of making to one tactless comment which will result in him being assaulted with more than a strawberry milkshake. He is too divisive and controversial not to attract the attention of a nutter with an axe to grind. Just feel that his story has more to come.

 

Sadly I`ve lost faith in the British people - it beggars belief they have returned such a shoddy shower of slimey shysters to power, and sent us on the road to a hard Brexit. It gives me little comfort that the Scots took a contrary position, as we are getting dragged down by BJ and his cohorts.

 

Awkward .......

 

OTOH, What has been demonstrated since December is that at least you have solid, capable politicians representing your country. Both Nicola Sturgeon and Ian Blackford have been beacons of light amongst the dimwit Patels and Williamsons "representing" England. Ireland and Wales too are showing some degree of spirit. We really are the sick man of the Uk as well as Europe. At least Starmer has shown early promise in his besting of Pfeffel on a regular basis at PMQ's.

The test for this shower is just about to begin. I have faith that Barnier won't allow their lies to stand unchallenged. When Brexit comes it is going to be a disaster for us all but hopefully this useless crew won't be able to dodge the blame for the economic maelstrom awaiting us. Above all Pfeffel must be fearing the disgrace of it all. History is waiting to judge the useless oik, it will be a resounding verdict. - GUILTY !

 

Whately forgot to lie momentarily there. More training needed, Dom.

 

I saw a snippet of an interview, with Matt HanCock, in which I think the government strategy for laying blame was made clear.
When answering a question about how a top scientist had contradicted the government’s claim to be following “the science”, he said something like “In a group of 100 scientists, you will always get some disagreement”.
So, basically, it looks as if they are trying to write off advice from some, very senior, scientists as being contrary to what others have said, just to fit their flawed agenda.

 

You know that there is really no such thing as ‘the British People’ right?