Off Topic Politics Thread

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I read a fantastic exploration of Putin’s misinformation campaign recently. As much as he was a part of the tradition of USSR style dissembling, it wasn’t until 2008 that he really got going with it. I read that he felt humiliated by the global response to his invasion of Georgia and promptly renamed Russia Today RT and prioritised making it an acceptable source of news in the west. It then moved to legitimate news but dripping in nods to popular conspiracy theories, beginning with implying knowledge of 9/11 being an inside job. Gradually it legitimised conspiracy. Alongside this, he utilised his troll farms to stoke anti-UK and anti-US messages in BRICS nations, and this has grown to encompass the world.

Yeah, the Internet Research Agency is quite the thing.

If you’re interested in this stuff, there’s quite a light hearted book rolling through it by Danny Wallace (no, not that one) called Somebody Told Me.
 
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Keir Starmer is determined to push ahead with cutting people's disability benefits, after months of extensive government research shows its much easier to take money off them than millionaires or big business.
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Keir Starmer is determined to push ahead with cutting people's disability benefits, after months of extensive government research shows its much easier to take money off them than millionaires or big business.
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I’m worried about the outcomes here
I believe that he’s not now going to freeze or cut the benefit rate, but amend the eligibility as there’s a belief that Mental Health conditions are being over diagnosed

I think that’s true, but can’t see how a big change to eligibility can be implemented without mistakes being made and sick people being cut off as well as those who should be working

The Tories implementation of PIP rules has been a disaster resulting in people stuck in the appeals system

They need these changes to be effective and targeted, not heartless and brutal

… and indeed why are the wealthy getting what looks like a free ride?
 
I’m worried about the outcomes here
I believe that he’s not now going to freeze or cut the benefit rate, but amend the eligibility as there’s a belief that Mental Health conditions are being over diagnosed

I think that’s true, but can’t see how a big change to eligibility can be implemented without mistakes being made and sick people being cut off as well as those who should be working

The Tories implementation of PIP rules has been a disaster resulting in people stuck in the appeals system

They need these changes to be effective and targeted, not heartless and brutal

… and indeed why are the wealthy getting what looks like a free ride?
It's going to take a long time to fix something as broke as the benefits and care systems plus the NHS they're interdependent, and of course they'll be mistakes and wrong directions. Can but hope the current mob are flexible enough to react to an evolving system. Yes Starmer wealth tax please I've lived and worked in many countries where it hasn't caused a mass exodus. It's as much of a red herring as the dire warnings of those opposed to VAT on school fees.
 
It's going to take a long time to fix something as broke as the benefits and care systems plus the NHS they're interdependent, and of course they'll be mistakes and wrong directions. Can but hope the current mob are flexible enough to react to an evolving system. Yes Starmer wealth tax please I've lived and worked in many countries where it hasn't caused a mass exodus. It's as much of a red herring as the dire warnings of those opposed to VAT on school fees.
Yes to a wealth tax. 2% or so on anything above £10 million, is a suggestion I have seen that would raise around £20-25 billion.
 
Just to clarify, Ukrainian attacks on energy were absolutely battering Russia. The long distance drone strikes gave Ukraine a chance. Now, Ukraine will have nothing, the war will continue, Putin can claim he is being a lenient as he stops destroying energy infrastructure, Ukraine will get gradually weaker as it cannot re-arm... and Putin will keep pushing into Ukraine.