POLITICS CORNER

[PanBiker]

Ooh, don't let them hear you say that in Penzance, Ian. Cornishman, please!

I have some maternal line relatives from down that way, Cornwall miners and Dorset farmers.

Anyway I reckon I am more French than Stanley Johnson. My paternal lot came over in 1066 or thereabouts.

[Tizer]

I had a great-grandmother in South Africa whose ancestors were Dutch. Perhaps I could claim a Netherlands passport!

[PanBiker]

Why not Peter, without exception we are are all Johnny Foreigners one way or another. Even more so in the USA unless you live on a reservation. Chances are that the indigenous natives of North America are actually Russians or Mongolians by decent. No reason really other than greed for anyone to fight anyone really, that is a socialist doctrine just to keep the thread in the groove so to speak.

[plaques]

Mrs P's lot are probably from a remnant of Oliver Cromwell's mercenary army when he invaded Ireland. Probably Swiss.
Mine are either Irish fighting the Scots or Scots fighting the Irish. Could be French though Queen Mary's line.
Which all goes to show that all this nationalism business is total nonsense.

[plaques]

Poverty levels set to rise again as some of the temporary measures come to an end. Remember that benefit support in the UK has always been set well below minimum wage level with the intention that it isn't enough to live on so to encourage people to find work. In today's age of the Covid jobs in the service sector are collapsing at an unprecedented rate and are projected to continue at an even greater rate through 2021. If we carry on like this food banks and soup kitchens will become an absolute necessity for thousands of ordinary families.

[Stanley]

Very true Ken and some would say we are already there. Without any other economic shocks thousands of families are already doomed to penury and many homelessness already. We do not know yet what the final outfall will be but it's fairly safe to say that many will never find work again. Two Nations looms large. Some of us have been warning about this for a long time but the wealthy politicians don't see it as a problem. Indeed many of them would argue that they are not wealthy, such is their ignorance.
If anyone can see any signs of the Golden Dawn please let me know.....

[Tizer]

This is a good article by Faisal Islam, BBC Economics Editor (note the irony in the title)...
`Adieu to the single market created by the UK' LINK
`...The Prime Minister has succeeded in taking the UK out of the Single Market created by his heroes. The UK now stands outside a system that it helped invent. For now its new single market is not the size of the country..'.

[Stanley]

Peter, I try to look on the bright side but I can't see anything that helps me in politics at the moment. In particular the antics of that clown Gavin Williamson remind me that we have a new low to contend with in ministerial standards. Just exactly what do you have to do to merit dismissal in this government?
I note that Johnson is absent from any comment, do we have a working Prime Minister?
Later. I've been listening to the recording of Trump trying to persuade the Georgia election official to admit votes for him. The official, a Republican denies him the aid every time. This man is shameless and is still trying to change history. Do you think he's actually a moron?

[Tizer]

Later. I've been listening to the recording of Trump trying to persuade the Georgia election official to admit votes for him. The official, a Republican denies him the aid every time. This man is shameless and is still trying to change history. Do you think he's actually a moron?

Yes, and once he's no longer POTUS he should be prosecuted for attempting election fraud and threatening the Georgia official - and Trump is the man who has been accusing the Democrats of fraud!
---------------------------------------------

This has been rumbling on for a while now. LV is what we knew as Liverpool Victoria. I've used them in recent years for insurance and found them very good, an easy to use web site and quick responses. I'll bet it all changes if this goes through...
`Key LV= panel preferred rival bid over Bain offer: Fresh questions about private equity takeover of insurance mutual' The Times
`A £530 million plan to sell one of Britain’s biggest insurance mutuals is set to raise fresh concerns as it emerged that a key panel representing 340,000 policyholders initially vetoed it. The Times has learnt that the committee representing holders of LV= with-profits policies rejected the offer from Bain Capital, an American private equity group, in favour of a rival offer from Royal London, another mutual. It was only when LV= executives went back to Bain and secured further reassurances that the committee changed its position and dropped its resistance to the Bain offer...'.

[plaques]

Trump, he's so bent that if he swallowed a nail he would sh-t a corkscrew. The politicians of this world are full of half truths and sometimes outright lies. Spin is the name of the game. If you can't convince, confuse. React to popular pressure and spend public money even if it doesn't make any sense. Ignore the advice of judge led inquires and any specialist teams assembled to point you in the right direction. A blind eye is the order of the day.
Twitter and Facebook rules 'OK' Welcome to 2021, says he sinking into a squat position rocking backward and forward,

[Stanley]

I fear you're right Ken. I am hunkered down and watching and waiting. Nothing would surprise me.
I see Julian Assange's extradition has been blocked by the high court. The US say they will appeal.

[Tizer]

Stop for a moment and remember - 74 million Americans voted for Trump in the 2019 election, even after seeing all that he did (and didn't do) in the previous 4 years. Probably most of them would still vote for him. That's more than Obama in 2008. That's a lot of people who will choose a lying, bullying fool to be their president instead of politicians with known reputations.

[Big Kev]

Perhaps the country should start randomly picking politicians, a bit like jury service. We could potentially stand an outside chance of getting someone competent in parliament every now and then.

[Stanley]

Why not stipulate that a candidate would have to give evidence of actually having successfully pursued a career in the real world?

[plaques]

Real World? Is there a real world? When you get electronic money issued by Banks in place of asset based currency followed by Bit Coins that don't exist climbing in value. Tesla car shares who hardly make any quantity of cars worth more than all those collectively who do actually make them. Space tourism for the rich doing more damage to the climate than a few farting cows. Those in the lower strata of income being buried a bit deeper so as not to be a nuisance to the top 1%. Ex- university Special Advisors advising themselves to be Prime Minister. Don't get me going...

[Stanley]

You're right of course Ken. I agree with every example. Perhaps the world is just knackered....
I shall join you in the cellar....
Later, news that Gavin Williamson is to announce measures to help children with remote learning. Perhaps he could start by keeping other promises made about providing them with equipment and access to the web. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing in the world of education.
So no change there then....

[Big Kev]

You're right of course Ken. I agree with every example. Perhaps the world is just knackered....
I shall join you in the cellar....
Later, news that Gavin Williamson is to announce measures to help children with remote learning. Perhaps he could start by keeping other promises made about providing them with equipment and access to the web. The gap between the haves and the have-nots is growing in the world of education.
So no change there then....

The BBC are showing educational programmes on two of their channels, CBBC for younger children and BBC2 for older. This should relieve the problem of no internet or device issue for some families.
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2020/bb ... rwyInJbdhI

[Tizer]

The desperate race for election of the two Georgia senators in the US is at a critical point. Biden needs both to be won by Democrats or he'll have a difficult time pushing through new laws. Both Republicans are super-rich with their fingers in all sorts of business deals that are under investigation. As I write, the news media are reporting a win for Warnock (D) over Loeffler (R). The race between Ossof (D) and Perdue (R) is too close to call. If both Democrats win the Republicans will blame it on Trump's claims of election fraud for having deterred their supporters from voting.

I read an article about where Trump supporters get their news. Two main sources are mentioned, Newsmax and One America News. I had a look at them just now and find the former showing both Democrats in the lead by a small margin. But when I viewed One America News it showed both Republicans in the lead! This was their first page, top story but then I looked at the time and date...`Updated: 8.12pm, Tuesday January 5, 2021.' So, in Trumpworld if your lot are in the lead you leave those figures and don't update them when the opposition moves into the lead. And trump is the one who warns about fake news!

Newsmax...


One America News...

[PanBiker]

he BBC are showing educational programmes on two of their channels, CBBC for younger children and BBC2 for older. This should relieve the problem of no internet or device issue for some families.
https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2020/bb ... rwyInJbdhI

Nearly 12 months in and I am amazed that it has taken the Beeb this long to offer the service. No interaction as in the classroom but better than nothing. It should not be particularly difficult to get actual teachers to deliver sections of the curriculum. I see the programs will be available on catch up as well but of course this relies on consumers having an internet connection and the wherewithal to access on demand services. They could continue the programming over the weekend on normal channels. It needs a combined effort from all the broadcasters on a free to access basis.

[Tizer]

Well it looks as if the Democrats have as good as secured the Senate majority. Hot diggedy dog! Even Republican officials are saying it too. Here's a bit from the BBC Live News...
`Gabriel Sterling, a top Republican election official in Georgia, has just given an interview to CNN where he said that Democrats were likely to increase their lead as vote-counting continues. Sterling said that the votes that remain to be counted come from Democratic strongholds and are therefore likely to be for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock.
Sterling predicted that Ossoff would continue to hold his lead over Republican David Perdue in the coming hours, further boosting Democrats' hopes of capturing the Senate - and with it, control of all of Washington...

`He added that Trump was "100% responsible" for Perdue losing his early lead over Ossoff in the polls, after he repeatedly questioned the validity of the electoral process. "While [Trump] may inspire people on the Republican side, he really pisses off people on the Democratic side," said Sterling. "When you can have a credible villain, that really helps the Democrats turn out their vote."'
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Meanwhile Trump is preparing to speak to his crowds of supporters in Washington. So far the crowd has heard speeches by Trump's two sons, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani and preacher Paula White. As they await Trump, speakers are blaring songs by Elton John, 90's boy band NSYNC and Phil Collins.

[Stanley]

Out in the real world a disastrous night for Trump as he loses both Georgia Senate seats and one of his supporters is shot and killed at the White House. Twitter shut down his account (temporarily).
This man is toxic and still POTUS!
Later, I have heard a report that the death toll in the Capitol Riots has risen to four, but a later BBC report says only one. Take your pick!. World wide reaction calls for Trump to be removed from the presidency now. What else could he do before January 20th?
Later still, some clarity perhaps. The extra three deaths are evidently due to medical emergencies.
Later again. Listening to Priti Patel band wagon jumping. She refuses to admit that the Tories got Trump wrong....

[plaques]

Its not supposed to happen like this only commies are allowed to storm government buildings...

The Storming of the Winter Palace was a 1920 mass spectacle, based on historical events that took place in Petrograd during the 1917 October Revolution.

Perhaps the discussions between Trump and Putin had nothing to do with rigging elections but getting tips on how to maintain power after you had lost.

I wonder if the right-wing Tories are contemplating storming Windsor Castle and installing King Boris 1st.

[Tizer]

The latest Americast from last night.... LINK
`Violent scenes of Trump supporters storming the US Capitol have shocked the world. On the day that Joe Biden’s electoral win was supposed to be confirmed, and the Georgia run-offs confirmed a Democratic majority in the Senate, Emily, Jon and Anthony discuss the day’s extraordinary events.'

In that Americast one of those interviewed was LaTosha Brown, cofounder of Black Voters Matter. Listening to her describing the rioters in the Capitol building and the almost zero response from the police I realised that those rioters were white men and women. What would it have been like if they had been black people? There would have been a much greater and aggressive response from the law enforcers and probably a lot more arrests, injuries and deaths. One law for the whites, one for the blacks.

[Whyperion]

Points to a divided nation. What can the Republicans offer in the future other than More Trump of some variety, or just not being Democrats ? If the Republicans move towards the Centre, they lose the right wing / southern state / intolerant white vote. Much depends on what Biden Does, and more importantly what Biden is seen and perceived to be doing, if he can bring along those who feel left out there is a possibility that he can extend the democrat base into more of the USA populace, but, will the vested interests actually let him do that. the last president with vision ( Kennedy ) remains taken out arguably by the establishment, will Russia and China seek to have soft power involvement that prevents anything other than disturbance in the USA and will the general economic circumstances restrict Biden's financing.

As to the UK Construction (private and govt contract infrastructure) firms are still hiring. It is important that Sunak starts to put the money to new jobs where covid will have less impact , it will change the social and tertiory make up of the urban economy- for now - but must be done otherwise the 100 years to repay the loans will turn into either 200 or such stifled taxation that it will never let the real economy work well.

[Big Kev]

Pressure is increasing for the Orange Knob of the Apocalypse to be removed from office, there are calls to use the 25th amendment. He's a raving lunatic...