Political Thread in memory of David Reid. (R.I.P.)

[outwoodclaret]

There is no doubt that Britain has serious problems.

It may be apocryphal but Confucius is believed to have said “If you want to know the future, look at the past”.

A useful parallel from the past is the decline and fall of the Roman Empire. There are many causes but many agree that major contributors were internal corruption, outside invasion, over - reliance on slave (cheap) labour, economic problems, overspending by rulers.

Rulers, military and politicians became more concerned with protecting their positions than what was good for the Empire.

Ring any bells in the context of Britain?

Starmer blames it all on the previous Government. Well he would wouldn’t he but it goes deeper than that. Even a snake oil salesmen could spot it.

In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden on Tuesday, the PM said the riots "revealed a deeply unhealthy society... weakened by a decade of division and decline, infected by a spiral of populism which fed off cycles of failure of the last government".

[Swissclaret]

Starmer blames it all on the previous Government. Well he would wouldn’t he but it goes deeper than that. Even a snake oil salesmen could spot it.

In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden on Tuesday, the PM said the riots "revealed a deeply unhealthy society... weakened by a decade of division and decline, infected by a spiral of populism which fed off cycles of failure of the last government".

I agree Outwood. It is too easy to blame a previous Government. Oldest trick in the book.

The problems run much deeper than that. None are an overnight phenomenem. The problems are also multi-faceted, which makes it even more difficult to analyse.

Two areas that stand out for me are the decline in the family unit and the move to amorality.

In the case of the former, my family were a typical working class family. However they had an ethic of working hard, being honest, living within their means, together with a sense of family pride. When I got into any trouble (not too frequently) I was in worse trouble when I got home because I had breached the family’s code of behaviour. Although my parents divorced they both still maintained that position. Being a single parent family is not an excuse.

In the case of the latter, I was raised as a Catholic but my grandparents were Protestant (CofE). Despite the religious differences they were Christians and shared a code of morality. Incidentally, this code is shared by many religions and peoples. I was raised, probably like many on here, to respect that. Whilst many in Britain for religious or societal reasons follow that code, too many are being brought up in ignorance of that code. Worse still, they look to the State to provide the ethics and boundaries.

Therein lies a massive problem when one looks at how the State, and especially politicians behave. Their behaviour, both privately and publicly over many years has impacted society.

[Swissclaret]

Starmer blames it all on the previous Government. Well he would wouldn’t he but it goes deeper than that. Even a snake oil salesmen could spot it.

In a speech in the Downing Street rose garden on Tuesday, the PM said the riots "revealed a deeply unhealthy society... weakened by a decade of division and decline, infected by a spiral of populism which fed off cycles of failure of the last government".

Sorry to go on about this but Starmer needs to be challenged on his rhetoric.

What “division” is he talking about?

What “decline” is he talking about?

What does he mean by “populism”?

What “cycles of failure” is he referring to?


It is rather typical political rhetoric - it sounds good to the “sound-bite” supporters but what does he actually mean and, more importantly, what is the government going to do. It is the future that is important, not the past.

[outwoodclaret]

Sorry to go on about this but Starmer needs to be challenged on his rhetoric.

What “division” is he talking about?

What “decline” is he talking about?

What does he mean by “populism”?

What “cycles of failure” is he referring to?


It is rather typical political rhetoric - it sounds good to the “sound-bite” supporters but what does he actually mean and, more importantly, what is the government going to do. It is the future that is important, not the past.

I am not quite sure that taking winter fuel benefit away from many pensioners or banning smoking in pub gardens is going to reverse that decline any time soon. Kier needs some better big ideas.

[Supersub6]

I agree Outwood. It is too easy to blame a previous Government. Oldest trick in the book.

The problems run much deeper than that. None are an overnight phenomenem. The problems are also multi-faceted, which makes it even more difficult to analyse.

Two areas that stand out for me are the decline in the family unit and the move to amorality.

In the case of the former, my family were a typical working class family. However they had an ethic of working hard, being honest, living within their means, together with a sense of family pride. When I got into any trouble (not too frequently) I was in worse trouble when I got home because I had breached the family’s code of behaviour. Although my parents divorced they both still maintained that position. Being a single parent family is not an excuse.

In the case of the latter, I was raised as a Catholic but my grandparents were Protestant (CofE). Despite the religious differences they were Christians and shared a code of morality. Incidentally, this code is shared by many religions and peoples. I was raised, probably like many on here, to respect that. Whilst many in Britain for religious or societal reasons follow that code, too many are being brought up in ignorance of that code. Worse still, they look to the State to provide the ethics and boundaries.

Therein lies a massive problem when one looks at how the State, and especially politicians behave. Their behaviour, both privately and publicly over many years has impacted society.

Swiss-- such a lot of what you have posted follows much of my own upbringing and, I am sure that you will agree, you were obviously taught to have self-respect and to have respect for others in whatever you did.

Sadly, because of the breakdown of so many areas of community, there are too many young people who do not have self-respect and, consequently, they have no respect for anything or anybody and think that they can just do as they please ----and they do.
Sadly, the number is increasing on a daily business and quite a number of these people have ended up in responsible positions, both in the government and in ordinary life, however, they are unable to cope and this certainly impacts on society and there is not one sign that things will improve in my lifetime.

[Swissclaret]

Swiss-- such a lot of what you have posted follows much of my own upbringing and, I am sure that you will agree, you were obviously taught to have self-respect and to have respect for others in whatever you did.

Sadly, because of the breakdown of so many areas of community, there are too many young people who do not have self-respect and, consequently, they have no respect for anything or anybody and think that they can just do as they please ----and they do.
Sadly, the number is increasing on a daily business and quite a number of these people have ended up in responsible positions, both in the government and in ordinary life, however, they are unable to cope and this certainly impacts on society and there is not one sign that things will improve in my lifetime.

A key word, Super - respect. I agree with you. The society that I was brought up (Queen Victoria Road) had self - respect, respected other people and the surroundings. Certainly, I was never, ever allowed to disrespect any one in authority. The police, parish priest and especially teachers - respect and obedience were paramount.

Too many people appear to have no self respect, as you say, and have no respect for any one else.

Going back to my point about the State and politicians, very little respect is shown to citizens who are treated as idiots (some are) and nothing more than a means to keep them in power. That is the example that is being given by them.

[The Bedlington Terrier]

30.08.24. "An Israeli missile has hit a convoy carrying medical supplies and fuel to an Emirati hospital in the Gaza Strip, an aid group has said.

Several people have been killed in the strike the American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera) group said on Friday."

B@stards!

[outwoodclaret]

Two Tier Kier far too drear to deliver the necessary messages of doom and gloom that will need to be doled out to pensioners who are having their fuel benefit stopped. Angela the Rave will be drafted in to tell everyone else they’ve got to pay more Capital Gains Tax. It’s no good wanting change as Sir Kier warned before the election you’ve got to get out on the streets and start begging for it.

[Robus]

"Infected by populism."

Your desire to live as English people in an English country is a disease in the minds of your globalist conquerors.

[sinkov]

And on it goes, "Five Palestinians were killed in an Israeli strike on the Nur Shams refugee camp in the West Bank on Monday, the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement.

The official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, said four loud explosions were heard after an Israeli drone targeted a house in the camp in the West Bank city of Tulkarm. Israel has not immediately commented." What's new?

Five more terrorist scum eliminated, you can run but you can't hide.