The UK makes me sad.

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

I'm just not looking forward to my council being run by Reform. At best they'll just mess everything up through lack of experience.  At worst will just make division even worse and life here more difficult.

[Petunia]

Wasn't this supposed to be the safe place? Oooops, Have I gone and done it again!

It still is safe.

I don't think anybody has said anything outrageous or imflammatory, nobody has forced their political views, it's all just frustration at the system.

I do tend to think that the internet and social media have a big influence on how things are run.

Pollies seem to spend a lot of time reacting to the latest thing going on, the public tend to group around like minded views and get their news from a biased source that fits their own narrative, and instead of working toward a longer term.solution the pollies end up dealing with short term appeasement.

Plus, the very rich seem to be manipulating almost all the democracys that remain.

I'll get my coat.

[Dances With Trees]

Lucky for us (as in U.S.), the Russians didn't steal the last election; algorithms did.

Which is a euphemism for the 'filthy rich.'

[Lori Dee ✅]

the Russians didn't steal the last election; algorithms did.

I was going to point out that you misspelled "oligarchs".

🤣

[davina61]

Just tax the very rich.

[Stottie Girl]

Well they are already supposed to be paying high taxes, they just have the means to pay for specialists to help them avoid it! That won't change if you raise taxes, they'll just move their money out of reach!

There is no point ducking the issues, there needs to be investment and/or nationlisation in British industry so that the population has the opportunity to train and get meaningful skilled jobs with prospects. The more people in the country who have better paid jobs and the better British owned companies perform the more taxes available to the government.

Ever since the Thatcher and Reagan era, successive governments have viewed "investment" as a dirty word. All they want to do is sell off anything of value to private companies to make a quick buck. The problem is they are running out of things to sell now.

Eveything they privatised is run at the lowest cost possible and their staffs wages have been driven down and down in order to maximise profits. This has resulted in terrible service, poor performance and crucially less taxes coming in to the coffers. Nothing has improved by switching to private companies.

I mean this is just my thoughts obviously. At the end of the day I'm a Northerner! You might expect us to have these views as we have been decimated up here by the loss of our once proud industries and we have never recovered. Other countries have nationalised or subsidised industries, there is no good reason why we should be any different.

I'm old enough to remember the mining and ship building industries of the North East. All dead now and they didn't have to be. Tyneside built some of the best ships in the world. All that skill base has gone. We used to make the best tanks too but they shut down the Armstrong factory after the Challenger 2 stopped production. We could do with that industry right about now with all the threats in the world these days. So short sighted!

[Charlotte Kitty ✅]

Well they are already supposed to be paying high taxes, they just have the means to pay for specialists to help them avoid it! That won't change if you raise taxes, they'll just move their money out of reach!

There is no point ducking the issues, there needs to be investment and/or nationlisation in British industry so that the population has the opportunity to train and get meaningful skilled jobs with prospects. The more people in the country who have better paid jobs and the better British owned companies perform the more taxes available to the government.

Ever since the Thatcher and Reagan era, successive governments have viewed "investment" as a dirty word. All they want to do is sell off anything of value to private companies to make a quick buck. The problem is they are running out of things to sell now.

Eveything they privatised is run at the lowest cost possible and their staffs wages have been driven down and down in order to maximise profits. This has resulted in terrible service, poor performance and crucially less taxes coming in to the coffers. Nothing has improved by switching to private companies.

I mean this is just my thoughts obviously. At the end of the day I'm a Northerner! You might expect us to have these views as we have been decimated up here by the loss of our once proud industries and we have never recovered. Other countries have nationalised or subsidised industries, there is no good reason why we should be any different.

I'm old enough to remember the mining and ship building industries of the North East. All dead now and they didn't have to be. Tyneside built some of the best ships in the world. All that skill base has gone. We used to make the best tanks too but they shut down the Armstrong factory after the Challenger 2 stopped production. We could do with that industry right about now with all the threats in the world these days. So short sighted!

This is exactly what I was saying to my partner yesterday  with regards the UK. Unfortunately I'm not optimistic any of this will ever happen and improve. Add to that your talking 10 years ramp up before the damage is fixed at least. All I've seen all my adult life is back to back financial problems. As far as i experience there is no such thing as postive times.

Charlotte 😻

[Stottie Girl]

See that's part of the problem. Simply because it will take 10-20 years to see results no governments are willing to invest the money as they are always thinking of the 5 year election periods. They are totally incapable of thinking long term.

I think this is where coaltion governments have the advantage because parties are forced to agree and comprimise and there is far less opposing for the sake of opposing. This confrontational model is partly at fault.

It could become one of the very few benefits of a fractured political system that we get more hung parliments.

[Sephirah]

I think the problem is that the pendulum has been stuck right of centre in UK politcs since the days of Blair. It sounds great in principle but when it's stuck in the middle nothing big ever gets done for fear of alienating one side or the other. It is all about avoiding change so as not to upset one side or the other even when change is so badly needed, they will do everything they can to do nothing!

It should swing from left to right but it has been stopped for so long now that now it has started moving it is swinging wildly to the far right. This will inevitably lead to a much more polarized society.

Part of the reason for this backlash is that there is a general feeling that it doesn't matter who you vote for, the same centerist people get into power. That is why voter turn out has been so poor in the past.

It needs to go back to a steady left to right swing depending on what the country needs but this extreme swing will spell disaster for British society I fear.

The latest - Starmer has decided that after the terrible performance and wholesale rejection of his "New Labour" politics he is not going to step down, not going to change anything and is bringing ex PM Gordon Brown in to tell him what to do. Gordon Brown was an architect of new labour and is a despised figure that lost the only election where he stood as leader. Well done Kier, that will stop Reform in it's tracks at the next election.

We're all dooomed!

I mean the Tories were not really in the centre of anything. They wanted to send immigrants off to Rwanda, a country known to have a moderate genocide issue. And they were in power for a long, long time. They only got more right wing as time went on. Probably why people voted Labour in a landslide, like they did back in 1996. In my opinion, the trouble is that Labour just lied about everything. They did a massive bait and switch. To hear Starmer talk, he was the champion of trans rights... while he was in opposition. Even invited the mother of that sadly murdered trans girl into parliament.

Soon as he got into power... Trump hates trans people, so we had to alienate trans people because that's the way the wind was blowing. Champion the poorest off... then immediately try to go after them because it's easier than going after the rich. He just abandoned everything that got people to vote for him, in my opinion. And became an also ran. (Horse racing term - means just someone who just showed up). He was too focused on introducing an authoritarian state. Just look at all the online stuff. Age verification, VPN blocking, digital ID... There are more important things in the world to care about, Kier.

I don't think there's necessarily anything inherently wrong with a centrist view. And trying to not alienate people. I mean surely that's the point? It's when you lie to people and say one thing, then immediately do another thing. That's when people lose faith in you.

He did try to be a Tony Blair figure, but failed miserably and is now paying the price.

[Stottie Girl]

It's all relative isn't it, compared to Reform, the Tories were centre right and that is a scary thought. Yeah I agree that Rwanda thing was shameful.

You're right, I forgot about that when he brought that girls mother in, had her in the public gallery didn't he and talked directly to her. SUch a tradgedy what happend to that poor girl, Brianna wasn't it? That makes his betrayal all the worse!

I would agree with you that when everything is fixed and working, a centrists view can be a good thing but we need more radical change if we are going to undo all the damage that has happened in the past. We need a true political left. All there is at the moment is centre, centre right and far right. The Greens have shown promising gains though I think it will be too soon for them to mount a challenge but they could be instrumental in a coalition government.

[Sephirah]

It's all relative isn't it, compared to Reform, the Tories were centre right and that is a scary thought. Yeah I agree that Rwanda thing was shameful.

You're right, I forgot about that when he brought that girls mother in, had her in the public gallery didn't he and talked directly to her. SUch a tradgedy what happend to that poor girl, Brianna wasn't it? That makes his betrayal all the worse!

I would agree with you that when everything is fixed and working, a centrists view can be a good thing but we need more radical change if we are going to undo all the damage that has happened in the past. We need a true political left. All there is at the moment is centre, centre right and far right. The Greens have shown promising gains though I think it will be too soon for them to mount a challenge but they could be instrumental in a coalition government.

I don't disagree with you, Sarah. There does need to be a big change. I don't think Reform is the change the UK needs though. That's literally out of the frying pan into the fire. The saddest thing is that it's a sign of people just not knowing where to turn. They want something, but that something will be the worst thing they can get. Like Brexit (that's all I will say about that... whole different conversation).

I guess I can understand that's why some people voted for Trump in the US. Anti-establishment. A shake-up. It's a cry for help rather than understanding what that help would entail. I can understand the motivation, even with what it's led to.

You are right and there is no real political left in the UK. I do not know who could fill that gap, though.

[Stottie Girl]

i have hope for a labour revolt and wholesale transformation of that party but I thbnik it's not likely until they get a bloddy nose.

You are damn right the country doesn't need the change that Reform will bring. total wolf in sheeps clothing that lot. They will get into power next time round though and that means another 5 years of total chaos and nothing get done to fix anything. I will be retired before they do anything positive for working people!

[Sephirah]

You have to have hope. Otherwise you have nothing.

On another note, though. I really like your smile in your current avatar. <3

[Mariah ✅]

Hope really is the key these days with everything that is going on in the world. In our session retreat for church, hope was something we spent time on yesterday because it really is what allows us to be able to move forward each day. Hugs
Mariah

You have to have hope. Otherwise you have nothing.

On another note, though. I really like your smile in your current avatar. <3

[Lori Dee ✅]

I vote for Sarah!

Let's start a Stottie Party!

If you don't like Tories, or Reform, or Labour, what LEFT?

STOTTIES!

[Sephirah]

I vote for Sarah!

Let's start a Stottie Party!

If you don't like Tories, or Reform, or Labour, what LEFT?

STOTTIES!

Seconded. I recently learned that the word "Stottie" came from the Old English word "Stott".. to bounce. Because the bread would bounce when dropped on the floor. Fitting, I think. <3

[Stottie Girl]

Ha Ha! You lot are mental! You would put a nutcase like me in power? Imagine the delightful lunacy! And of course "free stotties for everyone!"

Thank you Lauren, for the avatar comment. Personally I think it looks a bit like a nervous smile, I'm not very photogenic unfortunately.

[Sephirah]

Ha Ha! You lot are mental! You would put a nutcase like me in power? Imagine the delightful lunacy! And of course "free stotties for everyone!"

Thank you Lauren, for the avatar comment. Personally I think it looks a bit like a nervous smile, I'm not very photogenic unfortunately.

I wholeheartedly disagree, Sarah. You are extremely photogenic. Granted, it isn't the giant Cheshire Cat grin, that I know you have in you, haha. But... your smile is honestly beautiful. As are you.

[Stottie Girl]

I wholeheartedly disagree, Sarah. You are extremely photogenic. Granted, it isn't the giant Cheshire Cat grin, that I know you have in you, haha. But... your smile is honestly beautiful. As are you.

Stop it you, you'll make me embarrassed!

[davina61]

When I was at collage we had a social study lesson (why? it was a mechanics course) and we did a questionnaire on politics . Shown as dots on a graph we had one total Fascist, a few leaning to Communist and one dot in the centre. That was me!