Liz Truss (All General Truss Discussions Here)

Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:08 6975 views 123 comments
Been PM for a couple of weeks and already starting with a disastrous economic policy that's apparently prompted Conservative MPs to start sending in letters of no confidence.

And Boris is favourite to retake the position!

Fucking Tories. When can the public just vote them out and we can get some sanity back in Government.

Comments (123)

Baden September 28, 2022 at 13:20 #743059
State they can't afford inflation-matching pay rises for public sector workers but borrow a ton of money (while interest rates skyrocket on repayments) to give the rich a massive tax cut > Respond to the markets subsequently fleeing sterling due to said bonkers policy by asking them to be nice.

Something's got to give. I expect the path of destruction will go: Sterling, the economy, house prices, and only then, the Tories.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:23 #743060
Quoting Baden
State they can't afford inflation-matching pay rises for public sector workers but borrow a ton of money (while interest rates skyrocket on repayments) to give the rich a massive tax cut > Respond to the markets subsequently fleeing sterling due to said bonkers policy by asking them to be nice.


It's always about helping the rich stay rich (or get richer) at the expense of everything else. The lie of trickle-down economics. People are going to starve and freeze because a minority want to buy a fifth house.
I like sushi September 28, 2022 at 13:27 #743062
Reply to Michael ‘Sanity’? Nice joke :D
Baden September 28, 2022 at 13:32 #743063
Reply to Michael

Tories are usually a bit more subtle about their social engineering. But this is the Liz Truss who thinks you plebs don't show enough graft. Maybe the idea is a choice of graft or freeze.

Btw, now the BoE is buying bonds to stop interest rates getting completely out of control. Sounds OK until you realize what that will further do to the value of Sterling. Below dollar parity by Christmas is my bet.
I like sushi September 28, 2022 at 13:32 #743064
I think it would make more sense to let public decide who leads the party … seems bizarre that the last two candidates standing were probably the worst two.

I heard a lot of interest from friends and family in Nadhim Zahawi.
Ying September 28, 2022 at 13:33 #743065
Quoting Michael
The lie of trickle-down economics.


This. The whole idea has been debunked for decades now, so it's not even a lie at this point. It's just piss.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:34 #743066
Quoting Baden
But this is the Liz Truss who thinks you plebs don't show enough graft.


But having a stock broker who invests your inheritance, or collecting rent from your tenants, is a shining example of a working man.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:39 #743067
And before anyone decides to talk about "taxation is theft": Fine. It's theft. And it's a very simple trolley problem; either steal from the rich or let the poor suffer. Easy choice.

Robin Hood for PM.
javi2541997 September 28, 2022 at 13:41 #743068
Quoting I like sushi
I think it would make more sense to let public decide who leads the party …


That's would represent a real democratic system!
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:43 #743069
Quoting I like sushi
I think it would make more sense to let public decide who leads the party


Quoting javi2541997
That's would represent a real democratic system!


Like, I don't know, a General Election? And with something like alternative vote or proportional representation? Labour have recently committed to the latter.
Manuel September 28, 2022 at 13:45 #743072
Truss reminds me of a remark Christopher Hitchens made about David Cameron:

Q: What do you think about David Cameron?

A: He doesn't make me think.

Except that Truss has a genocidal streak to her. My, with leaders like these, who needs villains?
javi2541997 September 28, 2022 at 13:48 #743073
Reply to Michael

I don't know the solution neither. But the system is flawed when the leaders of each party are not elected by the people but the few who are part of the political arena. For example: you vote for Labour, but... who chooses the person who would run for the presidency? Here is when the problem starts.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:51 #743074
Quoting Manuel
Truss reminds me of a quote Christopher Hitchens once made about David Cameron:

Q: What do you think about David Cameron?

A: He doesn't make me think.


That's from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.

Toohey: Mr. Roark, we're alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us.
Roark: But I don't think of you.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 13:52 #743076
Quoting javi2541997
For example: you vote for Labour


Well, we vote for a person, not a party.

Quoting javi2541997
but... who chooses the person who would run for the presidency?


We don't have a President.
Manuel September 28, 2022 at 13:56 #743078
Reply to Michael

Ha! One good line in that horrible book! Ironic that Hitchens hated her.

Not that Hitchens was exemplary, far from it, towards the last part of his life. But it's a good quote, and its applicable to a decent range of world leaders, imo.

Britain has been having disaster after disaster since Brexit. Truss is just next in line...
javi2541997 September 28, 2022 at 14:02 #743082
Quoting Michael
Well, we vote for a person, not a party.


Who decides (or chooses) that person previously to go to the polls? I don't see we are allowed to choose between one member or another. For example: What leader of Labour do you want to run for presidency in the next elections? A) Jeremy Corbin. B ) Keir Starmer. Choose one of the candidates.
Well, we can't take part in such decision because one or the other are elected by their affiliates.

Quoting Michael
We don't have a President.


Prime Minister, whatever... I see the same problem in both Republic and Monarchy. I live in a kingdom and it is similar the process of elections.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 14:43 #743095
[tweet]https://twitter.com/EdConwaySky/status/1575128310740389889[/tweet]
Michael September 28, 2022 at 14:50 #743098
The cynic in me thinks that this is all one big con. Short the pound, announce idiotic economic policy, profit (already done), go long on the pound, announce reversal, profit.
Baden September 28, 2022 at 14:55 #743100
Reply to Michael

Yes, was thinking of shorting but you never know what they'll do next. The volatility is ridiculous. Moving like a meme coin :lol:
unenlightened September 28, 2022 at 14:57 #743101
Reply to Michael Reply to Baden

I assumed the game has been from the beginning (of Brexit) to bankrupt the country and then move to Panama.
Michael September 28, 2022 at 15:00 #743105
Reply to Baden I tried with Trading212 using practice money. Lost more than I won. Decided to then do the opposite of what I wanted to do. Lost more than I won. It's rigged, I tell you, rigged!
Baden September 28, 2022 at 15:18 #743109
Quoting Michael
I tried with Trading212


That's what I use. I just lost a tenner because of the international cabal that watches me when I press a button and makes the market move the other way. :sad:
unenlightened September 28, 2022 at 17:16 #743137
Reply to Baden Please stop pressing buttons!
I like sushi September 28, 2022 at 18:30 #743148
Quoting Michael
Labour have recently committed to the latter.


Shame they didn’t back it when Lib Dems tried to make it happen. Maybe because the Lib Dems were basically the true opposition for decades in terms of proportional representation.

The campaign waged against proportional representation was taken on by both Labour and Conservatives AND set back the Lib Dems very, very, very far sadly. Imagine a choice between three parties … would at least increase the odds that one of them might not be so bad.

The public is mainly to blame to though. Too many people want to hear make believe policies above the harsh reality.

Anyway, I don’t live there anymore and have no intention to in the future. Good luck
180 Proof September 28, 2022 at 18:34 #743150
"It's morally repugnant! ... Liz Truss' government doesn't care ... Help the rich! Fuck the poor!"
unenlightened September 28, 2022 at 18:38 #743151
https://www.ft.com/content/d54b4915-60a2-4f73-b1b9-6ea4b7523dd9?fbclid=IwAR19l-Yi7NDX18vhCHCC6EiF2q3m4r8_TShBc-sBd_FEna0UBssKwTOIVQE
Baden September 29, 2022 at 17:18 #743394
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/yougov-poll-labour-lead-conservatives-tories-n90lqlgf7

:lol:

Michael September 29, 2022 at 17:24 #743396
Reply to Baden Shame there’s not a GE till Jan ‘25.
Michael September 29, 2022 at 17:36 #743405
Reply to Baden [tweet]https://twitter.com/hzeffman/status/1575526100591169543[/tweet]
Baden September 29, 2022 at 17:41 #743406
Srap Tasmaner September 29, 2022 at 17:42 #743408
Quoting Michael
Truss reminds me of a quote Christopher Hitchens once made about David Cameron:

Q: What do you think about David Cameron?

A: He doesn't make me think.
— Manuel

That's from Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead.

Toohey: Mr. Roark, we're alone here. Why don't you tell me what you think of me? In any words you wish. No one will hear us.
Roark: But I don't think of you.


Also Casablanca:

Ugarte: You despise me, don't you Rick?
Rick: Well if I gave you any thought I probably would.
Christoffer September 30, 2022 at 08:50 #743513
Will this show the supporters of Tories, Republicans and other right-wing populist parties how they're not political parties for low to mid-income households and not improving for anyone but the rich? People voted for Brexit, people voted for Tories, people voted for Trump, and people now recently also voted for Giorgia Meloni as well as the Swedish Democrats getting more seats in the Swedish parliament.

I mean... the ideological information is right there in front of anyone if they were to look, but people have learned to stop listening to experts and instead listen to influencer-style con-artists without any second thought as to any underlying agendas of these people.

This is what people get for wanting irrational people in power to "shake things up a bit"... because now they have shaken things up quite a bit. Hopefully, the people who voted for them are happy now that the whole economy has been shaken up because that's what happens when you give the power to these people and stop listening to experts who tried to warn about upcoming issues.
javi2541997 October 06, 2022 at 12:20 #745784
UK PM Liz Truss joins first meeting of new ‘club of European nations’

Initially sceptical

[i]Ms Truss’ decision to attend today came as something of a surprise when announced last week, as she was initially sceptical about the idea of an EPC.

She said in July that there were too many organisations in Europe and that existing bodies should instead be made more effective.

Her Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has also said more recently that the UK does not need“to be a member of more institutions in the European sphere”.[/i]

She is even more Eurosceptical than Boris Johnson.

The British government also reportedly asked that the name be changed to the ‘European Political Forum’ – possibly to avoid associations with the ‘European Community’, an earlier name of the EU – but other European governments appear to prefer the term ‘community’. :yikes:

unenlightened October 06, 2022 at 15:14 #745825
Trying to characterise the woman... imagine an angry toddler with a bag of spanners painted by Hieronymus Bosch.

Warning. Do not attempt to make sense of this government.
Tim3003 October 14, 2022 at 15:20 #748357
I thought Truss would be a disaster when she was winning the Tory members vote. But I never imagined she'd be quite such a huge disaster quite so quickly! So now she has sacked Kwarteng, in the hope of making him a scapegoat for the Mini-budget fiasco; and appointed Hunt, a more experienced and sober pair of hands. And she really seems to think the disaster of the policies she and Kwarteng brought to confidence in the UK will somehow not hang around her neck like the Ancient Mariner's albatross. Surely the reason that we have not been given sight of the overdue OBR forecast for the effect of her unfunded tax cuts is that she knows it will send the markets into panic mode again. Then the focus will be on the spending cuts she has to make to bring the books into some kind of balance over the next 3-5 years, most of which will be politically suicidal. The crisis-hit NHS was due to benefit from the NI hike, so having cancelled that, its decline will presumably continue even without more cuts. I can only assume she is some sort of tunnel-vision optimist, who sees the future sunlit uplands but not the years of pain needed to get there. It's patently obvious she has no empathy with the ordinary people and was neve ran election winner. For all his short-termist populism at least Boris Johnson knew he had to take public opinion with him. Sunak would have had a chance against Keir Starmer in 2022. Truss has none. The fatal flaw in the Tory party's leadership election process is that it lets its blinkered hard-core members choose the leader, not experienced MPs. Starmer should be sending 160,000 extra Christmas cards this year..
David S October 15, 2022 at 07:51 #748499
Who would want to be a PM in the UK right now? Every household knows you need to balance the budget. We lived through the period of austerity and cuts. Global issues like Covid and war in Ukraine impact on energy prices. Rising interest rates. Rising inflation. It was a big mistake not to cost the budget properly but printing money is also not a proper answer.

The reality is a better progressive tax system. The job of government is to support everyone to provide the required services a modern society needs and provide support for proper investment in infrastructure and maximising business opportunities in a fair way.

Globally however the normal expectation of continued gdp growth fuelled by consumer spending and the reality of growth fuelled by energy and the modern reliance on oil and hydrocarbons to support unsustainable growth given we are at peak oil means overall sadly for the majority standards and quality of life will be reduced with no easy answers.

Historically it has been those with power and money that have provided for themselves and close friends and political allies that maintain their position.

For sure democracy and voting with the one person one vote seems on paper the right idea but you get the government you vote for. Those with the wealth and power are still the minority yet the majority voting are arguably still getting it wrong so we end up with the government we voted for setting aside the recent vote to change pm.

The biggest issue for the tories is no obvious leader with the right ideas and enough support to plan and implement it. Manifestos become wish lists to fool voters. Yes who would want to be a pm in those circumstances but no political party would ever be able to solve all these problems.

Individuals can help themselves by doing their own budgets and working out how to get by with the basics. Inflation although the problem is going to face the stark reality of falling demand as we cut back as the majority will focus on just spending on the essentials. I expect certain industries like tourism and arts and entertainment, the luxuries will suffer the most.
    Punshhh October 16, 2022 at 08:14 #748845
    Reply to Tim3003 The Tory’s have done the right thing. It is imperative that they self destruct and retreat into electoral oblivion. So that we can rebuild our country. If they were to win the next general election it would be a dark day for the U.K. The populism and economic failures we are experiencing would be baked in, endorsed and the populism would take a more aggressive, destructive form.
    Tim3003 October 17, 2022 at 10:10 #749144
    Reply to Punshhh
    Imperative for the country, yes. But we can assume the Tory party will pursue self-interest first. The question therefore is whether there's anything they can do to stop defeat in 2024. Installing Hunt was a wise move - although it destroys Truss's credibility. I don't see how she can win even if all goes well from now on. 'Well' that is given the looming cuts, inflation and mortgages crises - which is not really 'well' at all. Their only chance I think is to ditch Truss ASAP and install Sunak in a coronation. However the party seems so divided now that that looks unfeasible. Anyway, I think Sunak is sensible enough to know that even then he'd probably lose in 2024, so he'll bide his time and wait to step in in the aftermath of the 2024 rout as the unity post-Truss candidate..
    unenlightened October 17, 2022 at 19:20 #749231
    In office, but not in control. There is a lively expectation that this thread will end in about 2-3 days. It may take a bit longer, but why would she resist at this stage? I don't know who will volunteer to run the shit-show for 2 years and then go down to an annihilating defeat. Jeremy Hunt might do it because he is, I think, a genuine patriot, or Rishi might because he just wants the feather in his cap, and he's going nowhere otherwise. There'll be no more consulting the rank and file about things after this, surely, so it can all be tidied up quickly.

    Or, if the zombie economists have made their killing, they might just call an election and let Labour take the blame for the long grind of poverty and the breakup of the union.

    But the chances of the Prime Muppet making it to Christmas are
    Mikie October 17, 2022 at 21:01 #749257
    Reply to unenlightened

    I’m guessing, with no evidence, that she hangs on and continues for some time. Take a page out of Boris’ playbook.
    unenlightened October 18, 2022 at 08:55 #749413
    Reply to Mikie Her only supporter is the Philosophical Zombi himself,Grease-Knob. Even in the Gory party, you need a bit more than that. But there is now cross-party support for the idea that it is a mistake to consult the plebs about the leader. And of course The US can confirm that.
    Agent Smith October 18, 2022 at 09:15 #749421
    Quoting Manuel
    Q: What do you think about David Cameron?

    A: He doesn't make me think.


    :cool:
    BC October 19, 2022 at 05:15 #749684
    Here's a clear, concise report from the Financial Times on how the 'promise' of Brexit is being fulfilled under PM Truss.


    Baden October 20, 2022 at 09:23 #749980
    Out by the end of the day.
    Agent Smith October 20, 2022 at 09:28 #749983
    Quoting unenlightened
    here is a lively expectation that this thread will end in about 2-3 days


    :snicker: El Rachum!
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 09:31 #749985
    I was hoping she'd survive until the next election because she's so absolutely awful, she'd bury the Tories. But, yeah, I reckon, we'll get a lunchtime announcement of her political demise.
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 10:39 #749997
    Reply to Baden They'll try to get Boris back in. The Conservatives are lost cause. The irony of Cameron's "chaos with Ed Miliband" remark.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 10:45 #749999
    Reply to Michael

    Maybe the most tragic part of this is Jacob Real Snob turning full thug and physically bullying backbench MPs into voting with the government. Guy looks like he couldn't push over a daisy and suddenly he's a Victorian hall monitor. Smh.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 10:50 #750002
    I'll give her another 30 minutes in office. The clock is ticking...
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 10:55 #750003
    Reply to Baden

    Truss meeting 1922 committee chairman

    Prime Minister Liz Truss is meeting Graham Brady, the chairman of the influential 1922 Committee of backbench MPs, No 10 has confirmed.

    No reason has been given for why the meeting is taking place.

    The 1922 Committee oversees the election of Conservative leaders.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 10:56 #750004
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 10:57 #750005
    He spoke to her a couple of days ago and said that the normal threshhold for a confidence vote had been passed, but because of the rules there cannot be two confidence votes within a year, but also said that if half of the Conservative MPs issued letters then they'd change the rules. Pretty crazy if she's managed that already.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 10:59 #750006
    Reply to Michael

    Whether she's got to the exact number or not, she has no authority left and the Tories are in full panic mode. I'm sure he'll explain the inevitable to her.
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 11:00 #750007
    Reply to Baden What an embarrassment if she goes. List of longest serving Prime Ministers:

    User image
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 11:01 #750009
    It will just be a case of another donkey leaves and yet another donkey enters. Every tory is a personal careerist first and foremost and their lowest priority is the well-being of the individuals that make up the masses.
    Only a general election in the UK and a labour government down South will improve things a little for the UK. But labour under Keir Starmer and the right wing of the labour party is just a less offensive shade of capitalist blue. It's a shame so many people will have to continue to suffer until some kind of UBI system/economic parity alongside a resource-based economy is finally embedded.
    Not in my lifetime probably but we are moving snail speed in that direction imo.
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 11:04 #750011
    Quoting universeness
    Only a general election in the UK and a labour government down South will improve things a little for the UK.


    Unfortunately with the current polling there is no chance the Tories will call for a general election. They'd become the 4th party. As much as I'd love to see it. Labour and Lib Dem as the top two parties would be so much better.

    [tweet]https://twitter.com/ElectionMapsUK/status/1582039734846574592[/tweet]
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 11:08 #750012
    Reply to Michael
    Yep, I think you are correct, BUT, only the tories themselves could call for a general election, and they may actually do that, if they think that they have no alternative but to spend time in opposition, so as to rebuild their nuked party. If they continue as they are, no matter who steers their crippled ship, they might totally sink without trace before the two years they have left, passes.
    Michael October 20, 2022 at 11:10 #750013
    Reply to universeness They wouldn't even be the opposition at this point. :sweat: And I don't think 300+ Tories would be okay with losing their seats as they'd no longer be able to abuse the system to their own benefit.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 11:14 #750014
    Reply to Michael
    True, they could become the third party or even 4th behind the SNP. But they would at least survive. The liberals were almost wiped out after their very bad coalition with the tories and they have made a respectable comeback since. But you may well be correct that the tories will be too scared to drop down the league so far, even temporarily and will prefer to try to rebuild their status over the next two years and hope they don't shatter into a hundred factions in that time.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 11:17 #750015
    Reply to Michael
    The other point to consider is that the country is in such a mess that giving labour the reigns and watching them probably fail to make any significant positive improvements in the next 4 years, might be the best way to dupe the populous into liking the tories again.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 12:31 #750021
    Annnnd she's gone.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 12:57 #750026
    Reply to Baden
    Your 30 mins prediction was quite close to the 'time left for the latest tory donkey.' I can already hear the HEEEE HAWWWWS of her potential replacements.
    What a farce!
    Manuel October 20, 2022 at 12:57 #750027
    Poof. All gone.

    Next.
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 13:05 #750030
    Reply to universeness

    There's a naughty chubby lad with messy hair and even messier morals waiting in the wings and ready for a return to action! Hi, ho, silver!
    Mikie October 20, 2022 at 13:24 #750035
    Let it be a lesson to purveyors of voodoo economics.
    Christoffer October 20, 2022 at 13:26 #750037
    Quoting Baden
    There's a naughty chubby lad with messy hair and even messier morals waiting in the wings and ready for a return to action! Hi, ho, silver!


    So the only people they have available as replacements is the last dude who failed. What does this say about Tories?

    And why doesn't the more rational and balanced Tories just leave and start their own new party and leave the incompetent and stupid parts to drive Tories into the ground? I think they would have tremendous success if they did that at this time.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 14:14 #750065
    Reply to Baden
    Send back the clown, there has to be clowns, send in the clowns, BUT, they're already there!
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 14:21 #750067
    Quoting Christoffer
    Tories just leave and start their own new party and leave the incompetent and stupid parts to drive Tories into the ground? I think they would have tremendous success if they did that at this time.


    You are kinda describing Tony Blairs New Labour Party or perhaps even Keir Starmer's current labour party, who are indeed having tremendous success in the (non-Scottish) polls. That's why the tories keep stealing a lot of their policies, because they are soft tory policies.
    Current labour and the liberal party should just merge as there is very little between them. :angry:
    Christoffer October 20, 2022 at 14:45 #750073
    Quoting universeness
    You are kinda describing Tony Blairs New Labour Party or perhaps even Keir Starmer's current labour party, who are indeed having tremendous success in the (non-Scottish) polls. That's why the tories keep stealing a lot of their policies, because they are soft tory policies.
    Current labour and the liberal party should just merge as there is very little between them. :angry:


    I'm not that well read-up on British politics so I didn't know that they did that.

    In all essence I think a lot of western nations of the world needs new political movements that aren't fascist conservative super-capitalist racists. I'm kind of stunned that there aren't enough people who want a more non-extreme leftish movement, but maybe such voters are so content in their middle class life that they're too fat and obsessed with TikTok and social media to ever care about politics until it's too late. Just look at all the Millennials and Gen Zs in Russia who were just ignoring everything up until now and then being all surprised about everything.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 14:54 #750075
    Quoting Christoffer
    I'm not that well read-up on British politics so I didn't know that they did that.


    When Maggie Thatcher was asked what she considered her greatest achievement her answer (true and a very bitter pill for all true socialists, like myself,) was TONY BLAIR!

    In the UK, the left or right are just rejected by the majority in England. The center ground is therefore where the main dance then happens between capitalism and socialism.
    We need to get rid of party politics. No political parties allowed. Each constituency should vote for their own local representative based on agreement with their viewpoints. People should be voting for people not political parties.
    Christoffer October 20, 2022 at 14:58 #750077
    Quoting universeness
    People should be voting for people not political parties.


    Could devolve into becoming just like presidential elections and wrestling fights between individuals and media covering who wore the best clothes and so on.

    Such a system needs moderator personel who will steer the ship away from such downfalls and focus on the actual politics and strategies being pit against each other.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 15:06 #750081
    Quoting Christoffer
    Could devolve into becoming just like presidential elections and wrestling fights between individuals and media covering who wore the best clothes and so on.


    No there should be no president or presidential elections as there would be no political parties.
    The representatives elected by the constituencies would elect and remove their own 'hierarchy' as they saw fit within the 4 years they would have.
    There would be a citizen's chamber, who would act as the second house and they would be made up of the main stakeholders such as science, business, youth, the aged, police, military, medical etc. They would 'moderate and scrutinise' the main chamber.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 15:26 #750088
    Quoting Christoffer
    wrestling fights between individuals and media covering who wore the best clothes and so on.


    This could still happen at a constituency level but no more than it does now. It would be the responsibility of an educated electorate to see past such bullshit between constituency candidates.
    People have to grow above the excitement and entertainment of the freak show.
    Christoffer October 20, 2022 at 15:43 #750093
    Quoting universeness
    People have to grow above the excitement and entertainment of the freak show.


    They never do. Voters are rarely intellectually involved and politicians desperately seek voters attention, everything in current democracy is always boiling down to demagogues and populism.

    Democracy needs to evolve to a higher form, what that is, is up to political philosophers to figure out.
    universeness October 20, 2022 at 15:52 #750099
    Quoting Christoffer
    They never do.


    I remain convinced we can see beyond the 'circus.'
    Most people I talk to about the attraction of 'reality TV' and the various opiates of the masses, do understand the human attraction to the freak show and the oooh ahhhhh scandal media news stories.
    It's a double-edged sword, as its good when all that is said is true and it brings down the nefarious, but it is not so good when it is not true, and it is simply used as a tool to fool many people most of the time.
    Most people know this, and they can be convinced to be more sceptical and drill down a little further and check all sources of the info they are being fed.
    Removing party politics and presidential elections would greatly help imo.
    ssu October 20, 2022 at 16:47 #750126
    Liz Truss started with one sovereign ruling and quitted with another sovereign holding the crown.

    That usually would mean that Truss would have been a prime minister for a long time. :smirk:

    Yet this thread won't be long now. Perhaps we go to the Boris Johnson thread again? :snicker:
    Baden October 20, 2022 at 17:27 #750140
    Quoting ssu
    Perhaps we go to the Boris Johnson thread again?


    There is s possible world where Boris gets in, fucks up again, and they bring back Liz Truss. :lol:
    Punshhh October 20, 2022 at 20:53 #750216
    Reply to Tim3003 looks as though the Tory’s are descending into chaos. They are confident that they will coalesce behind a new PM within a week. While their party is splitting into at least 5 factions. Time to get the popcorn out.
    Mr Bee October 20, 2022 at 21:01 #750219
    Reply to Mikie

    They'll try again the next time they get the chance. The only reason why they couldn't this time was because of that meddling UK economy.

    Before then though, I expect the GOP in the US to ride into power through inflation-concerned voters and try to pull off the exact same thing, perhaps more successfully.
    Punshhh October 20, 2022 at 21:08 #750220
    Reply to universeness The most important development will be the end of the tradition of people from the privileged upper middle classes being groomed for a life in politics. Eton and Oxford are responsible for perpetuating this.
    It looks as though this might now be happening.
    Banno October 20, 2022 at 22:06 #750237
    Bring Back Boris Campaign slogan:

    Better than a limp lettuce!
    BC October 20, 2022 at 23:04 #750253
    Quoting Mr Bee
    Before then though, I expect the GOP in the US to ride into power through inflation-concerned voters and try to pull off the exact same thing, perhaps more successfully.


    Shhhh, don't say such things--it might encourage them.

    The DEM vs GOP polls are already sending me into the slough of despond.
    Mr Bee October 21, 2022 at 03:08 #750293
    Reply to Bitter Crank The GOP are gonna do it anyways the next time they get power and it may likely be the only thing they do like during the Trump years. It's sort of their answer to everything (that and cutting social programs but that's more of a means to fund their tax breaks).

    On the bright side at least in the UK it doesn't look like the conservatives have much of a chance the next time a general election happens. Though who knows since voters have very short attention spans and 2025 is some ways away.
    BC October 21, 2022 at 04:26 #750299
    Reply to Mr Bee Voters' attention spans are the same as everybody else's.

    Unless an election is called soon, which seems unlikely if the Tories are in power -- they admit they'd be wiped out -- the next one is 3 years away. In just a few weeks, our election will be over; people appropriately voted based on conditions in 2022, not 2019.

    Rapidly rising inflation is frightening to everyone whose income is marginal. They are not in danger of losing access to luxury goods, they are in danger of losing access to necessities -- milk, gasoline ($6+ a gallon in California), diapers, heating, decent food (fruits, vegetables, etc.) and so on.

    Voting for conservative will not change the economy for the marginal income groups (which are composed of quite a few million people). Voting for the Democrats will not change the economy for the marginal income groups either. Our political system (like some others) repeatedly offers empty choices to the electorate.

    Whoever is elected will be reliably committed to the articles of faith of the dominant capitalist paradigm. The economy is not democratic -- it's plutocratic. The millions of extremely rich, very rich, and merely rich income groups will be well taken care of. Fuck the food stamp crowd; fuck the must-drive-old-car-crowd; fuck the must-work-3-jobs crowd; fuck the priced-out-of-housing crowd; fuck 'em all!
    Mr Bee October 21, 2022 at 04:59 #750300
    Quoting Bitter Crank
    Voting for conservative will not change the economy for the marginal income groups (which are composed of quite a few million people). Voting for the Democrats will not change the economy for the marginal income groups either. Our political system (like some others) repeatedly offers empty choices to the electorate.


    Pretty much. Voting is mostly just a way for people to vent their current frustration at the status quo and they're dissatisfied with that the majority of the time. Rarely is it about long term policy or ideology which is unfortunate since the current GOP's ideology is atrocious.

    I don't think that the Dems will hold on to power for this years midterms, but I'm honestly mostly content that the Dems were able to get something done this time around on climate, drug prices, and healthcare, even if it's not much. The IRA is a popular bill (as is the larger BBB which didn't pass) regardless of people's opinions about the Democratic party, but people will forget it by next month and vote for the Republicans and their tax cuts anyways, which people will forget about too.

    Quoting Bitter Crank
    The millions of extremely rich, very rich, and merely rich income groups will be well taken care of.


    Don't forget the military.
    Agent Smith October 21, 2022 at 07:24 #750306
    It's amazing that the government doesn't affect the people, at least not as much as it should given our concern, oui mes amies?
    universeness October 21, 2022 at 08:50 #750326
    Quoting Punshhh
    The most important development will be the end of the tradition of people from the privileged upper middle classes being groomed for a life in politics. Eton and Oxford are responsible for perpetuating this.
    It looks as though this might now be happening.


    The people you mention are indeed indoctrinated to believe they are the chosen ones who were born to lord it over the masses. They can't do it without many members of the masses supporting them. They are expert manipulators of the politically ignorant mind. That's why many poor people vote tory and that's why they will fight tooth and nail against the idea that politics should be taught in state schools, from an early age. Capitalism is about nurturing personal profit and growing personal wealth, it is not about nurturing people, and it never ever will be
    universeness October 21, 2022 at 09:02 #750328
    Quoting Bitter Crank
    Whoever is elected will be reliably committed to the articles of faith of the dominant capitalist paradigm. The economy is not democratic -- it's plutocratic. The millions of extremely rich, very rich, and merely rich income groups will be well taken care of. Fuck the food stamp crowd; fuck the must-drive-old-car-crowd; fuck the must-work-3-jobs crowd; fuck the priced-out-of-housing crowd; fuck 'em all!


    :clap: That just about covers it! I wonder when the masses will fully realise, they have the power to change this almost ridiculous reality you accurately describe. Will they just continue to watch 'the Elon Musk show' or shows about how the rich wives of millionaires interact with each other socially and spend the money their husbands leached off the backs and sweat of their workers?
    Will they continue to watch such insults and think 'hey, that's who I want to be, that's the life for me!, those are my role models, my ideal humans.' REALLY!!!! :rage:

    Btw, a small aside, It annoys me that you gift the nefarious with the handle 'bitter crank,' to throw back at you, when you type such social/political truths.
    unenlightened October 21, 2022 at 09:52 #750352
    The lesson I would like everyone to draw from all this is that a dishonest, amoral government must always fail in the long run because a society is first and foremost a moral order. The Party falls apart, because everyone is out for himself and there is no loyalty to person or principle.

    To put this in terms a capitalist might understand, a market that deals in pigs in pokes, snake oil and Ponzi schemes is not worth trading in at all. It's not worth being an expert in, or a market leader of, and it's nothing to write home about. It has no value. None at all.

    There is no government in the UK because no one can believe anything the government says. This means that no one will seriously try to do what the government says, and this means that they cannot govern anything or anyone.

    In such a situation, people are reduced to their own sense of decency and must care for each other as best they can. The government has the status of bad weather, and must be endured and adapted to.
    ssu October 21, 2022 at 10:09 #750356
    Reply to Baden So what's then with your Prime Ministers all coming from Oxford University? Keir Starmer is btw also from there. (And Gordon Brown is the only exception!)

    Don't the British have any other universities? What's wrong with Cambridge University?

    User image
    Baden October 21, 2022 at 10:52 #750360
    Reply to ssu

    Ain't my Prime Ministers, bruv. I'm Irish.
    Michael October 21, 2022 at 10:58 #750362
    Quoting Baden
    I'm Irish.


    I remember meeting an Irish woman and asking her if she was from real Ireland or Northern Ireland. Thankfully she was from real Ireland. Probably would have been offended if she was from Northern Ireland.
    Tim3003 October 21, 2022 at 11:16 #750365
    Quoting Punshhh
    The most important development will be the end of the tradition of people from the privileged upper middle classes being groomed for a life in politics. Eton and Oxford are responsible for perpetuating this.
    It looks as though this might now be happening.


    Er.. isn't that the awful spectre of Borisenstein looming over the horizon?! Are the Tories really so desperate they'll bring back the man they threw out as unfit to govern only 4 months ago? I think, possibly yes. I can't see anyone else uniting the party. Even he can't do it via policy, but by convincing MPs they can yet avoid wipeout at the next election under his charismatic wooing of voters he has a shot. I think the public majority will not forgive his past misdemeanors though. And by the way: isn't there an appalling echo of Trump's situation in all this?!



    ssu October 21, 2022 at 11:27 #750370
    Reply to Baden I would assume some resentment on such elitism in the UK for the cradle of prime ministers to be so tiny. Oxford has about 3300 undergraduate places and 5500 graduate places every year (and about 25 000 students in all). And likely the politicians come from even a smaller group of students. That's out of a population of over 68 million.
    Christoffer October 21, 2022 at 12:04 #750374
    Baden October 21, 2022 at 13:09 #750378
    Reply to ssu

    It wouldn't wash in Ireland. But things are different over there, apparently.

    Reply to Michael
    Yeah, I don't recommend increasing your sample size on that experiment. :wink:
    Michael October 21, 2022 at 13:20 #750381
    Boris Johnson ‘likely to face suspension’ from Commons over partygate lies

    As of last night, he was neck and neck with Rishi Sunak when it came to nominations, with a number of Tory MPs including Paul Bristow and Nadine Dorries calling for his return.

    Johnson is also said to have offered an olive branch to Sunak in order to ‘join forces’.

    Except he could be forced to face a by-election if he is found to have lied to Parliament and is handed a suspension for 10 or more sitting days by the privileges committee.

    A committee insider told the Sun that Downing Street has handed documents, pictures and messages to the privileges committee for the investigation and that the evidence was so damning it was likely to lead to a Commons suspension.


    God, imagine the Tories actually replace Truss with Boris, and then he's suspended for lying to Parliament and forced to face a by-election, probably prompting an immediate resignation. What a farce.
    ssu October 21, 2022 at 13:27 #750383
    Quoting Michael
    God, imagine the Tories actually replace Truss with Boris, and then he's suspended for lying to Parliament and forced to face a by-election, probably prompting an immediate resignation. What a farce.


    And here's the Boris Johnson thread waiting to be continued... :snicker:

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    180 Proof October 21, 2022 at 19:01 #750434
    How mad is it?! How desensitized we are to this chaos. Amazing! How used we are to the cogs of government not moving at all. How accustomed we are to the self-serving lack of talent that constitutes the British Conservative Party! (or U$ GOP)

    BC October 21, 2022 at 19:04 #750435
    Reply to ssu Isn't there a rule somewhere that says "when you're done, you're done"? Boris is way done. We are sick and tired of Bojo. We're even more sick and tired of Donald. "Sick and tired of..." is sufficient reason for these public trough hogs to retire to a any pigsty they can find. Go away, stinking ghosts of elections past!

    Now for balance, we don't want Bernie or Barach back, either. Or any number of fine folks who did their bit and are now done.
    BC October 21, 2022 at 19:12 #750439
    Reply to 180 Proof Well done, Johnathan Pie.
    _db October 21, 2022 at 20:06 #750447
    Reply to Christoffer Beat me to it!
    Baden October 21, 2022 at 22:06 #750462
    User image
    BC October 21, 2022 at 22:34 #750469
    User image
    SO, OVER THERE LEADERS WILL RESIGN JUST FOR DOING A BAD JOB? SOUNDS NICE.
    Punshhh October 22, 2022 at 07:10 #750510
    Reply to ssu Cambridge University is woke by comparison with Oxford.
    It’s simply the Chanels established by the political elites. Through which the chosen ones pass on their path to power.
    Punshhh October 22, 2022 at 07:19 #750512
    Reply to Bitter Crank Could Boris be the British Berlusconi? In the country of Britaly.
    Punshhh October 22, 2022 at 07:20 #750513
    Reply to Tim3003 I’m working on the assumption that the Tory party are finished as a political force.
    frank October 22, 2022 at 08:48 #750523
    Reply to Bitter Crank
    I was thinking the same thing. Common decency? Very un-American.
    ssu October 22, 2022 at 09:37 #750531
    Quoting Punshhh
    Cambridge University is woke by comparison with Oxford.
    It’s simply the Chanels established by the political elites. Through which the chosen ones pass on their path to power.

    Wokeness is pretty new. But there are similar small paths for example in France also. Yet I think for a democracy to work you do need people with different education and career paths. It's just funny to me, but I notice this education especially in the traditional Oxford education in their speeches and oratory: a British prime minister never speaks like a businessman, an engineer or someone from the military. (As they obviously aren't businessmen, engineers of from the military, but well trained in the art of giving speeches.)

    But of course as the negative impact of Brexit will be felt as the global economy goes into recession and one cannot blame it on Covid, it's utterly stupid for the Conservative party to "rearrange the deck chairs of the Titanic" and select new prime ministers. The negative effects of Brexit will go for long.

    Either Boris should have sat it out and be as popular as Yeltsin was in Russia in the 1990's or then have a new election. Elections have to be had only in 2025, so likely three years feels so long that Conservative party can have a pipe dream that the economy has "a brief rough patch" and walz through it. Otherwise it could be better to be in the opposition and have the Labor now to be in charge when the train wreck happens.

    Quoting Punshhh
    Could Boris be the British Berlusconi? In the country of Britaly.

    Second longest Italian leader since Mussolini. And a friend of Putin.
    Baden October 22, 2022 at 09:43 #750532
    Reply to frank
    She resigned because, facing electoral annihilation, her party would have given her the boot otherwise. It's not all that difficult to get rid of a PM compared to a U.S. President. If you're in search of common decency, you are probably looking in the wrong place.
    frank October 22, 2022 at 10:09 #750534
    Quoting Baden
    She resigned because, facing electoral annihilation, her party would have given her the boot otherwise. It's not all that difficult to get rid of a PM compared to a U.S. President. If you're in search of common decency, you are probably looking in the wrong place.


    Oh, it's more complicated than I thought.
    Tim3003 October 22, 2022 at 10:22 #750537
    Quoting ssu
    Elections have to be had only in 2025, so likely three years feels so long that Conservative party can have a pipe dream that the economy has "a brief rough patch" and walz through it. Otherwise it could be better to be in the opposition and have the Labor now to be in charge when the train wreck happens.


    It's January 2025, and given that that would mean a campaign over Xmas it's unlikely. The December 2019 election was shoe-horned in because of the Brexit end-of-year deadline. Normally Autumn would be chosen, so 2 years' time is realistically the latest date. That almost certainly isn't enough time for the Tories to get through the rough patch given the mess public services are in. Besides, the electorate's instinct is usually to 'give the others a chance' after a long period of one party's rule, and they aren't going to forget the calamity of this summer's Tory infighting.
    ssu October 22, 2022 at 10:49 #750541
    Reply to Tim3003 I think that the malaise Brexit has done to the British economy won't be over in 2024-2025. Sticking along this sad time will have a deep impact on the popularity of Conservative Party. One has to remember that Thatcher (and later John Major) stayed in power because Britons remembered how bad it was in the 1970's with Labour governments. Only in 1997 enough time had passed, and then it was time for a "Third Way".

    Winter of Discontent 1979, the waste collectors strike:
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    Baden October 23, 2022 at 20:30 #750890
    Johnson's out. It's Sunak's to lose now.
    Punshhh October 24, 2022 at 07:24 #751060
    Reply to universeness

    The people you mention are indeed indoctrinated to believe they are the chosen ones who were born to lord it over the masses. They can't do it without many members of the masses supporting them. They are expert manipulators of the politically ignorant mind


    Yes, my point is that this model is now broken. The Tory’s have succeeded in gaslighting the population since the establishment of the 1922 committee. It’s poignant that this will come to an end exactly 100yrs later.
    Punshhh October 24, 2022 at 07:29 #751061
    Reply to Tim3003 “The steal”. Will Boris’s support swing behind Mordaunt now.
    Punshhh October 24, 2022 at 07:37 #751064
    Reply to ssu The Tory political tradition via Eton and Oxford is a hangover from the British imperialism of the 19th century. Hopefully it is now broken.

    The economic crisis in the U.K. is really dire. I heard an influential Tory backer interviewed on Radio 4 this morning. Saying that Brexit is a mistake, that the U.K. will become the sick man of Europe again and will probably be bailed out by the IMF.
    Tim3003 October 24, 2022 at 11:21 #751098
    I expect Mordaunt to bow out - either short of 100 votes, or beaten say 2:1 by Sunak. She surely can't win and forcing a party members' vote would seem churlish and divisive. MPs will be relieved they've finally got the result they really wanted back in July. Sunak is their only possible election winner. Shame the members are too blinkered to realise that..
    Cuthbert October 24, 2022 at 18:24 #751175
    [quote=Michael]Liz Truss[/quote]

    Who?
    ssu October 25, 2022 at 04:52 #751370
    Quoting Punshhh
    The Tory political tradition via Eton and Oxford is a hangover from the British imperialism of the 19th century. Hopefully it is now broken.

    With Rishi it isn't, at least when it comes to Oxford. But the private preparatory school, Stroud, likely is nearly as exclusive as Eton.

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    Plus when you have appease the markets, what better to have than an analyst from Goldman Sachs as the new Prime Minister? :grin:

    At least Sunak did understand that the economic policies of Truss were risky in this situation.
    Cuthbert October 25, 2022 at 09:13 #751391
    Rishi is one of us. But which us is he one of?
    Tim3003 October 25, 2022 at 11:23 #751403
    Quoting ssu
    At least Sunak did understand that the economic policies of Truss were risky in this situation.


    I think everyone realised that. Sunak was perhaps the only Tory with the guts to say so. 'Hubris' is the word I thought fitted Truss and her undergrad economics. 'Inept' is the one for her political acumen.
    jorndoe October 30, 2022 at 17:50 #752642