Let me start right away by saying I hold no candle for Donald Trump nor Kamala Harris. If I had been in the unfortunate position of having to vote in the US Presidential Election earlier this week, I would have voted for Jill Stein.
I only make this point because I have several halfwits on social media that attacked me as pro Trump when I chastised the First Minister for endorsing Kamala Harris. My contention being that John Swinney in his position as Scotland’s First Minister should have remained silent.He should never under any circumstance endorse any politician, in any foreign election. By taking a side he has now made an enemy out of the most powerful man and nation in the western world.
We in the independence movement all got really upset when Bomber Obama interfered in our Independence Referendum in 2014. Do we suppose Republicans in the USA welcomed the stupidity of John Swinney last week?
I should also point out that the biggest halfwit in my timeline on X also reckons I am pro Putin because on February 22 the day the Russian tanks rolled into Ukraine I appealed for an immediate ceasefire and a negotiated settlement. I continue to do that very same thing now. However, “daftie” sees that as supporting Russia and Putin, and here was me thinking it was about saving Ukrainian and Russian lives!How he manages to believe that I can be both pro Putin and pro Trump only his wee tiny mind knows.
I am openly pro Palestine that however does not seem to bother or get his attention.He is only triggered when it comes to Trump and Putin neither of them have I ever promoted. This is because he is full of Russophobia and for whatever reason hates Trump. I support his right to do both, unfortunately he believes everyone must think as he does or they are something else entirely, eg my opposition to war make me pro Putin in his mind because I won’t back the US proxy war and NATO involvement and indeed I condemn it at every opportunity, and I will continue to do so until the guns stop! That is my democratic right! I just wish others would respect that.
Above all else in my political and world views is my total commitment to democracy and peace. I loathe with my entire being Unionism and Unionists, especially Scots born English Nationalists. However, I defend their right to hold the views they do. Likewise the politics of Farage or Marine lePen, Macron, Scholz, Trump, I oppose them all, indeed all the Neoliberal WEF devotees in the western world, I oppose them all. I truly believe neoliberalism and unfettered capitalism is inherently evil and damaging to mankind. Both encourage greed and intolerance as my halfwit displays frequently.
But it is not just my halfwit that loses his shit when people do not agree with his choices. Our neoliberal elite is beside themselves this week with the election of Donald Trump.Apoplexy doesn’t come close to describing some of the outbursts.
Who does Ed Davey think he is to suggest that not only is 73,407,735 Americans wrong but that all around the globe it is a dark day. He thinks so, but we are all to believe the same as he does or what?
His sidekick in Scotland, Alex Cole-Hamilton who actually illegally campaigned for Harris in the US was equally scathing in a pathetic video of ‘we did it for you Beth’ proportions. Setting aside that NO Scottish/British politician should ever be campaigning in a foreign land in a foreign election.Cole-Hamiltons whining was embarrassing. Sadly, he is to pompous to see just how pathetic was his outburst. Hence why the Liberal Party has been a fringe minority for over 100 years.
This nonentity, that truly believes he is a somebody whines on about how wrong it was for the US to vote as they did and that women and minorities throughout the world will be “incredibly fearful” he goes on to say ‘We stand with them’ who is we and who is he to think he can speak for the world?
Another of the many political pygmies to big themselves up was none other than the balding ginger that is Patrick Harvie a list MSP in a devolved parliament that thinks his opinion on the election of the western world’s most powerful leader is anything to do with him!
Wee Paddy who can’t tell the difference between a male and a female suddenly thinks he is a global political guru! He tells the 73,407,735 Americans and everyone else on the planet they have elected a ‘profound threat.’ to their well being.Not content with making a complete tit of himself with that comment he goes on to tell us that Scotland cannot have a normal relationship with this President. His reasoning is that he believes Donald Trump has shown contempt for democracy! Oh, the irony and wee Paddy is so full of his own importance he cannot even see that he is showing contempt to democracy and 73,407,735 voters who DEMOCRATICALLY elected this POTUS.
Then we had the neoliberal media led by the Guardian absolutely beside themselves that the western WEF, Woke, warmongers had lost the election to the dreaded Donald.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/07/us-elections-donald-trump-win-worse-americans-knew
They opened with a quote from an ex-Obama staffer “It’s bitter in the mouth, the racial and gender dimension of this.” They went on to say the reason Harris lost was because,”But it also denied a basic reality: that American men couldn’t bring themselves to vote for a woman.” This was a theme throughout the US and UK broadcasters and MSM. They couldn’t possibly face up to the fact that perhaps the ordinary Americans were sick of seeing the cost of living rocketing as their wages stagnated. Tĥat they are annoyed that their tax dollars is funding wars in Ukraine and Israel as well as paying for free health care in those countries while 600,000 Americans every year go bankrupt because of healthcare bills. That they are tired and fed up with failing infrastructure and illegal immigration never got a mention. Also that the majority of Americans are heartily sick of all the woke nonsense and all that entails, especially when that is prioritised over the everyday lifes of ordinary US folk. Nope it couldn’t possibly be that now could it?
Polly Tonybees is another piece that should not be missed. She is despairing so expects that everyone else should be despairing. The arrogance of the neoolibs is truly breathtaking
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/07/trump-victory-despair-politics-fight
What this has shown in all its glory is that the neoliberal ruling elites in the western world hate, loathe and despise democracy and the ordinary citizens they rule over. Anything that interferes or slows down their avarice and warmongering is viewed as evil.
Now I don’t know if Donald Trump will do all the things he said he will do, like ending the wars in Ukraine and Palestine, halt the woke nonsense and stop men in women’s safe spaces and sports.
Alternatively I don’t know if the Ed Daveys, Polly Tonybees of this world are right that he will be a danger to the world. What I care about is the 73,407,735 that voted for Trump. If you truly believe in democracy and the will of the people you have to accept the votes of the American people. You can be like me and disagree with the choice but you cannot dictate what others must think or how your nation must act because of your personal feelings.
The good part of democracy is that the majority are right even if we disagree with them. It is only ever neoliberals and Unionists I have heard that want to stop votes they don’t like. It is why there will never be another independence referendum Unionists are only ever democrats when the vote favours their viewpoint. They have no regard for any different views other than their own.
Remember that the next time one tells you “you lost in 2014” that is them actually saying you should never get another vote because we know they won’t like the outcome.
The greens/SNP had a majority for ten years and for ten years we went out and voted for Indyref2 that was democracy so when is the SNP/Greens going to delivery what we vote for in their manifesto’s.
Here is where the problem is in our democracy 1 person voice seems more important than a populations voice. Lets get our our country’s politics sorted out first before we start criticizing other country’s, Mr Harvie.
While it appals me that neither Politicians nor the media seem to have accepted the part they have played in the lurch, now tsunami to the far right. It doesn’t surprise me. They have been programmed so the concept of accountability is alien.
As Nancy MacLean in her book, “Democracy in Chains” showed this has been a long time in the planning not only in America. She foretold Project 2025. It also means we had a long time to prepare, to counter, to win and we didn’t try.
While the media try to fathom why women voted to be bit parts in “The Handmaids Tale”, why people of colour from immigrants voted for someone who openly says he’ll deport them. Why those in need of medical care voted to have the misnamed Affordable Care Act and Medicare binned and the right for big Pharma to gouge prices for profits and shareholder dividends, the best they’ve come up with is that Trump is liked.
Delve beyond the bubble in which they live and they will find it has nothing to do with that. It was his simple message that Washington is broken. Much like we can say Westminster or Holyrood is broken.
For most people in America the government doesn’t work. For decades, the thought of the Politicians working together to improve the lives of their citizens has been an anathema. The games played out on the floor of the houses only perpetuated that feeling. No one cared when blue collar jobs went, no one cared when there was no housing, no infrastructure being built or maintained. No one cared when Social Security or Healthcare failed.
Upward social mobility stalled as you needed an overpriced degree which became a millstone around your neck.
No one cared when the minimum wage remained for almost two decades around $15.
In the background we had the positions on the courts filled by people of the view they are right and very willing, for a donation to their re-election, to make the judgements in favour of the wealthy and corporations.
We had the media, owned by billionaires telling everyone that the problem wasn’t them but those pesky folk who want the state to help them. You’ve no house because the illegal immigrant is staying there. You’ve no job because the illegal immigrant is taking your place.
The millions on the border waiting to come rape and murder you is because you as they seek what you have. Never any mention of the ways in which America has destabilised, overthrown democracies in Southern America as they weren’t the right democracies. That their drug habits have made large part of that continent ungovernable as the cartels run it and don’t dare cross them.
The media have never looked at the countries who were the original targets of neoliberalism for American aid, Argentina, Chile, Peru and the way they have been corrupted and the despair of the people of those countries. If they did they would see we are approaching the same level as those unstable countries.
In 2016 Trump slogan was “Drain the Swamp” which he accomplished by giving billions in tax relief to billionaires and freezes or cuts to Government Agencies like Environment.
The EU has serious divisions as the Political Elite seek to have a United States of Europe based on neoliberalism and the poor in the countries have had enough of being the only ones hurt repeatedly by those economic policies.
In the UK, we have one Elite party which allows one cheek of its bloody large arse to change around to give the impression there is a democracy. There can be no change as there are still resources to plunder. The Civil Service serves not to provide good Public Services but to slowly throttle them so that the profiteers can come in proclaiming Privatisation will transform the situation. It’s worked so well for Rail, Utilities, Education but mostly Water (in England). Sometimes it works too well like the Ferry fiascos which showed far too clearly gross ineptitude at best or more likely deliberate sabotage.
The role of the media in promoting Brexit and the idea that all the jobs and housing are for immigrants were driven solely by neoliberal policies funded by Billionaires.
Scottish Politics is broken. We have no leaders who will challenge the media narrative. Is this due to interference by MI5 or other UK intelligence agencies. None who will demand that America takes her nuclear warheads from the Clyde as I don’t want to be part of their world.
If I was of conscription age, I’d be telling them they could protect their offshore accounts themselves. They failed us.
1980-2020: GDP rise 87%. Wages 64%. Privatised Housing 1140% (National Audit Commission figures.
1980 Thatcher cut tax rates, basic 30 to 20%, Highest 83 to 60% paid for by a 10% increase in VAT. Later reducing the 60% to 45% paid for by yet again increasing VAT. VAT hit the lowest earners the most.
Reeves failure to increase the top tax rates or Corporation tax yet hit the poorest is the norm not the exception. 1% Wealth tax on over £50 million would raise £8 billion.
We already have Reform shouting about the broken system. It resonates as the system if you are poor is broken, you’ve no hope for a home or a medical appointment. Like Trump they will fix for themselves only.
Fabulous comment George, you should consider making it an article for a wider audience,it surely deserves that.
How would I do that? What would it need to make it printable? I’ve tried having letters to The National about how despite Energy being reserved, Shona could impose a tax on exiting electricity. It would have no impact on English bills as the cost of production is far less than the gas it is tied to. Lower dividends for shareholders but I can live with that.
Anything you want published I will put out in your name on this site
I will spend some time expanding it before I forward it to you as there are other points which are involved. Thank you.
You can divide and sub-divide US voters into ethnic sections groups and grouplets ad infinitum, but if you don’t factor in the one thing that they all want and have in common i.e. the good health of the their personal finances, at any given electoral moment, your projections and predictions are never going to work-out for you. The Washington based Brit commentariat were, as in 2016, guilty of listening only to the views and opinions of their liberal US influencers, to the extent that many in the UK, over the duration of the campaign, were lead to believe that Harris was a shoo-in; which, of course, was never the case. No P45s are likely to be issued, unfortunately.
My immediate reaction when I saw that Cole Hamilton was going to help Kamala Harris was, ‘God help Kamala’.
He is at least consisten whichever side he is on always loses. He and Murdo Fraser should be besties.
So something like 140 million electors voted in the US. Question is how many actually believed they were voting for democracy.
Then of course there are the 100 million who didn’t vote. How many of them believe there was no democracy in voting.
I think the answer to those two questions is a lot.
And so it his over here. Do we really think our system delivers democracy.
Aside of the glaring iniquity that nearly twice as many folk in last general election voted for another party than the ” landslide ” Labour party or that on assuming office the very same Labour party proceeded to implement policies breaking express policy promises made only weeks earlier.
Is that an other example of democracy, say one thing, then immediately do an other. No different from voting SNP thinking they are for independence, the so called democratic process is a charade.
But so too is our rule of law. America has shown how thoroughly partisan it’s system is. Lawfare is the word. Biased police, prosecution and judges.
But is it any different here. Scots can now see that so very clearly. Salmond, Hirst Murray, and others. No different really from the old apartheid Police Service of South Africa or the Royal Ulster Constabulary do we think the Police Scotland and COPFS is any different.
Yes Roddy, you may say that millions try to participate in democracy by voting but does voting change anything.
Ken Livingston once said that if voting changed anything they wouldn’t allow it.
Never a truer sentiment expressed. But whose fault is that?