International Politics

[SticklinchJoe]

16 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

Biden was hardly Mr liberalism whatever that actually means, nor s Starmer.

But anyway throughout history left and centre have bickered to the advantage of the far right...and for now far right looks like the vibe where all the groovy kids are heading..unless the likes of Owen Jones can inspire them otherwise.

 

Very true indeed. The American Communists turned it into an art form.

[lost]

I've always thought these things go in cycles. We seem to drift too far left and then things pull back towards the right as they did with Thatcher after the 1970's.

 

Can't see us getting much further left with tax rates like these:

 

Quote

The average basic-rate graduate faces a marginal tax rate of 37pc once income tax (20pc), National Insurance (8pc) and 9pc loan repayments – a tax in all but name – is levied on an annual salary of just over £27,000. Post-graduates face an additional 6pc repayment over a £21,000 annual income threshold.

Those graduates who become higher rate payers face 51pc marginal tax rates for having a degree and 57pc rates with a post-graduate qualification.

A lone post-graduate parent with two children has an effective tax rate of 67pc when earning between £50,270 and £60,000. Earn between £100,000 and £125,000? You face a marginal tax rate of 71pc.

 

But this time we've got this weird thing where men and women are deviating so who knows what going to happen?

 

[steviewevie]

1 hour ago, lost said:

I've always thought these things go in cycles. We seem to drift too far left and then things pull back towards the right as they did with Thatcher after the 1970's.

 

 

 

This seems different though, that was social democracy to neo liberalism. That seems over, but not sure what is replacing it. Populism is the thing this decade, particularly a right wing populism. There is a loss of trust in the state, in institutions, in the media. Everyone is in their own media silo believing any old sh*t their told, everyone is angry, most of it aimed at migrants or cultural stuff and at liberal elites looking down at them. In terms of economics Trump is no neo liberalist, his protectionism is the stuff that Tony Benn used to bang on about. He is against global institutions like NATO, UN, EU...same as we have seen push back against things like ECHR here. Starmer is hoping that by delivering what the people want in terms of better public services that will put people off populism, but they've taken big risks with that budget that may not pay off in time.

The cycle seems to be going back to pre-1945 and the western liberal order...west is in relative decline and seeing rise of authoritarianism and nationalism, brics. Iraq and financial crash helped with that, and now we have hypocritical contradiction with opposing Russia but supporting Israel. So, we'll go back to good old days before 1945 when we had a much more multi-polar world, strong men and nations fighting over borders, and global wars.

[lost]

5 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

 That seems over, but not sure what is replacing it.

 

Probably Globalists vs Nationalists. As you said Nationalists borrowing from the old left and rejecting the idea that goods/services/people should cross borders seemlessly but also the idea of identity/culture from the right.

[steviewevie]

Blinken now says that there should be a pause in fighting in Gaza to allow aid in but they won't stop any supplies to Israel and there will be no repercussions or carrots or sticks just words and that will be his legacy.

Ultimately Biden administration have just tried to manage both middle east and Russia/Ukraine conflicts and have failed on both accounts and now Trump is going to come in and there will be a winner.

[steviewevie]

how kind

[Skip997]

At last the UN have said that the actions of Israel in Gaza are tantamount to genocide and noted that social media companies are more likely to remove pro Palestinian posts.

 

This was clear a year ago to anyone paying attention 

[steviewevie]

4 hours ago, Skip997 said:

At last the UN have said that the actions of Israel in Gaza are tantamount to genocide and noted that social media companies are more likely to remove pro Palestinian posts.

 

This was clear a year ago to anyone paying attention 

this genocide thing...it is for the ICJ to ultimately rule? and if they do rule that Israel is guilty of genocide, what then?

The UN bears a lot of responsibility with this, they created the state of Israel, and yet here we are 75 years later...

I guess at some point in future a verdict of genocide will be brought upon Israel but that will be too late, and Israel and probably US and maybe us too will just not recognise it.

[Skip997]

3 minutes ago, steviewevie said:

this genocide thing...it is for the ICJ to ultimately rule? and if they do rule that Israel is guilty of genocide, what then?

The UN bears a lot of responsibility with this, they created the state of Israel, and yet here we are 75 years later...

I guess at some point in future a verdict of genocide will be brought upon Israel but that will be too late, and Israel and probably US and maybe us too will just not recognise it.

It will make no difference. Israel will ignore it. The US and the UK will say nothing. Spain, Ireland and a few others will back the UN but are powerless. Gaza will become part of Israel, the settlers will move in. Coastal resorts will pop up and folks will flock there for cheap holidays 

[steviewevie]

4 minutes ago, Skip997 said:

It will make no difference. Israel will ignore it. The US and the UK will say nothing. Spain, Ireland and a few others will back the UN but are powerless. Gaza will become part of Israel, the settlers will move in. Coastal resorts will pop up and folks will flock there for cheap holidays 

Have to see what Trump manages to do. I think more likely Israel will annex West Bank and just leave Gaza ruined, but we'll see.

[steviewevie]

 

[Skip997]

On 11/17/2024 at 6:18 PM, steviewevie said:

 

Good for the arms trade, which is what it’s all about at the end of the day 

[steviewevie]

1 hour ago, Skip997 said:

Good for the arms trade, which is what it’s all about at the end of the day 

Nothing to do with Russia invading a sovereign european country?

[steviewevie]

Putin threatening nukes now...all helps with Trump getting a deal with Putin and saving the world.

[steviewevie]

 

[mattiloy]

2 hours ago, steviewevie said:

 

 

The ICC being called antisemitic now haha.

 

Hey, serbia is the only country for serbs, something something criticism of slobodan milosevic = antiserbian racism.

[Skip997]

Let’s hope someone has got the guts to act on it 

[steviewevie]

I mean...he won't get arrested...like Putin hasn't been arrested...but definitely will apply more pressure and make Israel even more of a pariah. Not sure what means to any peace deals. US isn't signed up to ICC, as well as Israel...or China, Russia, Iran etc etc. But we are.

[steviewevie]

Scholz not doing a Biden.

[charlierc]

NATO and Russia are apparently going to be holding a diplomatic summit on Tuesday. This week's clearly given them a lot to discuss.

[steviewevie]

 

[steviewevie]

Apparently we would arrest Netanyahu if he came here. So, all fixed now.

[Skip997]

On 11/22/2024 at 3:58 PM, steviewevie said:

Apparently we would arrest Netanyahu if he came here. So, all fixed now.

We, along with the US, France, Germany etc should be going into Israel and dragging him out 

[charlierc]

At the risk of stating the obvious, this doesn't feel like a healthy relationship

 

Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s deputy vows to have him assassinated if she is killed | Philippines | The Guardian

[charlierc]

Anyone else uneasy after this week? I don't think we're yet at the point where a nuclear NATO v Russia war is inevitable but it feels like we're getting too close for comfort. It's certainly the most uneasy since the Cuban Missile Crisis of the early 60s or at least perhaps the tension of the early 80s that nearly lead to a war over a computer malfunction.