*extremely ‘I write editorial comment for the FT’ voice*. Completely agree with this and also feel like it’s in part a manifestation of how UK has turned inwards. Even much of the political class seems unaware of how important and significant all this is for UK prosperity and security.
Reposted from
Hannah Fearn
This is not an intellectual point, bur I wanted to state that I am frightened by the situation in the US and I am becoming even more anxious by the extent to which most people I know IRL (ie: not politics addicts) are entirely unmoved
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The Tories are sucking up to Trump/Musk, and Reform is Trump-lite. I don’t see how this damages Labour (not that that’s much consolation in the current unnerving climate of geopolitics)
I’m not sure why Labour would suffer more than any other party - unless other parties can convince the public that they can create prosperity despite Trump (or by seeking his approval, which sounds like a hard sell)
That seems the likeliest to create the extra instability or unpredictability you describe
(Though also I'm bearish on the chances for this Labour party to not be so hated that it causes a chaotic GE result even without geopolitical factors)
But with clear foreign villains (Putin, Trump) to blame there may also be a rally-round-the-flag effect. We're seeing that in Canada.
Trump meanwhile is making it more likely Russia will attack European NATO before the end of his term, which will be left without US support.
In 2025 the threat from Trump is clear but ambivalence brought on by shock must not turn into paralysis.
Political discourse these last 10 years is heavy with platitudes, 'this is bad' 'this isn't how it works', 'democracy is in danger' etc but very light on explaining how and why. The attention economy is largely to blame but I also think many pundits struggle to explain it themselves.
Even people who are v politically aware are hopeful and optimistic that it won't be as bad as I think it will. I'm sticking with pessimism. We've been here before and it's going to get a whole lot worse and horrific
Simplistic melodramatic readings are easy - baddies are Putin, Trump etc.
If the U.S. gave up its addiction to war, we might get less tangled by following orders like another state.
What that means for the rest of us, I'm not entirely sure.
The foot dragging by politicians though is inexcusable
Its not being ignored, I know more than a few directors/director generals who have spoken to their groups about the anxiety of world events about wellbeing.
But any work on the response to the US will be done VERY quietly, I wouldn't be surprised if we had
Even the EU is talking about allocating defence funding.
Knowing the way some of these teams think, some of this planning will have started in Trump 2016, and again since the election.
If ministers ask "can we afford to do X" on any of this stuff, the answer will be "yes, this is how", its up to ministers to decide if they think it worth the cost.
It's beyond parody, but is very real.
Unplugging helps.
Was inspired by the "Podsave America" folk to join a political party and run for a very local office (unsuccessfully). Small things...
If you vote for Jill Stein or for fringe leftwing parties in the UK, it's the same as giving ½ a vote to the GOP or the Conservatives. "Keep voting" isn't enough unless you vote to win.
My follow list hasn’t changed a whole lot per se, but everything just seems relentlessly so fucking bruising mentally and emotionally at the moment.
I find myself NOT posting much at all, because I don’t want to post negativity.
But it's OK, turns out Blair dug in his heels on this before we bought F35s. MoD says no USA in the UK F35 chain of command
Nostalgia for the days when USA was so touchy about ITAR instead of inviting hostile governments in for a look round
Tables have turned - we have Russia emboldened, being welcomed back by USA and Trump with troops and nukes here. Be afraid
I'd say it was a case of the boy who cried wolf, but no. Brexit, Trump1.0 were wolves. COVID was a whole damn pack.
This, though, might just be a grizzly bear.
(Nationality intentionally unspecified.)
But then, the PMs that fall over such matters may just be those in declining health or at the limits of their political powers anyway...
We interrupt this broadcast
Frankie Goes to Hollywood sirens, the whole shebang
Great news for political scientists, bad news for humans.
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