henrytam.bsky.social - Profile | ThreadSky | a Reddit-style client for Bluesky

People need security, But not just security in terms of military defence. Security in having a job, a home, a safe neighbourhood, a reliable health service, are vital too. Politicians should rethink what is really required to give people the security they seek: citizen-network.org/library/reth...

submitted 15 hours ago • 0 comments

There was a time when unilateral disarmament advocates in the UK said we should forget about having our own nuclear deterrent, as the US would deter any Russian attack. Well, now the question is will Anglo-French capability be enough to keep the Trump-Putin alliance at bay ...

submitted 15 hours ago • 0 comments

Why do they always aim to make the superrich even richer, and drive the poor into deeper poverty & insecurity? Because money is power, And power inequalities give them hegemonic control: www.amazon.co.uk/Against-Powe...

submitted 16 hours ago • 0 comments

Is there a single adjective that covers 'ignorant', 'incompetent', 'callous', 'greedy', 'untrustworthy', 'dangerous', and 'sadistic'? That word is 'Trumpian'. Expect it to be duly included in the next edition of the Oxford Dictionary.

submitted 16 hours ago • 0 comments

How should we go about assessing any system of governance, identifying its main weaknesses, and developing critical improvements? A nine-point guide to consider: www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemoc...

submitted 17 hours ago • 0 comments

Europe was not that long ago threatened by the Nazis & then the Stalinist regime; Now another double authoritarian threats loom large. Europe may not be perfect, But this is where democratic resistance takes its stand.

submitted 17 hours ago • 0 comments

Democracy subverted is no longer democracy. & there's none more dedicated to concocting ways to subvert it than GOP politicians, with their latest 'SAVE' proposal to make it very difficult for millions of eligible voters to cast a vote: www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

A key task of education is to nurture our understanding of why we need to support each other, and develop ways for the sum of our efforts to be greater than the isolated individual parts: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/03/can-...

submitted 1 day ago • 1 comment

If the one in charge says "Don't help Ukraine", Of course the other will offer no help to Ukraine. Everything else is just a sideshow. But will the GOP let NATO become the 'No-America Treaty Organisation', in line with the Kremlin's wishes ...

submitted 1 day ago • 0 comments

Corporate lobbying of legislators blatantly undermines democracy; But there are definite steps that can be taken to stop this insidious practice: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/05/curb...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

Another runway for Heathrow, Another runway for Gatwick, Could it be that someone in No.10 misread what increased numbers of flights would do to the level of damaging emissions? #CrisisWhatCrisis #ClimateChange www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

The politics of cooperation is based on mutual support and a commitment to shared wellbeing. The politics of egoism cuts off help from others and seals oneself off in isolation.

submitted 3 days ago • 0 comments

In the face of anger, apathy, despair, in different quarters, one may well feel there's nothing constructive that can be done. But now is the time to learn from past community initiatives for sharing practices to build understanding & foster civic bonds: citizen-network.org/library/citi...

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

'Axis of Evil': Russia, North Korea, etc. 'Axis of the Banality of Evil': Russia, North Korea, & US, etc. Trump joins North Korea in backing Putin at UN: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article... #Ukraine

submitted 5 days ago • 0 comments

Why call them the 'Religious Right' when they are among the most irreligious, unchristian people around.

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

Should education address moral issues? To answer that question, we need to consider what public policies are required to sustain mutual respect and democratic cooperation: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/06/mora...

submitted 6 days ago • 1 comment

The Putin Strategy: Brexit to weaken the UK and the EU, Trump to disrupt the US and NATO, Back the far-right to promote fear and divisiveness. #Resist

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

It's important to deal with the poor state of a country's physical infrastructure; But so much more will fall apart if nothing is done to tackle our crumbling democratic infrastructure: www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2023/09/15/o...

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

Progressives have for decades allowed democracy to be eroded by contrived barriers to voting, massive vote buying through plutocratic donations, & the spread of disinformation. Check out the critical actions that must now be taken - 'Time to Save Democracy': policypress.co.uk/time-to-save...

submitted 7 days ago • 1 comment

Sure not in Kansas anymore, Having to deal with One with no heart, One with no brain, & one with no spine ... #TheTrumpvirate

submitted 7 days ago • 0 comments

It's not much of a negotiation when one side pulls the strings, and the other side just mouths along ... #DefendUkraine

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Orwell and Huxley are often cited for their grasp of what dystopian politics might look like, but Burdekin - in her 'Swastika Night' - has warnings that should be most urgently heeded: kuanswonderland.blogspot.com/2015/09/the-...

submitted 8 days ago • 1 comment

Researchers, drawing on findings from 69 countries, found that increasing economic hardships tend to lead more people to seek out leaders who give the impression that they would do whatever it takes to get things done. What to do about 'Strongmen' politics: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

There is a long ignoble line running from the Counter-Enlightenment to today's Anti-Woke'ism. It draws together the rejection of reasonable discourse, the detestation of compassion, the mocking of civility, & the celebration of prejudice: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2023/09/coun...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

Political education 101: Don't reject public-spirited candidates just because they don't commit to everything you want. Don't fall for self-absorbed demagogues simply because they 'promise' you whatever you desire. policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whos-afraid-...

submitted 8 days ago • 0 comments

There is no inherent reason why any government should be bigger or smaller. What calls for probing is the mantra of 'Small State', which is often a label for whatever its advocates' wealthy donors want it to be: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2022/09/what...

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

Putin wants Ukraine's land, Trump wants Ukraine's minerals, Is it any surprise they are holding talks without involving Ukraine? Not so much realpolitik as #RealNastyPolitics

submitted 10 days ago • 0 comments

To protect the NHS, There must be substantial long-term increase in public capacity, & not keep relying on private providers; Free & equal quality access must be maintained, with any insurance scheme completely ruled out; Tech should be used to free up time for more personal contact, not less.

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

Some fear 'identity' talk could get 'too right' or 'too left'. But we should explore our identity - what kind of people we really want to be, what traits we truly find admirable or repugnant, & ultimately Why we seek to associate with the kind, sincere & decent henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/01/what...

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

What's worse than the insane taking over the asylum? It's when a remorseless felon has taken charge of the military & criminal justice system, with the backing of a partisan Supreme Court and a congressional majority. #DemocracyInPeril

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

"More countries are rejecting 'outside dictate'," said the Russian Foreign Minister whose country invaded Ukraine and sought to dictate terms by force. news.sky.com/video/ukrain...

submitted 11 days ago • 0 comments

'Free speech' cannot be invoked to cheat in business, deceive & promote harm, or pass on security information; Similarly, it should not be allowed as a shield for dangerous misinformation that subverts democracy: citizen-network.org/library/demo...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Political education classes and discussion groups can kick off with explorations of how issues of truth and reason may be approached in the most coherent and constructive manner: www.amazon.co.uk/What-Should-...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

Would a people who waged a revolution against an overbearing king, For long put up with the vindictive rule of a modern day pretender? #BlueWave #CanDemocracySurvive

submitted 12 days ago • 1 comment

Many writers have warned about the threats to democracy; We must also share the lessons of how best to counter those threats. Reach out, engage, and let people see where their real interests lie: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/11/it-c...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Trump and Putin coming up with a deal over Ukraine just btw the two of them ... An inevitable reminder of two who once sought to carve up Eastern Europe between them. #WontEndWell

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

Progressive political leaders must learn to cooperate with citizens and develop shared approaches to solving problems, Otherwise, charlatans would keep gaining more power with their endless lies: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whose-govern...

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

We need more civic dialogues at the local level to raise understanding of public issues, and facilitate informed engagement with policy decisions: citizen-network.org/library/civi... @barryquirk.bsky.social

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

The message is simple: Just as they didn't tell you their 'Brexit' would hurt the economy & jobs so badly, They're not telling you their 'Reform' would get rid of the NHS and replace it with a private scheme you ca't afford.

submitted 13 days ago • 0 comments

All those ppl ranting about our population being too large already, Are they seriously wanting to ignore the shortage of young workers we'll be facing, the lack of carers, and ... They really want UK to have a no child policy?? henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/04/no-m...

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Voters across Europe must watch closely, 'Populist' authoritarians will say anything to get your vote, & when they have power, The only popularity they seek is with the clique of rich and powerful.

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

When Trump's memoirs come out, these words from Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' will sum up for us: "... a poor player, That struts and frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more: it is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing."

submitted 14 days ago • 0 comments

Voting on the basis of lies & manipulation, Leads to the displacement of democracy & the rule of law, By kleptocracy & the rule of Trump.

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Divisive demagogues want to pull communities apart, But we can always find ways to bring people together. 'Together We Can' - free resources on tried and tested approaches for developing trust and cooperation: hbtam.blogspot.com/2019/07/toge...

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

Courteous commentators hesitate to talk about moral character, but that is what differentiates good political leaders from the evil demagogues who foment hate & anger to advance their self-serving agendas: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/02/evil...

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments

European sense of democratic propriety is clearly unacceptable to anyone whose vision of 'democracy' involves violent attempts to overturn the legitimate results of a free election. #FBPE #BlueWave

submitted 15 days ago • 0 comments