julianle.bsky.social
Ex FD of Prison Service, wrote book on private prisons. Retired Oxford. Glass maker, allotmenteer, writer, classical music, art. Radicalised in my 70s. Struggling to stay hopeful in a darkening world.
364 posts
43 followers
29 following
Getting Started
Active Commenter
comment in response to
post
In that part of the world, to sign under duress is to invite further duress. A mafia world
comment in response to
post
Well said. We rose, united, to a terrible challenge in 1940. Are we capable of doing so again?
comment in response to
post
Cannot bear more abt Gaza. Our unending shame.
comment in response to
post
Did I talk about speeding fines? No. You are an idiot
comment in response to
post
Impossible. Hungary, Slovakia pro Putin. France likely to follow. No German govt will stand firm. Austria not in it. Turkey non aligned .It's just us, Scandinavia and the Baltics. Not enough.
comment in response to
post
Even if it means war?
comment in response to
post
Meaningless fluctuations
comment in response to
post
Of course he won't succeed. Then what?
comment in response to
post
Totally disagree. X getting away with child rape does not mean y is somehow not quite so bad.
comment in response to
post
Jesus what is the MATTER with these people? Why not go straight in people trafficking and drug dealing? Miss out the bit about pretending to be human.
comment in response to
post
This is twitterish. I slightly modify what you say about an American professor, 'therefore' I must be a naxi. I sure as Hell don't need lectures in European history from you.
comment in response to
post
Mm. People arent that binary. That's what makes them so damned difficult. But yes he's exceptional
comment in response to
post
I greatly admire your writing and teavhing Timothy but I don't know how the hell you keep going.
comment in response to
post
You know, Curious, I do wonder about that. In regard to climate change, which trumps (ha) all other worries, I think actually there isn't any hope. Endurance, resilience maybe. But hope?
comment in response to
post
33% of Americans think abortion should be illegal: in the UK, 6%. 1 in 4 Americans think homosexuality is wrong, only 1 in 10 Britons. Support for universal govt funded healthcare is over 90% in the UK, 40% in the US. We aren't that much alike....
comment in response to
post
I cd bear it all IF Europe rises to the challenge. Is true to its values, its history. Resolves to work closely together. But....unlikely
comment in response to
post
It is no longer inconceivable that Europe will have to defend itself against America
comment in response to
post
Do we know who we are? What we stand for? We are deeply divided.
comment in response to
post
Why not? He has bought the Supreme Court. Expect an 'emergency' then an 'Enabling Act'.
comment in response to
post
This, not Trump, is our future. The future of every single person on this planet, rich or poor, democratic or fascist.
comment in response to
post
But this isn't the Tory Party. These nutcases have no DNA in common with the great Tory tradition going back two centuries that is deeply woven into this country's history. Badenoch isn t a Tory, she's a mad MAGA Republican.
comment in response to
post
In recent days people who never ordinariy comment on international affairs have remarked on the shock of America's desertion of us and the realization that Europeans must now together face up to Russia, without American help. But with what hopeless leaders, Starmer, Macron, Scholz, what can be done?
comment in response to
post
He has already done huge damage to Europe, and the idea of democracy and the rule of international law. None of this is reversible.
comment in response to
post
This triggers another statutory process they have to go through. Only pay when you get a letter that ckearly states that the next step is proceedings.
comment in response to
post
If we all delay payment as long as we can, without triggering proceedings, we can push them into default. A third of their income now goes on servicing debt. If you don't pay at once and say nothing, they have to go through a lengthy process. When challenged just say you are in financial trouble
comment in response to
post
Let us celebrate every single push back against this truly evil man
comment in response to
post
Europe is unable to rise to that challenge. Too divided, too jaded to fight it just wants to be left to dwell on the past. Senile in fact.
comment in response to
post
Hitler was clever.
comment in response to
post
I have lived in it 74 years. I now believe it to be self destructing. It is over.
comment in response to
post
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Same neck of the woods too.
comment in response to
post
Never happen. Daily Mail veto
comment in response to
post
Well let it rest there. Important thing is we share total abhorrence of him, his gang, his ideas, his methods.
comment in response to
post
Yes. I suppose what I'm saying is that our seeming need to attach the word to any political movement we loathe is making the word pretty meaningless. I think Trumpism is in fact a new phenomenon, which is different from classical fascisn
comment in response to
post
'Fascist' like 'socialist' has become almost meaningless. Fascism, historically, meant a single party totalitarian State identifying race with nation, myth-based, worshiping war & ultra violence, ultra traditional gender roles, the cult of Leader. Eco misses most of those.
comment in response to
post
Well. The Enemy is in full view, at last
comment in response to
post
But the EU is impotent. Look at the three of them Starmer Scholtz Macron. Unimaginative steady as she goes centrists already hurtling into the dustbin of history
comment in response to
post
But neither country will adequately fund their armies
comment in response to
post
Just because people disagree with you doesn't mean they are mind controlled by sinister forces. Grow up!
comment in response to
post
This is absurd. You are saying that 2 Britons out of 3 are in some way mind controlled by Tory press. In fact the % reading Tory media is tiny. You are treating your fellow citizens contemptuously . They have good reasons for despising Starmer as do I.
comment in response to
post
Did not realise you were Labour spin doctor. Unfollowing you
comment in response to
post
The most unpopular government at this stage in recent history. Outpolled 2:1 by the far Right (Tory + reform). Twice as many people dislike & distrust Starmer as like & trust him. Likely the last ever Labour government. 'Popular'? What planet are you from?
comment in response to
post
Europe is feeble, divided, senile. Scholz, Macron, Starmer.....leaders of Europe? No. Never.
comment in response to
post
European defence is a bad joke. Look at what happened to Scholz's Zeitwende. The German army could be defeated by a few Moscow traffic wardens. British forces are better but pitifully few and badly equipped. No West European people has the stomach for serious defence. Talk big and do nothing!
comment in response to
post
America, a study in self isolation
comment in response to
post
UK still under the painful delusion that Trump values allies. Clearly, he dislikes & feels uncomfortable with civilised law abiding nations, for obvious reasons, and prefers brutal dictators. Well, we'll learn.