leicsmac

Lukashenko does strike me as an opportunist, so if he knows he'll get a better deal he might give Putin the cold shoulder. Of course, you wouldn't expect Putin to let that go unanswered. I guess this comes back to the problem with any such system of size; whether you think it's better to accept some guilty/bad people get away with things to allow everyone who needs to be protected to be covered, or if you're willing to accept the suffering and death of "innocent" people in order to ensure such guilty people don't play the system too. It's very difficult to strike a balance or come even close to perfection in such systems.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1kwzgrwdd0o US Senator Ted Cruz has accused the head of America's broadcast regulator of acting like "a mafioso" in the suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel - the sharpest attack yet from a conservative Republican on the controversy. He said Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman Brendan Carr's threat to ABC over their comedian's monologue about slain conservative influencer Charlie Kirk was "dangerous as hell". Cancun Cruz seeing the political long game, then. Of course, Trump and his followers mostly don't see things Cruz's way because they intend and are working to make sure that there's no government of a different ideology that takes charge in the US again. For a very long time.

Such a missed opportunity. There aren't many shows that stuck the finale that badly. I mean, it's still a very good show, but that dragged it down from superb to that "very good".

Astute. With all of that said, however, AFAIC given what's coming the choice for for society simple: equity (at at least more so), or collapse followed shortly by oblivion. It's not even about morality for me (unless the ethics of human survival are a topic for discussion), but rather simple self-preservation.

Then I guess we just have to hope someone smart with the power to do so comes up with a solution that falls short of the very horrible. I guess we'll find out.

Which will result in further societal fragmentation and division just at the time where unity is most needed. Interesting times.

Yep. Doing the right thing is clearly secondary to making the books balance. What was it James Carville said? "It's the economy, stupid."

Absolutely. We missed several opportunities and multiple decades, in fact. Too much time grubbing in the mud over incredibly pretty human ideas.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyl01x9pllo https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cr4qe0rz2zvo The man has such thin skin.

To add to the discussion above, if anyone wants any hints about where the US is headed in terms of social policy, take a look at what Stephen Miller is saying and doing. It's his playbook, and so far it's being followed almost line for line.

Exactly so. And the truth is that there are no winners of such a conflict. Everyone loses. It's so deeply frustrating.

I'll have to check that out. WRT the bolded, I couldn't agree more. The divide now isn't left/right, it's between those who actually want a future for all of our civilisation and our species, and those who don't (and those who just want a future for their favoured demographic fall into the latter category by default). And those, no matter how people try not to see it, really are the stakes. The last time I checked, survival wasn't really a political-compass-sensitive matter.

Is a very good read, though.

If the courts and the legislature won't act as a check and balance, I fear that most of the remaining options for neutralising both Trump and the ideology he is pushing become rather ugly.

To add to the current discussion: I detest the whole idea of realpolitik that means that playing nice rather than a sometimes annoying necessity with someone like Trump has to even be considered as a viable option. It really shouldn't be a thing that loathsome individuals even gain the power that they do in the first place, much less that other people have to then play nice to make their own lives bearable. That entire system is broken and it should burn.

I can see these points of view, but I do think at the very least the UK should be treating the current US as a potential belligerent displaying contempt for values the UK displays highly while acknowledging that matters of some cooperation are necessary, ala China, rather than all the bluster about friendship. For the current US administration, there are rivals and sycophants, no friends. And going on about the third just makes you look like the second.

And isn't that sad. At least other aspiring autocrats like Xi actually understand the value of future proofing.

Sun's beneath the yardarm somewhere mate, get it in. And I hooe you guys have those geese and moose on a war footing for when the time comes.

And all the time there are problems gathering pace that need a unified response to address or will cause terrible harm.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c78n0e83ye0o A decent primer on the current situation across the pond.

With all due respect, all your taste is in your mouth mon ami.

And yet Trump's approval ratings are right now about as low as they've ever been. Guess it's over to you to do the needful, Trey Parker and Matt Stone.

Pretty sure there's a Star Wars/Andor joke in there somewhere.

Nah, no angle here, just making a statement that agrees with yours - like you said, whatever the reason we do it well.

Also very non-discriminatory regarding the leaders it is given to, as well. If they're in charge, they get the show. (Apart from Putin who appears to be off limits, that is.)