leicsmac

Pardon me, but this was the way that the first Ukraine related thread got locked, perhaps it would be nice if this one didn't suffer the same fate?

What would be the desired end objective of such a move?

Direct democracy where a sufficiently informed populace is able to decide on lots of aspects of policy on that are then enacted is the theoretical ideal. In practice, it is fatally flawed for a variety of reasons and the overall outcome will be fatal to our civilisation. That's why representative democracy is the model that is chosen in a lot of places and we have to rely on expertise to drive decision making in a lot of areas. After all, there's a reason that builders don't do open-heart surgery. I get where you're coming from, believe me, but the simple truth backed by empirical evidence of past actions is that allowing all such ideas and positions (at least on many matters) to have equal merit leads to a Mad Max outcome. Which is, to my mind, much worse than the 1984-style outcome you might foresee caused by the dismissal of such ideas in the matter of policymaking. But I can see why someone would think differently on that particular subject of outcomes.

Ah, thanks. Didn't see it but have a clearer picture now.

I've no doubt titles of that type are on the way, and soon.

Not saying that he is wrong, but I for one might appreciate a little context.

One would think, after so many people have waxed lyrical about this "silent majority" and how important a factor it is, that pollsters have learned to account for it in their models and therefore the predictions they are giving are (broadly) accurate.

If we're heading for a world where folks like Bridgen can spout opinion without proof as fact and (more importantly) have votes based on it that are then used to shape policy, then we deserve all we get as a species. And it won't be pretty. Giving opinion that is in no-way evidence based is fine. Having it being used to then take action (almost always) isn't.

NB. Bridgen demeans his constituents and their intelligence with this utter tripe and the sooner he's no longer their representative, the better.

Not likely. If it was likely then a. There wouldn't be a lid on it politically and b. What would be happening or would have already happened would mimic the movie Threads and every single one of us would really know about it.

I think it's more like "only my deity can decide when I pass" rather than "the worst thing that could happen", considering that when it does a lot of those religions believe you go on to a much better place (depending on other factors) anyway.

"Environmental dogma". That's an interesting way of framing actually caring about the future of the biosphere and everything in it, I guess.

Or a political career in the Ukrainian cabinet, perhaps!

Yep. Airline industries prefer a stiletto to a warhammer these days. Range and efficiency over size.

Not at all, they really are - the whole rivalry still has seriously heavy hints of it, both sides. It was more a comment on the, yes, wannabe Orangemen that seem to turn out every OF derby with their #GSTK hashtags and pseudo-Loyalist bollocks rhetoric despite mostly never having been within 20 miles of Glasgow. Deeply annoying. But yes, it's just one part of the overall picture, just the one that personally irks me the most.

I think that's a smaller facet of simply wanting control over women as it was in the past, really. The comments about hitting the "wall" and regretting life choices is just one way of framing it - "here, you're regretting the life choices you made, wouldn't it be so much better to have an "alpha male" make them for you?" Like you say, religion plays into that some too, but again is just one part of the whole idea - control.

Yeah, that sounds about right. Another example of something Stateside being pushed to 11 - whether good or bad.

Against His will, apparently.

Another sporting fundie in the US with a platform: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-69021543 An NFL star has courted controversy by telling female graduates that one of their most important roles in life will be "homemaker". Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker also criticised abortion and LGBT Pride marches in a speech at Benedictine College, Kansas. His team has not reacted to the three-time Super Bowl champ's comments. The NFL said it was a "personal" matter. Nearly 160,000 people have signed a petition for the 28-year-old's firing. In his 20-minute address last Saturday, he said to women graduates at the Catholic private college that they had been told "the most diabolical lies". "Some of you may go on to lead successful careers in the world," he said. "But I would venture to guess that the majority of you are most excited about your marriage and the children you will bring into this world." Butker added that his wife's life had "truly started" when "she began living her vocation as a wife and as a mother". He added that Isabelle Butker had embraced "one of the most important titles of all: homemaker". Speaking about his marriage, he appeared to become emotional. His speech also attacked IVF, surrogacy, "degenerate cultural values", "dangerous gender ideologies" and "the tyranny of diversity, equity and inclusion". Women in the kitchen, ethnic minorities serving the drinks or shining shoes, LGBT people in the closet or not existing at all, right?

On China, I think they're engaging in pretty typical self interest by playing all sides to the maximum benefit of themselves. They want to be seen as a major player by showing that they can work the geopolitical system to their own ends.

I think an exception to that would be both the Koreas, depending on one's geopolitical point of view (both of them have "alliances" of sorts backing them, after all). On the overall topic, it would be nice if the cooler, friendlier, kinder and more hospitable heads were to prevail here.

A lot of the tactical criticism of him based on those matches is legit. But my point stands that he'd get an easier ride from the fanbase if his persona was different.

I'll say it again - IMO if Southgate was a big, bruising, blood and guts longball "4-4-fvcking-2" merchant with a jovial, no-prisoners, "speaks his mind" manner to the media and the population as a whole, he'd get much more praise from the fanbase for the same tournament results with the same squad as he does now.

The irony of it being that this is likely comparatively the strongest England team of many people's lifetimes, and they're favourites for a reason. The hype would be justified.

The system needs to be faster and more accurate, yes.