leicsmac

I would see it more that they are more inclined to think life and health are simply a matter of the proper position of a dollar sign and a full stop, rather than the truly precious things they really are. But yes, some more advanced treatment available to more people would help.

I'll be honest though, while the result might not be as forlorn as first touted, allowing that administration to get their way in even a small fashion offends the senses.

I'm reasonably sure the whole welfare system is itself a public service? I guess that's up for debate depending on who's looking. Like I said, I understand the viewpoint, but rather than injured innocence it would be nice for the people that advocate for those policy decisions to own the whole of them, including where they may end up going. Edit: Especially as such honesty seems to be demanded of our ruling politicians right now.

I can understand the POV here and the annoyance towards it, but given that there's rather a lot of talk about cutting public services without much talk as to the consequences of it...

Yes, maybe not, just more reduced crop yields as the UK (along with a few other places) lurches from flood to drought with not enough in between.

Absolutely. As well as working with the international community on both prevention and mitigation. But that takes money, and leads rather neatly into the last discussion about taxation.

Anyway... https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/articles/crrkdylz9rxo Heavy rain is expected to bring flooding and disruption across large parts of the UK on Monday. An amber Met Office severe weather warning for rain is in force across south Wales, while multiple yellow warnings are in force for many western areas of the UK. Nearly a month's worth of rain could fall onto already very saturated ground after above average rainfall throughout November across England and Wales. There will also be some gusty winds, especially around coastal areas. ...November has been very wet overall, especially across England and Wales. Data up to 29 November from the Met Office Hadley Centre shows that there has been 132% of normal rainfall. But, in parts of eastern England, some weather stations have recorded their highest November rainfall on record. Bridlington, Yorkshire for example has had nearly three times the normal rainfall with 180mm recorded compared to an average of 66mm - a new record for November. Other parts of East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire have recieved more than double their normal rainfall with the wettest November on record. Are people tired of breaking records yet? In all seriousness though, hope everyone stays safe if they're going anywhere.

The use of media by shitty people on this topic and others is both relevant and reasonably important to the topic IMO, but fair enough.

And this is problem with societal attitude across the board, both the elected and the electors. A great deal of the nations with the highest standard of living on the planet have high tax rates, but they also have a much, much stronger social contract. Whether it's even possible that the UK and its people can adapt to that kind of idea, goodness knows. It's certainly difficult with the individualist libertarian spiel all over the Anglosphere, both on legacy and social media.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cp8zyp988zvo US lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration for answers about military strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, following reports that a follow-up strike was ordered to kill survivors of an initial attack. Republican-led committees overseeing the Pentagon have vowed to conduct "vigorous oversight" into the US boat strikes in the Caribbean, following the report. On Friday, The Washington Post, external reported that a US strike on a boat on 2 September left two survivors, but a second attack was carried out to comply with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's orders to "kill everybody" on board. Repub Congress members finally showing a spine? Glory be. Shame it didn't happen a while ago.

I have no issue whatsoever with the criticism in of itself. How much of it is actually legit is clearly up to the beholder and in a democracy clearly that is an important factor. There's clearly things that could be better done. What sticks in my craw right now, however, is the wilful or ignorant denial that every other viable government option in the UK right now would be categorically worse. This knee-jerk, spin the roulette wheel idea of changing things up at the drop of a hat (how long, exactly, is 18 months in terms of policy decisions?) is one of the big reasons populist shitheels have gotten into power over the last decade, and then proceed to make lives a misery for everyone not part of their favoured demographic. I know this is a refrain that's come up on here many times before, but that's because, for whatever reason, people appear bound and determined to ignore it. Criticism of current policy (including the aforementioned dishonesty) that involves them changing course with ideas on how it might happen? Of course. Criticism of current policy that infers strongly that there is no good course other than a change of government? Pointless without detailing why that government would be better, and I stand by the bolded word. Of course, people are free to say what they like, but pardon my frustration at the lack of foresight and brewing short term ill feeling that could well drive the UK (and elsewhere) into a very, very dark place. And that will be everyone's problem, and everyone's fault.

Additionally, I reckon that any critique of policy like this that doesn't involve comparative and instead just focuses on criticism is absolutely pointless anyway.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgk1l4lrrdo Two former heads of all UK Special Forces suppressed evidence of possible SAS war crimes, a former high-ranking officer has told a public inquiry in closed evidence sessions. The officer, who was among the most senior in special forces, said he had passed what he called "explosive" evidence suggesting "criminal behaviour" to the then-director special forces in 2011. The officer also told the inquiry that the subsequent director special forces, who took over in 2012, "clearly knew there was a problem in Afghanistan" and failed to act. It was "not just one director that has known about this", he said in his evidence, adding that UK Special Forces leadership was "very much suppressing" the allegations. Alleged bad behaviour from the cream of the crop in Afghanistan then. That being said, IMO the whole idea of the "rules of war" and that one side or another is somehow more into obeying them when the screaming starts, the blood starts flowing and the adrenaline begins pumping is laughable to me anyway. There's only one rule in war - win. If you do that, you can behave as you like and tell whatever justification for whatever horrors you have committed you like.

Assuming that he is personally involved, I guess time will tell, there. In any case, there's a world of difference between both the military and political situations and the personal motivations of those two men.

American individualist mindset in a country with a land area and population density totally unsuited to it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gv76r5qpvo Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked the country's President, Isaac Herzog, for a pardon over corruption cases he has been battling. The president's office said Herzog would receive opinions from justice officials before considering the request "which carries with it significant implications". Netanyahu has been standing trial for the past five years on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust in connection with three separate cases. He denies wrongdoing. He said in a video message that he would have preferred to see the process to the end but national interest "demanded otherwise". ..."I'm a "wartime" leader! That means I can be as corrupt as I like!"

But, in all seriousness, the action of the last couple of weeks doesn't just speak "contrived drama for clicks and engagement", it screams it.

At the present time, no, but that's only because of the daft rules regarding leasehold in the UK - I have spent most of my adult life living in apartments on the other side of the world and was totally happy with it. No strong feelings either way tbh. If people do feel strongly about the idea of the "home is my castle", "3 bed detached with the garden and the picket fence" then that's totally fine as well. Like on other matters, it's when such sentiment bleeds over into self interest that has a direct and detrimental effect on other life that is the problem.

Building upward (and downward) rather than outward certainly seems a better general option to me.

I'm supportive of whatever method is the best and most efficient way or preserving life and comfort - both human and otherwise. That means considering a lot of different possibilities on this one.

The point is that the current (or even smaller) agricultural area that the UK utilises would still work well enough for its needs if creative solutions were applied. It's certainly a finite resource, but it's also one with the potential for better utilisation.

Have a look at what Korea does in terms of rather smaller agricultural area (in fact, around 10% of the area the UK uses) and satisfying the needs of a roughly equivalent population and get back to me on that.

Come on people... Without biodiversity, agriculture becomes difficult to the point of impossibility. Without agriculture, preserving biodiversity isn't going to mean much. It's clear a balance is needed.

It's an interesting POV that plays on the ambiguity of data from certain clades at certain times. That being said, there is data and there is plenty of evidence for the current biodiversity decline which, if left unchecked, will fulfil any criteria for the term "extinction event" that a person cares to name. Eyes need to remain on the ball.

No disagreement regarding the second paragraph, but that's just a small piece of this particular puzzle.