It helped them win the match, like taking the ball to the corner.
Can someone explain it to the non-NFL literate please?
The team who decided not to score then got 4 "downs", which they can just kneel down each time and run the clock down to zero. So by not scoring they basically ensure they win with probability 99.99999999%, but if he had scored they would still have won with 99.99999% certainty.
It helped them win the match, like taking the ball to the corner.
He goes in for the score (plus the point after) thats 10 up with less than a minute i.e. requires 2 scores. Its like taking it towards the corner, get fouled in the box and rather than score the penalty, you pass it towards the corner again.
Yes it moves the opposition from a 0.0x% to a 0% chance in exchange for the smaller win. And worse stats, bonuses, and pay renewal for the player. It is a very selfless and calculated team act.
It helped them win the match, like taking the ball to the corner.
Can someone explain it to the non-NFL literate please?
The team who decided not to score then got 4 "downs", which they can just kneel down each time and run the clock down to zero. So by not scoring they basically ensure they win with probability 99.99999999%, but if he had scored they would still have won with 99.99999% certainty.
Ok thanks. I might need to read up the NFL rules a bit though.
It helped them win the match, like taking the ball to the corner.
He goes in for the score (plus the point after) thats 10 up with less than a minute i.e. requires 2 scores. Its like taking it towards the corner, get fouled in the box and rather than score the penalty, you pass it towards the corner again.
Yes it moves the opposition from a 0.0x% to a 0% chance in exchange for the smaller win. And worse stats, bonuses, and pay renewal for the player. It is a very selfless and calculated team act.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
The Crown fans have episode ten to look forward to: the downfall of Mrs T. Lots of blood; Conservatives on both ends of the knife. And the Queen refusing to help Mrs T by turning down an extraordinary request.
But what has belief in the nation state got to do with democracy? Nations are entirely arbitary. As a native of southern England I have no more in common with someone from Yorkshire than I do someone from California, Australia or Denmark (to pick a few examples).
(Not that I have anything against Yorkshire folk - it's just an example.)
They are essential. You can't have a democracy without a nation state and all a nation state is is a defined geographical entity with a common form of government and shared identity that accepts its authority.
You can argue that we haven't got the current 'cut' of nation states just right but, without it, you would need to create new ones.
I find it interesting that this was the most contentious point of my thread header.
Why couldn't we have a global democracy?
Its a hard one to get right but I think nations are ok as long as people can effectively choose which one to live in - ie free immigration - The EU had its faults but it was a step to this. A one global democracy sounds good but would soon limit individual choice and congregate power in too small a group of people
In an alternate historical timeline, the British Empire could have been a democratic federation with an "Imperial Senate" (hat-tip Star Wars!).
Freedom, Fraternity, Federation!
Hmm, the entire point of Empire was for us to impose our will on foreign lands and peoples. Equality in Empire is an oxymoron.
Well, I did say it COULD have been a democratic federation with an "Imperial Senate" (hat-tip Star Wars!).
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
Or was it that right wing politicians took advantage of a new online media to sell false solutions to complex problems that have always been there. Build that wall, take back control.
Basically, the better an area did economically in the last four years, the more likely it was to swing to Biden; and the worse it did, the more likely it was for Trump to outperform.
Which is interesting in a bunch of ways. Firstly, in the short-term at least, people are more swayed by rhetoric and the feeling that someone is "on their side", than results. Secondly, it also makes it clear that the "are you doing better than you were" polling will have gotten things wrong for the first time. Simply, the better you did, the more you disliked Trump.
Thanks to @Casino_Royale for a most interesting and thought-provoking piece. There's not a lot in it with which one could disagree.
Democracy is far more complex and nuanced than putting a "X" or a"1" on a piece of paper every four or five years.
The promise of "change" by subverting the political democratic process is a chimera - revolution simply means replacing one elite by another. Revolutionary change via politics is little different from revolutionary change via force of arms - was the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 that much different to the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917? I'd argue not.
Democracy is grossly imperfect - we know that, it is strongly predicated on wealth and often (not always) on a very narrow elite of the well educated and independently wealthy. As a riposte, there might be many in politics who might argue they could have made more money staying in business and that's possibly true.
I've banged on about this before but the political disconnection starts with the centralisation of decision-making whether it's in Brussels, Westminster or the "Council". As a case study, I live in Newham which has 100% Labour representation on the Council and not surprising since Labour wins 65% of the vote in most Wards.
My argument is not about whether Labour deserves a majority but why the 35% who don't vote Labour are left unrepresented. It's not (and shouldn't be) about electoral systems but a simple understanding and recognition of plurality because that's what plural democracy should be about - many voices, many opinions.
I'd argue Newham Labour should voluntarily give up 20 of their seats and offer them proportionately to the Opposition parties - they'll never do that but they should as should Bromley's Conservatives or the LDs in Richmond.
Here's the problem - we may have democracy but do we have plural democracy? I'm told the Conservative and Labour parties are "broad churches" - perhaps but that has to be reconciled with the notion of Party loyalty we see on here from some which means the Party can never be wrong, it must always be defended and its detractors always rebutted.
People become excluded from the political process if they feel they are not being listened to - it isn't possible for Government to please all of the people all of the time. Pleasing all of the people some of the time would be a good start - unfortunately, for the post-election weasel words it tends to be more about appeasing some of the people (the supporters) all of the time.
Sometimes doing the right thing means alienating your supporters and that's when the politician has to explain and educate and convince. Government is, as Casino states, for all of us not just the supporters, the donors and the allies.
Democracy isn't easy - nobody ever said it was.
A good post, Stodge. Pluralism is something that tends to get scant attention outside of mere name-checking when democracy is discussed.
One of the genuine strengths of Britain is that what was once an uncomfortable necessity became a comfortable national characteristic. Perhaps we again need to be making more of a conscious effort ?
In any case, shops that don’t take cards or have limits are in a tiny minority now - and rightly so. Cash is a dumb idea. You don’t need it.
Cash (and cheques!) still pretty mainstream in my business. I always have a reserve in case of card machine failures (happens more regularly than you'd think, especially in the sticks).
The Crown fans have episode ten to look forward to: the downfall of Mrs T. Lots of blood; Conservatives on both ends of the knife. And the Queen refusing to help Mrs T by turning down an extraordinary request.
Woooo spoilers....i didn't even know Mrs T got forced out.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Life’s easier if the answer comes in three words and there are foreigners to blame. The internet gave the snake oil salesman a new platform. They brag about it.
"One Conservative Party insider told me last night that Boris and Rishi spent the evening phoning close allies of the party in the business world claiming he was buffaloed into Lockdown 2.0 with bogus data and it wasn’t going to happen again."
Toby on Lockdownsceptics
Given that he and his site have been palpably wrong on pretty much everything (from no excess deaths in April, to no benefit from lockdown 1, to “it’s all come and gone now”, to “there won’t be a second wave,” to “loads of people already have immunity”, to “it’s all false positives” and more, why do people keep believing him?
They are essential. You can't have a democracy without a nation state and all a nation state is is a defined geographical entity with a common form of government and shared identity that accepts its authority.
You can argue that we haven't got the current 'cut' of nation states just right but, without it, you would need to create new ones.
I find it interesting that this was the most contentious point of my thread header.
I'm not wholly convinced - some of the purest forms of democracy have been much smaller units such as city-states.
Indeed, the nation state can be used to define any form of Government - if the people accept a dictatorship or a theocracy, that works as well.
The other side of that is that while there are common principles behind the democratic system, the theory and the practice vary widely across the world. The "British" system has its adherents but in many instances the evolution of the nation state in which it was originally implemented has led to a variation on the theme.
Democracy goes hand-in-hand with freedom of speech and has to be robust enough to accept those voices which aren't democratic and may even be violent. Suppressing those voices whether in the name of "tolerance" or not isn't a good path. The only way to confront and challenge the voices of darkness is to being them into the light.
You could do it with city states, yes, Liechtenstein, Singapore, Andorra and Monaco are effective modern examples, but they share a common identity too.
That's the common - and essential - thread.
I think city states are the exception here. If you were to look at Hong Kong (pre 1992), it's residents would mostly regard themselves as Chinese. There was no Hong Kong nation state. But it could have been a very successful democratic entity.
For larger blocs, it breaks down.
Now, I think there's a good reason for this. In larger blocs, there needs to be something that ties you to the person 400 hundred (or 2,000) miles away. If there isn't a common identity, you struggle.
With a city state, you don't have that issue. Everyone is facing the same challenges, Everyone walks the same streets. You may not all share an ethnicity, a history or a national identity, but because you are all so connected to the entity for your own success, that doesn't matter so much.
"One Conservative Party insider told me last night that Boris and Rishi spent the evening phoning close allies of the party in the business world claiming he was buffaloed into Lockdown 2.0 with bogus data and it wasn’t going to happen again."
Toby on Lockdownsceptics
Given that he and his site have been palpably wrong on pretty much everything (from no excess deaths in April, to no benefit from lockdown 1, to “it’s all come and gone now”, to “there won’t be a second wave,” to “loads of people already have immunity”, to “it’s all false positives” and more, why do people keep believing him?
He offers easy, ideologically friendly, answers that certain people would like to believe.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Nonsense. Brexit and Trump have made great strides addressing climate emergency, globalisation, deindustrialisation, automation, rather than turning cheek and denying such things are in play.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Not really the false. How do you prove that post hoc? It is more the extreme simplistic solutions to complex problems in the form of a 3 word slogan rather than attempting to engage in a grown up debate about priorities and the necessary trade offs.
I find cultural attachment to currency absolutely bizarre. I mean, I haven’t touched a tenner in months, possibly years. I never, ever use cash and presumably I’m not the only one.
Monetary attachment to currency, however, is completely understandable.
Sure, but some people seem to have a romantic attachment to tenners: as I say, I haven’t so much as touched one in months. I never use cash at all. Never.
I think it's a generational thing, my dad and uncles can't imagine a life without cash in their pockets, I'll leave my flat with just my phone, keys and a credit card in my pockets most times.
Our local shop has a £5 minimum spend for card transactions. So if you just need some milk, cash it is.
Mind, a visit there has been my only cash purchase in 8 months.
Insane. Handling that cash is more costly than the tiny cost of charging a card. And it will mean they lose business. Cash is (almost) dead. Even my local ice cream van takes cards now.
The only time I have to use cash now is for my window cleaner. To get a suitable amount of change means a trip to the chippy or the burger van.
In any case, shops that don’t take cards or have limits are in a tiny minority now - and rightly so. Cash is a dumb idea. You don’t need it.
Cash (and cheques!) still pretty mainstream in my business. I always have a reserve in case of card machine failures (happens more regularly than you'd think, especially in the sticks).
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Not really the false. How do you prove that post hoc? It is more the extreme simplistic solutions to complex problems in the form of a 3 word slogan rather than attempting to engage in a grown up debate about priorities and the necessary trade offs.
Hard for someone who wants to inject bleach, nuke hurricanes or even sell nonexistent oven ready deals to flip to engage in grown up debate.
Basically, the better an area did economically in the last four years, the more likely it was to swing to Biden; and the worse it did, the more likely it was for Trump to outperform.
Which is interesting in a bunch of ways. Firstly, in the short-term at least, people are more swayed by rhetoric and the feeling that someone is "on their side", than results. Secondly, it also makes it clear that the "are you doing better than you were" polling will have gotten things wrong for the first time. Simply, the better you did, the more you disliked Trump.
Does it take into account rust belt difference and elsewhere such as Georgia was Dems and independence not voting Hilary but voting dem this time, as opposed to an actual swing from Trump?
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Not really the false. How do you prove that post hoc? It is more the extreme simplistic solutions to complex problems in the form of a 3 word slogan rather than attempting to engage in a grown up debate about priorities and the necessary trade offs.
It is easier to lie to voters than to explain that solutions are not going to be easy or painless.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
That may well be true, but the fact that the populations were tempted enough by said snake oil salesmen to vote for them is a terrible indictment of the way in which governments and the people they are supposed to represent have diverged to such an alarming extent.
Had the so called respectable politicians fulfilled their promises or listened to their constituents, neither would have happened.
The Crown fans have episode ten to look forward to: the downfall of Mrs T. Lots of blood; Conservatives on both ends of the knife. And the Queen refusing to help Mrs T by turning down an extraordinary request.
Woooo spoilers....i didn't even know Mrs T got forced out.
A really excellent header in defence of democracy. One or two bits I disagree with, but it would be churlish to cavil.
I note the author's repeated pleas for tolerance and respect for others' views. For example: All the issues we face are valid: concerns over climate change, generational and racial inequality, personal identity, national identity, sovereignty, mass migration, border control, and global stability. We need solutions for all of them, and to treat one another with respect, and several other similar sentiments.
So I take it that the author will now desist from some of his more lurid full-frontal assaults on those who don't share his views, and perhaps will show a bit more tolerance of 'wokeness'?
A really excellent header in defence of democracy. One or two bits I disagree with, but it would be churlish to cavil.
I note the author's repeated pleas for tolerance and respect for others' views. For example: All the issues we face are valid: concerns over climate change, generational and racial inequality, personal identity, national identity, sovereignty, mass migration, border control, and global stability. We need solutions for all of them, and to treat one another with respect, and several other similar sentiments.
So I take it that the author will now desist from some of his more lurid full-frontal assaults on those who don't share his views, and perhaps will show a bit more tolerance of 'wokeness'?
Yes on the first bit, and on the second I support equality and fairness to all - my objection to "Wokeness" is precisely because I think it's (largely) well-meaning people not seeing how political and divisive their approach to that can be, particularly in responding to criticism toward it.
I will try, though, to be more measured with my own criticisms.
I think it helps to consider 'wokeness' (and political correctness that preceeded it) as 'informed politeness'.
nah - virtue signalling
Here's the thing. I have been a paraplegic for forty years. If someone refers to me as a cripple, handicapped or a 'wheelchair' (as in 'here's another wheelchair'), I find it offensive.
Some will say avoiding such terms is just political corectness. I say it's simply politeness.
If you feel people who avoid terms the recipients will find offensive are 'virtue signalling' I can't help you, but I say it's just being polite.
political correctness is much more than that though . Its stifles different thought processes and ideas
Example?
Loads - the one fairly topical now is the trans gender in sport events issue -
Sorry? There's a debate being had, it's complex, people have different views. How is 'political correctness' stifling the debate?
Referring to you as a “cripple” is personal and offensive. Much of political correctness is simply good manners. Where it becomes problematic is where it becomes an attempt to stifle debate.
The “racist” lady on the trolley during Blair’s government
The attempt to destroy the livelihoods of JK Rowling and - more successfully - the minor authors who supported her right to free speech
That is not politeness - it’s weaponising language
In any case, shops that don’t take cards or have limits are in a tiny minority now - and rightly so. Cash is a dumb idea. You don’t need it.
Cash (and cheques!) still pretty mainstream in my business. I always have a reserve in case of card machine failures (happens more regularly than you'd think, especially in the sticks).
Cheques?! I've never written a cheque in my life. Anyone who has is more or less a fossil.
Basically, the better an area did economically in the last four years, the more likely it was to swing to Biden; and the worse it did, the more likely it was for Trump to outperform.
Which is interesting in a bunch of ways. Firstly, in the short-term at least, people are more swayed by rhetoric and the feeling that someone is "on their side", than results. Secondly, it also makes it clear that the "are you doing better than you were" polling will have gotten things wrong for the first time. Simply, the better you did, the more you disliked Trump.
Isn’t that just the old argument that successful middle class professionals can afford to vote Labour?
In any case, shops that don’t take cards or have limits are in a tiny minority now - and rightly so. Cash is a dumb idea. You don’t need it.
Cash (and cheques!) still pretty mainstream in my business. I always have a reserve in case of card machine failures (happens more regularly than you'd think, especially in the sticks).
Cheques?! I've never written a cheque in my life. Anyone who has is more or less a fossil.
I am a fossil then, though have not done for some time.
On topic: surely the fact that so many people are willing to risk their lives to get to Western countries is proof that those countries are doing something right? I still think Francis Fukuyama was mostly right in his analysis. No-one risks their life trying to get to Turkmenistan.
"One Conservative Party insider told me last night that Boris and Rishi spent the evening phoning close allies of the party in the business world claiming he was buffaloed into Lockdown 2.0 with bogus data and it wasn’t going to happen again."
Toby on Lockdownsceptics
Given that he and his site have been palpably wrong on pretty much everything (from no excess deaths in April, to no benefit from lockdown 1, to “it’s all come and gone now”, to “there won’t be a second wave,” to “loads of people already have immunity”, to “it’s all false positives” and more, why do people keep believing him?
He offers easy, ideologically friendly, answers that certain people would like to believe.
I'd like to believe that if I write a wish list to Santa, he will deliver on it.
A really excellent header in defence of democracy. One or two bits I disagree with, but it would be churlish to cavil.
I note the author's repeated pleas for tolerance and respect for others' views. For example: All the issues we face are valid: concerns over climate change, generational and racial inequality, personal identity, national identity, sovereignty, mass migration, border control, and global stability. We need solutions for all of them, and to treat one another with respect, and several other similar sentiments.
So I take it that the author will now desist from some of his more lurid full-frontal assaults on those who don't share his views, and perhaps will show a bit more tolerance of 'wokeness'?
A really excellent header in defence of democracy. One or two bits I disagree with, but it would be churlish to cavil.
I note the author's repeated pleas for tolerance and respect for others' views. For example: All the issues we face are valid: concerns over climate change, generational and racial inequality, personal identity, national identity, sovereignty, mass migration, border control, and global stability. We need solutions for all of them, and to treat one another with respect, and several other similar sentiments.
So I take it that the author will now desist from some of his more lurid full-frontal assaults on those who don't share his views, and perhaps will show a bit more tolerance of 'wokeness'?
Yes on the first bit, and on the second I support equality and fairness to all - my objection to "Wokeness" is precisely because I think it's (largely) well-meaning people not seeing how political and divisive their approach to that can be, particularly in responding to criticism toward it.
I will try, though, to be more measured with my own criticisms.
I think it helps to consider 'wokeness' (and political correctness that preceeded it) as 'informed politeness'.
nah - virtue signalling
Here's the thing. I have been a paraplegic for forty years. If someone refers to me as a cripple, handicapped or a 'wheelchair' (as in 'here's another wheelchair'), I find it offensive.
Some will say avoiding such terms is just political corectness. I say it's simply politeness.
If you feel people who avoid terms the recipients will find offensive are 'virtue signalling' I can't help you, but I say it's just being polite.
political correctness is much more than that though . Its stifles different thought processes and ideas
Example?
Loads - the one fairly topical now is the trans gender in sport events issue -
Sorry? There's a debate being had, it's complex, people have different views. How is 'political correctness' stifling the debate?
Referring to you as a “cripple” is personal and offensive. Much of political correctness is simply good manners. Where it becomes problematic is where it becomes an attempt to stifle debate.
The “racist” lady on the trolley during Blair’s government
The attempt to destroy the livelihoods of JK Rowling and - more successfully - the minor authors who supported her right to free speech
That is not politeness - it’s weaponising language
I tend to agree. I wouldn't put the JK Rowling attacks under the heading of political correctness - far from it - but I can see why it can be seen as a continuation of the same theme.
Thankfully, I think the Overton window has moved to mean that much of what used to get labeled 'political correctness' is now fairly mainstream. I was somewhat surpised and gratified that Greg Clarke's exit from the FA was not greeted with many cries of 'political corectness gone mad'
@ Casino Royale. I always thought Fukuyama's analysis stupid of the first order even at the time of publication, and said so many times in many fora. Evolution simply does not stop, whether biological or meme-based. Trouble is, I wish I'd been as stupid as him. Then maybe I'd have had a bestseller book and tenured position in a beautiful location, and people listening to every other stupid idea out of my mouth.
As Lord Sumption wrote the other day, a lot of the "experts" don't seem to understand that for many people quality of life is just as, if not more, important than quantity of life.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
What damages democracy most is snake oil salesmen like Trump or the Brexiteers selling false solutions to real problems. Solutions that worsen lives.
Not really the false. How do you prove that post hoc? It is more the extreme simplistic solutions to complex problems in the form of a 3 word slogan rather than attempting to engage in a grown up debate about priorities and the necessary trade offs.
It is easier to lie to voters than to explain that solutions are not going to be easy or painless.
Well indeed. And whose fault is it that it succeeds? It's us. The voters. Hopefully the US will lead the way in showing its a bit more complex than that.
@ Casino Royale. I always thought Fukuyama's analysis stupid of the first order even at the time of publication, and said so many times in many fora. Evolution simply does not stop, whether biological or meme-based. Trouble is, I wish I'd been as stupid as him. Then maybe I'd have had a bestseller book and tenured position in a beautiful location, and people listening to every other stupid idea out of my mouth.
If the Covid restrictions in some states were believed by some to be unconstitutional surely a case would have come before the Supreme Court by now. If it hasn't, what's it to him? At least Lord Sumption is retired.
This is the consequences of those who rail blindly against "Woke". You end up with learned people complaining that equal treatment of someone else is somehow an infringement of your rights. These people are the fucking Taliban.
I rarely have time to comment on here but just wanted to say what a fabulous header by Casino Royale. Balanced and perceptive in equal measure and accurately sums up where we are - I've shared this far and wide.
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
If the Covid restrictions in some states were believed by some to be unconstitutional surely a case would have come before the Supreme Court by now. If it hasn't, what's it to him? At least Lord Sumption is retired.
He likely knows he’d get outvoted on the court on it, so he’s moaning about it in his speech.
@ Casino Royale. I always thought Fukuyama's analysis stupid of the first order even at the time of publication, and said so many times in many fora. Evolution simply does not stop, whether biological or meme-based. Trouble is, I wish I'd been as stupid as him. Then maybe I'd have had a bestseller book and tenured position in a beautiful location, and people listening to every other stupid idea out of my mouth.
I think he's a great political scientist. The way he puts it the Hegelian/Marxist view was of a social evolution to a particular endpoint that Marx saw as revolutionary communism. All Francis was really saying was that this final iteration from liberal democracy to communism wouldn't happen. Which is basically true. Liberal democracies might decay into something else of course.
This is the consequences of those who rail blindly against "Woke". You end up with learned people complaining that equal treatment of someone else is somehow an infringement of your rights. These people are the fucking Taliban.
Yep.
I’m not a fan of Carrie Symonds’ apparent influence on Boris, but I had to laugh when I saw the headline of Dan Hodges’ piece describe her politics as ‘wokery.’ I mean at this point, the term is basically being used to label the politics of anyone whose world view doesn’t resemble Hard Brexiteers.
This is the consequences of those who rail blindly against "Woke". You end up with learned people complaining that equal treatment of someone else is somehow an infringement of your rights. These people are the fucking Taliban.
Would you make a distinction between focused railing versus blind railing?
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royale was making today
This is the consequences of those who rail blindly against "Woke". You end up with learned people complaining that equal treatment of someone else is somehow an infringement of your rights. These people are the fucking Taliban.
Would you make a distinction between focused railing versus blind railing?
I would say that some people make focused and rational criticisms... and others blindly rail. Anyone who thinks equal marriage as an infringement of free speech is in the latter camp.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
The results of trials by UK giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University – which are working together on a vaccine – could come as early as this week or next week.
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
The results of trials by UK giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University – which are working together on a vaccine – could come as early as this week or next week.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Your comment about Carrie Symonds and I assume her son was misogynistic and nasty and has nothing to do with 'woke and if you cannot see that then I am sorry for you
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
The fully confirmed cases of reinfection worldwide at the moment are absolutely tiny, as in count on two hands.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
The results of trials by UK giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University – which are working together on a vaccine – could come as early as this week or next week.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
The language used has been widely condemned today as misogyny and it simply is unnecessary
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
The language used has been widely condemned today as misogyny and it simply is unnecessary
I'm agreeing with you.
I'm also pointing out the hypocrisy of those who would like to control the speech of others and yet feel no constraint of decency on their own tongues.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Your comment about Carrie Symonds and I assume her son was misogynistic and nasty and has nothing to do with 'woke and if you cannot see that then I am sorry for you
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Your comment about Carrie Symonds and I assume her son was misogynistic and nasty and has nothing to do with 'woke and if you cannot see that then I am sorry for you
Don, I am not a windmill. Go to bed.
That comment rather confirms my previous observations
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
You'll be struggling to find a "passionate advocacy" of woke from me. Unless you count what I wrote below, about how equal rights are not an infringement of free speech. Is that more woke than BigG's having a fit of vapours over NutNut?
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
You'll be struggling to find a "passionate advocacy" of woke from me. Unless you count what I wrote below, about how equal rights are not an infringement of free speech. Is that more woke than BigG's having a fit of vapours over NutNut?
Not just me and it is misogynistic and your reference to the spawn was plain nasty
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
For what? Having a test?
Yeah, and skipping the rest of your isolation.
No. I think because the test won't catch you if you are infected but not yet symptomatic.
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
For what? Having a test?
Yeah, and skipping the rest of your isolation.
No. I think because the test won't catch you if you are infected but not yet symptomatic.
That's what I thought too. If there's no mechanism for it, he's not going to skip it. Can you imagine the headlines if they introduced a new scheme to avoid isolation just as the PM was about to need it?
The results of trials by UK giant AstraZeneca and Oxford University – which are working together on a vaccine – could come as early as this week or next week.
Eh? Why would Bozza have to self isolate? He’s already had covid (and recovered).
Because it will be too difficult to explain to the media
Even people who have had it can catch it again and can pass it on to others too
What needs explaining to the media?
Boris has hard week. He just fancies a little isolation. I can’t say I blame him.
But now he's going to be stuck at home with NutNut & The Spawn. It's a lose-lose situation. He'll be planning a great escape from all this.
You know that reference to Carrie and Allegra Stratton has been called out as misogyny by many and highlights the points that Casino Royal was making today
A surprising addition to the Woke Police dons his uniform and metes out some righteousness. I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
Funny how some of the most passionate advocates of wokery also feel free to direct pointlessly nasty insults against the families of their political opponents...
You'll be struggling to find a "passionate advocacy" of woke from me. Unless you count what I wrote below, about how equal rights are not an infringement of free speech. Is that more woke than BigG's having a fit of vapours over NutNut?
Not just me and it is misogynistic and your reference to the spawn was plain nasty
Nothing to do with woke
You thought I was talking about Stratton to start with. You are confused, Don, standing there in your rusty armour, tilting at nothing.
Perhaps the media will start running pieces - can I be reinfected with coronavirus, should I self isolate?
From the beginning self isolation has been required even if someone has had it before.
How high is the incidence of reinfection? I had a positive antibodies result in July. Although I donated blood plasma in September, the antibody level was too low to be of use for trial purposes.
Probably fairly rare. There are around 20 cases recorded in the literature, confirmed to be a second infection on serology. There must be many more without that level of evidence, but compared to the millions of worldwide cases it must be fairly rare.
Farage suggests Boris gets tested tomorrow and goes back to work if it’s negative. Why doesn’t he do this rather than self isolate for however long it is?
Is there even a mechanism for that in test and trace?
For what? Having a test?
Yeah, and skipping the rest of your isolation.
No. I think because the test won't catch you if you are infected but not yet symptomatic.
Loads of people have tested positive with no symptoms haven’t they?
Comments
[Goes off to search for 'downs' on Wikipedia.]
My strong view is that Trump and Brexit, while undoubtedly divisive and unwelcome to many, are the symptom not the cause. Neither would have happened had our "ruling classes" addressed the concerns of large swathes of their populations who were losing out under the western global regime. And sadly, there seems to be little change on this front.
Complete coincidence, I'm sure.
Basically, the better an area did economically in the last four years, the more likely it was to swing to Biden; and the worse it did, the more likely it was for Trump to outperform.
Which is interesting in a bunch of ways. Firstly, in the short-term at least, people are more swayed by rhetoric and the feeling that someone is "on their side", than results. Secondly, it also makes it clear that the "are you doing better than you were" polling will have gotten things wrong for the first time. Simply, the better you did, the more you disliked Trump.
Can you imagine how BORING PoliticalBetting.com would be if there weren't any democratic elections?
Pluralism is something that tends to get scant attention outside of mere name-checking when democracy is discussed.
One of the genuine strengths of Britain is that what was once an uncomfortable necessity became a comfortable national characteristic.
Perhaps we again need to be making more of a conscious effort ?
Deep sleeper?
For larger blocs, it breaks down.
Now, I think there's a good reason for this. In larger blocs, there needs to be something that ties you to the person 400 hundred (or 2,000) miles away. If there isn't a common identity, you struggle.
With a city state, you don't have that issue. Everyone is facing the same challenges, Everyone walks the same streets. You may not all share an ethnicity, a history or a national identity, but because you are all so connected to the entity for your own success, that doesn't matter so much.
It is more the extreme simplistic solutions to complex problems in the form of a 3 word slogan rather than attempting to engage in a grown up debate about priorities and the necessary trade offs.
https://twitter.com/tracey_crouch/status/1328090426331508742
To get a suitable amount of change means a trip to the chippy or the burger van.
Had the so called respectable politicians fulfilled their promises or listened to their constituents, neither would have happened.
What needs explaining to the media?
He must feel quite irked. His best buddies like Vlad can rig theirs, why can't he?
The “racist” lady on the trolley during Blair’s government
The attempt to destroy the livelihoods of JK Rowling and - more successfully - the minor authors who supported her right to free speech
That is not politeness - it’s weaponising language
https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1328074254496227328
https://twitter.com/tconnellyRTE/status/1328074278886060037
I don't think he has since I was about 6.
Thankfully, I think the Overton window has moved to mean that much of what used to get labeled 'political correctness' is now fairly mainstream. I was somewhat surpised and gratified that Greg Clarke's exit from the FA was not greeted with many cries of 'political corectness gone mad'
https://twitter.com/mjs_dc/status/1327056955626708994?s=21
https://twitter.com/mjs_dc/status/1327058197077749761?s=21
https://twitter.com/mjs_dc/status/1327060975045009409?s=2
This guy is on the SCOTUS. Unbelievable.
It's us. The voters.
Hopefully the US will lead the way in showing its a bit more complex than that.
I’m not a fan of Carrie Symonds’ apparent influence on Boris, but I had to laugh when I saw the headline of Dan Hodges’ piece describe her politics as ‘wokery.’ I mean at this point, the term is basically being used to label the politics of anyone whose world view doesn’t resemble Hard Brexiteers.
Anyone who thinks equal marriage as an infringement of free speech is in the latter camp.
I'm not sure why you think I'm talking about Stratton, Don Quixote, but your willingness to leap in defend her honour was stirring.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8950081/British-drugs-giant-Glaxo-millions-doses-vaccine.html
Going to suck for Boris if he can't do the big reveal because he is having to self isolate.
I'm also pointing out the hypocrisy of those who would like to control the speech of others and yet feel no constraint of decency on their own tongues.
Unless you count what I wrote below, about how equal rights are not an infringement of free speech. Is that more woke than BigG's having a fit of vapours over NutNut?
Nothing to do with woke