KLINGON TO THE FUTURE

It is somewhat irrational to assume that the end of the year is the threshold of a new and hopefully improved beginning of a new life. What is nothing more than a change of date is not a new beginning, unless one sees each new day as a new start. Perhaps that is a way of greeting a new day. Life starts today!

 

There are various traditions that are associated with the new year, involving the making of resolutions or a determination to accomplish certain projects or change patterns of behaviour; however, the reality is that resolutions to do things and attempts to improve one’s behaviour can be done at any time, providing one had the resolve to accomplish the desired objective. It is all a matter of will and self-discipline. Nonetheless, all that has gone on before still remains in the memory and cannot be changed. One’s interaction with others is not only one’s own memory but is also embedded in the memory of those we have interacted with, and sometimes evidenced in writing, in photographs or on video and film. Indeed, at the end of a calendar year it is often looked back on and various events and activities are mused over, analysed, extolled or regretted. Certain citizens are marked out for praiseworthy accomplishments and certain dramatic events are noted; however, life goes on and passed events will stay as they are. Simply because a calendar date is chosen for reminiscences, does not actually create change. The pretence that it can or does, is not rational.   

 

In fact, resolutions and declarations of new beginnings can occur at any time, and are a continuing aspect of human culture, even though, on the whole, such resolutions and declarations, more often than not, lead to the same repetitive patterns of behaviour.

 

One need only reminisce on the machinations of the current government to see this in operation. The conservative party has formed a government during the last 12 years. There have been 5 changes of leadership and with each change the chosen leader has declared a new beginning and a reformative change; yet, the ministers in power remain the same. Whatever the electorate is told about progress and change is a complete fabrication, an attempt to deny the truth and gaslight the public into believing that a new and improved government has been formed. They are the same people who have been in place for 12 years. There has been no change and no real determination, will or self-discipline, to improve patterns of behaviour or achieve publicly desired objectives.  They have run the gamut of catastrophe. As the new year begins, I can only hope that some semblance of decency and realisation envelops the current leadership and a general election is called in the spring. May would be the perfect time. That is my fantasy.

 

The reality is that they will cling on. They are indeed very akin to the fantasy species created in Star Trek, the Klingons, who are described as prideful, ruthless and brutal, practicing feudalism and authoritarianism, a warrior caste relying on slave labour. If that is not a fair description of the current conservative party in power it is pretty close. Klingon by name, cling on by nature. They even have their own language. One only need compare the “I have a dream” speech between Suella Braverman and Martin Luther King Jr to note the difference in tone between human beings and Klingons.

So, the UK Enterprise goes boldly into 2023 with aliens at the helm. The result of this is a ship floundering through the cosmos with no direction, shedding its valued institutions and principles as it trundles on. There is no mutiny in place, only an acquiescent crew hoping that, in the near future, new officers and captain will replace those currently on the bridge.

As I turned on my computer this morning, it flashed up a number of “memories” in the form of collections of pictures taken over a number of years. The collection for the 18^th May 2013 turned up a visit to Strasbourg and the European Court of Human Rights. It is simply labelled “Droits de L’Homme” = “Rights of Man” or “Human Rights”. Why any country would seek to disassociate from the court is baffling, particularly when that country’s citizens were the first true champions of such rights.  It also threw up photos of Christmas past:

 

MIDDLE CLASS ANGST

I am still in that frame of mind asking myself “What am I to do?”. Conversations with others that touch on the politics of the United Kingdom and United States are problematic. Both of these nations have the conceit to label themselves as United. They proclaim that the various areas of the country form a union of people that are so connected together as to form a completely united nation. It proclaims that the leadership elected by the people has the backing of the entire populace and therefore a mandate to rule. How often have we heard an elected representative claim they will represent all the people of their constituency, not just those in their party or those who voted for them.  A promise given to assuage those who might have any doubts as to the genuine commitment of the elected person to fulfil their resposibility towards public service.

 

(It might be noted that Donald Trump has, so far as I am aware, never subscribed to the notion that he would be president for all citizens. He has always maintained he only supports those who support him. As to the notion of being a hero, his latest release of superhero digital trading cards, at $99 a throw, is an instance in point as to how far into fantasy land he has descended. His supporters are equally deluded)

 

As some nations have formed and developed towards civilised democracy under the rule of law, their governments, on the whole, have tried to move the nation towards greater democracy and the furtherance of a civilised society under the rule of law. There have been peaks and troughs that have caused significant upheavals along the way. The acquisition and control of power in government is always a vexed question. The electorate can sometimes be bamboozled into a way of thinking that the vision of a particular would be leader, or national hero, is the very pinnacle of where the society ought to be heading. As a result, democracy falls by the wayside until such time as circumstances remove the obstruction. The obstructionists today are Putin, Lukashenko, Orban, and a number of others. Donald Trump is an obstruction not yet quite removed, although there are hopeful signs of an expungement.

 

There are moments however, when it is not a single individual controlling power, but a political party that comes into power, abuses its position, and stubbornly refuses to let go. It hangs on in the hope of maintaining its grip over the electorate. Whatever the makeup of the party, acting as a collective, it can remain in office so long as the terms and conditions of its election allow, or, it can dispense with the terms and conditions and forcibly, or defiantly, remain in power.  That has been the case following the so-called elections in Belarus, Russia, and possibly Hungary and any other country where parties and certain individuals have extended their power to circumvent the wishes of the electorate.   

 

Whatever nationalists and isolationists may think about their sovereignty, the nations of the world are clearly interdependent. The current pandemic, the war in the Ukraine, the after-effects of Brexit, the difficulties in the Far and Middle East, all leading to economic conundrum around the world, have demonstrated beyond doubt that nations can no longer function efficiently without co-operation. The difficulties facing countries having to deal with external problems as of necessity to cope with the effects on its internal problems are exceedingly problematic.

 

It is all very well for a government to blame outside forces for its inability to cope with its domestic problems and failures to secure and maintain its economic security. Blame is not a solution and it must find a way towards resolving those outside issues as well as the internal ones. It must accept its part in the failure of bringing nations together and work towards remedying that fault. A self-centred nation cannot hope to survive.

 

Coming back to my conversations with others, it is clear that the Kingdom and the States are far from United and that their electoral systems can allow for a minority to decide on the accession to public office of any individual. Indeed, the plurality of political parties or points of view of candidates for office, shows just how diverse or disunited the nations actually are.

 

So the information I am being given makes it clear that there are some, amongst my friends and acquaintances, who take a view that is contrary to my own. There is a right-of-centre element that is being expressed, or should I say, a more severe appreciation of the situation. Their view of sentencing for criminal activity is more severe, as is their view on industrial action. They may not speak highly of the current conservative leadership but are very specific in their condemnation of those politicians who purport to be on the left side of the political spectrum.  In short, their dissatisfaction sees some degree of support (so far as US politics are concerned) for the likes of Ron DeSantis.  This is not exactly a move away from dangerous conservative thinking. It is certainly not a move towards the centre, but very much a move to the right. So disconcerted am I to hear such comment, that I do not speak for fear of causing alienation and discord.  It comes back to “what am I to do?”. Perhaps I need to rethink my own perspective of what I expect my representatives, at all levels of government, to do.

 

I accept that we live in a market economy; however, the economy can only function at its best when all citizens are free and able to partake in that economy. In order to be free and able, the citizens must have certain guaranteed human rights, which include mental and physical wellbeing, education, employment, security and the ability to speak out, protest, and subscribe to whatever religious belief they choose, or not, as the case may be. This requires some adjustments to the free market. Certain regulations need to be in place in order to maintain those freedoms and support those individuals who are less fortunate than some, and less able to take advantage of the freedoms of opportunity available in the marketplace. There are those who would argue for very few regulations, supposedly to encourage the market and let it thrive. They would see some of the rights, that I ascribe to individuals as necessary human rights, as commodities rightly open to the marketplace, such as health, education and security.

 

Most democratic societies see primary education of its citizens as a necessity and is therefore provided by the state along with a requirement that the citizen must ensure their children attend some form of primary education. Beyond that, some states have seen fit to subsidise further education to a lesser or greater degree, with some expense down to the student. Higher education is open to the market place. Similarly with health, the state sees fit to provide physical and mental health to it citizens whilst additionally allowing for the market place to take part in the provision of medical services. Some countries feel it is entirely a matter for the market; the increasing costs being covered through the insurance market, a necessary adjunct to the market place to cover the various risks which can occur from time to time. Security is likewise a mixed bag. The security of the nation is provided and paid for by the state’s standing armed forces. Domestic security and policing are also provided by state and local government, although, again, private security is available. As to housing security, this is on the whole a matter for the market place although some housing assistance is of necessity provided by the state or local authority.

 

Given the complexities of a modern democratic state, it is clear that Government at all levels have, of necessity for all its citizens, a duty to provide all manner of assistance, including health, welfare, housing and education.  Public servants are elected to provide for and manage these matters. It must also ensure that the market place operates fairly and with integrity, hence regulations on goods and consumer protection.

 

The idea of a completely free open market place is therefore always going to be subject to some form of regulation. It cannot be otherwise. The balance is between compromise and necessity. What is essential to the citizen and what is open for trade is the question. For some, there are more essentials not open to trade than others. For others, some essentials are open to trade regardless of others. It is all a matter of compromise.

 

What we currently have in western democracies is a variety of governments providing all the necessities with various degrees of success, and all of them have similar societal problems which result from the market place, including poverty and homelessness. As an example, New York is the richest state in the United States and New York City has the highest rate of homelessness of any city in the United States. So what is not being done to allow for this incongruity? It is the same in most of the large capitals of Europe. It is certainly true of London.

 

There are many countries around the world seeking solutions for the problems of democracy and I fear that some of the solutions are becoming more severe and drastic, with certain elements in societies being scapegoated yet again and being blamed for the state's inability to find real solutions.  This is not a healthy sign. In most of the democratic nations, nationalists are assuming that militant nationalism, super patriotism and me first politics are the answer. “Clear out the debris and all will be well”. “Lock up the problem and throw away the key”.

 

I, for one, am not ready to agree to this course of action. So in my middle class angst I wonder what compromises I will have to make or ought to make, if any. What am I to do?

  

It is a truth universally acknowledged that people just want to be able to get on with their lives and to be in possession of good fortune. That is to be able to go about one’s business without fear, in security and freedom. To have a roof over one’s head, having satisfying employment, be able to amble down the pub, meet with friends, go shopping, go for a meal, go to the theatre or cinema, play or watch sport, go for a walk, have a nice holiday and a myriad of other activities, or not as the case may be. The freedom to choose would be nice. In this day and age everyone should have that choice, but everyone does not. Wouldn’t it be nice if they did?

 

In questo periodo dell'anno buona fortuna a tutti

 

MORE ON JAMES CLEVERLY

I see that I am not the only one disturbed by the Foreign Secretary's little display of robust support of human rights. There is an excellent piece by Dan Dolan in today's Guardian. He is director of policy and advocacy at Reprieve, a legal charity that works against grave human rights abuses. It is well worth a read.

It can be found at:  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/dec/12/uk-foreign-secretary-rights-abuses-states-james-cleverley

WHA' DO YA SAY, WHA' DO YA DO ?

Do they not realize what they are saying and doing? Do they not hear themselves or question what they do at all? The level of contradictory statements and actions of United Kingdom government ministers is staggering. The latest piece by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly in the Guardian is classic. 

He speaks of “new powers’ not previously available pre Brexit. Just what prevented the United Kingdom Parliament from speaking out and taking action against activities by foreign, or domestic individuals, calculated to deprive citizens of human rights around the world, at any time in its history?  What “new powers” has he discovered? Parliament has always had the power to sanction foreign dictators or expel undesirable aliens. Nothing has ever prevented that from happening.  

 

To claim the high ground on supporting human rights through allegedly new post-Brexit powers, whilst at the same time supporting legislation to curtail the hard fought for human rights of taking industrial action, or protesting injustice, or stopping the disastrous effects of climate change, or simply being able to walk the streets without arbitrarily being stopped and searched, is taking hypocrisy to extremes. This is on top of supporting the inhuman and dangerous proposition of deporting immigrants to Rwanda.

 

That policy, which was supposed to strike fear in the hearts of refugees seeking security across the channel, and thus robbing the traffickers of their trade, has had little success. Freezing bank accounts of very rich people is hardly fear-striking activity. The monies will accrue interest and at some point will have to be unfrozen, making the rich even richer. But then, that is the main premise of this conservative government to begin with, to make the rich richer. Actually confiscating and appropriating the frozen funds for purposes of funding the NHS and other beneficial human activity for Citizens of United Kingdom would be more appropriate as a means of striking fear. That would be a truly great windfall tax. Selling off a yacht (£460 million for Abramovich’s yacht) could easily provide a decent salary for a few nurses.  That could provide a £50,000 annual salary for 184 nurses, each, for 50 years.

 

So do not speak so proudly of freezing an oligarch’s bank account whilst freezing the pay of nurses to below inflation levels.  I ask again, do they not realize what they are saying and doing?

 

 

TO GRIN AND BEAR

INTERIOR – SITTING ROOM AT WINDYRIDGE

Sergeant Bassett and Hawkins playing chess.

                                                HAWKINS

            What am I to do?………Wait a minute, of course, that’s what I’ll do.

Moves pawn forward. (Note: He is not thinking about chess)

 

A point in a scene from the film, The Green Man (1956) with Alastair Sim, Cyril Chamberlain, George Cole, Jill Adams, Colin Gordon, Terry-Thomas, Dora Bryan, Raymond Huntley, Eileen Moore, Avril Angers, John Chandos and other assorted wonderful actors including Vivien Wood, Marie Burke and Lucy Griffiths as the extraordinary trio in the lounge of The Green Man at New Cliffe run by Landlord Arthur Brough.  George Cole’s character is called William Blake and Terry-Thomas plays Charles Boughtflower.  A film well worth digging out and watching again.

 

As to the question and sentiment “What am I to do?”, this is something we ask ourselves every morning on waking. This is sometimes followed by a kind of eureka moment with “Of course, that’s what I’ll do”, although, more often, it is followed by an extended period of indecision and unease. One might think one lives in a perpetual state of unease.

 

Given the current state of the world, “What am I to do?” is a question hanging over our heads. It applies in all areas of our life, particularly as one gets older. One is no longer wanted in the workplace, and one’s ailments are in the main so routine, that they are brushed aside as quickly as possible by the receptionists and other support staff within local surgeries and hospitals. There is no question that they are polite and express a desire to be helpful. For the most part, they are extremely helpful with patients, if a bit brusque at times. They tend to admonish and treat the patients they consider elderly as children. They forget that none of us want to be patients at all.

 

There are medical conditions that spring up in the course of any human life. Conditions that are not desired or hoped for. One does not expect any of these conditions to occur, although some may be inevitable, they are not anticipated or prepared for. One gets a flu shot or other vaccinations to prevent disease, but there are certain bodily functions for which there is no vaccination. There is medication to ease the symptoms or pain, but, as yet, there is no cure for cancer nor any medication that will prevent it from occurring. It is difficult to predict or plan for an enlarged prostate. It does not happen to everyone; but, again these are medical conditions that no one wants or plans to acquire. Maybe there are people who enjoy going to see their doctor or being referred to a consultant at a hospital, but I do not know many such persons. The majority want nothing to do with them.  

 

The fact that things happen and we have to place ourselves in the hands of the NHS is not part of the life plan. That they are there is utterly brilliant. That, given the numbers they have to deal with, they are an amazing service to the public. Their achievements are legendary, but occasionally the system fails, they are, after all, only human. The patients are also only human, and sometimes frustration sets in when things seem to go awry. Simple misunderstandings can cause consternation and upset, which helps no one and leaves both medical staff and patient with that question in the air “What am I to do?”.  

 

We all long for that eureka moment when a performative act leads to pain relief, a condition cured or a situation resolved. Somehow it is what we expect our medical practitioners to perform each time we see or speak with them. Not only are we reassured but are also cured and signed off as “treatment completed”.  Nature does not allow for this to happen on any regular basis. For the most part, our medical staff can only offer reassurance. They can hold our hands and console us. They can be empathetic and caring. Every now and again they can be triumphant. Eureka.  

 

I am on the whole very pleased with my local practice and my local GP, but there are times when I am left with “What am I to do?”. Some of my friends are not at all fully operational. Due to a variety of ailments and complications, some have restricted movement, diminished ability to communicate and consequently required additional assistance at their homes. This is only possible through a system of social care beyond the local surgery or hospital. It is all part and parcel of the same health service. Their condition must lead to a greater or lesser degree of frustration that affects their carers and family. It is, in a way, inevitable.  It is hoped that, with the assistance of these carers, physio and speech therapists, they will be able, at some point, to resume what for them was normal movement and better communications. It is hoped. One can only offer support. What else can we do?

 

To grin and bear it comes to mind. Of course that’s what I’ll do. I guess I’ll be doing that for the rest of my life, and in view of what’s gone on up until now, probably not for very much longer. Tee hee.

This is me grinning and bearing. Note the Mona Lisa smile"

PAUSE FOR THOUGHT

The current turmoil, and personal distress, is only alleviated by the partial failure of the Republican Party in the United States to gain ascendency in the Federal Government. What has happened will clearly make things difficult for the next two years, despite some of the small, but effective, advances of Mr Biden’s government. He has difficulty enough keeping his own party on board, and according to polls, he is not well appreciated, and the disgruntled have expected more from him. Whatever economic package he has enabled is clearly not enough to rally the troops. 

 

I cannot claim to be fully conversant with what is going on in America, save that the election results were not as bad as some thought they would be. What I am aware of – the defeat of Kari Lake and the success of various democratic politicians in holding on to or gaining office – is actually pretty minimal, given the size of and scope of the mid-term elections. 

 

I am also out of touch with the activities of the Vice President. She does not seem to be very newsworthy in the UK and I find it difficult to subscribe to US online newspapers (It’s really about spending pounds for dollars and my meanness). Given the age appropriateness of running for President in 2024, I would have thought Trump and Biden would be out of it. This would leave Mr DeSantis or some other Republican stalwart against a Democratic candidate, which, all being well, should be Kamala Harris. As Vice-President she would be best placed to carry on; however, what the current view of her around the country might be, is a question. Would she have the appropriate backing in two years’ time?  She seems absent at present.  

 

Whilst, I appreciate Mr Biden would like a second term, his age and condition, I would have thought, should make him pause and reflect. He really should step back from another term and do what he can to assist the next Democratic Party candidate in being elected, whether that be Ms Harris or some other younger and worthy candidate. It would be sensible to start the process now and raise a few profiles before the electorate. I do not know if that is feasible in the time, but common sense dictates that ought to be the next course of action for the party. 

 

To have a rehash of 2020 between Mr Trump and Mr Biden is a colossal disaster in the making. Who knows what infamy Trump will stoop to, to get elected. He has already started with sarcastic references to Ron DeSanctimoniuous. I doubt if he even knows what it means. In any event any prospective candidate would have more moral integrity than Mr Trump who has none at all. Actually he is a match for integrity with Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Matt Gaetz, Kari Lake. Indeed, so many republicans lack any character whatsoever. which is why one would have thought the Democratic Party would have little worry about regaining a comfortable majority in both houses of Congress. 

 

Given the current nature of the political scene in the United States, common sense or logic, have no place. The gullibility and deliberately stubborn ignorance of a large number of voters is staggering. They have swallowed the lies and deceit promulgated by Mr Trump and his acolytes, with gluttonous gulps, like giant vultures shoving smaller predators aside. The unfortunate carcass left behind is the Constitution of the United States. 

 

It is difficult to predict or assess just how things will progress across the country in the next couple of years, but the very fact of Trump blowing his trumpet, followed by the brown nosing crowd referred to above, will be a colossal distraction from whatever beneficial program Mr Biden and his government might deploy. If that distraction is allowed to succeed due to over attention by the media, then any success the democratic party might enjoy will dissolve.   America will become a fantasy land, a broken country in the hands of the barbarians.

 

It is a shame all this is playing out during a particularly difficult time for the rest of the world, what with the crisis in the Ukraine, problems in the European Union as a result and the current seemingly unsolvable mess in the United Kingdom. Just at a time when strong cohesive leadership from the United States and its allies would be a saving grace things have fallen apart.

Internal problems in the UK are near catastrophic and hence any attention directed outside this state of affairs is virtually non-existent. Any current British government has little choice but to concentrate on the home front, to try to bring some form of cohesion and stability back. Only then can whatever skills it might still possess be applied to problems beyond its borders.  The isolationists still hold sway as a result of which the United Kingdom has suffered beyond expectations. The blind refusal to accept the disaster of Brexit coupled with foreign pandemonium has brought the country to possible ruin, with inflation and recession apparently beyond control. We are stuck with an ineffectual government which refuses to give way for at least another two years and there is nothing within the current constitution to force a general election for change before that time is up. When it does finally give way, the next government will be very hard pressed to do anything to save the situation and save it, it must. Just what the Labour Party can or are hoping to do, remains a mystery. Like Lawrence of Arabia and his fifty men seizing Aqaba from behind to work a miracle for Prince Faisal in the First Great War, Keir Starmer (should it be him) and his cabinet must find a way to work a miracle for the people of Britain,  Finding the way and getting there will be just as great a task.

 

LEND ME YOUR EARS

Remembrance Sunday’s long march past the Cenotaph in Whitehall included the RAF’s Linguistic Association, which was apparently formed in the 1950’s.  The post of linguist is actually as an intelligence analyst, abbreviated as - Int An (L). It involves interpreting, analysing and disseminating intelligence.

“You will listen to intercepted foreign voice transmissions, using state-of-the-art receiving and recording systems. From this you will provide valuable intelligence about actual or potential adversaries and their strengths, weaknesses, movements and locations. There is also the opportunity to act as an interpreter for troops on the ground, translating from native speakers. You will learn at least one foreign language to a high degree of proficiency and will spend much of your RAF life honing these skills or learning new ones.”

Languages include just about every language on the planet, and although listening to Nepalese or Bhutanese intelligence may be problematic, it is at least very thorough. It should also be noted that MI5 have a language section. They Claim:

 

“Whether spoken by millions or whispered by a few, we know the power of language. MI5 needs people who can speak, understand and listen to a wide range of languages and dialects. The ability to work in one or more language is a vital skill which helps us in our daily efforts to keep the country safe. As a Foreign or English Language Analyst you will be listening to and analysing a wide range of audio material which will assist and support our teams of investigators. Not only do our Foreign Language Analysts listen, translate and analyse information, they also provide expert insight into a country’s culture, political landscape and history.”

 

The RAF require applicants who:

Must have been a citizen of the United Kingdom since birth or a dual British Irish citizen.

Be aged 17.5 – 47 years old (Must attest before 48th birthday)

Attendance at a specialist interview, briefing and testing is mandatory for all candidates. This will include the Modern Languages Aptitude Test (MLAT) and an interview with Phase 2 Training Instructors.

A UK driving licence is desirable.

 

There is also a fitness test, including a 2,4 km run and numbers of press-ups and sit-ups within 60 seconds.  This is quite apart from the body mass index requirements for all RAFD candidates.

 

MI5, on the other hand, set up a listening challenge. They say:

 

There are few jobs more rewarding – or important – than these front-line intelligence roles. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, our team of English Language Analysts listen to lawfully intercepted telephone conversations and eavesdropping product, picking out essential information that will help us counter terrorism across the UK.

They come from a wide range of backgrounds – but they all have the ability to process information quickly and the adaptability to work in an operational environment where things change rapidly. They’re the kind of people who don’t miss a thing, who can listen for hours on end without losing concentration and stay calm under pressure.

We have developed a quiz that reflects the nature of the work of our English Language Analysts to enable you to assess your suitability for the role. Take this challenge to check your listening skills and ability to recall detail.

 

Try it. Go to  https://www.mi5.gov.uk/careers/opportunities/languages  scroll down the page and you come to Listening Challenge and click to begin from there.

 

This is just an English Language Test. One would have to be extremely fluent in a foreign language if doing a similar test; however, given the technology available, in particular to military and covert organisations, most conversations of the kind that would interest these services, would be recorded, even those taking place in the open where directional microphones can be used.   So memory and attention to detail, although important, are greatly assisted by replay.

 

Of course, the Air Force and MI5 are not the only organisations listening to the world. The Navy and the Army are just as involved and will have their own people, as, of course, the CIA, the SVR RF or Служба внешней разведки Российской Федерации, successor to the KGB. If you cannot read the Cyrillic it’s: Sluzhba vneshney razvedki Rossiyskoy Federatsii.

The French currently have ten active agencies: DGSE, DGSI, DRM, TRACFIN, DRSD, BRGE, DCPJ, CNCTR, SCRT and SNRP. One need only go to Wikipedia for a list of security agencies round the world: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_intelligence_agencies.

 

There are jobs galore for linguists of every description, and as to the technicians, one need only look at the List of intelligence gathering disciplines: HUMINT, GEOINT, MASINT. OSINT. SIGNINT, TECHINT, CYBINT/DNINT. FININT. There is also, cryptanalysis, meteorological intelligence, operations security, spy satellite and traffic analysis (This is probably associated with TEMPEST which is a US National Security Agency specification and a NATO certification referring to spying on information systems through leaking emanations, including unintentional radio or electronic signals, sounds and vibrations. TEMPEST covers both methods to spy upon others and how to shield equipment against such spying).

 

As to traffic, the invisible electronic traffic through the air is clearly vast. I would guess one only has to have the appropriate antennae or sensor to be deluged with conversation to sift through. So much listening by so many organisations with such little result in understanding. It is not surprising that listeners briefed to hear one specific thing miss out on so much else that might be of real value to a more united world.  These organisations are not customer service centres set up to deal with complaints or requests in order to improve the customer’s situation. They are set up to infiltrate, disrupt and eliminate. They are the guardians of power with a remit to find any and all threats against that power, all the while claiming it is for the security of the citizen.

 

Indeed some of it may be concerned with security of the citizen, and it may be that there is so much animosity in the air that it is easier to try to crush it rather than alleviate it. Some would try to do both, but the amount of emphasis and money placed on crushing adversity far outweighs the emphasis on alleviating and eliminating the causes of adversity.

 

Speaking of adversity, it has now been confirmed (I think) that the Governor of Arizona will be Katie Hobbs and that Kari Lake’s Trump supporting, election denying, Trump sponsored effort has been eliminated. It is not quite over, but it is over. There are a variety of videos on YouTube and elsewhere showing her speaking and attacking the press and election officials of the State of Arizona, but not a thing about any policies (other than so called lection reform) which might deal with the problems faced by the people of Arizona.

 

1,128,046 of 6,654,096 residents reported income levels below the poverty line in the last year.

The poverty rate in Arizona is 17.0%. One out of every 5.9 residents of Arizona lives in poverty. Arizona ranks 43rd in Poverty Rate at 17.0% (poverty rankings by state). The poverty Rate of Arizona is moderately higher than the national average of 14.6%.

The saddest part of the Republican Party is their complete lack of desire to discuss the pressing needs of the citizens they purport to represent. Whenever you see Kari Lake addressing a crowd she goes on about election mismanagement and attacks on the media who dare to question her grasp of reality. It was only about getting elected on the basis that she was an acolyte of Donald Trump. There was no discussion of what she proposed for the citizens of Arizona. There was no discussion whatsoever of what she would do to deal with the problems of unemployment, homelessness (although low by comparison to other states) or poverty and the serioust social problems resulting. This was across the board. The sole message was the democrats are demons and only we can save our country. Save the country from what? Platitudes and aggressive rhetoric were all that the Republican Party represented. Fists in the air, and opponents get out. Trump himself extoling violence against dissenters, a mantra picked up by the likes of Kari Lake, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and many others. The hardliner approach to representation. We are kickass people. How is it that so many Americans not only swallow this nonsense but appear to admire it?  Kari Lake received 49.6% of the vote. That is only just short of Katie Hobbs’s 50.4%.

 

The even sadder thing is that this attitude seems to be catching. In the United Kingdom, Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s expressing her dreams of deporting thousands of refugees to Rwanda is an instance in point. Taking a tough line has become de rigueur. Isolationism is the current concept of good governance.

 

Gordon Brown has written an opinion piece in the Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/15/nationalism-world-crisis-rishi-sunak-joe-biden-g20  -    It is well worth a read.

 

 

RAISE YOUR HACKLES

In his Wednesday 9^th November sketch in the Guardian, John Crace writes about Mr Sunak’s performance during Prime Ministers Question in the House of Commons. On the website, there are also a couple of videos showing clips of the exchanges between Mr Sunak and Mr Starmer, leader of the opposition.  Mr Crace also pointed out that, during their banter Mr Sunak made reference to Jeremy Corbyn:

 

Rishi hurriedly tried to change the subject. Yeahbutnobutyeahbutno. At least the British people trusted the Tories to run the economy. Cue outright laughter as the Labour leader pointed out that it had been the Conservatives who had crashed the economy and that no one in their right mind would bet on them fixing it. Sunak visibly winced. Wishing he could dematerialise. All he could do was mutter “But Jeremy Corbyn”. The third week he’d done that and a sure sign he was completely out of ideas. Maybe Corbyn does live rent-free in Sunak’s head.

 

I find it rather sad that a session of Parliament is devoted each week to this rather pointless exercise in politicians trying to score public school debating points off each other, or making ridiculous promotional statements beginning with “Does the Prime Minister agree with me…”

 

I, a rather naïve immigrant to the United Kingdom, was led to believe, when it was first explained to me, that Prime Minister’s Questions were expressly to hold the Government to account to the British Public. It was to enable elected representatives to enquire how the government was progressing with problems arising concerning their constituents. It was meant to be a forum enabling the public to keep the government in check and relevant to all local communities.  I have found, over the years, that it has very little to do with that, although on very rare occasions it does actually produce a specific question which receives a specific and edifying answer. These are normally questions submitted in advance and in writing; however, on the whole it is the scoring points public school and university club debating session. This includes the barracking and braying behind the various thrusts.

 

What is even sadder is that the one person who tried to change the session and bring it back to what it was intended to be, was Jeremy Corbyn. He had actually invited his constituents and the general public to send him question he could put to the prime minister on their behalf. It was a genuine attempt at democratic communication between the electorate and government. He was of course treated as a feeble fool, derided and shouted down. That was over a decade ago. So why bring him up at all in today’s political debate?

 

For some reason, it is brought up like some sort of slur against anyone who might have given him support. Jeremy Corbyn was never leader of a government. He never had his policies or ideas tested in government. He had no influence on anything the labour government did whilst in power before the conservative party took hold of government twelve years ago. He has not ever been a prime minister. So what is the problem? Why is he demonised? He has never demonstrated anything but the highest integrity. You may not like his views or approach to certain political points of view, but he has always tried to explain and clarify his opinion in clam and rational thought. This makes him seem feeble except to those thousands of young people who actually listened to what he had to say and supported him for labour party leader. They did not shut him out as so many in the parliamentary labour party, and many local constituency labour party members, did.

 

Nothing Jeremy Corbyn has done has ever caused harm to the country, has ever brought about austerity, has ever crashed the economy, has ever brought about raging inflation and crises in energy or for that matter and any crisis at all. He has always stood up for peace and human rights for every individual. His message has always been in support of the underprivileged and the underrepresented. He has not been popular in some of the causes he has supported, but he has always been clear about why he supports a particular cause. That clarity of course depends on whether one actually listens to what he says as opposed to dismissing it out of hand, which is the usual reaction of his detractors. His language is reasonably clear, so why is he understood by so few? Why does he appeal to a younger ear? I find it difficult to explain or understand.

 

Many will of course disagree with my view. but why the conservative front bench should keep referencing ‘…but Jeremy Corbyn’ is a complete mystery. But Jeremy Corbyn what? You fucking supported Boris Johnson!

 

It is of course useless and unhelpful to go back over stuff we should have got over by now, but if does make the hackles rise. Hackles by the way are the hairs on the back of an animal’s neck or the feathers on the necks of cockerels. They visibly rise up when the creature becomes excited or aggressive. When the expression to raise one’s hackles came into use is debateable. Perhaps it should be discussed during Prime Minister’s Questions. It is certainly something that one sees constantly happening during the course of that half hour, so why not bring it up?

 

It is most certainly applicable to the current state of affairs in the United States. Katie Hobbs is still narrowly ahead of Kari Lake in the race for Governor of Arizona. I would very much rejoice if Kari Lake loses.  She will of course demand a recount. It is something that is likely to run for several weeks. She will behave like her mentor Mr Trump. On the other hand should she scrape in, it will be a terrible blow for Arizona and my hackles will rise is despair.

 

The democrats have to some degree maintained a semblance of form, but it is a tragedy that so many people have seen fit to put the congress in the hands of a populist and repressive group of people whose only desire is to prevent progress in the United States and minimise Government to enable the mob to once again rule the country. It is a return of the wild west, only this time with armour piercing automatic weaponry. They will only succeed in Making America Gross Again and Putin will continue to run roughshod around the Ukraine. It is no time to look to the heavens and intone “Forgive them Lord…” because they know exactly what they are doing.

 

Governor Ron DeSantis made things very clear in his speech railing against woke people and woke ideology of all kinds. Woke is defined by the American Free Dictionary as a slang adjective meaning “aware of the injustice of the social system in which one lives” "The phenomenon of being woke is a cultural push to challenge problematic norms, systemic injustices and the overall status quo through complete awareness" (Raven Cras).

 

What is wrong with trying to eliminate injustice in society? So Mr DeSantis’s call is to negate the desire to eliminate injustice in society. He declaims it loudly and publicly and is roundly praised for upholding injustice. What does that say about this Republican champion?  It should be noted that chain gangs are once again used in Florida as well as Arizona., Does this seem like progress?

The degree of injustice still existing in the United States is probably no different from that in the United Kingdom. Woke, BLM and a variety of terms and groups have proliferated round the world. One aspect revealed by the current report on Policing in the United Kingdom has shown shortcomings that have gone on for far too long. Massive reorganisation is required to re-establish trust between the police force and the public.  Injustice and discrimination of all kinds need to be addressed and not dismissed. That a politician, purporting to present himself as a viable candidate for the position of President of the United States, should loudly and proudly proclaim his disdain for awareness of injustice, is, in my view, a rather dangerous proposition. Even the arch bully in the playground Donald Trump warns that he will reveal things about Mr DeSantis that will cut him down, should he dare to attempt to usurp his position as top dog. One is just as nasty as the other. 

 

 

What future is in store for us all is decidedly continually in the balance. Qatar, which has a hopeless human rights record, a community primitive in the extreme, has been chosen to host the World Cup. This has now been recognised as a mistake, but one that it is too late to rectify. There is strife and war in Africa and in Middle Europe which will likely go on for some time. There are nationalist governments forming round the globe in an attempt to re-erect barriers that one thought had long been dispensed with. Political divisions are once again verging on serious violence. Has the increased heat gone to everyone’s head? Even the recognition of impending climate catastrophe is causing anger and violence amongst a group of middle class people who would normally just march through the streets with their children in push chairs, holding up banners. Their hackles have been raised and they are gluing themselves to roads, museum walls and artworks of distinction.

 

Climate change is not just an environmental catastrophe but appears to have affected all of society as well, in ways that were not at all expected. A lurch towards conservative repression and isolation is hardly an answer, and in fact exceedingly detrimental to dealing with the problem. The Secretary-General to the United Nations, António Guterres, may preach all he likes, but in the face of the current trend, he might just as well glue himself to his podium for all the effect his words have had.  Clearly what goes on at COP27 stays at COP27. Why else would Boris Johnson be there.   

 

So, if you catch a rooster puffing out the feathers round its neck, take heed, you might be in for a rough time. Of course you can always wring its neck, pluck its feathers and put it in a pot with lots of nice wine, a bouquet garni, a few shallots, leeks, carrots, mushrooms and baby potatoes, let it simmer for a couple of hours, open another nice bottle of wine and settle down to a nice lunch.  The wine will help soften the blow of the extra cost for the energy used during the two hours cooking time.  Bon appetite.

GOOD LUCK AMERICA

The anxiety levels do not abate. The build-up, results and effects of the midterm elections in the United States and the continuing entropy of the current government of the United Kingdom have much in common. The political and economic divisions within these two countries are not far off bringing about a serious deterioration in public order. Matters of time and tide spring to mind. Taking action at the flood, seizing the opportunity at the right moment to bring things together, appears to be as elusive as ever.

 

In the United States, since the November election of 2020 there has been a vicious and consistent poisonous bile emanating from a pustule in the brain of Donald Trump which has caused untold damage in the psyche of millions of American citizens, blocking out any intelligent or rational thought. This venom is well exposed in a PBS documentary entitled Lies. Politics and Democracy produced, written (with Mike Wiser) and directed by Michael Kirk as part of the series Frontline on PBS. I do not know what sort of audience it has had in the United States, but it should have been required viewing across the nation.

 

The savagery of some Republican politicians was also depicted on the BBC.  In a section on Newsnight, during an interview with the Republican candidate for Governor, Kari Lake, her response to simple questions by a BBC reporter “If you think you can come over here and tell us how to run our elections, you’ve got another thing coming”.  There are a number of interviews on You Tube with this woman, detailing her unbelievable refusal to hear any facts which conflict with her false assertions and beliefs. Her responses to questions are a complete denial of reality. She makes claims that are entirely without foundation. What she chooses to believe is her entire persona, and it is without any substance.  She is in effect an empty vessel, yet appears to be the preferred candidate.  

 

I still do not understand how any woman in America, after hearing Donald Trump’s comments about pussy grabbing and other ‘locker room’ comment, can have anything to do with him. He is a narcissistic condescending psychopath. What is there to admire?

 

Equally, I continue to not understand why he is still at large and has not been brought before a court of law. His continued assault on the principles of democracy and the constitution of the United States over the last two years is beyond any reasonable person’s patience. Why is he still flourishing? Why does it appear to many of us, watching from abroad, that the American Public is the most narrow minded, ignorant, stupid, and violence prone citizenry on the planet.

 

There are citizens, some of whom appear in the PBS documentary mentioned above, who decry some of what is going on in the United States, but, for some reason they appear to be in a minority; hence; the anxiety and dread that I feel. I hope I am wrong.

 

As to the choices and judgement of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vis a vis the United Kingdom, the chaos continues to mount. The attempt by the present conservative cabinet to lay blame on previous conservative cabinets, and claiming to be able to fix things, is schizophrenic in the extreme. The current cabinet were, in the main, part of the previous three cabinets.  It’s a bit like “The Three Faces of Eve” - déjà vu, all over again (to quote Yogi Berra). The British (English in particular) have always been viewed, by the rest of the world, as eccentric and perhaps a little mad; but, to what extent our current leaders fit into this mould is a matter of speculation as they are a diverse group of people. That they are so diverse is a good thing, but the unfortunate part is that their overall thinking is seriously flawed, as they have no real idea of how to go about dealing with the present problems facing the United Kingdom. I say this as they show little evidence of providing solutions for the problems their previous incarnations have created in the NHS, Education, police departments, public transport and any number of other areas where Central Government have an interest.

 

What should be happening in the UK is a general election. Mr Sunak would like very much to present a budget on the 17^th November that he believes will provide a safe platform on which to keep his government alive till at least 2024 or January 2025. He is hoping that the pressure to call an election will be removed and the opposition parties will give his economic strategy, if he really has one, a chance to take hold and bring about some sort of renaissance which could mean a lift in the polls. This would give him the confidence to call an election. He is relying on some sort of momentum from the 17^th of this month to propel him to success. His problems will not be resolved unless he can secure serious improvements in the performance of the NHS, a clear progression with the teachers and transport unions, as well as the civil service. Serious progress on making affordable homes available is also necessary.  The price of groceries matters as well, as just keeping a hold on energy bills is a one trick pony and nowhere near enough.

 

The 17th November is a day to be reckoned with. The firm of Sunak & Hunt may fall very short of the mark. On verra.

 

But for now we wait to see what choices the citizens of the United States have made to somehow bring their government representatives back together, or split them apart even further. I suspect accusations and recriminations will abound.  The country will either descend into a form of anarchy, should the Democrats hold and gain seats, or a complete disintegration of democratic freedom and eventual dictatorship of the right, should the evangelical republicans gain ascendence. We could be seeing the fascist state being reborn in the western hemisphere, with an arsenal of nuclear weapons at its disposal, just as in the current Russia of Vladimir Putin. What price or chance climate change then? Good luck America.