A NOTE FROM CALIFORNIA

It is very nice to get comment in response to the blog. In effect it's the only indication that anyone is bothering to read it even though the statistics of page views suggests that people are looking at it. Looking at, reading and responding are quite different matters.  Herewith below is a comment from Bob in California in response to blog. Thank you Bob and a thank you to all who bother to read.

"

Well…

 

In 2017, Trump’s racist appeal to the far right came early in his tenure as President, when he characterized the Nazi, torch carrying racists in Charlottesville, VA, who killed an innocent woman protesting against them. He said that “there are fine people on both sides”.  More than a hint, this set him apart from other politicians and their “dog whistles”.  The far right knew from that moment that he was their champion. Since then, they have been proselytizing conservative Christians and hard right conservatives.

 

When confronted by Biden’s comments regarding what he said about the events in Charlottesville, ["With those words, the president of the United States assigned a moral equivalence between those spreading hate and those with the courage to stand against it.”] Trump was quoted as saying: “If you look at what I said, you will see that that question was answered perfectly. And I was talking about people that went because they felt very strongly about the monument to Robert E. Lee, a great general. Whether you like it or not, he was one of the great generals." A truly meandering comment by the prince of word salad.

 

Trump’s father marched with the KKK in New York in 1927 and was arrested twice. Both Trump and his father were charged with racial discrimination by the US Justice Department in 1973,  There’s little doubt as to who Trump is.

 

He’s been hammering on “illegal immigrants” destroying the country, but he asked his Republican members in Congress to vote against their bipartisan immigration legislation in February of this year, so he could use it as an issue in his election campaign. He’s been blaming Harris for the influx of immigrants.

 

It has always been clear that there are a lot of racists in the US, and that anti-Jewish sentiment was fostered by many, who kept their beliefs hidden. Unfortunately, Trump, with his history of racism, became the lightning rod for these people to come out in the open. So, it matters not what the candidates say, the Trump voters know who they’re going to vote for regardless of his numerous faults. When will they ever get another chance like this one to elect a racist to the Presidency in a society of immigrants?

 

So, the electoral college favors Republicans, which permits the minority party to continue to elect presidents, who would never be elected, if elections were decided by the popular vote. George W Bush and Trump would have never been President if the election were based on the popular vote. So, don’t expect Republicans to favor the abolition of the electoral college,

 

So, tighten your chin straps, this is going to be a rough ride!! "

 

There is also no doubt that a number of other countries’ journalists and commentators are stepping up in their views of the American election. I somehow feel they may have left it a bit late in the day, but it is clear in the light of the apparent closeness of the polls, that it is a matter of urgency that Mr Trump is defeated and relegated to obscurity. Several columnists in the Guardian have expressed strong views and have made suggestions to Prime Minister Keir Starmer that his adopting a neutral stance will make not the slightest difference, given that he might be dealing with Trump if elected. Trump has no regard for the UK or the European Union, or NATO or anywhere else for that matter. His adulation of Putin and other would be Caesars leave one with no illusions as to the insanity to come should Mr Trump once again step into the White House.  Mind you, the insanity that may come should he lose the election is equally worrying although it will hopefully be short lived and confined to the United States alone. As Bob says ‘tighten your chin straps’ (A nice reference to All About Eve- tee hee)

SPACIALITY MATTERS

There is a very interesting analysis of world affairs, in particular relating to Europe, by Misha Glenny, entitled Continental Divides, on BBC Radio 4, which can be found at:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0023dqb

 

What it seems to reenforce is the notion that speciality matters. There is a lecture given by Professor Netta Cohen (https://videolectures.net/videos/sscs06_cohen_us) entitled Understanding Spaciality from 25^th February 2007, which deals with Spacialty in the brain and which in effect provides a theory or outline of what appears to be going on. It is a means of getting to grips with the notion of Complexity and understanding the features of complex systems. In referring to the system in the brain, she posits that “A single protein can change the macroscopic state of the system; a single perturbation can cause some gene expression which then causes some cascade which completely changes your system”

 

What causes me to bring these two lectures together is the notion that spaciality is of significant importance in trying to understand just what is going on politically. Currently there does indeed appear to be a move towards the right of the political spectrum. Much of this has to do with that single perturbation which can be labelled migration.

 

Throughout history there have been large movements of immigration from a variety of significant disturbances in one area, causing people to move to what they believe is a healthier, wealthier and more secure area in which to live. It would seem that in the current state of the world significant numbers of people from eastern Europe, the middle east, the far east, Africa, and the America’s south of the Rio Grande, are trying to find some form of safety, peace and equilibrium in their disturbed lives. They are therefore moving in substantial numbers towards western European countries and the United States. They do so very often at great risk to their own lives; and, given the nature of western European democracies at the present time, it has become very difficult for these countries to accommodate the numbers.

 

In what might have been a more fluid period of migration, refugees were accepted into societies and were, over time and with the assistance of the indigenous population, assimilated into the population, and acclimatised to the prevailing culture. There was space for them to blend in. Initially they gathered in sections of cities, towns and villages that were predominantly occupied by people who were of their own background. They gradually disbursed and amalgamated into the general population and became part of the system.

 

As the various countries grew and developed the system began to change and develop. More people were drawn from rural area to the wealthier urban cities, around which grew substantial suburbs. There grew up a liminal space between the city centres and rural spaces, that green belt surrounding the city. The system thus created a wealthier urban class, able to afford the higher demand and price for accommodation. The less affluent could only afford spaces in the suburbs surrounding the centre, and the even less affluent and poor lived in the space that was left between the rural and urban, that threshold, which now comprised housing estates, and council accommodation for those less able to afford more central urban properties. This liminal space between the urban, suburban and rural area is where the problems arise. More crowded and dense, more dependent on the state yet somehow far less influential. It is in these areas that those on the right of the political spectrum have gained momentum, gathering up the support of people who believe they have been left out and neglected despite the efforts of the state to offer them support. A strange dichotomy.

 

It is to these outlying areas that migrants are steered, creating threshold communities at the lower end of the economy, attempting to assimilate with a local lower economic society. Such an increased density of population, rather than bringing about closer relationships, in effect brought about division and resentment. The city of Paris and its greater area outside the peripheriques is a clear example of this. Other cities in western Europe have the same problem.

 

This influx of immigrants into these areas is rather like that single perturbation causing that cascade disturbing the system. Some resentment is felt by those living within those liminal spaces, and those on the periphery, towards this seeming invasion, and this is exacerbated by the rhetoric of right wing politicians. This is what is disturbing the equilibrium.  In the United States there has never been such violent verbal abuse towards migrants as has emanated from the likes of Trump and his acolytes. The intensity has not stopped since he lost the 2020 election. It has been relentlessly and recklessly promoted by him and adopted as a major concern causing serious division. Oddly, similar vilification has emerged in the United Kingdom from the likes of Braverman, Patel and other first generation British immigrants.

 

As a result of all this, the right has swept up the attention of the population on this threshold, and seems to be blagging its way to power. They offer no solution other than deportation, which even if successful will not change the economic circumstances in any way of the people whose support they have garnered. That is the strategy and the tragedy of the current political climate. This fantasy solution offered by people who are no better than snake oil sales persons. They offer nothing in exchange and never will.

 

It is unfortunate that this type of disturbance of the system, rather than leading to more civility and democratisation will only lead to rigidity and repression. The current violence around the present world is already evidence of that change, particularly in Ukraine and the Middle East, with leaders, and would be leaders, of Governments who put themselves above the well-being of its people. When the world needs so much more coming together, the separatists of the right are pushing division. My thinking may be complete nonsense and I would love some comment.

 

At the risk of appearing hypocritical, Trump et all, should be tarred and feathered and run out of town on a rail. An ancient American custom for dealing with his ilk. Vote for Kamala instead.

 

A FEW NOTES

Various things today. I have behaved appallingly towards a Sainsbury’s staff member in respect of a failed refund from Sainsbury’s Chop Shop. I shouted at the person rather than calmly complain about the cock up and ask it to be rectified a.s.a.p. My fault, but I trust it will get the desired result in any event.  He apologised for Sainsbury; I think I thanked him. It is not a large amount of money but principle is principal in such matters. I will have no qualms about going to the small claims court if necessary. It will be interesting to see how they handle a letter before action. Nonetheless my behaviour towards the help line person, whose name I did not take in, was very bad. More on remembering names to follow.  

 

Another event was attending St Thomas’s Hospital for a Pre-Assessment Face to Face Visit. I Had to wait a bit as waiting room quite crowded with patients and they were clearly running behind schedule; however, once my name came up on the digital board I was treated as if I were the only patient and given full attention. A most wonderful Nurse/Technician (not sure what her title actually is) Neethu Paulose was impeccable and I can say that she was the best person ever to extract blood for testing, and I have had a number of people taking blood from my arm.  As a phlebotomist she was superb. The only other person who matched her skill was a chap at Guys in 2015 when I was receiving treatment at the time which required frequent testing. He too was very good, quick and efficient. Neethu was brilliant. She dealt with all the various tests (ECG, Blood Pressure, cognitive etc..) with equal efficiency and care. 

 

Apparently everyone over 65 is now subject to a cognitive test (what day it is, what year, time, counting backwards etc..) when attending hospital appointments.  She asked me to repeat an address back to her, which I did, and at the end of the rest of the questions she asked if I could remember the address she’d give me to repeat. I remembered the town and the surname but could not recall the rest. Most disconcerting. It was less that a minute after I repeated it the first time. I suppose if I had been more familiar with the kinds of questions being asked I might have concentrated more; however, the whole purpose of the exercise is to see just how much the brain may have lost acuity. The series of questions will quite naturally vary and such quick response questions are necessary to gauge just how one’s internal information retrieval system is functioning. A small slip up, but what does it indicate? I shall be pondering this for some time. Are one’s marbles still intact? 

 

As to the rest of the day, I am not wholly surprised by Trump complaining about possible Labour Party members volunteering to assist in Kamala Harris’s campaign. After all he only had Nigel Farage giving him full on assistance and support, which might have had a negative rather than positive effect.  His willing acceptance of Reform Party support of any kind clearly requires him to lament the lack of Labour Party support. 

 

Trump's absence of character, lack of integrity, woeful stupidity, mendacity and coarseness are now more than ever on full display. That anyone with half a brain continues to contemplate his becoming President of the United States again is one of the world’s great mysteries. That aside, I am hoping that the plethora of YouTube podcasts that show up the Trump/Vance ticket as a catastrophe for the American people will indeed have some effect in the voting booths across the country and Ms Harris will be elected in a landslide. It may be a vein hope but it is all we have this side of the Atlantic. 

 

My friend, artist Duncan MacAskill is having an exhibition opening of the 6^th November 2024 and I trust that as well as admiring his work we will be toasting the success of Ms Harris.

 

STAND UP, SPEAK OUT AND VOTE IF YOU CAN

In the final days of the campaigns for the Presidency of the United States of America it is more than apparent that the country has serious divisions that could conceivably bring about its decline as a united nation. Any rational mature individual listening to and observing Mr Trump must surely conclude that he is an obsessive narcissist who thrives of the flattery and ridiculous support he is given by the sad and poorly educated Maga herd, but more importantly by a grouping of individuals claiming allegiance to what was once the Republican Party. The congress persons, senators, state governors and political pundits who make excuses for his more outrageous statements by reinterpreting what he says, and does, in order to reenforce the herd’s belief in Trumps infallibility. His incomprehensible speeches are sanitised and made palatable for the lower orders. He now believes that all he has to do is stand and sway to his musical chart whilst waving and smiling benignly to his worshipers. Another Elmer Gantry for the American Public to blindly follow to destruction. Whether or not, like Gantry, some event will occur to lift the veil over his deceit and deception, and open their eyes, is questionable.

 

That so many citizens are willing to follow and excuse his persistent atrocious and despicable behaviour is uncanny. He opens his mouth only to spew insult, hatred and division. He offers his followers nothing, save a concocted image of a glowing economy, rid of alien intruders, in splendid isolation from the rest of the world. He claims to be the saviour of America. Just how he has managed this idolatry is difficult to understand, but perhaps the fact that so many Americans over the years have been more that keen to ally themselves to charlatans and evangelical imposters is symptomatic of the nation. More than one author, besides Sinclair Lewis, has written about and portrayed such characters. The history of the United States is full of depictions of the general public clinging to such corrupt individuals until somehow they are unmasked and debunked. There are books, films and plays galore rendering version after version of the same story, and yet the phenomenon keeps occurring. Is there no learning at all? Must the crass stupidity keep repeating itself?

 

In contrast, his opposition, in the shape of Kamala Harris, must somehow gather together enough people to prevent this descent into idolatry. She has to come down from the mountain brandishing the tablets on which are written the words of reason. Unfortunately for her there is no burning bush to advise. It is no mean feat that she has come as far as she has in such a short time. If all she had to deal with was Trump alone, she would be a walk in; however, the cult members are so devoted and plentiful the task is made far more difficult. Opening the eyes of the cult members is seemingly impossible, even for those members of the Republican party who have seen through and decried the evil idolatry and insanity of Trump.

 

Frankly attempting to debate and sway the fanatically addicted right wing media is a waste of time. Just to be able to stand up to mendacious attacks on so called immigration policy is of no consequence where minds are already made up.

 

Indeed, there is a channel 4 Documentary about Trump and his behaviour over the 2020 presidential election. It makes quite clear the criminal activity and duplicity of Trump’s attempt to cling to power. It is full of testimony of the many individuals who had to stand up to Trumps assault on truth, integrity and the rule of law. Most of these witnesses are Republican party representatives who supported him to the full in 2016 and during his term of office. They have spoken out seemingly to no avail about the perfidious character of Donald Trump.  Why is that? I can understand the poorly educated Maga blobs not taking that into account, but elected Republican Party representatives in political office not to acknowledge this evidence and other findings of guilt against Mr Trump is bewildering.

So what happens to the United States, if this mega monster is re-elected as president, is a complete acceptance that gangsterism is now the fundamental political system and modus operandi of the United States of America. 

 

I do not know if Kamala Harris will manage to obtain the sufficient number of electors to gain office. I sincerely hope she does. It must be an almost impossible pressure to find oneself as a sole candidate to ensure the continued existence of a  “nation, under God, that shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

THE MASA MOVEMENT

The confusion and anxieties still thrive. There is an air of unease throughout. The relationship between the United States and the State of Israel is clouded in an atmosphere of frustration. The ongoing situation in Ukraine still smoulders without any end in sight. The sad display of pour Volodymyr Zelenskyy having to do a photo op with Donald Trump because the election is still to be decided, was disheartening. When asked about the relationship between Netanyahu and the Biden/Harris administration, the Vice President rephrased the question and said that the American People still support and back the Israeli people. She did not comment on whether or not the United States Government has any influence or sway over decisions taken by the Israeli Prime Minister and his government. Her avoidance of the question spoke volumes. The situation in the Sudan grows more horrific by the day and seemingly avoids being headline news over the events in the middle east.

 

On top of all the above, the United Kingdom’s new Labour Government is having difficulties finding its feet and making a favourable impression on the British public. The economics are such that the Chancellor is floundering to find a pathway towards the goals set out during the election campaign. The boast of hitting the ground running has faltered owing, in part, to the state of treasury’s books of account, and the unfortunate titbits and freebies lavished on some of the incoming ministers who ought to have known better. The Prime Minister is having difficulties endearing himself to the populous, as are many of his cabinet. His initial inside team has had to go through some rather unfortunate scrutiny and changes which do not inspire confidence, and indeed, has exposed the whole of the government to comment on many platforms. Not a good look or start.

 

There is of course the heating up of the election on the 5^th November 2024 in the United States, which is hovering over just about everything. For some obscure reason it is still touch and go as to whether the American electorate will elect an unprincipled charlatan or a relatively normal human being to be their Chief Executive.

 

I have seen a variety of views expressed on various outlets in support of Mr Trump, from the poorly educated diehard maga supporters, so beloved by Donald Trump, to other, supposedly more educated, followers. These overly patriotic and bewildered people who have swallowed the fear of immigrants’ rhetoric and the notion that Mr Trump actually has an economic policy, but who mostly put America First. They firmly believe that Trump loves America above all else and that he will put their interests first and foremost. For some reason they do not see through the sham, nor do they recognise the narcissism or conceit, but sincerely believe that he is their saviour.

 

The BBC presented its Question Time Program from the United States and there was a woman who spoke up and one could see that she was visibly shaken by the worry that Mr Trump would not be elected. She could not see, nor even contemplate, that the factual catalogue of his lies and deceit, or the fact of his being a convicted felon, might change her view. The simple slogan of making America great again was what drove her to distraction. The notion of America First was all consuming. That any woman can be blind to his misogyny and the finding by a court that he is a sexual predator is astounding. His apologists are apparently legion and many of them, young women who have some degree of higher education. That alone is an astounding feature of the current electorate of the United States. Not only are they blind to his character but are also more than willing to support and promote his lies.   

 

In the face of the mounting evidence of his past and clearly criminal activity, as well as the continuing daily visuals of his duplicity and lies, it is a mystery that any elected congressperson of senator would show him any kind of support; and yet they do. Time and again I hear, and find myself asking, why is the decision such a close call? Of the two candidates, which is the felon?  In the United States (except for Vermont and Maine) convicted felons lose their right to vote until after sentence or parole is completed, when it can be restored. Trump is a convicted felon who has not yet been sentenced so for all intent and purposes he has no vote. How is it he can even be on the ballot? So again, why is the decision so difficult?  How can nearly half the population of the United States even contemplate Trump as a President?

 

The tragedy is that the outcome of this election has great implications for the rest of the world. Who is president of the United States matters a great deal, particularly so far as continued support for Ukraine, the continuing premiership of Mr Netanyahu, possible restraints or laissez faire for Mr Putin, and any number of other areas in the world upon which the United States Government might have some influence.

 

In a sense, it is rather like the conservative party’s membership of 150k electing a leader who may be prime minister in a country of 68 million citizens. Given the election of Liz Truss, it is not a very satisfactory approach to leadership. There are 8.2 billion people in the world and only 346 million on the United States. Of that there are some 162 million citizens registered to vote. Effectively less than 1% of the world’s population have an influential say in what happens next.

 

Will the 5^th November 2024 be an auspicious day of reckoning? Will our anxieties be laid to rest? I do not know if the world will be any safer if Kamala Harris is elected President, but there will be a humanitarian presence in the White House. It is as much as one can hope for in the present climate. The chaos of a Trump administration raises anxiety levels we have yet to contemplate. I may be entirely wrong and a Trump Presidency may be without any dramatic incident. It may pass over without any appreciable difference to the rest of the world. Anxiety levels may remain the same.  He might even make good on his one phone call and stop the violence across the world. We might even be living in fantasy land.

 

What happens next is however very much in our minds. Yes there are problems of democracy in every country across the globe. The European Union is in somewhat of a state of flux. The United Kingdom, whether it realises it or not, has yet to sort out what kind of relationship it wants to have with the European Union and just how it can get back in. Yes there is strength in Union, economically and in terms of security. Middle Europe and the Middle East are on fire. The far east is equally in some turmoil and indecision, and going through economic pangs. Will some form of stability in the Americas over the next four years, perhaps even eight, make a difference to the rest of us? I have no idea, but I do know who I’d rather rely on at the moment. It’s the MASA movement – Make America Sane Again.

PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE 2

Perhaps I am being a bit harsh in respect of the ongoing situation in the middle east, but the attempts at reconciliation and movement towards a peaceful and fruitful co-existence in the area has not been helped by the general treatment of the Palestinians by the Israeli authorities. Division and suspicion bread nothing but division and suspicion. The problem has persisted my entire lifetime and I was born in 1942. Is it not about time that vendetta and vengeance be set aside?

 

There is a very good point of view from Jonathan Freedland in the Guardian at:

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/oct/04/israel-israelis-gaza-war-7-october-anniversary

 

Nonetheless, the question “who started it?” is no longer relevant. It should not matter anymore, and the grownups must step up and out of the playground mentality that seems to pervade any talks leading to settlement and compromise. An accommodation must be found. What is so difficult to understand? So long as the posturing and blaming carry on, so long will all the people of the middle east continue to suffer. Leadership requires rational intelligent thought, with a view to the future. Why must I continue to put myself in other people’s shoes to see a point of view. I can see and sympathise with people’s suffering from demolition, disease and death. I do not want to watch this anymore.  It has surely gone on long enough.

 

I have taken a view on the insanity which may not be to everyone’s liking; however, the current arms rattling and bristling between the Israelis and the Iranians is endangering the entire world, now so full of governments that see nationalism and populism as the preeminent form of coping with domestic as well as international affairs. Repression and control under the guise of maintaining order in society, is still repression and control. So long as the likes of Netanyahu puff out their chest, there will never be closure. His position is to remain in control, that’s it, and so long as military action persists, he will exploit it.  Do not be fooled by his posturing as protector of the people. He is merely protecting himself. His trial on corruption charges is still ongoing. It hovers in the background and he will do anything to make it fade into the distance. He is not to be trusted.

 

That is not an anti-Israeli point of view. It is merely what the images and reporting from the region indicate is the case. I know ordinary Israelis as well as ordinary Palestinians are desperate for peace. Their so called protectors are the problem. They have become entrenched in their religious and fanatical enmity and are blinded and made dumb. The irony is that the same God hovers over them and permits the slaughter to continue.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE PEOPLE

I have been listening to various interviews with pundits, Israeli diplomats and spokespersons for the Israeli Government. Their impassioned plea is to try and impress people with the righteousness of their cause in protecting the Israeli people from the aggression and attacks coming out of Gaza, the Lebanon and Iran. They have been prosecuting aggressive defence since the disastrous attack of October 7^th last year by Hamas. Most western countries have acknowledged, through their leaders, that Israel is entitled to defend itself.

 

In the course of that defence they have acted with particularly brutal force without any concern, despite their claims, for those innocents who may be killed or injured in the process of protecting the Israeli people. They have lost sight of their humanity. Why do I say this?

 

Consider for a moment the events of the exploding pagers and mobile phones. The planning and execution of the, so called, security operation, must have taken months if not years to put into effect. Developing the pagers and phones, implanting the explosives, ensuring that they were purchased by the appropriate people, ensuring that they were distributed to the appropriate people and whatever else it might have taken to get the items into the appropriate hands. That involves careful and long term planning - let alone keeping it secret – for the sole purpose of causing death and injury. They did not care whether any innocents might be in possession of these death traps as they set them off without warning or care. It did not matter to them who might be killed or injured. If they did have a passing worry about the side effects, they clearly dismissed those thought in favour of protecting the Israeli people.  There can be no doubt about the intent of the exercise, kill and maim. Again, to put that intent into action must have taken some considerable time.

 

We also have the claim that the Israeli Defence Force have taken as much precaution as possible to ensure that civilians and innocentS are not injured by their actions, by warning them to move out of harm’s way, and indeed may have escorted some to move. Really, that’s a humane army in action? Please move out of the way so I can reduce your home and environment to rubble, thereby reducing you to homelessness, poverty and starvation, but you’ll be out of harm’s way. This is what is going on in Lebanon right now and has been going on in Gaza.

 

It is claimed all this is being done with the intention of fighting off  long-time aggressors for the protection of the Israeli people. The Iranians have now launched an aggressive strike on Israel provoking an almost gleeful response “They will pay the price”. The gung ho attitude is thick on the ground. You can be sure that whatever response is made, it will have been planned long ago in the bunkers of Jerusalem or Tel Aviv, because that appears to be the only go to response of the Israeli government. They have for so long been playing the professional victim, that any victims who get in their way do not count. That is the poisonous persona that has for so long occupied their minds that they are way past protecting the people, but leading them further into yet more violence and retribution.  They know nothing else but to cry out for vengeance.

 

This is an attitude that seems to pervade the middle east. We are a continent of victims and there appears to be no let up from that position. When will they make an end?

 

If as much time, as has been spent on devising more devious methods of destruction, had been spent on planning peace and trade agreements then perhaps there might have been a very different picture. Frankly, the United States and Europe, long supporters of Israel, no longer know where to put themselves They are embarrassed at having to defend this out of control defence of a country that seems intent on dragging the world into its poisonous orbit, allegedly for the protection of the people. I am not suggesting that the terrorist aggressors are blameless in this endeavour, but the fault, in my view, rests now with people who really ought to know better, but are too blinded by vendetta and vengeance. For God’s sake end the cycle. Just stop the killing, it might just work.