Look at the state we're in...

Human nature is such that all actions toward "others" can be and have been justified. Of note here: the higher the level of governance or control, the greater the possibility of intricate and far-reaching machinations. Such are the histories of earth's cultures. Given recent events, as reported by the various news outlets and individual postings, how will we know the "true" facts?

Jewish Space Laser sold out with that third album though.

Sorry, posted this in the wrong thread.

@Orphan of Babylon I can't speak for others, but I don't claim to be a socialist. I am a social democrat.

Life isn't just black and white, you know :)

@Orphan of Babylon Definition 2 is basically what is in place in most west European countries.

As you say, arguably the best of both worlds, but not in the derogatory manner in which you said it above.

So the state owns Bill, the guitars, the studio, the engineer, the machines, the product and the rights. Bill gets a living allowance for food / a place to stay / public health and a bus pass.

Sounds ideal.

The release date of the next album is July 4th.

@Quinault I think you'll find that Bill and most other left leaning artists don't want that kind of socialism. They like it in their heads to make themeselves feel good and facilitate their virtue signalling but in reality they love the trappings of capitalism. I mean who would want to live in social housing and live off meagre benefits when you can have all the trappings of capitalism, ie a private house in a nice village, meals out in restaurants and as many guitars as you can dream about? ...not exactly socialism, eh?

@blazingapostle99 it’s all about getting the right mix of isms. It’s akin to fine tuning an analogue television set in, say, the ‘70s where it was seldom just right, but it got pretty close sometimes.

Not sure if it's a musical term as such but I think it could make a good title for your next album.. 'The Cognitive Dissonance Of Sailor Bill And His Merry Marxist Men'? It could usher in and create a zeitgeist for the new dystopian normal?..Well, just a thought. :)

The reason isn't difficult to understand.

In the US, many who voted for Trump did so (and would do so again) regardless of any proven wrongdoing or chaotic leadership. Similarly, some members of the UK government have been accused of (in my opinion) very sharp practice. They have also, objectively, mismanaged the pandemic response. And yet they're still ahead.

Why?

Well, you could say it's because the Conservatives are media people and have deep associations with media people. This is the one area in which they excel. Whereas, from a PR point of view, Labour have been abysmal for a decade +.

But there's another, wider, social issue here.

Society is changing radically as new technology and globalisation make traditional industry largely redundant. This has far-reaching consequences. White, male, working-class industries -- shipbuilding, mining, steel manufacturing etc -- no longer offer careers (and a sense of worth/identity/community) that used to be passed down through generations. Service industries, in which more traditionally feminised skills are demanded, are the best hope for employment.

The result is that you have millions of people who feel displaced and robbed of self-worth. Masculinity, heritage, and national identity appear to them to be under siege. So, where do they turn? Naturally -- to populist politicians, some of whom appear to oppose diversity, and stand for rose-tinted patriotism, promising to make the country great again. The 'left' is the common enemy. The 'left' wants to give all the remaining jobs to foreigners. The 'left' wants to destroy your national identity. The 'left' wants every man to be a eunuch.

That is where we are. But the younger generations give me cause for hope.

@David I guess so... but the basis for that "taking back control" populism had already taken a knock, even before COVID - with the "deal or no deal" Brexit farce, and disillusionment from people in small businesses growing all the time. And now COVID has killed off any remaining rose-tint.

Many fall for Johnson's buffoon act, of course, but I don't think there's anything like the cult-like adoration of the MAGA crowd to keep his popularity going. It just seems to me that the BBC, ITV, most newspapers, are mostly acting like a PR service for the corrupt clown.

I'm sorry to tell you this, Palladium, but in this area of NE UK, at least, many people see any issues stemming from Brexit as down to the EU. This is the message they're being sold. 'Boris won't put up with any nonsense from foreigners', they think. Just like Trump wouldn't.

As for COVID killing off any rose-tint, no. Not here. People complain about 'admin failings', but very little mud is sticking to BJ. Similarly, the stuff about Cummings, the contracts-for-mates, the planning stuff etc. currently bounces off.

The Conservatives have not only taken a staunch working class Labour heartland, but have sunk roots so deep now that it will take something monumental to reverse it. Mostly, it's down to brilliant spin -- selling some of the poorest people in the country the idea that the Conservatives are their best choice. And partly, it's down to Labour's abject failure at every level for many years.

If they fit, you must convict.

Ahahahah, you have some good ones 😂😂😂

Perhaps that should be 'cod war' ? 😄 Brexit...what a brilliant idea that was, eh? 🙄

As a foreigner, all I want from Biden is some stability, as far as it's possible, over the course of his term.

I'd like a president, and a prime minister, who isn't on social media or always in the news. Who doesn't pursue popularist policies to stroke his/her own ego. And who looks to avoid suffering and division. That'll do.

Excellent posting Palladium, excellent. I generally don't like philosophers, but Rorty made a great point back then that is so true now. I'm over 60 and grew up in a traditional british "working class" background. Although now I can see that some people weren't what they seemed (eg Harold Wilson) I felt that I could identify with the left. Then new Labour came along and it all changed. Now I'm confused. I can't identify with the left or the Labour party - I'm not sure who or what they represent. Perhaps they don't know either! At least with the right you know where you stand. Take the Thatcher years. Everyone knew what she stood for and if you were a supporter of her that must have been great. Perhaps the only major thing that the right have disagreed on recently is the UK leaving the EU, but then we need to move on from that.

IMHO the UK left wingers seem to consist of middle class activists who sit on their backsides reading the Guardian until the latest fad comes along, whether that be tearing statues down, marching against wearing masks et etc. Great hypocrites and experts on things they know nothing about, such as global warming. Extinction Rebellion spring to mind. Funny how the leftie luvvies of Bristol have always basked in living in a city based on slavery and cigarettes, but only now claim to be disgusted by Colston (google him).

Perhaps some of my posts have come across as being anti-Biden. I'm just a bit concerned about his age, but in any case what I want from an American administration is a culture of policing the world. Trump failed in that respect with China.

Good points, but I wonder if maybe he’ll just decamp to Mar-a-Lago and mostly get back to much-desired golf ‘n gossip with pals, occasionally phoning in sometimes to express his opinions. Wonder if he’ll ever be welcomed back to the ecosystems (as they say) of reality TV and man-about-town celebrity.

@jimwarnerbka True but then most businmess have had their successes and failures.

www.thesun.co.uk

HOW can we have any faith in the World Health Organisation, whose existing investigation team hasn’t even asked to inspect the Wuhan laboratory? So rather than upset the Chinese government, they ju…

Not a fan of The Sun for many reasons, but then I read media of any bias,and then make my own opinion. I don't know about in the USA, but I think that reading newspapers that only reflect your own polictical views is a bit sad and narrow minded. IDS is a Tory (Conservative), but I think he makes some good points here. He's also ex-military. Why aren't more people concerned about what China have done!!!

Rereading my reply, I might not have answered the question clearly.

This is purely my thoughts on the subject.

I think the House and Senate will remain partisan and a huge amount of people think Biden's presidency is illegitimate. Trumpism will remain with some for a very long long time and politicians will continue to play to those fantasies in attempts to gain support for their own gain.

So for the near time, Biden won't be given a fair shake and it will be an uphill battle.

I hope that over time common sense will prevail for the common good; but I think if this occurs it will be in small steps, not in great strides.

Cheers...

@roger_drew I agree.. before the primaries I was commenting the same to my wife.

The Dems had Sanders and Biden; they needed some new blood.

I believe Biden has intentions of being a one-term president and only ran to beat Trump.

Cheers...

And his brother is a politician of long standing in England. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Sanders_(politician)

@Alec Older brother no less. Just goes to show.

Watched recently a television series on HBO, called 'Succession,' which is loosely based on the Murdochs. Wondered about certain details so I went searching for Rupert updates.

Had forgotten that in order to buy Fox, he'd had to renounce his Australian citizenship and adopt an American one.

Turns out Rupert's in the Cotswolds in a cozy crash pad with Jerry Hall.

She was perfect in that. Totally Kellyanne! That was great moment in a great program. (Death to 2020 / Netflix)