Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
10b4me
Social climber
Lida Junction
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 01:08pm PT
|
Just another example of a country with a nationalist ideology in decline.
|
|
Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 01:51pm PT
|
As far as Brexit is concerned, it is a mistake, lies were told, false impressions, like the NHS was going to get an extra some odd £200-400m or whatever (the figures fluctuated) a week. Total BS by the Leavers.
The people who voted Leave were scammed, more and more so the facts are coming out, as they usually do. Sometimes too late.
Yes the EU is not perfect. Yes reforms are needed, like in the US (Electoral College anyone?). but it is better than the alternative.
A fragmented Europe. Putin would love that. I do not mind the Russian people at all, and I am not going to claim some are my best friends. But it is the system, it is Putin.
He is not a friend of the West, he sees Western liberal democracy as a threat to his regime. He sees the US as an adversary.
Western liberal democracy. What is that? Think about it. To some the very word word liberal sounds alarm bells, but it need not be, it is just a term for a free-flowing democratic society who by the will of the people, with consideration given to the minority thought, to construct a society that is thoughtful, productive and tolerant.
Utopian? Idealistic? Well, it has worked in places. But given the wars and displacement of people and cultures, 'disheavals' happen. They can be disruptive to whole societies, countries.
I have to say, my country, the US has played a part in such disruptions. With malice? With altrusim? Does it matter if whole populations are 'upset'?
Back to Brexit. A lot of the leaders behind Leave used immigration as a 'fear'.
From what I understand, after near exhaustive research (of other people's, not my own), most immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers do not want to leave their homelands.
So what drives them?
Think about it.
|
|
Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 02:24pm PT
|
As for scaremongering, the Brexiteers claim that Remainers and a number of companies are partaking in the 'Fear Project', that the UK economy is in jeopardy should there be a no-deal Brexit, indeed if there was to be a Brexit at all.
Let us a look at that briefly.
No Brexit (a second referendum, where hopefully truth may prevail, yet, it may still swing Leave, people who vote for one thing do not like to be told they were suckers and may stick by their... guns, think the Trump base. People do not like to be told they were wrong.). The economies more or less stay the same.
A hard-line no-deal Brexit. Well, most do not want that, either side of the divide, but the hardliners want it. It suits them, Britain and the EU be damned, WE RULE. Simplistic? Don't bet against it. It plays into their hands, and corporatocracy (sp?) and authoritarianism.
Power is achieved by division. Divide people, tell them lies, perhaps what they want to hear, wham! The job is done.
A soft Brexit. What's that? At this stage of the game?
The EU (with all of its faults) did not f*ck up. Ireland did not f*ck up. Britain did, with the Leavers believing they could go it alone in the world. Maybe in Queen Elizabeth I's time, but not today.
And look behind, really look behind who were the movers in the Leave campaign. They did not have the average Brit in mind. What were their motives? Who were their bosses? What money was behind them? It is there to see, it has been disclosed.
Jeez, some of the same people and money that supported Trump. Do you think I am wrong?
Just effing look. Same with the 2026 US election. Just LOOK!!!!!
The 'common' person has not gained. Perhaps most have lost.
I AM NOT into conspiracy theories at all. Yeah I saw Elvis with Donald also. The wonders of modern technology.
I was taught and trained as a journalist (when hot metal was still around, then linotype, then...) to be objective. "If in doubt, leave it out, substantiate, substantiate, substantiate..." that is what I was taught and trained. Alas, it is not that way any longer. it seems.
Upside down, downside up.
Okay, I have more than enough of my say. Good evening.
Patrick
edit
I did not include a lot of the more tangible issues, a lot of what I wrote is more, subjective. From my heart with knowledge. One can be objective yet partial, that sounds contradictory. As a reporter of news one has to be objective and hopefully impartial as best can be (we are all human), but as an observer of news, one should be objective, but also partial, if it allows within reason (whatever that is).
But one must be honest with the audience, be it print, broadcast or digital. If one's personal thought should intercede, let it be known. That said, I have worked on a Murdoch publication, lies are welcomed. That is why left after a short stint. It cost me, but it was worth it.
Pat
Now I have had two glasses of wine and a nice cassoulet I made (I learned in southern France, a great winter dish), it is pissing down the heavens with 70kph gusts (I Iive 70 meters from Ballytrent Beach, Irish/Celtic Sea - sort of both where they merge- I am waiting for the electricity to go out, I hope not but with these winds and five years down here, I know it is a possibility, plus.
And there is no good rock down here in Wexford. Yosemite where art thou?
And the Taco Stand is the only forum I really contribute to... or is that, make a fool of myself on?
Regards
Patrick
|
|
Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 03:27pm PT
|
And I do not mean to cry about my situation. If it appears if I do, give me a swift kick up the arse.
I mean that...
...about how Brexit may screw Ireland (it probably will). People are having trouble getting their prescribed meds, as Britain is stockpiling, even though some are made in Ireland (a robust pharmaceutical industry, controlled by the US and Britain).
I have had some trouble getting my prescribed Micardis (hypertension). Thanks Little Englanders.
Can Ireland take advantage of the number of companies and multinationals fleeing Britain? Doubt it. Amsterdam and Frankfurt look nicer, though Dublin does have a healthy (and English-speaking) financial centre.
And a lot of the hight tech (Amazon, Facebook, Apple, etc) companies have their European HQs here (but for how much longer?)
Ireland, if it does it right, can prosper from the short-sightedness of the Little Englanders, but if not, GDP is forecast to go down by 4% or so.
Thanks Little Englanders, I hope you suffer too (I do not sound bitter, do I?, But my meds do help me. I did not ask for hypertension, blame my genes, I eat healthy and exercise).
Codswallop. That is what the leading Brexiteers are like. Like the leading Republicans and Trump. They all do not give a sh#t about you or me.
Power and money, that is all they know. Sort of like some Supertopians. No empathy for the common person. These people think they are above us. Gee, it must be tough to give yourself an A+ rating like Trump, or as Reilly claims: "It is tough being right all the time." Or some words to that affect. Gee, Reilly, why are you here? Are we not below your station in life?
Talk about egos and big heads. Yuck, I want to puke.
Lights are flickering it probalby means th
|
|
Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 05:23pm PT
|
Okay, I got the generator out in the garage working, but there is not much petrol in it, and as I live in the sticks, I do not want it to run out. I see the sea from the kitchen, heck is it cooking up the surf. and it is dark, that is how much the surf is tossing (though Tuskar Lighthouse sheds some light on it. Flashingly,
I do not mind Reilly, sometimes he seems to know what he is talking about. But he comes across as such an egotistical know-it-all, it sort of annoys me. I know it shouldn't as it is more his insecurity than mine.
Reilly thinks he knows everything, he has even admitted it though he has tried in a jocular manner to 'deny it', sort of when Trumps says some outrageous thing and then says "I was just joking." Yeah, right. Gottcha.
He knows sh#t about Brexit. His posts prove it.
Why do I care, and let it bug me? Maybe I actually like the guy (not in that way), but you know, sometimes a person gets on you nerves and you actually find, this guy is not that bad.
On another note, outside of the narcissist Reilly, Brexit will be shown to be a big mistake. Perhaps. Time will tell. It may strengthen the EU or weaken it, six of one, half dozen of the other. It depends on a lot of factors.
I think it will weaken the UK. Scotland voted to remain, but what do the Scots know? So think the English, the Scots are heathen. Okay I exaggerate, but the English disdain for the Scottish, Irish and Welsh is only met with the same (hey, I have lived in England, seven years, many English do not give a crap about Scotland or Wales, and certainly not Northern Ireland, if they even know where it is but a drain financially and a huge headache. A source of terrorism in many English eyes.)
And I lived and worked for three months in northern Wales (Tregarth, Bangor, Beaumaris). In that brief time I could tell you stories of what the Welsh thought about the English. A United KIngdom? Don't bet on it. It is only because they are together on this large rock in the Atlantic that they have gotten along in recent times.
Simplistic? Yes. But is it true? Well, see for yourselves if you want. Visit.
And further west is this smaller rock. Ireland. Segregated by the English, like the old southern Democrats segregated the South. That is about where the differences meet, or end. Or begin? A lot of the southern bigots in the US have Ulster-Irish Ulster-Scots blood in them, think Plantation. In both ways, if you know your history.
(Okay, the Ulster Plantation in Northern Ireland, indeed in much of Ireland, and the US southern plantations. Coincidence? Of course, but perhaps a handy reference.)
In their hearts most Irish I know want an United Ireland, but in their head, brain, they see problems (sort of like integrating Liberal West Germany with Fascist East Germany, not quite the same though, different levels).
If there is ever a united Ireland in my lifetime, there will be Unionist terrorist bombs in Dublin (it has happened before). It will not matter if Ireland ever gets united, the hard or soft border, there is enough hatred on both sides up North, there are 'evil' people waiting for their time to cause mayhem.
You do not believe me? I hope I am wrong, but that is the general consensus of those who do know, not me. Brexit may, or may not, ditch the peace of the Good Friday Agreement.
I lived in London, I was among some who had to evacuate Kings Street Station, for a bomb threat. Or 16 floors up when I was editor of a fortnightly HRD mag, Training Personnel, in Wembley, when we had to evacuate because of an IRA bomb threat.
Or travelling in Northern Ireland on a bus and a checkpoint, armed to the teeth British soldiers asking why an Irish-American would be travelling so late at night (I was going to a conference at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle Co Down, that I was covering for my magazine in London), they checked my bags twice (what, a suit and shoes?), pointing their guns at me. I told them my first name is Douglas (it said Patrick, my middle name I go by, on my bags) and that I have Scottish, English and Welsh heritage in me.
Whew.
Do you think I am joking? I am not. It was tense. Years later, when I was news editor on CTN in London, one of my reporters Simon Warsap (excellent person, excellent reporter), he served in the British Army, and was stationed in Northern Ireland at one point, he said: "Patrick, that is what we were told to do."
The last time I had a gun pointed at me was by a Yosemite Valley LEO ranger at the Curry employees parking lot in the Valley (1976) because I was using employee showers (my tent was in Camp 4, my 1948 Ford Pickup with the psychedelic paint job, some of you may remember, was in C4 parking lot.)(EDIT, I had my mom's Toyota Station wagon, as the '48 Ford was sort of a fixture in C4 parking lot, I had built a camper on back, comfy, better than the tent). (Those were the days. Some great people, in particular, Peter Barton, a friend, partner and great guy. RIP.)
I was high on acid at the time, so when he reached for his gun as I reached for my licence and car reg in the glove box, I don't blame him, I was sort of acting strange, tripping.
Anyway forget that, Brexit is a mistake and I believe time will tell that.
That is how I see it. I could be wrong. Or hallucinating.
And I'd better stop for your sake, my sake and the generator may run out of petrol. I still have dinner to cook and a film to watch.
I love the Taco Stand. I wish I could climb more. Dalkey Quarry, it is okay. Wexford sucks, for rock, but it is a nice place to live.
Cheers
Patrick
|
|
Patrick Sawyer
climber
Originally California, now Ireland
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2019 - 07:12pm PT
|
Okay, I have put food in the oven, the power is still off and the generator is running low on petrol.
F*#k Brexit. Things were fine they way they were. Brussels, read EU, needs reforming, that is not without question, just like some systems of the US political system needs changing (and Trump was not the one to do it, the past two year have proven that).
(He drained the swamp for even a denser swamp.0
In fact, it would be Britain that was best poised to lead a reformation, IMO. With its parliamentarian history and general belief in the order of democratic rule and law, (let's not forget the Magna Carta, no stupids that is not the MAGA cart), it could or would be the Brits who could help with the reformation of a more equitable and democratic EU.
But no, that is not what the Brexiteers want, they want, perchance, anarchy, because it feeds into their eventual totalitarianism, just as Trump and Putin wants (boo, boo, some may say about this. "You are as bad as InfoWars.")
Conspiracy, well it cannot be... it is within the realms of possibility, that the disintegration of the EU, the US pulling out of Nato, the discord in the US, may play into the hands of one less friendlier to the West and so-called libeal democracy.
Think about it.
The UK, if Scotland does not ditch it, and that is a remote possibility, and as long as the DUP rule Northern Ireland, and they do and they shouldn't (gerrymandering, and the DUP has survived a scandal, how???? (LIke Trump. Money and tricks).
The North (despite demographics) will never unite with the south, who wants it, just die-hard Republicans. Who wants the problems of the North (the English have been asking that themselves for decades, but they never should have colonised it with their plantations, what goes around, comes around). Look at West and East Germany, harmony? In rose-tinted eyes, yes in jaded eyes, no.
Same with Ireland.
Ireland and the North, harmony? Too much hatred, for generations to come. Sad, but get the younger ones away from tribalism and sectarianism, and there may be a chance.
Do you Supertopians really think I have been sitting on my ass, pining for Jennie in the nursing home and the grief I have had fighting the HSE system? "If you take on the HSE you are taking on the most entrenched organisation in the Irish government". How true, I tried and I lost.
So when I write about Brexit, about the EU, about the UK, Britain, about Ireland, I am not doing it by the seat of my pants, unlike some posters on this thread. Some who think they know everything, time and again on every forum.
I know what I write about, some may be wrong, perhaps. But I am a good researcher. I like to think I have done my homework.
Look at my recent history on the Taco Stand, I have tried to keep out of a lot, because in the past I realise I have made an ass, a fool, of myself. It is a shame that some people do not have the ability to look in the mirror and say the same.
But what I write, I do not go in for conspiracy theories, but there seem a strong case in some of the things I write, may be true.
What then?
|
|
dirtbag
climber
|
|
|
Feb 19, 2019 - 12:49pm PT
|
Theee weeks closer...
|
|
dirtbag
climber
|
|
|
Mar 28, 2019 - 03:25pm PT
|
Only (gulp!) two weeks to go.😳😳😳
|
|
August West
Trad climber
Where the wind blows strange
|
|
|
Mar 28, 2019 - 04:08pm PT
|
^^^
Doubtful.
I give them at least a 90% chance of kicking the can down the road at least until the end of the calendar year.
And if they end up passing something like May's deal, that is not the beginning of the end it is only the end of the beginning.
May's deal is intentionally vague about what follows. The real work of hammering out a trade agreement would just be starting.
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!