Tag Archives: obama

November 7, 2012 · 8:12 am

God Save Us All. Or Superman…

One or the other. I’m not fussed. I’m kinda hoping it’s Superman, though. I write this post on Monday evening, the day before the big vote. Did your guy win? If your guy is Obama, then probably so. I’m not sure why so many people are so convinced Romney is about to get into the White House, when the odds are so clearly so long. Too much time spent looking at the national vote and too much wishful thinking, I suspect. I’ve been following the FiveThirtyEight blog lately. The guy has a short record, but a stunningly accurate one. It’s been an interesting read, and one of the more plausible and objective reads on the election.

I’m neither a Democrat nor a Republican. Not simply because I’m a Brit. Not simply because I’m a ‘centrist’. I believe certain times call for certain policies. And though my natural political instincts might make me lean Democrat, I’m well aware that what works well in Britain, and what may be best for us Brits, is not necessarily what’s good for America. Forcing your own beliefs down the throat of another culture, even one quite similar, isn’t how to go about things. I think that’s apparent from Iraq and Afghanistan. It’s also apparent, although it appears few people have checked, from several thousand years of human civilisation.

I’m a floating voter in the UK and would be in the US. The sort of person who, if American, the two parties need to convince. Romney hasn’t convinced me. Far from it. On a personal level, I don’t believe in him. Quite the opposite. He seems to me to be something of an opportunist, in the most negative sense possible. I haven’t got an awful lot nice to say about Obama. But nor have I much bad to say about him. The economy was doomed before he walked into the job. But the one thing I can say about him, is that he’s not Romney. If I’ve guessed wrong, and Mitt is headed to Pennsylvania Avenue, then the world just became a poorer, more desperate and more dangerous place. We reap what you sow…

On a party level, the Republicans are not suffering from a few bad apples. There is an infestation of extremism. Both of the religious and tea party varieties. Rotting the party to the core. And turning far too many otherwise intelligent people into frothing morons, prepared to believe all sorts of ludicrous nonsense, and sadly adopting many of the racist and bigoted attitudes that they’ve allowed themselves to be subjected to*.  The Republican party needs to jettison the extremists, and let them form their own party. Similar to what we have in the UK – UKIP. Although, sadly, having jettisoned the extremists, the Conservative party then moved back to the right to try and sweep up their votes. I hope the Republicans succeed in the former and don’t pander to the latter. It’s not a recipe for success.

I do have a recipe for success to offer. Come back to the fold. One of the biggest flaws of the US presidential system is in having two term presidents. The Queen is a one term monarch. Just as it should be. We’ll forgive you your errant ways. And quite frankly, I don’t blame you one tiny bit for throwing all that tea in the sea – it’s a disgusting drink. Put aside your divisions and join us in one big happy family. Sure, you’ll have to give July 4th a miss, but then in June we have Jubilee celebrations every so often.

And sure, you’ll miss November 6th elections, but then on November 5th you can join us and celebrate how we caught, tortured, disembowelled and disenfranchised the Catholics! It’s great fun, and there are fireworks! Although, if you’re Italian American or Irish American you may want to focus more on the Jubilee celebrations. Having said that, the Irish Americans might not go for that so much either. Well, we can just dust off the old No Blacks, No Dogs and No Irish signs. Except, of course, the blacks bit will have to be covered up. Not very 21st century, that bit. And us Brits actually love dogs, so that bit’ll have to go too. Oh well, there’s always Mexico…

The photo and caption below is years old, and has been doing the rounds of Facebook again lately. But today seems a good day to post it, just in case you somehow haven’t seen it yet. I even added an appropriate flag too – the first ever flag of the US. It’s not too controversial. After all, it already does feature in one American flag. Ironically, of the same state of the current (and returned?) US president. Who one held British citizenship, of a sort. See, you’re halfway back already.  God save the Queen! And the United States of British America….

*Not all Republicans are like this. Nor all those who voted for Romney. I’m aware of that. So, I’m probably not referring to you. Probably… :)

A MESSAGE FROM THE QUEEN 

To the citizens of the United States of America from Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

In light of your failure in recent years to nominate competent candidates for President of the USA and thus to govern yourselves, we hereby give notice of the revocation of your independence, effective immediately. (You should look up ‘revocation’ in the Oxford English Dictio

nary.)Her Sovereign Majesty Queen Elizabeth II will resume monarchical duties over all states, commonwealths, and territories (except North Dakota, which she does not fancy).

Your new Prime Minister, David Cameron, will appoint a Governor for America without the need for further elections.

Congress and the Senate will be disbanded. A questionnaire may be circulated next year to determine whether any of you noticed.

To aid in the transition to a British Crown dependency, the following rules are introduced with immediate effect:

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1. The letter ‘U’ will be reinstated in words such as ‘colour,’ ‘favour,’ ‘labour’ and ‘neighbour.’ Likewise, you will learn to spell ‘doughnut’ without skipping half the letters, and the suffix ‘-ize’ will be replaced by the suffix ‘-ise.’ Generally, you will be expected to raise your vocabulary to acceptable levels. (look up ‘vocabulary’).

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2. Using the same twenty-seven words interspersed with filler noises such as ”like’ and ‘you know’ is an unacceptable and inefficient form of communication. There is no such thing as U.S. English. We will let Microsoft know on your behalf. The Microsoft spell-checker will be adjusted to take into account the reinstated letter ‘u” and the elimination of ‘-ize.’

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3. July 4th will no longer be celebrated as a holiday.

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4. You will learn to resolve personal issues without using guns, lawyers, or therapists. The fact that you need so many lawyers and therapists shows that you’re not quite ready to be independent. Guns should only be used for shooting grouse. If you can’t sort things out without suing someone or speaking to a therapist, then you’re not ready to shoot grouse.

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5. Therefore, you will no longer be allowed to own or carry anything more dangerous than a vegetable peeler. Although a permit will be required if you wish to carry a vegetable peeler in public.

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6. All intersections will be replaced with roundabouts, and you will start driving on the left side with immediate effect. At the same time, you will go metric with immediate effect and without the benefit of conversion tables. Both roundabouts and metrication will help you understand the British sense of humour.

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7. The former USA will adopt UK prices on petrol (which you have been calling gasoline) of roughly $10/US gallon. Get used to it.

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8. You will learn to make real chips. Those things you call French fries are not real chips, and those things you insist on calling potato chips are properly called crisps. Real chips are thick cut, fried in animal fat, and dressed not with catsup but with vinegar.

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9. The cold, tasteless stuff you insist on calling beer is not actually beer at all. Henceforth, only proper British Bitter will be referred to as beer, and European brews of known and accepted provenance will be referred to as Lager. South African beer is also acceptable, as they are pound for pound the greatest sporting nation on earth and it can only be due to the beer. They are also part of the British Commonwealth – see what it did for them. American brands will be referred to as Near-Frozen Gnat’s Urine, so that all can be sold without risk of further confusion.

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10. Hollywood will be required occasionally to cast English actors as good guys. Hollywood will also be required to cast English actors to play English characters. Watching Andie Macdowell attempt English dialect in Four Weddings and a Funeral was an experience akin to having one’s ears removed with a cheese grater.

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11. You will cease playing American football. There is only one kind of proper football; you call it soccer. Those of you brave enough will, in time, be allowed to play rugby (which has some similarities to American football, but does not involve stopping for a rest every twenty seconds or wearing full kevlar body armour like a bunch of nancies).

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12. Further, you will stop playing baseball. It is not reasonable to host an event called the World Series for a game which is not played outside of America. Since only 2.1% of you are aware there is a world beyond your borders, your error is understandable. You will learn cricket, and we will let you face the South Africans first to take the sting out of their deliveries.

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13.. You must tell us who killed JFK. It’s been driving us mad.

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14. An internal revenue agent (i.e. tax collector) from Her Majesty’s Government will be with you shortly to ensure the acquisition of all monies due (backdated to 1776).

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15. Daily Tea Time begins promptly at 4 p.m. with proper cups, with saucers, and never mugs, with high quality biscuits (cookies) and cakes; plus strawberries (with cream) when in season.

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October 16, 2012 · 10:57 pm

The Money Maker

Tomorrow evening, Messrs Romney and Obama will take to a stage and engage in part two of their debating trilogy. I’m a bit bemused by American* politics. I have had many questions about American politics over the years. The answers are usually more bemusing than the questions. But this is a country where religion truly became business. Without America, you’d never have anything as nuts as Scientology or Mormonism. Without Mormonism, you’d never have anyone as nuts as Romney. Without Romney, you’d never have anything as nuts as the US. It’s truly a vicious circle. I understand that Romney won the first debate, and it appears that the fact he seemed to know little about his own policies (or Obama’s policies, or anything else in particular) doesn’t count against him.

I would clearly side with Obama politically. As someone who lies pretty much in the centre of British politics, I am by definition in the US a commie. Leftist. Liberal. Looney. Etc. I’ve always thought that US terminology is very petty. In the UK we refer to each other as scum, scruffs, scabs and toffs. Words not to be taken too seriously. I prefer ‘nuts’ myself. It is to the point. I digress though. I would side with Obama. But I find myself unable to get too much enthusiasm going for this election. I’m told by some people that this election is ultra important. That the two available options (because the third option isn’t an option) offer massively different choices.  I beg to differ. The candidates might be promoting very different choices.

But I’m quite certain that, regardless which of the two my American friends elect, not much will change economically. Elsewhere in politics? Not much there either. I hope so, anyway. Of the two, Romney is the dangerous option. Romney is the one who is more likely to embroil the west in new and unnecessary wars in the Middle East. And it’s Romney’s Tea Party friends that are the more likely to divide the country in social pogroms that deny the citizens freedom. Done, of course, in the name of freedom. But economically? The world’s economy is what it is. There’s not much room for manoeuvre. And not much will change. I suspect.

But here’s the crux of this post. I’ll start by mentioning that old adage, that we never learn from history. That’s my theme. But onwards –  I keep hearing a few of the same things from Romney leaning people. They bemoan the debt caused by the economic stimulus. Indeed, the bemoan all the debt, but the stimulus money in particular. The current economic crisis isn’t exactly the same as that of the 30′s. But I understand the similarities are striking. That crisis was approached initially with Romney style austerity. And the US promptly plunged into depression. It didn’t work. Hoover was out and Roosevelt in. Keynesian economies were put to work. Obama (and, incidentally, Bush Jr) style spending was implemented. And the US grew its way out of the doldrums. World War Two helped, of course. World War Two was also a socialist endeavour, on all sides….

Today, the US economy is growing. With it’s stimulus. In Europe, a number of countries are practising austerity. Greece. Ireland. Spain. Portugal. Have you checked out their economic situation and outlook? The UK is one of the few major economies voluntarily practising the more extreme forms of austerity. We’ve been in recession again too. Is there a pattern here? I can’t claim to be a leading light in global economics, and I’ve not held a job in the financial industry outside of home insurance (although I’d quite like to – http://www.ap-executive.com/uk/en/jobsectors/financial-services/ ) but I’d need to have explained to me why the bleeding obvious isn’t correct.

Romney, most libertarians and others on the US right would like less, little or no government. Which, for me, begs another question. What makes anyone think that the free markets, the man in the street and the corporation would run the world better than a government? It has been tried. The British government had a very hands off approach during a large chunk of the Imperial era. Laissez-faire was the order of the day. It made Britain very wealthy. Ridiculously wealthy. One wonders where all the money came from. One doesn’t need to look hard. The tens of millions of dead across Ireland, Africa and the Indian subcontinent tell a story. The millions of opium addicts in China. The list goes on. And ends with the largely impoverished population of the UK itself, living in squalid industrial slums. What makes anyone think that big business will have more of a heart today? What’s changed to prevent that happening? Nothing, I suspect. I provide Libor, sub-prime mortgages, Bernie Madoff, oil companies drilling in Africa and the 1% as evidence of the repetition of history. Oh, and there’s also Iceland, the closest we had to a laissez faire state in the last half century or more…

I’m told that if Obama wins a second term, the US will end up being just like Greece. Why? Because Greece are socialist. Socialism doesn’t work and begets bankruptcy. I disagree. Greece has been financially irresponsible  Financial irresponsibility begets bankruptcy. I’ve touted Germany as a better example before. Germany is way, way, way to the left of Obama. Germany has a multitude of social programs. Germany is surrounded by economic basket cases that it is almost single handedly keeping afloat. Germany has one of the soundest economic and industrial bases in the world. Germany has done a better job of being financially responsible. It seems to me a though the key factor in building and maintaining a financially stable economy has nothing to do with socialism or capitalism, but more to do with financial responsibility. Incidentally, the whole idea of pegging this down into the two camps of socialist or capitalist is ridiculous. There are no socialist or capitalist states. They don’t exist. There are only mixed economies, which may lean one way or the other.

My last point. The dreaded Obamacare. It’s socialist. Positively criminal. I feel it’s a step in the right direction. Towards having a health service the US can be proud of. But still a step bogged down and watered down by bickering, insanity and petty ideology. If you’re American, then you are spending double, triple what European citizens pay for their largely socialised health care. And you’ll probably die younger. And not just because of gun crime and obesity. Even infant mortality is shockingly high. Millions of Americans suffer because the richest country in the world can’t pull its finger out and produce the health service that should exist. Think about it. You pay twice as much. You die younger. Something’s seriously wrong. And of the many, many things that are wrong, Obamacare is not at the top of the list. Or near it.

I enjoy political, imperial and economics history. Domestic and international. And I see Romneyism written all over that history. With luck, he’ll be history himself this time next month. It’s too close to call at the moment though. I’d really like to know why someone who would vote for Romney genuinely believes that austerity will dig the US out of an economic crisis. Why they believe that the US health service is a better fit that the German’s social health system. Why Romney’s shrunk government won’t permit the spread of poverty, death, decay and their cousins greed, division and class society. But perhaps most of all, I’d like to know why they’d vote for someone who believes in Mormonism? Have you not read the ‘good book’?

P1010095

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July 17, 2012 · 10:15 am

The Big Issue

I recently wrote a post regards Obama, Romney and the state of politics in the US, UK and Mexico. But I’m going to expand on it just a little. Here’s the big issue in the UK, and I’ll bet it’s the same in Mexico and the US. We have a great education system that churns out a great mass of smart young people ready to get going in the work place. But when they get there, they find that there’s no jobs open to them. There are jobs. More importantly, there are jobs in their chosen professions.  Just no jobs for them.

You end up with degree toting twenty somethings hoping to find work at the local Poundland. Or Dollarstore. Or Pesotienda. Is there a Pesotienda? There should be. The moment a recession kicks in, factories and offices close down. People lose their jobs. And the job market becomes flooded with experienced, qualified personnel ready to step into new roles. There plenty of support out there on how to handle redundancy. I imagine being made redundant is pretty tough. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But there is a way back. There’s substantially less out there for new members of the workforce on how to get on the employment ladder.

Which brings on the second problem. The National Minimum Wage. I get as aggravated as anyone when people take advantage of our benefits system. There are plenty of people who abuse the system because, quite frankly, they’re better off on benefits than on a wage. That does aggravate me. But perhaps not as aggravated as when a holier-than-thou right-wing politician (who is soaking up tax payers money at a higher rate than any unemployed person) whines that benefits should be cut back so that there’s an incentive to go get a job.

The amount we pay in benefits is not the biggest problem. No one gets rich or live the life of Riley on benefits. You can point out stories which contradict that assertion, if you want. And I’ll point you to a person who is defrauding the system. It’ll be the same person. So how about, instead of increasing poverty and homelessness through benefit cut backs, we have a minimum wage that can be reasonably lived upon. A minimum wage that’ll pay the rent and bills on a small but functional one bed flat. That will pay the food bills. Pay the bus or train tickets to work. And that will leave something, say 20%, left over. This isn’t an insignificant section of the population we’re talking about. The NMWers make up nearly 10% of the workforce. There’s another huge chunk who are at a pittance above the NMW. And then there’s those who claim benefits instead of working.

I did a quiz that is doing the rounds on Facebook. I’m pleased with the result. Not because I ‘side with Obama’. But because the figures attributed to my results aren’t extreme. Nothing in the 90%’s or 20%’s. It’s never good to end up on the extreme. It’ll usually mean, with a high degree of certainty, that you’re wrong. You’ve missed the point. And if Romney is high on up there, then you’ve probably lost touch with the real world.  No one likes government interfering in their lives. But…well, the ‘inventor’ of the blog puts it better than I can. But both the problems above will never be addressed by free markets. They are the sole responsibility of government. His site is well worth reading on a regular basis, for anyone interested in politics or tech.

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July 10, 2012 · 7:56 pm

Vote Obama! Or Romney…

Everywhere I look, there’s political turmoil. It’s not surprising really, I guess – a sound economy tends to produce political apathy. Not many countries, if any, are boasting sound economies at the moment. It’s not election year in the UK at the moment, although the British political system and the uncertain state of the coalition does mean that that could all change. In an instant. The controversy of the moment is all about reform of the House of Lords. Some believe it should be an elected body, rather than the chamber of old unelected and unaccountable duffers it currently is.

I’m inclined to believe the status quo is preferable, although I’d like to see a few changes. The House of Lords does have a political role, although it can only delay the workings of the House of Commons, where the PM and MPs all sit. The Lords can be over-ridden. That’s a good thing. Having some involvement by unaccountable and unelected old duffers is also a good thing, in my opinion. They have a far greater tendency to show up because they have a passion for politics, rather than for the pay. They also tend to speak their mind, rather than follow the party line. And their opinions and thoughts aren’t swayed by thoughts of pandering to the electorate – they don’t need anyone’s vote. Some things need to be said, even unpopular things.

How about Mexico? I’m missing all the drama. I don’t know what all the fuss is about. Everyone’s been screaming for drugs to be legalised and the government to take control of the narcotics trade. They’ve got half their wishes granted, haven’t they? Apparently, if what I’ve read is true. Or even half true. There are question marks over the election, I grant you. Probably more than six years ago, even if the result isn’t as close. But I suspect that the PRI of new probably won’t be the PRI of old. If I’m wrong, let’s hope it’s the PRI of the Mexican Miracle and the not the PRI of the December Mistake. A lot is being said of the president elect and what will happen. I, on the other hand, think there is nothing certain about the new administration. We’ll have to wait and see.

How about our good friends in the US? I don’t know where to begin. They pay triple in health costs what we in Europe pay. And die earlier. I’ve been told by some defenders of the system that this is down to cultural reasons. You know…shootings and stuff. I’m not sure how that explains the higher infant mortality rate. I personally think it’s inexcusable for a developed country like the US to not have a government funded health service. For a number of reasons. We can argue about it in the comments if you like.

The November election looks far, far too close to call at the moment, although I notice those who really hate Obama have already declared victory. It appears that the big issues in the US at the moment is what colour is Obama’s skin exactly. And where was he born, exactly. And that Obama is a socialist. So, the same sort of stuff as four years ago and ever since. The answers, in case anyone is interested are: not important, Hawaii and no he isn’t by an awfully long shot. These answers will not appease morons, of course. I suspect most voters will mostly cast their ballots based on jobs and the economy.  I would probably vote for Obama if I had the vote. Purely based on his health care program (which is an awkward, unbalanced step in the right direction) and that he doesn’t believe in this.

Oh, and also because Romney hasn’t got a clue what the issue is with the 99% and 1%. To be honest, I don’t think most of the Occupy protesters have either. But there is something very wrong when an economy not only becomes so divided, but also exclusive.  This guy definitely hasn’t got a clue. And isn’t it ironic that when capitalism falls over, the only way of saving it is through socialism? The opposite can also be argued to be true. Either way, we need a system where everyone has a fair shot at success, not one where futures come pre-determined.

But what I’d really like to know, is which of the two contenders will be better for Mexico? Obama or Romney? I would like to hear some opinions on this subject. I suspect ole Mitt might be better for the Mexican economy going on track record. So perhaps I’d vote for him instead. One thing is for sure. He’ll always have a home away from home awaiting him in Mexico City – the Aztec inspired Mormon temple.

P1010094

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March 29, 2012 · 10:32 pm

The Colour Conspiracy

The photo below is amongst the latest additions to my collection of English Spring flowers. Are those petals blue, or yellow? Colour is, it seems, important. I’ve noticed that some commentators – individuals, bloggers, forum participants and journalists – have taken issue with some people describing the killer of Trayvon Martin as a ‘white Hispanic’.

Why mention white? Surely Hispanic would suffice? I don’t know, nor much care. But I have noticed that a fair number of people who are upset at Zimmerman being described as a ‘white Hispanic’, get equally upset at Obama being referred to as black. He’s biracial, dontcha know. The importance of being precise in colour description? It seems to depend on convenience. It’s another good reason to ensure ‘racial profiling’ remains an historical abhorrence.  Consistency has never been a strong point with those on the extreme edge of the political world. Nor has the ability to learn from history. Or, in the case of the golden oldies, to learn from events from their own lifetimes.

But then, these are often the sort of people who describe Obama as a socialist. At that point, it’s clear they haven’t a clue what they’re talking about. Not the slightest idea. Life isn’t so black and white.But, back to the flower. Is it blue, or yellow? Well. I’ve had a good long hard look at that flower, and given it some thought. I’ve come to a conclusion. It’s a flower.

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