Politics?

[nelsonic]

There is an unspoken rule ("taboo") that it's not "polite" to discuss politics
(or religion for that matter) with friends or work colleagues.

If this is new/news to you, see:
"Why is it considered rude to discuss politics or religion in a public social setting?"
https://www.quora.com/Why-is-it-considered-rude-to-discuss-politics-or-religion-in-a-public-social-setting
and: https://www.glassdoor.com/blog/sex-religion-politics-stay-discussing-office

In my experience of working in the UK, politics was never discussed in the office.
People avoided sharing their own political views or any specific policies they support/oppose.
(with the exception of the "Brexit" vote where several (fellow) "foreigners" debated how economically crazy it was ... and one British co-worker voiced his "reasoning" for voting "leave".)

The "Brexit" referendum was an epic fail; David Cameron should never have proposed it!
The wikipedia article summarises the "facts" quite well: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brexit

The entire "raison d'être" of Nigel Farage's political party "UKIP" was for the UK to "leave" the EU.
https://www.politico.eu/article/nigel-farage-more-smoking-and-drinking-to-save-the-scottish-pub-scotland-ukip

Nigel Farage who "doesn't listen to music or read" ... 🤦‍♂️

so when David Cameron pledged an in/out referendum in the Conservative general election manifesto, Farage wasted no time mounting his campaign.
Boris Johnson

In my "youth", I discussed politics at length in debate club, "Model United Nations", in Economics classes (high school and university)
and with several "PPE" students: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philosophy,_politics_and_economics (I studied Economics ...)
I was a self-described fiscal conservative https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiscal_conservatism before I went to University because I saw entrepreneurship and commerce as the best way to both improve the world and my own life.

There is a general trend toward "conservatism" as people age. This article summarises it well:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/nov/03/do-we-become-more-conservative-with-age-young-old-politics

My frustration with politics can be summed up by following quote:

“Anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ~ Isaac Asimov

I'm in favour of democracy in principal, but when it can be so easily manipulated
e.g: people being bombarded by the media or "micro-targeted" with Facebook Ads
leading those with incomplete information to vote for a dishonest candidate: dwyl/learn-react#23 (comment)
I find it hard not to be "put off" by the whole thing.

Summary of my Political Principals

• protect the most vulnerable members of society (not the born privileged)
• defend the innocent (not stack the legal/judicial system against people who cannot afford to pay)
• foster a better future through taxation and re-investment in:
  • public (free) education
  • affordable housing
  • infrastructure & technology
• eliminate corruption/cronyism through use of technology to make government accountable
• nuclear disarmament
• to be continued ...

[nelsonic]

Recommend: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bernie_Brief_(1)_-_Income_Inequality.webm

[nelsonic]

https://youtu.be/8SOQduoLgRw

[nelsonic]

https://youtu.be/TfQij4aQq1k

[nelsonic]

Bloomberg investigation into brexit short selling (insider trading) https://youtu.be/Ht40yrt3VrY

[nelsonic]

Want to understand Brexit? Watch these 3 videos:

1. Why: (Endgame) https://youtu.be/_HDFegpX5gI
2. Who: (Short sellers) https://youtu.be/Ht40yrt3VrY
3. How: (Facebook) https://youtu.be/OQSMr-3GGvQ

[nelsonic]

BoJo was playing a long game: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/29/article-young-boris-johnson-margaret-thatcher-no-no-no ... he was spinning anti-EU fake news in 1990! 😮

[nelsonic]

https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1244985949534199808 Zoom meeting ID visible. 🙄

Thread: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22742565
He's no dummy. But he might not be fully tech savvy. 💭

[nelsonic]

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/jun/21/boris-johnson-lies-marcus-rashford-prime-minister

It boggles my mind that anyone trusts someone who “lies habitually, continually, compulsively”

The general public must just really dislike Jeremy Corbyn’s indecisiveness and lack of leadership. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Note: I think JC has a lot going for him in terms of principals and integrity. But he’s no charismatic leader or orator. More of a wet blanket when it comes to public speaking.