Category Archives: Politics

Why Does America Keep Shooting Itself in the Foot?

Posted on October 13, 2019 by

The United States of America: World’s Richest Country; Leader of he Free World; Land of the Free; etc. Who would dare meddle with it? Yet it does have enemies: Iran; Russia; North Korea; Venezuela. China is a rival, but more … Continue reading →

Posted in Commerce, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Constitutional Constipation

Posted on October 2, 2019 by

America—regarded by many (especially Americans) as the world’s greatest democracy—is rightly proud of its Constitution. Forged at a time, before either the French or the Russians did away with them, when monarchs ruled the world it was a clarion call … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Rule Without Rules

Posted on September 28, 2019 by

Many political observers, and a large chunk of the public, are variously bemused, shocked and outraged by the leaders of the two main anglophone countries on either side of the Atlantic. Rather than being “Leader of the Free World” where … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Greta vs The Red Center

Posted on September 19, 2019 by

Greta Thunberg,, the immensely sensible 16-year-old who triggered mass protests at the reluctance of nations to address looming climate catastrophe, sailed across the Atlantic in a non-polluting yacht to address the UN’s Climate Summit this summer. Her message was impassioned, … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

In the Hands of the Irish

Posted on August 4, 2019 by

Growing up with The Troubles was not easy. In the late Sixties, you didn’t have to live in the six counties to feel their anger and grief, their passion and frustration, that sense of walking a long, dark tunnel with … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

£6.8bn, All in One Basket

Posted on August 1, 2019 by

For the many of us not dazzled by the Boris Johnson “Christmas in July” largesse with the fiscal war chest so carefully scraped together by Philip Hammond in the teeth of austerity, the idea that Britain can suddenly hose money … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Fankle of Fearties?—Part I

Posted on July 21, 2019 by

An article in today’s Sunday Times is highly critical of the present Scottish Government and its penchant for blaming Brexit and Westminster for Scotland’s sluggish economic performance. Is this fair? Compared to the rest of the UK, Scotland is falling … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

Costing an Arm & a Leg

Posted on July 19, 2019 by

Across the board, the NHS is regarded as an institution of which we are justly proud. Its fundamental principle on which it is built is that health care should be based on need and free at the point of delivery. … Continue reading →

Posted in Community, Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Ten Commandments of Trumpolitics

Posted on June 29, 2019 by

Some observers puzzle why Boris Johnson exhibits unconventional manners, yet follows a regal progress towards bothering new neighbours in Downing Street. This is because, like other stand-out leaders (Orban; Kim Yong Un; Putin; Mohammed bin Salman), he practices lessons from … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | 1 Comment

Playing with Fire in the Oilfields

Posted on June 21, 2019 by

Ever since the bureaucrats of Britain and France made a pig’s ear of their arbitrary dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire a century ago, the Middle East has been the world’s most recidivist hot-spots for unrest. This might not have mattered … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics | Tagged | Leave a comment