A Political Thread pt. 2

[Saintjay]

Maybe, I wouldn't bet my house against your prediction that's for sure but American Muslims seem to be pretty chill and I'm not sure how influential they are in the swing states but I haven't seen any data regarding this so obviously open to that. I'd say the same about the Jewish vote as well but again this is gut feeling more than anything else.

I think Michigan has a reasonable chunk of Muslim voters, there leaders are pretty pro-Trump.

How much influence they have is a guess work

 

[Welsh Exile]

I think Michigan has a reasonable chunk of Muslim voters, there leaders are pretty pro-Trump.

How much influence they have is a guess work

Yeah **** knows. The general feeling is that this is going to be a tight call so we'll have to wait and see. Honestly, Muslim voters voting for Trump is beyond mental, I can see it with the Jewish vote but even then a vote for Trump is not good for that region in general, Jew and Arab alike.

My main worry re a Trump win is Ukraine though. **** me, that's game over for them of Trump wins. I like Biden as far as US presidents go but he really dropped the ball re Ukraine and should've gone in a lot harder on Putin. I don't have much hope Harris will do what's needed but it'll be more desirable than anything Trump does, which we all know will be Ukraine as we knew it will no longer exist.

 

[ncurd]

Honestly, Muslim voters voting for Trump is beyond mental

Authoritarians voting for Authoritarians shouldn't be a big surprise.

The issue is Republican Authoritarians hate Muslim Authoritarians. Politically they are similar.

Makes me thankful for our system where they can vote for some fruitcake like George Galloway who will exploit them but doesn't impact our political landscape at much. Real protest candidates can exist.

 

[General Melchett]

.I was thinking about how things might play out in the event of a Trump win. He says he'd have all the wars sorted within a day.

Iran have been supplying drones to Russia who have this far kept out of the Israel v Iran beef. I wonder if some grubby deal has been brokered by Trump and the Republicans whereby Russia promises to stay out of it and the US stops providing military aid to Ukraine. Putin gets to complete his special operation/land grab and Netanyahu gets to carry on with his mission which can end in two ways. He suddenly agrees to a ceasefire and allows Trump to take credit for brokering it or things with Iran escalate and the US get dragged in which will no doubt please some Republican hawks. It's hard to know what the day after will look like in Gaza and the West bank if Israel's stated goal is to eliminate Hamas. A very messy and complex situation but if Trump wins the two biggest losers will be Ukraine and Palestine.

 

[Reiser99]

You could argue as well, that without the empire we would've lost WW2 which ultimately was a good thing. Try telling that to colonised people in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries though.

Just read up on the Bengal famine for starters. Not saying colonial soldiers didn't help win the war, they definitely played a huge part. However, it came with a huge cost.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

I think the British empire's approach of killing culture and languages is overlooked in these discussions also.

From an Irish POV, oppressing our language, religion, sports etc... is cited as often, if not moreso, than the famine and murder went on during British occupation of the whole of the island.

Not having our own language as the spoken language in the country is something we still find hard to grapple with. I can't speak Irish and would much rather it was our number one language than British.

It's not something that is, nor should be, looked at rationally in a benefit v cost sense. Which is also a reason that I don't agree with reparations, at least not insofar as paying a former colony X amount as penance.

Donating to or contributing to a former colonies culture is how it should be approached and I think an obvious and easy way to start that is to return any stolen property currently held in the UK. It will cause a lot of logistical complications and would likely work similar to how certain priceless pieces of art can't be sold on the market as a fallout from WWII but it would be a small price to pay and a very big gesture. The death, murder, famine etc... is something that has happened and can't be valued imo, alternative resolutions and comminications should be sought.

 

[Welsh Exile]

I think the British empire's approach of killing culture and languages is overlooked in these discussions also.

From an Irish POV, oppressing our language, religion, sports etc... is cited as often, if not moreso, than the famine and murder went on during British occupation of the whole of the island.

Not having our own language as the spoken language in the country is something we still find hard to grapple with. I can't speak Irish and would much rather it was our number one language than British.

It's not something that is, nor should be, looked at rationally in a benefit v cost sense. Which is also a reason that I don't agree with reparations, at least not insofar as paying a former colony X amount as penance.

Donating to or contributing to a former colonies culture is how it should be approached and I think an obvious and easy way to start that is to return any stolen property currently held in the UK. It will cause a lot of logistical complications and would likely work similar to how certain priceless pieces of art can't be sold on the market as a fallout from WWII but it would be a small price to pay and a very big gesture. The death, murder, famine etc... is something that has happened and can't be valued imo, alternative resolutions and comminications should be sought.

Has there been any up tick in Irish speakers in Ireland over the last decade or 2? I think Welsh has been doing well over the last decade or so and I wonder whether we could see something similar in Ireland given time. Like in Wales, though, I can't see it ever changing to the point where it's a majority thing but still, I think it's around a million Welsh speakers in Wales these days which is pretty good, better than it dying out, obviously.

 

[Which Tyler]

Has there been any up tick in Irish speakers in Ireland over the last decade or 2?

I don't know the answer, but wouldn't be surprised if there's an uptick much more recently than the last decade or two.
Combination of Covid lockdowns, and DuoLingo is highly likely to be bringing an uptick - the question is whether it keeps ticking upwards now lockdowns are history and DuoLingo keeps shooting itself in the foot.


ET:A https://imminent.translated.com/ireland-back-to-irish

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Has there been any up tick in Irish speakers in Ireland over the last decade or 2? I think Welsh has been doing well over the last decade or so and I wonder whether we could see something similar in Ireland given time. Like in Wales, though, I can't see it ever changing to the point where it's a majority thing but still, I think it's around a million Welsh speakers in Wales these days which is pretty good, better than it dying out, obviously.

People who can speak Irish is rising but households who speak it as a first language is falling as far as I'm aware. Mostly over the last decade I'd guess.

The drop in households would be related to rural Ireland's depopulation.

If I ever have kids I'll be pushing it very hard.

 

[General Melchett]

If I ever have kids I'll be pushing it very hard.

Ironically you'll need to do that in order to have kids.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Ironically you'll need to do that in order to have kids.

Not as much as the currently hypothetical future Mrs. Boozer at least.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Not as much as the currently hypothetical future Mrs. Boozer at least.

Surely that would be even less of a stretch amirite?

 

[McTallshort]

Has there been any up tick in Irish speakers in Ireland over the last decade or 2? I think Welsh has been doing well over the last decade or so and I wonder whether we could see something similar in Ireland given time. Like in Wales, though, I can't see it ever changing to the point where it's a majority thing but still, I think it's around a million Welsh speakers in Wales these days which is pretty good, better than it dying out, obviously.

I'm currently in North West Wales and everyone is speaking Welsh. Even the youngsters

 

[ncurd]

With the budget does anyone know why the Tories decided to select their leader after it?

 

[General Melchett]

With the budget does anyone know why the Tories decided to select their leader after it?

Heard one news channel say it gives Sunak one last moment in the sun before he heads off to California or wherever. They also wanted to appease the membership by letting the leadership contest run through the full process to make up for Sunak's fast track anointment. Also takes a bit of pressure off the new leader who will have more time to get their feet under the desk after being focused on campaigning.

 

[ncurd]

NI hike protect smaller businesses but middle sized businesses likely hit
Capital Gains massively increased
Probably not hard enough inheritance tax

 

[Saintjay]

Fuel duty frozen which from my working prospective is good. Probably not ideal from an environmental point of view.

Can see businesses moaning like mad.

Still all in it seems OK.

 

[McTallshort]

Private schools to pay VAT, knew that was coming but really don't get the fuss over it

 

[General Melchett]

Saw a news update saying that she has appointed a COVID Corruption Commissioner. Hope they take a look at those PPE contracts.

 

[ncurd]

Private schools to pay VAT, knew that was coming but really don't get the fuss over it

Same thing as capital gains tax, stamp duty on second homes and Inheritance Tax

The owners of news agencies care.