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Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

bbc.co.uk

151–160 of 651 posts

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#151

I know this topic is important in substance and the thing I'm about to say is an aesthetic issue, but as an American watching this unfold I have admired the Brits for the sense of heart that still seems to be present in their politics. I'm referring to the parliamentary sessions in which, even though they're savagely roasting each other, they're doing in a way that feels somehow good-hearted and doesn't lay bare the…

What’s incredible to me is how honestly they talk about the facts on the ground. Truss admitted that the tax cuts were a bad idea in an inflationary environment and taxes would go up. American politicians would have lied and said “taxes will go up to curb inflation but they’ll go down also and you won’t pay more in taxes.”

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#152
post #43

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is what I was thinking. Was she worse than Boris or is it just sexism? Edit: I'm sure objectively she was bad, but yeah.

We've had two female Prime Ministers before her, one of whom was quite successful as a politician (bloody awful for the country though). It wasn't sexism, she is genuinely completely useless. Fractally shitty, in that if you examine any part of her stint in politics it is every bit as shitty and inept as the whole.

It's been clear for a long time that she's totally incompetent, the part that mystifies me is why Tory MPs gave members the choice of her or Sunak. That outcome was also obvious, for obvious reasons. Some of the other candidates were at least unknown quantities and at least one even gave the impression of being not entirely mad.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#153
post #123

Earlier quoted context omitted.

On one hand I'd love a general election, but on the other hand I feel what's most needed now is a kind of stability and level-headedness that has been lacking with the last two PMs. From what I can tell, Sunak might actually do a pretty good job there; and for the time being that may be preferable over the delays and uncertainty of a general election. At least for now, considering the state of things.

The trouble is he doesn’t have the support of much of the party, and that inherently leads to instability.

He didn't do badly in the last election. He doesn't have the full support of the party, but neither had Truss, and who really does in the first place, especially when things are not going so well?

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#154

I know this topic is important in substance and the thing I'm about to say is an aesthetic issue, but as an American watching this unfold I have admired the Brits for the sense of heart that still seems to be present in their politics. I'm referring to the parliamentary sessions in which, even though they're savagely roasting each other, they're doing in a way that feels somehow good-hearted and doesn't lay bare the…

> a way that feels somehow good-hearted and doesn't lay bare the naked resentment and hatred that seems to be all we have left in the USA. Do you think it is real hatred or kayfabe?

I think with the older politicians, who have been in office for a while, it might be more kayfabe. But so many of those politicians have retired, and have been replaced with newer members who don't have personal relationships with other members, it's probably real hatred.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#156
There's a scene in "The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear" set in a jazz club and the camera pans across photos of various disasters ... The Hindenburg ... The Titanic ... and finally Michael Dukakis (1988 Democratic candidate for U.S. President, epic fail).

I feel Truss could have a spot on that wall, too.

https://youtu.be/9fpO7vN2-vY

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#157

What happens next will be interesting . At this point, a general election would be the obviously correct solution. It's clear that the conservative party don't have a platform and can't agree major policy points amongst themselves. However that would require conservative MPs to vote for it, which is the turkeys voting for Christmas so unlikely to happen, so I'd expect we'll have to wait till 2024 for that election. T…

On one hand I'd love a general election, but on the other hand I feel what's most needed now is a kind of stability and level-headedness that has been lacking with the last two PMs. From what I can tell, Sunak might actually do a pretty good job there; and for the time being that may be preferable over the delays and uncertainty of a general election. At least for now, considering the state of things.

> "stability and level-headedness that has been lacking with the last two PMs."

We're not going to get that with the current incumbent party.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#158
post #112

I know this topic is important in substance and the thing I'm about to say is an aesthetic issue, but as an American watching this unfold I have admired the Brits for the sense of heart that still seems to be present in their politics. I'm referring to the parliamentary sessions in which, even though they're savagely roasting each other, they're doing in a way that feels somehow good-hearted and doesn't lay bare the…

Fellow American, asking earnestly - are both examples just products of the media environment of their respective countries? Does the UK still have popular media outlets that aren't solely pushing corporate agendas?

I wonder if district gerrymandering plays a role in the US. When your districts become packed to the extent that it's safely owned by one party, the only risk to an elected official's seat is a primary from a more extreme candidate. So instead of finding compromise to maximize your general appeal, you would be motivated to embrace extreme ideas and promote those on TV/social media. More elected officials doing this gives license to everyone to embrace the extremes, even if they're not very popular.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#160
post #112

I know this topic is important in substance and the thing I'm about to say is an aesthetic issue, but as an American watching this unfold I have admired the Brits for the sense of heart that still seems to be present in their politics. I'm referring to the parliamentary sessions in which, even though they're savagely roasting each other, they're doing in a way that feels somehow good-hearted and doesn't lay bare the…

Fellow American, asking earnestly - are both examples just products of the media environment of their respective countries? Does the UK still have popular media outlets that aren't solely pushing corporate agendas?

I think after seeing that all this got worse after Win Red/Act Blue donations displaced corporate support, trying to blame “corporate agendas” for polarization is willful blindness.
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