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Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

bbc.co.uk

391–400 of 651 posts

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#391

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Italy certainly did [1]. In fact Italian politics became much worse since the proportional system was weakened. [1] yes governments were weak and were replaced often, but that's a feature, not a problem.

What makes you believe that is desirable?

the belief that wider representation in the government, less polarization, a strong parliament and a weak executive is more desirable.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#392

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> 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?

It used to be the latter until the marks started getting elected. For the congressional boomers (Pelosi, McConnel et al), it's a grift. For the young crowd (AOC, Crenshaw, etc), it's a mission.

This - the problem with Truss was that she was a "true believer" in total garbage, so as soon as she tried to turn it into policy it blew up. Johnson's skill was in talking a lot and not delivering any policy.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#393
post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is an interesting idea. Although if anyone has enough money to single-handedly move the market price, it devolves into a dictatorship of that person.

Presumably in a prediction market you're only being paid out if you were right. Someone who sways the market significantly and then ends up being wrong will lose a lot of money.

Oh you’re right.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#395

Earlier quoted context omitted.

the first paragraph of that article: >the Labour leader distanced himself from her words you’ve cherrypicked two examples that were disregarded by the parties as a whole, then discussed ad nauseam in the media. this is not evidence of anything

I don't understand this response - it's ok for people in one party to say whatever they want and it doesn't count because someone else 'distances' themselves? It was still said - the damage is still done to the level of civility and more hatred was thrown into the fire.

you’re cherrypicking right-wing talking points to support an argument that doesn’t have much evidence

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#396
post #387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The way I explain it to American friends is that any member of the public, if they have £45,000+ per year to spare, can send their son to Eton. Simple.

Is that really true though? Money is the only factor in admission? No entrance exams? No rejections for “families we don’t want to be associated with”? No special admittances for prestigious families that don’t get charged? If not, maybe that explanation isn’t a very helpful one.

Well, it was a joke, but to take an earnest question seriously, there are entrance exams, but they're not especially hard, particularly if you've been coached beforehand, as many of these kids will be. Theoretically no special cases, and "celebrity" would certainly be frowned on at Eton / Harrow - these are old-money families, not nouveau-riches.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#397
post #375

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don’t know much about UK politics but why can’t you guys get Kemi Badenoch elected? She is younger and did not go to Oxford. Try something different. Maybe Oxford is overrated:)

Why? She's a Brexiteer running on an "anti-woke" platform, we need more serious people instead.

Are you implying woke is serious?

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#398
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?

The UK doesn't quite have the same level of TV polarization. We can argue exactly how right-wing the BBC is, but the crucial thing is that most people are watching the same news. There isn't really a UK Fox daily hate channel. GBNews was explicitly trying to be that, and has completely died in the ratings.

The UK press is pretty far right and a major element of how we got to this mess, though.

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#399

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For all parliament's faults, it's still largely populated by well educated, intelligent individuals who are skilled orators and debaters. Even some of the most awful parliamentarians would easily talk circles around me in any kind of debate. For anyone not aware, a large number of our politicians come from a background at public schools such as Eton, and read Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford. Institutions…

And yet Americans still mog, and I mean badly mog, British at actual competitive debate. This is true both in their inferior form of "British Parliamentery debate" as well as the various American styles, such as Lincoln Douglas, Policy, or Public Forum.

Definitely. I mean check out some of the recent winners of the US National Debate Championships.

https://youtu.be/fmO-ziHU_D8?t=34

Re: Liz Truss resigns as UK prime minister

#400

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…

My impression is that British politics are more resentful, but that you don't see it the way you do in the US because the structure of the system is different. In Britain the PM is chosen by the party in power so you don't get the divided government situations you see in the US where usually the Democrats control some of (1) the Presidency, (2) the Senate, (3) the House of Representatives and the Republicans control…

I think you need to read more into Thatcher and what happened under her to understand why some sections of society reacted like this.

I don't know a huge amount about Regan, but I doubt you can really compare them.

Britain in the late 70s and early 80s had huge issues which Thatcher addressed, but in hugely contentious ways, in some cases destroying entire industries and their communities.

The structural impact of some choices she made are still present in British society even now, decades later.

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