The UK (worldwide?) political scenario...The basics of politics..

Hello!

I've been busy over on you tube, so its been a bit of break from the writing, but I realised I had to come back to "the basics of politics" to finish off the comments on the current US/UK scene.

Part 1 here

There's a saying that:

 "A week is a long time in politics" 

I would suggest that's a masterclass in understatement. When I wrote my piece on the US scene, President Trump wasn't facing the beginning of an impeachment process, and hadn't fired the boss of the FBI for digging too deep into the "Russian issue"

How things change eh? It's interesting how there's an alignment with Russian and US positions on LGBT issues, all be it one publicly, and the other under the table so to speak. One can't help but wonder if a few years ago, a white, christian fundamentalist viewpoint has been shared in some quiet hotel room somewhere and a plan hatched to gain control and "remake the world..."

Too fanciful? you decide. However what of the UK?

During my military career I refrained from political opinion, since I kinda figured that I worked for  whoever was in charge regardless. Since leaving, and looking at a wider section of the population, myself included, there is definitely cause to suggest that those who work within and for the military are perhaps shielded from the wider domestic actions of their political bosses by elevated wages etc. Of course there are other genuine difficulties and it's far from an easy ride, but my point is that I didn't see how difficult life is for some people day to day until I stepped outside of that sphere of influence, and many that remain within it still don't.

So where are we in the UK? 

Campaign wise PM may is doing a great job of not doing a great job. Whatever you might think of the policy delineations of the the Labour and Conservative parties, one has to question the actions of the individuals concerned.

Actions telegraph attitudes, and as such give a window into motivations...

From what I can see the Conservatives are thinking one of two things:

1. We will win anyway thus we don't need to bother
2. We can't fix this and therefore wish to pass the buck by throwing this election. 

I said I refrained from political opinion in my former life. But that doesn't mean I didn't observe. I can't remember quite such a distinct difference between the political parties since the days of Margaret Thatcher and Neil Kinnock.

With such a slim majority in the house of commons, (just 6) and the country facing such monumental issues as those that now lay before it, the PM I think took the only wise option, i.e, that of calling an election.

Why do I say that? Well because the UK doesn't exist in a vacuum. The EU, & the US, both have a huge bearing on our future, and whilst the election itself may well be fought on domestic issues of health, social welfare and other such points, the international relations question looms large.

The UK election may well have a huge bearing on the global political mood in the coming years. Tensions are high to both the east and west of us, and I for one do not assume that any impeachment of 45 will be a smooth process free of violence. "They" i.e. the "Trumpettes" have already tested the homeland security issues.. and we have seen that certain sections of the American government would side with 45 in contradiction to the judicial process. It begs the question... just how quietly do civil wars start...

Yeah yeah I know...hyperbole and fear mongering... but I am sure those who lived through 1937-8 couldn't foresee what was to occur....so there nothing wrong with being ever watchful..

For reference.. anyone seen Star Wars? ..republic/separatists becoming rebels/empire... with the definitions of right and wrong switching sides in the process dependent upon viewpoint...its not a difficult principle to understand, hence why its in a movie....

IF we have an election that brings about an ultra conservative government in the UK with (albeit not publicly admitted) shared Ideals with 45, then would the "UK special relationship" be used as reason to go to the (military??) aid of 45?

On the other hand if we elect a more socialist left wing government, lead by a distinctly different set of principles, I suspect that would be unlikely.

And what of the UN? would it intervene? could it? and would the UK stand with it against a belligerent US at war with itself?

After all the western world has practiced "regime change" a number of times.. is it so hard to envisage a situation where that might be needed or actually happen on US soil? Perhaps the manoeuvrings of 45 have lead to this point, and he "wants" to be impeached to then legitimately stage a coup..now theres a scary out the box thought. The man sure is unpredictable enough, that we do know.

This is something of a "six degrees of Kevin Bacon" argument here. Domestic political outcomes having a world wide bearing. As such one can see the obvious parallels with the individual voter and the wider outcome of the UK election itself.

So, come the day, make a difference, go, vote, be part of the answer, whether you be conservative or labour matters a little less than actually showing up. Inaction is not "no action" & Should the world steer itself towards choppy waters, your going along for the ride regardless of whether you bought a ticket or not...

You know the day .. June 8th 2017

In this case the "difference" could be greater than we yet know...

After all, France recently dodged a bullet, but will we?  

Sarah

;-)