5 years hard labour ?

[Haliotis]

One way and another, none of the parties can be described as squeaky clean.  BUT, I am 89 and in all the times that Labour held power they always left office with the country in a worse state than when they got in.  Early days seem to indicate that it will be no different this time.

[Bper]

1 hour ago, AndyN01 said:

Sadly, despite all the talk, when it comes down to it, it seems that we've just got another set of "Politicians" who, like the others before them, and the ones before that, etc. appear unable to match words with deeds.

How far back do we need to go to find a leader that actually did what they said they were going to do in their manifesto?

 

You’re absolutely right. It feels like we're stuck in a relentless loop of promises that never materialise, regardless of who we vote for. Politicians talk about change, but once in power, they default to the same pattern words with no real action. This can't continue. Maybe the only way forward is to bring in a completely new party, one that prioritises true accountability and is genuinely committed to breaking the cycle. People are tired of the empty talk; we need leaders who actually follow through. Whatever went wrong for us to end up in this situation, it’s clear that the current system isn’t working and desperately needs change.👍

 

[Primus1]

Perhaps a fairness party…?

[Bper]

Congratulations to Donald Trump on his victory, lets see if Starmer keeps David Lammy as foreign secretary after his insults about Trump.😄

[AndyN01]

The future "relationship" could be a little awkward.....

And I don't think that Trump is given to passing over comments and opinions from other politicians or statesmen......

As always, time will tell.

Not really understanding the intricacies of the USA electoral system I am a bit baffled by how Trump is claiming victory when he hasn't actually past the finishing line? But I guess the votes that are needed are solidly and traditionally in that camp?

[Haliotis]

What I saw of Trump’s comments on today’s news, I felt that he was mocking the electorate.   It’s almost unbelievable that a contestant for president of the USA can also be liable for imprisonment, and succeeding in being the winner makes him immune to prosecution.  I find it incredible that the American people trust this man - I certainly would not.

[Primus1]

The Americans have always been a bit strange…

[Cyker]

3 hours ago, Haliotis said:

What I saw of Trump’s comments on today’s news, I felt that he was mocking the electorate.   It’s almost unbelievable that a contestant for president of the USA can also be liable for imprisonment, and succeeding in being the winner makes him immune to prosecution.  I find it incredible that the American people trust this man - I certainly would not.

It's certainly set a precedent for future criminals - Commit crimes then get elected President so you're immune to most prosecution and can fire anyone trying to take you down for the ones you aren't immune to  

I bet Bill Clinton's kicking himself mumbling " You can DO THAT as President??"   

[Bper]

1 hour ago, Cyker said:

It's certainly set a precedent for future criminals - Commit crimes then get elected President so you're immune to most prosecution and can fire anyone trying to take you down for the ones you aren't immune to  

I bet Bill Clinton's kicking himself mumbling " You can DO THAT as President??"   

Forget diplomatic immunity apparently, 'Prime Ministerial immunity could be next!😂

 

[Bper]

Did Donald Trump go out and murder someone? The amount of hatred and vitriolic remarks about him from the left in both countries is ridiculous. It's clear the American people preferred him to Kamala Harris. Let's see how his new policies develop.🤨

 

[Primus1]

He didn’t go out and murder someone but his actions caused the capitol building to be stormed where people were killed, his policies, well, he’s promising to impose tariffs on Chinese imports which will be interesting as most stuff is made in China so the American people will end up paying more..

[Bper]

13 minutes ago, Primus1 said:

He didn’t go out and murder someone but his actions caused the capitol building to be stormed where people were killed, his policies, well, he’s promising to impose tariffs on Chinese imports which will be interesting as most stuff is made in China so the American people will end up paying more..

You're right that his words have stirred strong reactions, but many feel Trump was focused on putting America first, especially in terms of trade and the economy. His proposed tariffs on Chinese imports, for instance, aim to bring back manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign goods, which some believe could strengthen the U.S. economy long term. As for the Capitol incident, it's a complex situation, and while emotions ran high, Trump didn’t directly call for violence. Time will tell how his approach to these issues shapes things in the future.👍

[Primus1]

Well Harley davidson are moving their business out of the us

[Corolly Poly]

2 hours ago, Bper said:

You're right that his words have stirred strong reactions, but many feel Trump was focused on putting America first, especially in terms of trade and the economy. His proposed tariffs on Chinese imports, for instance, aim to bring back manufacturing and reduce reliance on foreign goods, which some believe could strengthen the U.S. economy long term. As for the Capitol incident, it's a complex situation, and while emotions ran high, Trump didn’t directly call for violence. Time will tell how his approach to these issues shapes things in the future.👍

He could have called the dogs off before it escalated and chose not to. He is culpable.

[Bper]

13 minutes ago, Corolly Poly said:

He could have called the dogs off before it escalated and chose not to. He is culpable.

Some believe he could have done more in the moment, but others feel his calls for peace were genuine, even if the situation was chaotic. For many, his policies, especially on jobs and trade, reflected his commitment to putting American interests first. it’s understandable that people see it in very different ways.👍

 

[Bper]

25 minutes ago, Primus1 said:

Well Harley davidson are moving their business out of the us

Harley-Davidson is moving more production to Thailand, its due to Thai Tariffs and Tax Incentives.👍

[Xanadu_999]

8 hours ago, Bper said:

...Thailand...

Or as Donald Trump would say: "Thighland".

[ToyotaFanDriver]

For all the doom and gloom around Trump, things will just continue mostly as normal for the next 4 years. The problem the Democrats have is mixing womens right (very valid) with that of the mentally ill men who pretend to be women and vice versa as well as people who identify as toasters. These people will not be happy until people actively agree their illness is ok and normal.

The truth is too much time and political capital was wasted on freaks and not enough on day to day things like the economy, immigration (illegal aspect of it) and crime. Democrats reduced the threshold for theft etc so less police response. They can talk about falling crime all they want but if they make more crime "legal" of course it would go down. Same with illegal immigration, give them citizenship/residency and the numbers will say its down.

Always remember, lies, damn lies and statistics.

[AndyN01]

As far as I can see, Trump's rhetoric was first and foremost about "looking after" America and Americans and the Americans voted for it.

Time will tell if the voters get what was "promised" - but if it's anything like here, I wouldn't be holding my breath if I was American.

[Corolly Poly]

30 minutes ago, AndyN01 said:

As far as I can see, Trump's rhetoric was first and foremost about "looking after" America and Americans and the Americans voted for it.

Time will tell if the voters get what was "promised" - but if it's anything like here, I wouldn't be holding my breath if I was American.

In other words populism / nationalism that is sweeping the globe and is often a result of tough times for the population. They want to look after themselves and blame others such as immigrants for their problems. This has usually not ended well.

[Haliotis]

In today’s BBC News, Putin is reported to have described Trump as “courageous”.  With Trump’s claim that he will settle the Ukraine/Russia war in 24 hours, and the hints that he may be looking to do a deal with Putin (which could mean ratification of invaded Ukraine soil) - and possibly a bit more to be added? - things for the future map of Europe don’t look good.

[Bper]

46 minutes ago, Haliotis said:

In today’s BBC News, Putin is reported to have described Trump as “courageous”.  With Trump’s claim that he will settle the Ukraine/Russia war in 24 hours, and the hints that he may be looking to do a deal with Putin (which could mean ratification of invaded Ukraine soil) - and possibly a bit more to be added? - things for the future map of Europe don’t look good.

If giving up some land could truly stop the war, it might save countless lives and start the rebuilding process sooner.It’s a difficult trade off. Ukraine’s territorial integrity is important, but perhaps, in the end, peace and stability in the region could outweigh holding onto every piece of land.The main goal should be a solution that minimises suffering and brings lasting security.👍

 

[Haliotis]

7 minutes ago, Bper said:

If giving up some land could truly stop the war, it might save countless lives and start the rebuilding process sooner.It’s a difficult trade off. Ukraine’s territorial integrity is important, but perhaps, in the end, peace and stability in the region could outweigh holding onto every piece of land.The main goal should be a solution that minimises suffering and brings lasting security.👍

 

Giving up land!  You only have to look at WW2, and think about being cooperative to appease Hitler.  Would he have been content to just remain friendly with the UK?  I think not.  He was a fanatic; set on world domination.  I would say that Putin’s approach is very much the same.

[Bper]

2 hours ago, Haliotis said:

Giving up land!  You only have to look at WW2, and think about being cooperative to appease Hitler.  Would he have been content to just remain friendly with the UK?  I think not.  He was a fanatic; set on world domination.  I would say that Putin’s approach is very much the same.

WWII did show the risks of appeasement with aggressive leaders. But Ioday’s situation is a bit different, with more diplomatic tools and international checks in place. Comparing Putin to Hitler highlights how serious things are, but do you think there might be other ways to handle this today. This war has to end if not it could go on and eventuall lead to a escalation and the start of WWIII which no one wants.

Finding a middle ground for peace in Ukraine is tough, but I think there are a few potential compromises. Places like Donetsk and Luhansk could have more local control but still remain part of Ukraine, maybe with international oversight. Ukraine could agree to stay neutral, not joining NATO, if it gets security guarantees from the West. Demilitarised zones in disputed areas, managed by a neutral body, could help ease tensions and protect civilians.

Sanctions might also be lifted gradually as Russia pulls back, which could help de-escalate things. Some areas could be set up as special economic zones with joint administration, so the economy can recover without one side taking full control. In the most contested regions, referendums under international supervision might help decide the future, though that would be tricky. 👍

All of this would need compromises and strong international oversight, but it might be a way to end the war and find peace."

[Primus1]

I wonder how the Americans would feel if Mexico invaded and they were asked to give up Texas, or the uk being invaded and to concede the south of England to appease the invaders, putin won’t be happy until he has restored the old ussr borders…