Biden Trump debate- they must get rid of Biden now?

Oh OK. I didn't know that, thank you.

Anyway I think the causes of the decline of US and UK democracies are as follows, just my opinions:

1. Politicians stopped being deep thinkers who had real jobs and started being careerists with little real world experience who put their careers over representing the voters
2. Too few working class politicians especially from manufacturing, agrarian and service industries
3. Media stopped exploring politics in meaningful ways and started focussing on soundbites and gotchas. For a shocking example watch an interview with Wilson or Thatcher and see how they are given the space and time to thoughtfully discuss policies and economics and the interviewer has the knowledge to dive in deep with them. And that was prime time TV. Now compare it with an interview with Sunak and Starmer from the present day. There has been a steep and alarming decline in intellectual 'meat'
4. Voters are lower information due to point 3 and also to social media.
5. Social media has caused greater political divides so that many voters no longer see themselves as being part of a country but just as part of a tribe that hates and wishes destruction on the other tribe. Which leads to...
6. ....death threats and political assassinations (Cox, Amess) meaning that good people are getting too scared to go into politics
7. Media emphasises superficial things like a candidates looks and mannerism rather than policies and abilities
8. Poor education. Many people know little about the evolution of democracy and how difficult it has been to protect, and what life is like under other systems. Hence some think communism or facism sound reasonable because they haven't learned what these systems are actually like
9. We don't pay our politicians enough and require them to work stupid hours meaning that the brightest and most conscientious in our society would rather go into law, banking, tech, start a company, anything than politics...
10. ...so we get left with grifters and morons.

All of this is in our gift as the public to solve but I think we're too distracted and divided just now.

Watching the video of him talking, it is now reached the stage of turning him into a spectacle. Old age has sadly caught up with him, and he’s not fully in charge of his facilities or his physicality any more. Trump is only 4 years younger but to be fair still as sharp as a pin and physically able. Just he’s a twat.

they need to remove Biden, it can’t go on.

Trump is already telling Americans that their justice system is out to get them. When you don't trust the justice system you get anarchy.

Being a decent man with experience and good understanding of policy will only take you so far if you look like you aren't physically or mentally up to the job.

I think I heard that there isn’t an obvious mechanism; Biden needs to consent to standing aside.

It’s incredibly worrying, not just for Americans but for us all. My father believes that Trump would be a full- on Fascist in a heartbeat if he thought he could get away with it,

@DanielGault

"But surely they must have been looking for a while at least? Surely"

Nope - doesn't look like they did. Bit of a monumental error that gifts the election to Trump.

It's heartbreaking. The Republicans are likely to win as a default.

I'm so sorry for America (especially as Trump is being influenced by the obnoxious Farage and all that he stands for).

I think Harris doesnt do well because she isnt very good - not because she is black and I dont think we should try and explain it away like that.

Michelle Obma would be great and popular but she isnt running so that is that

Biden was dealing with a cold, as am I. I couldn't do a coherent debate in my pjyamas currently.

In his favour, is a lengthy career in politics and as a diplomat. He may not be quick on his feet or silver of tongue, but he is a decent man with serious understanding of policies.

While Trump is a convicted felon.

Because it’s almost too late to start the process of finding a new president candidate now?

Because at this late stage there is no one else with even the slightest chance of beating Trump.

He looks one foot in the grave. Why are they continuing with this?

He looks one foot in the grave. Why are they continuing with this?

Oh OK. I didn't know that, thank you.

Anyway I think the causes of the decline of US and UK democracies are as follows, just my opinions:

1. Politicians stopped being deep thinkers who had real jobs and started being careerists with little real world experience who put their careers over representing the voters
2. Too few working class politicians especially from manufacturing, agrarian and service industries
3. Media stopped exploring politics in meaningful ways and started focussing on soundbites and gotchas. For a shocking example watch an interview with Wilson or Thatcher and see how they are given the space and time to thoughtfully discuss policies and economics and the interviewer has the knowledge to dive in deep with them. And that was prime time TV. Now compare it with an interview with Sunak and Starmer from the present day. There has been a steep and alarming decline in intellectual 'meat'
4. Voters are lower information due to point 3 and also to social media.
5. Social media has caused greater political divides so that many voters no longer see themselves as being part of a country but just as part of a tribe that hates and wishes destruction on the other tribe. Which leads to...
6. ....death threats and political assassinations (Cox, Amess) meaning that good people are getting too scared to go into politics
7. Media emphasises superficial things like a candidates looks and mannerism rather than policies and abilities
8. Poor education. Many people know little about the evolution of democracy and how difficult it has been to protect, and what life is like under other systems. Hence some think communism or facism sound reasonable because they haven't learned what these systems are actually like
9. We don't pay our politicians enough and require them to work stupid hours meaning that the brightest and most conscientious in our society would rather go into law, banking, tech, start a company, anything than politics...
10. ...so we get left with grifters and morons.

All of this is in our gift as the public to solve but I think we're too distracted and divided just now.