Westminstenders: Operation Yellowhammer 1q

[RedToothBrush]

Boris Johnson is clearing the decks for a leadership challenge.

I guess that means that the Brexit we get all depends on what George, Michael and Boris decide over lunch and how good Operation Yellowhammer is.

On international aid, I'd say yes provided corruption doesn't syphon off too much of it before it benefits the population.

DGR
But that won't really be a positive if unemployment goes up and inflation rises steeply though?

Much of the publicity about, and argument against, Brexit is about the economic fallout. We should also consider more long-term, less tangible consequences.

The future of the planet/ human race depends on us understanding our mutual interdependence, and thinking past borders (which are an artificial construct) and nationalism and fear of 'the other'. Recognising what we have in common and being more ready to give than take.
This month-old article by Eddie Izzard has some good points.

I’ve said this before, but this could well be the last century on Earth for humanity, and I’m not joking.
If we don’t learn to live together and work together in some shape or form – all of us – then hate will triumph and we’ll wipe ourselves off this planet. We’ve had the means to do it for some time now, and we must reject the politics of fear and hate encouraged by the likes of Donald Trump, Johnson and Farage, that will only make such an outcome more likely.

www.independent.co.uk/voices/brexit-final-say-referendum-eu-deal-eddie-izzard-peoples-vote-a8496231.html

But that won't really be a positive if unemployment goes up and inflation rises steeply though?

I didn't say it would be a carefully thought out response .... the byline of Brexit is "no thinking required"

If we don’t learn to live together and work together in some shape or form – all of us – then hate will triumph and we’ll wipe ourselves off this planet.

The problem is when the people that can wipe us off the planet believe they will be immune to their actions, then there's nothing to stop them. And if you look at recent history, an awful lot if it has involved one bunch of guys, working together, doing their utmost to prevent the other bunch of guys doing the same.

Judging by my twitter timeline, DGR, you are correct.

It's dispiriting.

You'd think that with Hannah taking that line people would stop and take a minute to think.

But no.

I really am in despair. Not only is Brexit shit but it has revealed how wilfully stupid many people in the UK are desperate to be. I mean, you actually have to exert yourself, make an effort, to be this stupid. It doesn't just happen.

I wonder how many millennial remainers feel slightly less pro-EU if they hear no-deal could lead to house prices dropping - by 35% ?

DSD ( aged 28 ) had Two friends who voted exit in the hope the economy would take a hit and house prices would go down do they could buy.

DSD tried to point out that doesn't help if you lose your job or wages go down and cost of living goes up.

Not only is Brexit shit but it has revealed how wilfully stupid many people in the UK are desperate to be. I mean, you actually have to exert yourself, make an effort, to be this stupid. It doesn't just happen.

But you aren't allowed to say that. You have to remember "everyone is special" and it's elitist to "know stuff".

Personally, I am well aware of the difference between not knowing something by happenstance (since there's loads of stuff I haven't a clue about) and wilfully deliberate ignorance. And I don't think I've ever met someone who was deliberately ignorant, but a charming lovely person. Seems to be deliberate ignorance tends to be directly related to how much of a dick someone is.

Welcome to the 21st century where you are entitled to self identify as stupid if you like - it's your right.

There is an arrogant assumption among many Remainers that Leavers are thick and don't think things out
and another among Leavers that many Remainers are thick and don't think things out

Unfortunately, both sides are right.

and it's no good them all relying on the ruling class to sort it all out either ...

George Orwell again:

^ "One of the dominant facts in English life during the past three quarters of a century has been the decay of ability in the ruling class.^"

And if you look at recent history, an awful lot if it has involved one bunch of guys, working together, doing their utmost to prevent the other bunch of guys doing the same.

DGR Obama agrees with you. And thinks women should have more power.

Former US president Barack Obama is urging more women to get involved in social movements and governance "because men have been getting on my nerves recently."
The 44th president of the United States made the remarks while hosting a town hall meeting with young African leaders in South Africa on Wednesday.
"Everyday I read the newspaper and just think like 'Brothers, what's wrong with you guys? What's wrong with us? We're violent, we're bullying. Just not handling our business," Obama said.
"I think empowering more women on the continent, that... is going to lead to some better policies," he continued.

edition.cnn.com/2018/07/18/europe/obama-south-africa-intl/index.html

I think that issue about cognitive dissonance is huge, BigChoc. And as that survey in the NS shows, it's pervasive - on both sides.

I've never, ever encountered anything like it.

I find it absolutely horrifying, on many levels.

George died a long while ago.
The capability of the ruling class has been declining rapidly for well over a century now

Labour plan to vote down any deal.

No matter what it is.

www.ft.com/content/31653510-b6a6-11e8-b3ef-799c8613f4a1
Labour to vote against Brexit deal, Emily Thornberry says
Shadow foreign secretary believes PM could be forced out before Christmas

So Labour's official strategy to solve the Brexit crisis is to...

... Create another Brexit crisis and trigger a general election before Christmas.

Except they haven't got the power to collapse the government. Get rid of May, perhaps, but that wouldn't trigger a GE. More likely to trigger a leadership contest and result in no deal whilst they all fail about trying to take over the government / trigger a left / right wing revolution.

Seriously.

Just how fucking irresponsible?

Typical of cognitive dissonance was the report from the Fawcett Society thread in FWR atm

The LibDems, SNP, Maria Miller (Tory) et al chanting "a transwoman is a woman"
because
they had all agreed it would be OK if Parliament consisted of 50% men and 50% transwomen

All the woke LibFems eager to send us back to the 19th century and a 100% male Parliament.

That's what happens when you let dogma over-ride facts

On a very generic level it feels like the trend is to negate & completely erase the Enlightenment from the 18th century.
There have been backward steps in history before so it's nothing new.

red Total chaos increases the faint hope of a caretaker PM - yes, I include May in that category -
desperately jabbing the Emergency STOP Button and Remain

Also increases the chance that the E27 would agree, to avoid a basket case neighbour with nukes

Final hours on the UKTitanic:

. No-one on the bridge, the officers all in the wardroom, snoozing, boozing & squabbling amongst themselves.

. First Class passengers have already taken all the lifeboats, packed with their valuables.

. Second Class are all in their cabins watching Love Island.

. Third Class are locked down below, scavenging for rats to cook

. In the engine room, the Brexit Media is stoking the boilers to bursting point.

No-one manning the wireless office.

A desperate voice crackles over the airwaves:

"Attention! Ici Barnier! Tourner a gauche, ou tourner à droit - for Gawd's sake !!!"

Agree with both Red and BigChoc.

Btw i think it could be that France 'falls' last. Not to romanticize France in any way but because the roots of the attachment to rational, analytical thinking go especially deep. Questioning dogma and authority. The chapter opened in 1789 with the mother of all revolutions and closed... hopefully as late as possible.

BigChoc sadly (wrt) your last post, I think No Deal is more likely.

So do I, cat I'm just talking of the faint hope that at the last moment,
duty to the country - or saving their own arse - causes whoever occupies No 10 to use the STOP button.

Or at least the WA button

I would open a bottle of something nice and get very drunk 😁

Brilliant 'Titanic' BCF, the best laugh for ages!
Even the rat reference as a restaurant chain has been fined loads of dosh for a rat in the soup.
Personally I don't give a stuff who is in charge as long as my 'tomorrow' looks a little brighter than my 'today'.

Had a response from Labour to my 'I can't vote Labour while they support Brexit' email.

It looks very similar to emails I had from them in May and last year. Aren't they changing their position yet? Do they really think a Brexit that protects jobs etc is possible?

Labour respect the referendum result and will fight for a Brexit deal that protects jobs, the economy and rights. Tory divisions and incompetence over Brexit are putting jobs and the economy at risk.

Etc etc.

There is an arrogant assumption among many Remainers that Leavers are thick and don't think things out and another among Leavers that many Remainers are thick and don't think things out

Brexiteers are thick. Leavers not. Thick people don't get to call anyone else thick.

Not really sure if an ignorant Remainer can be equated to a Brexiteer, given that Remain vs. Leave is not a zero-sum game.

{Tory divisions and incompetence over Brexit are putting jobs and the economy at risk.}
Wrong, Tory AND LABOUR divisions and incompetence over Brexit are putting jobs and the economy at risk.