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A false injection of nationalism.
A thread
http://manseljames.com/2021/05/11/a-false-injection-of-nationalism/
A thread
http://manseljames.com/2021/05/11/a-false-injection-of-nationalism/
The elections are done, and the United Kingdom remains united for now.
Boris the buffoon has consolidated his hold on the majority of the former working class 'so called' red wall, whilst Scotland and Wales have remained largely unchanged with the SNP and Welsh Labour firmly in control.
All in all, the electorate felt their leaders were doing a good job especially when it came to managing the Corvid pandemic and the immunisation programs.
That the supply of vaccines was almost entirely the responsibility of the UK government went largely unnoticed, while Sturgeon and Drakeford lauded their management of the pandemic.
In reality they doled out the vaccines and followed the Westminster lead with occasional minor initiatives of their own.
What we have witnessed is a weirdly shallow response that has taken no interest in the sharper and more important issues facing the British democratic model. No mention of fiscal deficit from either Scotland or Wales.
No mention that Johnson is a superficial wit who will say anything to get a vote or a laugh. Both seem equally important to him and surprisingly to the electorate too.
No mention of the nature of the union, no real response to the blunders in the results of the Brexit compromise.
All the political leaders gained from the national pandemic, all were praised for their leadership, when all that's really changed is that they appeared on TV at least once a week.
Every time their primary concern has been their personal commitment to the safety of those in their care. 'I'm looking after you.' has been the mantra of all those in power.
All those aspiring to challenge have been at a huge disadvantage, since any criticism has taken on the impression of treasonous, selfish ambition.
It has always been the UK prime Minister Johnson's way to say whatever comes into his head. Some ideas are good, i.e. reform of social care, (not yet thought through) some less good at least to some, i.e.
leaving the EU, (definitely not thought through)and some definitely bad such as his throw away remarks condemning Nazanin Zaghari-Radcliffe to years in jail.
All these so called leaders Johnson, Sturgeon and Drakeford have one thing in common, - power in the time of adversity. Their personalities are all different, but they have all received masses of exposure to a scared electorate.
No wonder then we got the results we did. It shows that the electorate votes not for ideas but for illusions. Illusions about who will lead us to a better place. The characters who come into our homes every day and tell us what a great job they are doing.
The heroism ascribed to the regional (national) leaders is largely circumstantial, it is only in Northern Ireland that a national leader has lost the patina of leadership, where real political fervour has been exacerbated by Brexit mistakes that really make a difference.
Both Wales and Scotland have massive fiscal deficits with the Westminster Government, it must be time where it is obvious to all that the United Kingdom has resources that need better distribution, not separation in to smaller units.
Yes, the South East of England has the largest economy, the greatest wealth and the most people. That wealth though is used to support all areas of the United Kingdom.
All the three national entities Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are supported from Westminster, all have massive fiscal deficits.
Scotland's drive for independence seems to pose more questions than answers, Wales determines to stay at arms length stubbornly declining initiative to open up, these are illusions of tribal grandeur.
We all have our nationalities of which we are rightly proud, but voting for braggarts and eccentrics is no way to enhance our futures.
This thread can be read here: http://manseljames.com/2021/05/11/a-false-injection-of-nationalism/
