George Floyd R.I.P

Minneapolis is the last place you’d expect something like this to happen tbh. It’s a fairly prosperous city. This is like seeing riots in somewhere like Chester or Bath.

America’s ****ed.

 

This could backfire on Trump... huge numbers of black Americans don't usually vote having given up on the democratic process ... but the anger there now may well manifest itself in the ballot box as well as in the riots ... hope so ... he's already worried about the postal vote enabling people who don't usually bother.

 

Any President worth his salt would have immediately moved to ensure that justice would be done and reassured the public that measures would be put in place to restore community confidence in the police and authorities. A President with a set of bollocks would done this on day one.

But they have a President who backs white supremacists and threatens to shoot people who are rightly angered by this.

 

I doubt there’s ever been a time in US history when the country has been worse led, nor in more need of effective leadership.

Could probably say the same for us actually.

 

I was shocked at the amount of black and mexican voters who voted for Trump in 2016. Many of them said they were swayed by his assertion to get the American economy going and create jobs for Americans, this despite him saying he'd build a wall to keep Mexicans out.

I'm not so sure they'll turn out for him again though. The economy is now ****ed (not really his fault admittedly) and his legacy so far has been to drive a wedge between people and communities, dividing the nation on racial lines and giving a voice and legitimising the actions of gun toting racists.

 

It's scary how these people actually amass enough traction to get into power. They trade on the back of popularist soundbites and play on people's fears and anxieties, blaming the voiceless for societies ills.

As a Londoner, I remember feeling embarrassed when my kin folk had voted Boris Johnson in as mayor. This was a bloke who just traded on bluster and guff and meaningless soundbites. It's incredible that he's been allowed to bluff his way into being PM on the back of the same empty diatribes.

I can't remember whether it was Aaron Banks or Dominic Cummings who said it, when both were involved in the shady vote leave campaign, but it was noted that 'Facts don't matter', they had seen the US election campaign and recognised that if you whip up people's emotions, then you can tell/sell them any old crap and they'll fall for it. They deliberately modelled their campaign on these lines and cummings carried that through with the election campaign too.

The result is that both the UK and the US have ended up with men that are ill equipped to deal with actual leadership issues, at a time where we are crying out for strong leaders.

 

Looks like things didn't go well overnight in the good ole u s of a...

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...sota-us-twitter-donald-trump-latest-news-live

 

History is littered with examples of these populists who play to people’s emotions. Principally, to people’s fears. It’s easy to manipulate people when they are afraid, and it’s particularly easy if you can identify a bogeyman and promise to protect the frightened populace from that threat.

The obvious period in history with parallels to our own is Europe in the 30s. Rome in the time of the Caesars is equally pertinent; possibly more so, given that US Constitution is based on similar principles to Roman law. The Romans lost their cherished Republic after 500 years of refusing tyranny.

Trump and Boris would both do well to remember though, how things turned out for Julius Caesar and Mussolini

 

I can see this getting a lot worse before it gets better. Trump should have moved to quell the anger, instead of pouring fuel on the fire by making threats to shoot people. It's a really fractious situation out there and if the authorities start using more force on people, it's going to increase the amounts of protests and riots.

 

Yup, tried and tested methods to gain and maintain power. Identify an enemy (real or not) and then frighten the voters into believing that only you can protect them from it. Whether it's Trump and the Mexicans, Boris and the EU, or the 'flood of immigrants' that various right wing Govt's use.

Classic divide and rule tactics. Blame the poor, vulnerable and voiceless for societies ills and deflect blame from the real culprits... themselves.

 

Let me just put it out there trump is an absolute twats and deflects 99% of the time as well as being a 5 year old who has a pop at any criticism of him even if he makes **** up (see the blamijg or a critical republican when someones wife died in their office).

Hes also terrible with his words and very inflammatory.

Hes actually been okay on this incident (from what i have read). Hes spoke to floyds family, called them great people (standard trump) and effectively said the policeman should be punished.

Likewise, whilst i understand the anger, the rioting is wrong and looting is just people venting out their anger and or taking advantage to steal stuff. Sure people might think its fine to look those blue chip supermarkets but its small businesses and peoples cars and stuff so i can see where trumps coming from here even if i dont agree with his approach.

I'm surprised by the speed at which this first officer has been charged and i hope to hell the other 3 get it quickly too

 

Hey saffy, you fancy keeping your wums to the politics thread i mean coroanvirus thread

Much love bob

 

****ing hell.

 

Imagine feeling embarrassed about a mayor that’s been elected

 

I can’t even imagine mate, I’m not clever enough.

 

Latest reports is that a cop has died in last night's protests ... I'm waiting for Wiggy the Satsuma to blame the Mexicans, the Chinese or the WHO

 

Guvernor/Mayor of Minnesota has said this 'is no longer about George Floyd, it's about attacking civil society' people who want to destabilise the area and have destroyed local businesses that hardly make any profit, and have taken a lifetime to build up to serve the locals. He now wants the National Guard in. Basically he's declaring war on any non peaceful protests 'outsiders.'