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American election
Some comment following the US election seems warranted. Since the results became clear, I felt some loss of hope. We have not been much following the news, and I am putting this entry mostly under cuts for those who would similarly like to skip politics for a while.
For some years now, I've considered US Republicans to be ineligible for my vote. There has been such lying, callousness and, at the least, tacit acceptance of what should be unacceptable. I can't consider supporting them until they develop some integrity and good intentions. The UK Conservatives have slid into the same category, since reconfiguration under Johnson and the rightward stance of Badenoch.
Media interviews with American voters made most of them seem blind or deluded, especially about means and ends. It is not realistic to wind the economy back a few decades, and regressive social policies will just cause misery. Domestically, the guardrails of a free, civil society are to suffer more assault. Overseas, I fear for Eastern Europe and Palestine if Putin and Netanyahu go unchecked. I also fear China's actions in Asia because it's not yet clear how hawkish a Trump administration may be on that side; Xi won't be intimidated by tariffs. Maybe I can hope that Gabbard won't be overseeing intelligence.
At least my ballot was received, not that it counted for much in Tennessee. Perhaps I could have done some good had I stayed but I have family to consider. Our decision to settle in Scotland rather than the US was very last-minute, and motivated mostly by where we would feel safe. Trump's previous administration, and now this election, are certainly illuminating: we fit better far from where Trumpian rhetoric is widely tolerated.
For some years now, I've considered US Republicans to be ineligible for my vote. There has been such lying, callousness and, at the least, tacit acceptance of what should be unacceptable. I can't consider supporting them until they develop some integrity and good intentions. The UK Conservatives have slid into the same category, since reconfiguration under Johnson and the rightward stance of Badenoch.
Media interviews with American voters made most of them seem blind or deluded, especially about means and ends. It is not realistic to wind the economy back a few decades, and regressive social policies will just cause misery. Domestically, the guardrails of a free, civil society are to suffer more assault. Overseas, I fear for Eastern Europe and Palestine if Putin and Netanyahu go unchecked. I also fear China's actions in Asia because it's not yet clear how hawkish a Trump administration may be on that side; Xi won't be intimidated by tariffs. Maybe I can hope that Gabbard won't be overseeing intelligence.
At least my ballot was received, not that it counted for much in Tennessee. Perhaps I could have done some good had I stayed but I have family to consider. Our decision to settle in Scotland rather than the US was very last-minute, and motivated mostly by where we would feel safe. Trump's previous administration, and now this election, are certainly illuminating: we fit better far from where Trumpian rhetoric is widely tolerated.
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