Bring it on Elon!

MayBee70

nanna8

Right wing ? Gransnet? Am I living in an alternative universe? More lovey leftie I think.

No. But you are living in a totally different continent so I don’t really understand why you are such an expert in UK politics.

I’m interested in American politics,too. Is that a crime now ? At one stage I studied world politics, not that it is any of your concern.

Sheer provocation from FGT2- how very unpleasant.

Really, fleurpepper!

I have just read this thread and really disagree with fgt but that response is unnecessary.

If it acts as a wake-up call to the other parties, then surely it's a good thing? This government is well aware of how the British public feel on so many issues, but choose to ignore them and go their own sweet way. Is this democracy?

Just wanted to drop by with a quick update on how things are going in the US with Elon.

He derailed the US spending bill today. This will shut down our federal government until at least January. Essential workers will be forced to work without pay for however long Trump and Elon want to do this. The rest will be furloughed. At Christmas.

Hopefully the Republicans in Congress disobey Trump, but Elon has already warned them that if they pass the bill, he will use his Super PAC to primary them out.

He is literally threatening elected members of Congress if they don't do his bidding. They are beholden to HIM, not the people who elected them.

This man should scare everyone.

nanna8

Right wing ? Gransnet? Am I living in an alternative universe? More lovey leftie I think.

No. But you are living in a totally different continent so I don’t really understand why you are such an expert in UK politics.

This doesn't feel patriotic.
It feels like a takeover bid with one individuals personal political whims in mind.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

Saving money within the UK isn’t a bad aim MaizieD. Wastage in one area could enable that money to be put to good use elsewhere!

I can’t wait for the day when Pride rainbows disappear from staff lanyards for example. I bet Musk will empower Reform to become more professional and target areas where change (not you Starmer) can be made. This country is crying out for it and Labour’s not delivering it.

At the last election it was a protest vote. “Anyone but Tory” so Starmer (with his 20% majority) won by default. Not because everyone liked Labour (they didn’t, some had long memories too as to why not) but just because they wanted Change. Starmer tapped into that zeitgeist. Lucky him. Or not, now.

However come the next GE the voters will have a real choice. Not the One Nation ‘Broad church Tories’, not the Labour Party (I won’t say why - it’s early days and Starmer has plenty of time - with Lammy, Reeves - to makes our situation even much worse in the months to come) but with a slick, targeted, professional, patriotic (nope, not a dirty word keep up at the back) Reform Party UK. I just hope I’m still around to see it happen.

Rant over.
I’m off out for a curry night with Himself and friends.

Thanks again everyone for joining in this discussion. It’s good to exchange viewpoints.

Well put FGT2

Septimia

I'm with you Fleurpepper. Our government shouldn't - mustn't - be run by foreign businessmen.

Nor should labour be flying their people over to the USA to support KH, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander. Neither should the EU be sticking their noses in our affairs as we are no longer involved with the EU- yet people are happy to be governed by the EU.

Right wing ? Gransnet? Am I living in an alternative universe? More lovey leftie I think.

To be honest I dont hear the word Nazi anymore, it has become utterly meaningless.
The example given on here by David was that GN was a prime target for trolls with right wing views. I found that quite an unusual claim.

Galaxy

I am more frightened of people who cant cope with right wing opinions than any 'trolls'.

But there's right-wing, and then there's the more extreme right-wing, in the same way that the more extremist left used to be called "loony lefties" - but seem to have morphed into 'Marxists', judging by the way they're described / portrayed in some media outlets.

We have the left calling the right Nazis and the right calling the left Marxists and or Communists. Fat chance of any rational debate with that kind of hype...

Intolerance is an individual thing though, isn’t it? People of all political persuasions can be intolerant of people with views different to their own, it’s not a peculiarity of those on the left, or the right. I’m not sure there’s much group think when it comes to intolerance, people are intolerant in their own individual, and often paradoxical way. I think that’s very different to the manipulation of facts to influence people, and using deep fakes. That scares me much more.

I think the intolerant (those who dont understand why people think differently to them) leads to a divided society. People cant cope or understand people holding different views, even shock horror, right wing views. They will 'leave the country' following the results of a democratic election.

We are all at risk from trolls of all persuasions, and I think the influence of trolling, which affects large numbers, poses far more of a threat to society than intolerant individuals, who we can suss out for ourselves.

I think it is part of the whole 'people who think differently to me' must be either thick or influenced by SM, AI, etc, it worries me. Presumably we are just as at risk from left wing trolls.

Galaxy

I am more frightened of people who cant cope with right wing opinions than any 'trolls'.

Why? Surely the use of AI to influence public opinion is more pernicious than individuals not being tolerant of the opinions of others?

I am more frightened of people who cant cope with right wing opinions than any 'trolls'.

"communism and global control" - what do you mean by this?

do you actually know what communism is as opposed to centre left politics? What do you mean by "global control? By whom?

In my experience, we all perceive our own POV as "common sense" as it chimes with our own values, its not an objective matter.

Lastly, and my point throughout, you suggest posters
"check them out". We cant check them out without policy objectives and knowing what the overall directions are

Reform got 14.3% of the vote in the last election JudyBloom. That does not constitute a silent majority. People you associate with may support them, but that doesn’t constitute a silent majority either. No party has a majority, silent or otherwise, and hasn’t had since the 1950s.

LizzieDrip Reform is the only party that can serve us, the people and bring back true democracy, putting British people first, we are in great decline with the tyrannicals we have in power now, riding roughshod over us all, when they should be serving us. The Reform Party are doing so well all over the country as people are waking up and realising that they are a party of common sense. Check out all their Conferences and you will see. We don't want communism and global control, which is just what is happening now. Nigel Farage is democratising the party and the sooner we get Labou out and Reform in, the better at least they will have the guts to do what is right for our country. If you check them out you will see they are our only chance of getting Britain back on track. The silent majority are behind Reform, mark my words!

FriedGreenTomatoes2

^Out of interest; did you vote for Brexit, ie to remove foreign interference in UK politics. ?^

Nope.
I voted Brexit because the EU were against having their accounts audited for several years, their protectionist attitude for years (remember the Butter Mountain and the Wine Lakes in the ‘80s?), The leaders of the European Union guide democracy in name only. In practice, they constantly override it and violate fundamental democratic norms on a grand scale. The anti-democratic practices in the Council of the EU, also known as the Council of Ministers, are a real scandal.

I resented the fact that the UK weee net contributors, always. Yet the EU funded projects with their little blue and yellow circles as though we ought to be grateful somehow for their largesse!

It’s a bureaucratic nightmare. A gravy train of the highest order. Brussels & Strasbourg. Shifting across one to the other. I could go on but I’d bore the pants off you all.

This is absolute nonsense - the stuff about the EU not having their accounts audited. They have done and if you chose to look at the EU website you can find a record of the results. I suspect that you won't however but still continue to repeat that old trope.

Allira

David49

GN will be a prime target for AI trolls dominating threads with right wing opinions.
Seriously if you repeat lies often enough they will be believed it is a credible threat

OMG - is FriedGreenTomatoes a troll, do you think 😯

The thought never crossed my mind!.

David49

GN will be a prime target for AI trolls dominating threads with right wing opinions.
Seriously if you repeat lies often enough they will be believed it is a credible threat

OMG - is FriedGreenTomatoes a troll, do you think 😯

GN will be a prime target for AI trolls dominating threads with right wing opinions.
Seriously if you repeat lies often enough they will be believed it is a credible threat

Ohhowwelaughed

Musk putting money into Reform is nothing compared to the data he will bring that will help Reform
I do not think Musk bought twitter for free speech but it has enabled his AI engine to learn so much about people. He will know where at the like minded people live and where Reform need to target.

I think with Musks help the next election will be a bad time for Labour and the Tories.

I think you've pinpointed the advantages huge amounts of money can bring an election, it can target and ID and so on, use SM gathered data.

Fair enough one might say

except

a lot of the so called information sent out via SM was actually half truths or lies. If you followed the US election closely there were regular fact checks that uncovered this. A good example is the "Eating cats and dogs" rumour.

I don't want us to take this route. Very, very dangerous, leading to even more "conspiracy theory" politics.

As regards the question upthread on translation services, it was good that FGT raised it as an example.

But in saying "its too much spent here" it's not necessary to then have an "all or nothing" scenario

Translation services could be kept for the most appropriate use. Some examples - Giving and gathering evidence at/for trials: helping people/family understand serious medical interventions (as opposed to the example given of a blood test):
the long and complex interviews for PIP if a person has become ill/disabled. Complex care assessments if no one available - that sort of thing

(I might add, people often need help in these situations when English is their first language and rely on other professional help)