Why are we concentrating on the minutiae of government when we are building towards WW3

If Governments of any colour can keep the populous in a state of anxiety about a possible world war, then they can get away with doing whatever they like. They can ignore poverty and ill health, instead of actually trying to do something about domestic problems like these, because they just don't know what to do, or because the status quo suits them as it is.
We should not let them wriggle out of their responsibilities but should indeed keep questioning their actions.
We must keep on as we are doing and hold them to account.

Ilovecheese

If Governments of any colour can keep the populous in a state of anxiety about a possible world war, then they can get away with doing whatever they like. They can ignore poverty and ill health, instead of actually trying to do something about domestic problems like these, because they just don't know what to do, or because the status quo suits them as it is.
We should not let them wriggle out of their responsibilities but should indeed keep questioning their actions.
We must keep on as we are doing and hold them to account.

Yes!

Because the big things are simply too huge and too unpredictable. Russia and China have always been the threats in the dark corners - ‘Reds under the bed’ anyone else remember?
My vote influences the government in my country and I can, therefore, hold it to account.
Even more relevant to me is my local council and I look at what that is prioritising even more carefully.
If we each look after our own little bit as well as we can then the force for good will be immense. Don’t underestimate the little things.

I’ve just posted info on the USA - letter from America. This is pertinent to this discussion

Good replies.

I agree with not writing them off as mad.

I have been thinking lately that much power at the moment seems to be in the hands of fewer and fewer people.

But I think it is only a moment in time.
They could easily become ill for example. And that is just one thing that could happen.

I certainly don't underestimate how those countries are taking over large parts of the world or their stealth and cunning..

But I do agree Ilovecheese that we need also to concentrate on making sure that we hold our own government to account.. We fortunately live in a Democratic society and we should value that and our Human Rights and obligations towards the needy both here and abroad.. our current domestic problems will only be exacerbated as these three superpowers become embattled..

It was hard to post the OP so thank you for your thoughtful replies.

When people bemoan the fact that we give aid to poorer countries let’s not forget that, for a long time now, China have been paying for projects in other countries to get a foothold there. And, the less we help those countries the more China will step in to fill the gap. They’re far more subtle in many ways than the other big two.

pascal30

I certainly don't underestimate how those countries are taking over large parts of the world or their stealth and cunning..

But I do agree Ilovecheese that we need also to concentrate on making sure that we hold our own government to account.. We fortunately live in a Democratic society and we should value that and our Human Rights and obligations towards the needy both here and abroad.. our current domestic problems will only be exacerbated as these three superpowers become embattled..

Yes.

I don't see a WW3 but I do see the danger of 3 superpowers carving up power aided and abetted by each other controlling military and economic forces. At the cost, clear in China and Russia, and now, it seems like Trump pushing the way of destroying real democracy.

Well, we are not mobilising for war, nor are we on a war footing. However, I do think that the 3 big powers are circling each other and trying to work out their areas of influence and power.

The difficulty comes with the personalities. Trump is the least stable of the three with the most extreme ideas overturning the postwar settlement, unsettling Americas traditional allies, failing to provide strong support and postulating expansionism.

Putin has a dream - to re-establish the Russian empire and Ukraine is the start. His actions are being aided by America because of Trump’s apparent reluctance to face up to Putin and stop him.

PoliticsNerd

It was hard to post the OP so thank you for your thoughtful replies.

Well thanks for posting PoliticsNerd, you made me think about things a little more deeply.
The tactic of stealth is often underestimated !
🤔

Sorry posted too soon

Xi Jinping is a much cleverer politician than either of the other two, and is clearly sitting waiting to see how it all unfolds, meanwhile China becoming a world leader in so much but most worryingly for the west - in AI.

The country who dominates in the new technologies will rule the world, and China is definitely a major contender.

I fear the danger is closer to home than those 3. The hidden agendas amongst various European countries.

nanna8

I fear the danger is closer to home than those 3. The hidden agendas amongst various European countries.

?

nanna8

I fear the danger is closer to home than those 3. The hidden agendas amongst various European countries.

What hidden agendas are you meaning nanna8 please ? 😬

Whitewavemark2

Sorry posted too soon

Xi Jinping is a much cleverer politician than either of the other two, and is clearly sitting waiting to see how it all unfolds, meanwhile China becoming a world leader in so much but most worryingly for the west - in AI.

The country who dominates in the new technologies will rule the world, and China is definitely a major contender.

couldn't agree more WW2

I agree with Whitewavemark2

We are no way near getting ready for WW`III, we are witnessing posturing and potential land and power grabs from the US, Russia and China.

China is the one to watch.

Will China be with the rest of the world against Trump now, after Trump's exorbitant tariffs ? If so then Trump will be outnumbered, and even his extreme right wing regime will lose popular support. Not all MAGAS are completely mad.

When the 'minutiae of government' produces a dissatisfied and disaffected citizenry with little trust in government then we are in no shape to pull together to overcome anything the rest of the world can throw at us.

nanna8

I fear the danger is closer to home than those 3. The hidden agendas amongst various European countries.

What does this mean? Haven't a clue. What "hidden agendas?"

Don’t underestimate the ability of a common enemy to bring a nation together.

But as I said we are nowhere near that - yet.

Whitewavemark2
China are not as good as some like to think.
Right now they are about 2/3 years behind the best. But their biggest problem is the ban, started by Biden to ban the export and expertise of machines to build the chips.
Once upon a time they fooled the world into thinking Huawei was almost akin to the second coming: not so. All smoke and mirrors.

www.google.com/search?q=why+cant+china+build+advanced+micro+chips&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en-gb&client=safari#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:785117b0,vid:D54gX9gTTzY,st:0

This from a publication by Harvard

Summary. China is quickly closing the once formidable lead the U.S. maintained on AI research. Chinese researchers now publish more papers on AI and secure more patents than U.S. researchers do. The country seems poised to become a leader in AI-empowered businesses, such as speech and image recognition applications.”

I have also been listening to a podcast (can’t remember who- which is annoying) but they said much the same.

China is quick on its feet and doing things much cheaper than the west.

Rather heartening - at present

USA in lead

China second

And WE are third!!