What we have in the UK is an opposition with a leader. Not always effective but always there and a focus to galvanise an alternative point of view. That is surely what the Democrats need at the moment. It is far too late to wait till the last minute for someone to be appointed as the presidential candidate especially in times like this. Just a thought.
Great, timely, and worthy thought. This substack has been urging a shadow cabinet for some time. It’s a tricky thought. It needs persons of character and experience more dedicated to the proposition of service to the public good than personal advantage. Tough to find.
Do you think we really have an Opposition party, Richard? I sometimes wonder. Yes, we technically have 'His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition' — but whether it’s functioning as a true oppositional force feels like a different story. It seems more like three main parties vying for power within the same neoliberal, austerity-framed, surveillance-accepting sandbox. The lines of genuine ideological difference have blurred so much that the 'opposition' looks like it's just managing the same system with slightly softer language.
Honestly, I often feel there’s no meaningful opposition left—just a rotating queue of managers protecting the same economic and power structures. Even Labour under Starmer seems more like a steadier pair of hands for the same ship, rather than a radically different vision.
Just my own thoughts, though I do see where you’re coming from.
Oh I completely agree Lori. The country drifts gently into decline with everyone tying themselves up in knots to ensure that no one is offended while major issues are just being picked at at the margins. And it is going to get worse. Happy to delve into this further but my point so far as the USA is concerned is that there is no real pushback against Trump as he relentlessly turns the country into an autocracy. Massive demonstrations will not in my view do the trick. Something much more than that is needed. Our Most Loyal Opposition may not be very effective but at least we have one - which the Americans don't!
I hear you loud and clear Richard — I may have misinterpreted first time around — and agree with you wholeheartedly. Even Erica Chenoweth has cautioned that the 3.5% is not prescriptive. The dataset for her research ended in 2006, so given all that's changed since then, fixating on that figure like it's a magic number is unlikely to cut it. And the lack of backbone among the 'opposition' in America is sobering.
If Trump were leading a blatantly autocratic regime the 3.5% rule might work, but he is pretending (sort of) still to operate within the existing constitution. I have just finished Fiona Hill's revealing book "There is nothing for you here" which gives some insight into the causes of Trump's ascendency - the rust belt areas, the general feeling of disconnect among swathes of the population and so on. She also draws comparisons with this country and the running down of our industries (which directly led to Brexit). Trump will not, I am sure, deliver on most of his promises and the poor will become poorer and the rich, richer but he knows how to play his audience and, vile man though he is, I suspect he will be around for quite a while yet.
Your daily posts keep a light shining through these dark times, which seem to be getting darker. Thank you for reminding us we are not the spectators for democracy and daily living. We are on the field with our team jersey "We The People" --the only thing between the bullies and the goal line. There is no halftime show and only periodic time-outs for personal rest, renewal, hydration, and mental health. What will be the outcome of this? Loyalty to Trump or loyalty to the country? No rest or comfort while the ball is still in play. Go, team, go.
We the People need many weeks strung together, with historical happenings like the New York primary win of Zohran Mamdani. The ending tag line of Thom Hartman's national radio talk show is "Tag you're it. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport."
What we have in the UK is an opposition with a leader. Not always effective but always there and a focus to galvanise an alternative point of view. That is surely what the Democrats need at the moment. It is far too late to wait till the last minute for someone to be appointed as the presidential candidate especially in times like this. Just a thought.
Great, timely, and worthy thought. This substack has been urging a shadow cabinet for some time. It’s a tricky thought. It needs persons of character and experience more dedicated to the proposition of service to the public good than personal advantage. Tough to find.
Do you think we really have an Opposition party, Richard? I sometimes wonder. Yes, we technically have 'His Majesty’s Most Loyal Opposition' — but whether it’s functioning as a true oppositional force feels like a different story. It seems more like three main parties vying for power within the same neoliberal, austerity-framed, surveillance-accepting sandbox. The lines of genuine ideological difference have blurred so much that the 'opposition' looks like it's just managing the same system with slightly softer language.
Honestly, I often feel there’s no meaningful opposition left—just a rotating queue of managers protecting the same economic and power structures. Even Labour under Starmer seems more like a steadier pair of hands for the same ship, rather than a radically different vision.
Just my own thoughts, though I do see where you’re coming from.
Oh I completely agree Lori. The country drifts gently into decline with everyone tying themselves up in knots to ensure that no one is offended while major issues are just being picked at at the margins. And it is going to get worse. Happy to delve into this further but my point so far as the USA is concerned is that there is no real pushback against Trump as he relentlessly turns the country into an autocracy. Massive demonstrations will not in my view do the trick. Something much more than that is needed. Our Most Loyal Opposition may not be very effective but at least we have one - which the Americans don't!
Oh, yes, Richard. “More” is the order of the day. Strategic assymetical resistance is required.
I hear you loud and clear Richard — I may have misinterpreted first time around — and agree with you wholeheartedly. Even Erica Chenoweth has cautioned that the 3.5% is not prescriptive. The dataset for her research ended in 2006, so given all that's changed since then, fixating on that figure like it's a magic number is unlikely to cut it. And the lack of backbone among the 'opposition' in America is sobering.
Could be less a question of finding it than the will and strength to straighten it(?)
If Trump were leading a blatantly autocratic regime the 3.5% rule might work, but he is pretending (sort of) still to operate within the existing constitution. I have just finished Fiona Hill's revealing book "There is nothing for you here" which gives some insight into the causes of Trump's ascendency - the rust belt areas, the general feeling of disconnect among swathes of the population and so on. She also draws comparisons with this country and the running down of our industries (which directly led to Brexit). Trump will not, I am sure, deliver on most of his promises and the poor will become poorer and the rich, richer but he knows how to play his audience and, vile man though he is, I suspect he will be around for quite a while yet.
Hello, Richard. Thank you for these perceptive comments. I appreciate them and your support.
Your daily posts keep a light shining through these dark times, which seem to be getting darker. Thank you for reminding us we are not the spectators for democracy and daily living. We are on the field with our team jersey "We The People" --the only thing between the bullies and the goal line. There is no halftime show and only periodic time-outs for personal rest, renewal, hydration, and mental health. What will be the outcome of this? Loyalty to Trump or loyalty to the country? No rest or comfort while the ball is still in play. Go, team, go.
We the People need many weeks strung together, with historical happenings like the New York primary win of Zohran Mamdani. The ending tag line of Thom Hartman's national radio talk show is "Tag you're it. Remember, democracy is not a spectator sport."