Growing sense of unease fuelling recession fears

AS the month of May slips by it is becoming more apparent every day that we are heading towards a recession. In many ways this is not surprising given the destabilising world events we see unfolding every day.

It isn’t just Brexit, the pandemic, or even the war in Ukraine that is upsetting markets it’s the general and growing sense of unease across the globe at the threat of nuclear war.

Vladimir Putin threatening a radioactive wave engulfing Britain should we defend Ukraine doesn’t help (even though it’s all rhetoric voiced for the benefit of his own countryman to create support for his war). The fact that nuclear weapons exist and that some are in the hands of despots means we must retain ours. I would love to see all nuclear weapons dismantled but who goes first? It seems a risk no country is likely to take anytime soon.

I speak on the phone and over the internet with many people in different countries on a daily basis and their feelings and comments are surprisingly similar. People are people after all and whatever colour, ethnicity, religious or political persuasion we are, in the end we all want the same. We want good housing, nutritious food, great education, democracy to prevail, and for our children to have better lives than our parents.

Actually, I’m not so sure that our parents didn’t have it better. At least things were simpler then. Social media, for example, is a modern phenomena which undoubtedly complicates things for many people. It is very easy to become enraged at some of the comments posted and far too easy to respond without thinking.

I always think it wise to think before you leap with regards to social media!

The problem is that unlike newspapers or other professional media outlets the content isn’t edited. There is no voice of reason, or perhaps a legal department advising against posting a particular piece. There is no editor to refine the tweet and make it less offensive. Some of the bad language used on social media is hugely distasteful.

Some of the tweets published during the decision to discontinue the position of mayor in Bristol were quite uncalled for. Personally, I think the model could have worked but needed a unifying figure to make it effective. Sadly neither of the two city mayors elected were able to achieve that. Both had their own agendas which is understandable, but it is the agenda of the majority of residents of Bristol which should always be top of any list.

Bristol is a great city and deserves the best leadership model to see it survive what is about to become potentially the biggest recession we have experienced in our lifetimes

I hope all the councillors and committee members elected will find it within themselves to work together to achieve a balanced and progressive city which is worthy of its title, Capital of The West of England.