A case of the pot calling the kettle black?

Sadly, in politics, single party or multiparty it’s been common over the years to pick a group of people and demonise them so to speak. Usually for a portion of that group there is minority factual justification it’s just a matter of ramping it to cover the whole group. It’s all their fault. Breed fear, loathing and suspicion. A perfect tactic for distracting the populous away from the real issues and agendas and drumming up support with simple slogans. It was and still is a horrible scenario.

Somehow illegal immigration, which is, well, illegal, gets lumped in with asylum seekers in fear of their lives and ordinary, legal immigrants. The tar brush spreads far and wide and is dripping with isms. Ironic that previous administrations of both sides have ducked the illegal immigration issue allowing unscrupulous businesses to employ cheap, illegal labour. Leading up to the must win mid-terms the Trump administration appears to be stoking up the rhetoric, which I find odd considering that the President’s mother and grandfather I believe were both immigrants? Is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black?

My gut tells me that we may be heading into another recession. A trade war and the uncertainty and fear that stokes the markets will do that. My own opinion is that if we’re out of the last recession it doesn’t feel like it. Some of my family members have been laid off in the construction industry at a time when it should be booming and there are plenty of big outfits in trouble. The well-paid number crunchers are patting themselves on the back as to how great it was last year, but I don’t think so. To me this feels like a bust, bust cycle. We’ve missed the boom. Can we have it please?

One of the best ways out of a recession is to have a war or wars. Break it up and start again if you will. The survivors will have never have had it so good, just like the late 50s and early 60s. A whole global economy to rebuild and profit from. I’m sure the top echelons of the world will be keen to send others off for cannon fodder. Boy, am I cynical today.

Turkey has had an election and the president has more powers and looks like he’ll be there for the long haul. The trouble with single leader nations, some may call them dictatorships, is the leader cannot live forever leading to eventual chaos. I think maybe even Russian President Putin may be starting to think that way. Find an heir and/ or get what you want done as quick as you can. We are all, so far, mortal.

I’m saddened and shocked at the attack on the Capital Gazette in Maryland. Five people lost their lives just doing their jobs. Journalism is a dangerous profession and, more for me anyway, a calling, rather than a wellpaid career. We stick out necks out and tell it like it is. Sometimes people, governments and organizations just can’t accept that and go postal. Please don’t shoot the messenger. It would be a sad and dangerous world without the checks and balances of a responsible media.