Tag: America

Life, Politics, transportLeave a comment

The death spiral of an American family

Mark Cathcart

This Washington Post article by Eli Saslow is both compelling reading and in equal measures depressing and a call to arms. This really isn’t about poor people who don’t try hard enough, don’t work hard enough, it’s about a failing system, everything from hours of work, to transport, and support systems. In many respects it resembles a self eating virus, where the only way forward for many is to eat their future. Meanwhile instead of meaningful change and addressing the issues, Republican States are wasting time banning books and trying any way they can to stop women getting abortions. Some … Continue reading The death spiral of an American family

Life, Politics, politicsLeave a comment

It’s time to call it what it is… #rudigate

Mark Cathcart

If you read through this and have any sense of history, you can’t wonder why we are even bothering with the whole quid-pro-quo debacle. At this point, if the President knew anything of this, he has to go. Why Giuliani Singled Out 2 Ukrainian Oligarchs to Help Dig Up Dirt https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/25/us/giuliani-ukraine-oligarchs.html What would Gil Scott-Heron say? And there are those who swear they’ve seen King Donald (who? who?) King Donald (who?) King Donald (who?) King Donald (who?) King Donald (who?) King Donald King Donald King Donald King Donald (Yeah!) Beneath that cesspool-Rudigate. Applause Four more years, Four more years, Four more … Continue reading It’s time to call it what it is… #rudigate

Politics, politics, religionLeave a comment

America and Syria – the backstory

Mark Cathcart

President Trump has decided, unilaterally apparently, to pull all America troops out of Syria, both surprising his Chiefs of Staff and allies. The American story with Syria is intertwined with almost everything the west has done in the Middle East since the end of the 2nd World War.  American was the prime enabler of the Assad family rise to to power, and as everything post war seemed to be, all about fighting the rise of Communism and installing “democracy”. Syria gained its independence in 1946 and in 1948 engaged in the Arab-Israeli war. Later in 1949, the Americans were party, … Continue reading America and Syria – the backstory

environment, Life

What to do if you can’t find eclipse glasses?

Mark Cathcart

It’s like the end of the world is coming, and people want to watch the eclipse to be part of it. The rush to buy glasses has reached such a fever-pitch that there are news stories about what to do, “What to do if you can’t find eclipse glasses in Northern Colorado“. Amazon has had a mass recall of glasses that are not safe and the locals here are having a meltdown because the stores have, apparently, run out. My advice isn’t having very dark safety lenses going to defeat the point of the experience? Kinda like those people who … Continue reading What to do if you can’t find eclipse glasses?

environment, Life, Politics, politics, tax, transport2 Comments

Dystopian Future it is then

Mark Cathcart

In his acceptance speech, President elect Trump said, among other things: We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals. We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it. This from a man, who tweeted: The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 6, 2012 I’ve no idea what to expect now from the Trump … Continue reading Dystopian Future it is then

Life, politics, religionLeave a comment

What’s the deal with guns?

Mark Cathcart

Again, skirting around the election, whenever the topic of guns in America comes up, usually after yet-another-mass-shooting, I simply don’t understand. I have no context. I recently had the chance to hear Guardian journalist Gary Younge discuss his new book “Another Day in the Death of America: A Chronicle of Ten Short Lives” (via @amazon), with BBC Radio London, broadcaster and journalist, Robert Elms. So much rang true. It was great hearing two people discuss guns and the bizarre attitudes towards them in the USA. Among the qoutes, and the serious discussions about 10 kids being killed by guns, the … Continue reading What’s the deal with guns?