Tag: politics

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What to do about China?

Mark Cathcart

The Presidents tariffs continue to be a source of frustration and confusion. Who pays them, where the money goes and if they are even likely to solve the problem Trump thinks they will. Meanwhile the boycotts on Huawei grow, ultimately threatening to split the technology world in two, everything that works in China and its allies, and technology that works everywhere else. The software bro’s seem to think that won’t happen, or if it does it’s no biggie, since all the software they use is US based. Apart from the arrogance, it’s also completely ignorant. I often show the “Social … Continue reading What to do about China?

art, culture, films, Life, Politics1 Comment

The Opposite of Truth

Mark Cathcart

If there is a betrayal of that trust [in public organizations], there is a crime. The opposite of truth is not just a lie, the opposite of truth is chaos. The chaos that is in danger of bringing down the institutions we depend on, to deliver justice. The final words of fictional character, Dr Nikki Alexander (Emilia Fox), in the finale of Season 22 of the BBC Series Silent Witness. Writers Virginia Gilbert and Michael Crompton have come up with one of those most memorable of TV moments. This is right up there with ACN ‘News Night’ anchor Will McAvoys speech of … Continue reading The Opposite of Truth

automation, culture, environment, films, Life, Politics2 Comments

Look & See – Rural America

Mark Cathcart

I’ve written a number of harsh posts about those living in rural America, mostly based off the perception that is pushed by the Republican party, that is, rural Americans don’t understand, and resent urban Americans. That rural Americans are the god-fearing, backbone of America and urban and city dwellers are welfare dependents, and worse still, socialists. Certainly, the Republican party continue to push this agenda today, dividing sub-urban and rural communities from the cities. As shown here, rural Americans claiming benefits has sky rocketed between ’96 and 2015; increasingly, the programs getting cut, adversely hit rural America harder, as rural … Continue reading Look & See – Rural America

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Disabled, or just desperate? Rural Americans turn to disability as jobs dry up

Mark Cathcart

Between 1996 and 2015, the number of working-age adults receiving federal disability payments increased dramatically across the country — but nowhere more so than in rural America. The Washington Post has a good read on both the current jobs and rural blight of opioids. Continue reading Disabled, or just desperate? Rural Americans turn to disability as jobs dry up

Politics, politicsLeave a comment

BBC Radio 4 – Faking It: Trump and the Media

Mark Cathcart

Time to take a step back from the precipice or increase the pressure? In this BBC Radio 4 audio program, Alan Rusbridger, former Editor of The Guardian, talks to journalists and news consumers across America in dispatches from President Trump’s ‘running war’ with the US media Alan asks why the media has been cast as Trump’s ‘opposition party’, how they are responding to the dilemmas and opportunities the new administration brings and whether the President is right to claim that the ‘mainstream media’ has lost the trust of the American people. Listen here: BBC Radio 4 – Faking It: Trump and … Continue reading BBC Radio 4 – Faking It: Trump and the Media

Politics, politics, workLeave a comment

Organizational chaos or Conspiracy?

Mark Cathcart

[Updated: This post was updated at 11pm Central to include the link to Matt Macowiacks tweet as a great example.]It’s easy to fallback on the current debacle in the US administration as a massive conspiracy. Conspiracies work for people who are afraid, and lack experience, conspiracy theory assumes someone is in charge. Organization chaos theory was a big thing at the end of the 1980’s, Tom Peters book “Thriving on Chaos: Handbook for a Management Revolution” blazed a path of revolution for the newly minted management consultants through the mid-1990’s. I’ve no idea what they teach in business schools these days, … Continue reading Organizational chaos or Conspiracy?

Politics, politics1 Comment

How False Stories Spread And Why People Believe Them

Mark Cathcart

One of the most valuable lessons the administration will learn, is that they cannot control the media, or social media. Constantly making false or inaccurate claims, using false data, or more importantly watching something on cable news and then twisting it to fit your own agenda is a dangerous game. The more accurate and transparent the administration is, the less conspiracy theory talk there will be, the less time it will take to manage the media, the more the administration can focus on what they really want to do. This is a hard lesson to learn, but essential. Otherwise everything … Continue reading How False Stories Spread And Why People Believe Them

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Time for a new deal?

Mark Cathcart

Involuntary under-employment, the bitter price of austerity; Involuntary migration, the bitter fruit of concetrating decent jobs in small areas. Neither globalization nor electricfied fences can fix this. It is delusional to believe that Britain or America can prosper sustainably when neighbouring nations are in a crisis. Subtlety and leadership we cant expect from Trump and May. This is a great series of short video op-eds from BBC Newsnight. Continue reading Time for a new deal?

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Brexit and the economy

Mark Cathcart

There are plenty of people who think the current state of the UK economy is a cause for celebration.  Lots of numbers up including employment. This belies the uncertainty ahead,  and while the UK Pound continues to be at an effective 20% discount to the US Dollar,  resources,  people,  products and services in the UK are effectively cheap. While this is likely to continue,  those celebrating it as a result inside the UK should think again. In so much as individuals and business in the UK can acquire all the raw materials they need for manufacturing and business in the … Continue reading Brexit and the economy