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Brexit and Trump: Common Theme?

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I suggest there are two key points in common between the nomination of Donald Trump as the republican candidate, and the ‘Brexit’ vote in the United Kingdom:

  • the failure of our economic system to deliver distribute of increased economic wealth
  • a backlash against immigration

Economics.

The first point is that we have created a disconnect between a strong economy, and wealth of most individuals.  This has created a situation where people are desperate for change, and do not believe economic growth alone will deliver for them as individuals. Trump and Brexit offer what can be seen as trying something different, even though in both cases the ‘establishment’ says the economy will suffer.  People want their own circumstance to improve, and have lost faith that improving the economy will improve their personal outcomes.

The “it’s the economy stupid” from the Bill Clinton presidential campaign, is out of date.  Now it has to be “here is why it will get better for normal people”.

Immigration.

Also in common between the Brexit proposition, and the platform of Donald Trump, is at least caution towards immigration.  Is this simply a rise of xenophobia, or is there an underlying reason for rise of this sentiment.

In the developed world,  internal population growth has basically slowed to a halt.  Now population growth is almost entirely driven in developed countries from immigration.   Could it be that the same instinct responsible for smaller families,  also creates an inner desire to not find a new way to expand the population?

Is it that the world has simply become too crowded?  Already, almost 1 in 100 people are displaced and have no home country. Humanity has just gone through an unprecedented growth in population. Many people have worried about producing sufficient food for the expanding population, but perhaps unwanted displaced people will be the biggest problem from the growing population?

Whatever the reason, simply declaring people are wrong in fearing immigration is not the solution.

The Message.

Our current economic system evolved for the growth age that ended forever with the GFC.  The world needs focus on how to adjust our economic system, and better solutions to providing for all of the global population.  These are not small challenges addressed by minor tweaks to what is happening now.  That there needs to be real international attention to these problems of the level currently given to global warming.  I will post more on both topics.

 

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Pressing problem: Perspective on immigration in America & other developed countries.

January 11, 2024 January 11, 2024

I just watched a video I found disturbing on CNN arguing the case that America is a better place than most American’s believe.

It was disturbing not because like everywhere else, the US has imperfections, or that America is a bad place, but because it felt like the commentor, and member of the press, was not focused on interests of the people of America but considered only commercial interests when evaluating the direction in which the country should be headed.

In looking at the instincts of the free press even in a leading country like America, there may be valuable insights is to what is wrong across the planet.

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Razors vs razorblades: An economic problem for clean energy.

December 18, 2023 December 18, 2023

A huge problem with the steps needed to stop burning fossil fuels is they save money, which means less opportunities for profit than there are with fossil fuels.

While “free razorblades” are good for the public, they are just not good for business. Renewables just lack that ongoing revenue stream since none so far profits from the supply of sun and wind. Even EVs erode ongoing revenues streams in the automotive industry and thus negatively impact the economy.

The problem is that while the economy reflects what is good for big business and tax revenues, the economy does not always reflect what is good for the people.

So, which is better, continuing with fossil fuels in order to produce ongoing revenue streams for the economy, or an economy that works for the people with systems require less consumables?

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Flawed Australian voice of Indigenous People referendum: The irony of a voice campaign that failed to listen.

September 23, 2023 November 28, 2023

A tragic lost opportunity. Why didn’t those proposing the voice make changes to remove ambiguity and eliminated enough of the negative perception to win over enough support instead of simply declaring” “No, if that is how you see it you are either racist or stupid!” Was it just that there was no willingness to listen?

Australians had an opportunity in a constitutional referendum to righteously shout loudly “I am not a racist” by voting for a proposition that, at its core, could be seen as fundamentally flawed, divisive and even potentially racist, in the hope even a risk of moving in the direction of apartheid is still better than nothing.

The referendum resulted in a huge setback for action on indigenous disadvantage and while it did seem unlikely to do anything to unify Australians and offer more than some possible affirmative action, the division resulted with even sometimes “yes” voters being encouraged to also be racist.

This is a deeper look trying to see each side from the perspective of the other, with the reality that both sides had a point, and a vast majority of people do want equality and unity.

Perhaps it little more work could bring things together and offer a fresh enough perspective to move beyond just another well-intentioned patronising racism failure like the stolen generations?

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Population: Our greatest achievement may yet cause our demise.

August 18, 2023 August 18, 2023

Arguably mankind’s greatest achievement, the near eradication of infant mortality, has resulted in a population explosion resulting in overpopulation that we prefer not to mention, even though it may yet kill us. Technically we would not die from overpopulation itself, just as people don’t really die from “old age”, and the real risk is that an already present threat will be exacerbated and become fatal because through our greed we ignore overpopulation.

Unlike old age, the overpopulation risk factor could be avoided or reversed, we may be influenced by economists dependant on Ponzi schemes, the worlds’ largest corporations and billionaires who thrive off the resultant increases in inequality into believing that living conditions required by ever increasing population levels benefit everyone and not just those living in mansions.

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Crime: A litmus test for inequality?

April 25, 2023 April 5, 2023

Around the world, many countries have both a battle with equality for some racial groups and minorities and also a battle with crime-rates within and by those same groups.

Should we consider crime rates the real sentinels of problems and a solution require focusing on factors behind crime rates? Or is the correct response to rising crime rates or crime rates within specific groups an adoption of being “tough on crime”, thus increasing rates of incarceration and even deaths in custody for oppressed minorities and racial groups?

This is an exploration of not adjusting the level of penalties and instead focusing on the core issues and inequalities behind crime-rates. It is clear that it is “damaged people” in general rather than specific racial groups that correlate with elevated crime rates, so why not use crime rates to identify who is facing inequality?

Read More »

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