@davidfreedman.bsky.social
When Starmer announced Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador I immediately turned to my wife and said; that’s a serious misjudgment. Told you so!!!
September 11, 2025 at 12:52 PM
When Starmer announced Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador I immediately turned to my wife and said; that’s a serious misjudgment. Told you so!!!
Replying as an atheist Jew & non historian, I think the fascists feed into a profound resentment that have-nots, as they see themselves, have & blame all ills on othered groups (eg, Jews, “elites”) with simplistic messages that they think are solutions. There’s often a grain of truth in the analysis
May 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Replying as an atheist Jew & non historian, I think the fascists feed into a profound resentment that have-nots, as they see themselves, have & blame all ills on othered groups (eg, Jews, “elites”) with simplistic messages that they think are solutions. There’s often a grain of truth in the analysis
@sonia-sodha.bsky.social good article in Observer today but I’m concerned you muddle sex & gender, male/man etc. I think it’s clearer to just sex/male/female for biological sex only; immutable. Use gender only for girl/woman/boy/man/fluid etc. Does Upton identify as female or as a woman or both?
February 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
@sonia-sodha.bsky.social good article in Observer today but I’m concerned you muddle sex & gender, male/man etc. I think it’s clearer to just sex/male/female for biological sex only; immutable. Use gender only for girl/woman/boy/man/fluid etc. Does Upton identify as female or as a woman or both?
I would guess because the constitution insists on Austria being neutral, hence its late joining of the EU which required the constitution to be amended to make it possible.
January 11, 2025 at 9:50 PM
I would guess because the constitution insists on Austria being neutral, hence its late joining of the EU which required the constitution to be amended to make it possible.
What strikes me most as new in my experience, this is a bit Durkheimian, is that there was a general consensus that humans understood that rules based societies & self-restraint, were a personal, mutual & social advantage; with social media this seems to be evaporating with evidence based thought.
January 10, 2025 at 9:38 AM
What strikes me most as new in my experience, this is a bit Durkheimian, is that there was a general consensus that humans understood that rules based societies & self-restraint, were a personal, mutual & social advantage; with social media this seems to be evaporating with evidence based thought.
From my perspective as an atheist Jew and non-historian with no familial links to Italy, the formation of Italy’s fascist state was just one more notch of growing persecution. But I am perplexed at why so many are attracted to the far right which promises the poorer much and never ever delivers.
January 10, 2025 at 9:26 AM
From my perspective as an atheist Jew and non-historian with no familial links to Italy, the formation of Italy’s fascist state was just one more notch of growing persecution. But I am perplexed at why so many are attracted to the far right which promises the poorer much and never ever delivers.
@beckjoinyourunion.bsky.social Finally. What worries me about the responses to the billionaire bullies and their idea of “freedom” and “free speech” is I don’t hear the people saying; societies are rule based & we all need to abide by the core rules for societies to function; it’s being grown up.
January 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
@beckjoinyourunion.bsky.social Finally. What worries me about the responses to the billionaire bullies and their idea of “freedom” and “free speech” is I don’t hear the people saying; societies are rule based & we all need to abide by the core rules for societies to function; it’s being grown up.
@beckjoinyourunion.bsky.social Question 2: the most important. Is it possible to bowl a leg break with an off break action legally (arm angle etc)?
January 9, 2025 at 5:51 PM
@beckjoinyourunion.bsky.social Question 2: the most important. Is it possible to bowl a leg break with an off break action legally (arm angle etc)?
Maybe you can help me. I’m 75 and I’m totally perplexed by the success in elections of right wing demagogues who want to undermine societies: why do people vote this way? PS. I’ve been a member of a trade union since 1972.
January 9, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Maybe you can help me. I’m 75 and I’m totally perplexed by the success in elections of right wing demagogues who want to undermine societies: why do people vote this way? PS. I’ve been a member of a trade union since 1972.
It’ll probably be more nuanced than that. I think 2 things: 1. Blair had to start from where the Tories had left the UK and he was elected leader because of that. 2. The UK will never elect a real left wing govt, particularly as almost all the media are owned by serious right wingers.
January 9, 2025 at 5:44 PM
It’ll probably be more nuanced than that. I think 2 things: 1. Blair had to start from where the Tories had left the UK and he was elected leader because of that. 2. The UK will never elect a real left wing govt, particularly as almost all the media are owned by serious right wingers.
I look forward to reading what you dig up. After all, we’re here on Bluesky to converse, discuss, learn and even say; I have learned something and I was wrong. I know, I’m a cockeyed optimist or going senile, or both!
January 9, 2025 at 5:09 PM
I look forward to reading what you dig up. After all, we’re here on Bluesky to converse, discuss, learn and even say; I have learned something and I was wrong. I know, I’m a cockeyed optimist or going senile, or both!
When you say inequality rose under Blair & Brown, what data are you basing that on? I certainly accept that the rich got richer, but my memory is that a lot of people were lifted out of poverty, the Sure Start programme was a great success, NHS waiting lists down to 18 week max.
January 9, 2025 at 4:24 PM
When you say inequality rose under Blair & Brown, what data are you basing that on? I certainly accept that the rich got richer, but my memory is that a lot of people were lifted out of poverty, the Sure Start programme was a great success, NHS waiting lists down to 18 week max.
Agreed but Blair had to start from where Thatcher and Major had left us and all the damage they had done.
January 9, 2025 at 9:52 AM
Agreed but Blair had to start from where Thatcher and Major had left us and all the damage they had done.
There is medical treatment available. Post-Cass Report we now have proper medicine being offered again. Thank you for your kind words.
January 9, 2025 at 9:51 AM
There is medical treatment available. Post-Cass Report we now have proper medicine being offered again. Thank you for your kind words.
Arguably, Thatcher’s greatest legacy was to shift the whole landscape of British politics to the right, even greater legacy than selling of “the family silver” (Harold Macmillan/Earl of Stockton, House of Lords). We have suffered ever since.
January 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
Arguably, Thatcher’s greatest legacy was to shift the whole landscape of British politics to the right, even greater legacy than selling of “the family silver” (Harold Macmillan/Earl of Stockton, House of Lords). We have suffered ever since.
In the mid-60s, things opened up re appearance hugely for both men & women & nobody questioned your gender ID or sexual orientation; I lived it. The “progressive left” & gender ideologues have narrowed this hugely & narrowed unchallenged choice, alas.
January 9, 2025 at 9:32 AM
In the mid-60s, things opened up re appearance hugely for both men & women & nobody questioned your gender ID or sexual orientation; I lived it. The “progressive left” & gender ideologues have narrowed this hugely & narrowed unchallenged choice, alas.
@rachelshabi.bsky.social Thank you so much for Off-White. A very useful addition to Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count and the analysis & clarification of the far right & right; lest we should ever forget. The growth of the far right & demagogues, inc Netanyahu, is very worrying. Best wishes. David Freedman
January 6, 2025 at 10:21 PM
@rachelshabi.bsky.social Thank you so much for Off-White. A very useful addition to Baddiel’s Jews Don’t Count and the analysis & clarification of the far right & right; lest we should ever forget. The growth of the far right & demagogues, inc Netanyahu, is very worrying. Best wishes. David Freedman
Thank you for reminding us of what really happened.
January 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Thank you for reminding us of what really happened.
Excellent and succinct article in today’s Guardian. Thank you.
January 4, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Excellent and succinct article in today’s Guardian. Thank you.
Puberty blockers to be banned indefinitely for under-18s across UK. Yay! And if anyone thinks they can design a trial protocol that they are confident will not do harm, I’d love to see it!
December 11, 2024 at 2:10 PM
Puberty blockers to be banned indefinitely for under-18s across UK. Yay! And if anyone thinks they can design a trial protocol that they are confident will not do harm, I’d love to see it!
Well, and I was expecting an apology! 2 people in the NHS who have never apologised are Polly Carmichael, ex-Director GIDS, Tavi Trust & Prof Gary Butler paediatric endocrinologist UCLH who gave the puberty blockers, who slagged Cass off, but that’s another story & the Guardian’s line pre Cass
December 8, 2024 at 5:50 PM
Well, and I was expecting an apology! 2 people in the NHS who have never apologised are Polly Carmichael, ex-Director GIDS, Tavi Trust & Prof Gary Butler paediatric endocrinologist UCLH who gave the puberty blockers, who slagged Cass off, but that’s another story & the Guardian’s line pre Cass
Life long Guardian reader, 7 day a week subscriber to Guardian/Observer paper editions. Disgusted at Scott Trust & Senior mgt re Observer sale and the manner done. Papers declining under Viner anyway.
December 8, 2024 at 2:19 PM
Life long Guardian reader, 7 day a week subscriber to Guardian/Observer paper editions. Disgusted at Scott Trust & Senior mgt re Observer sale and the manner done. Papers declining under Viner anyway.
@catherinebennett.bsky.social In your list of apologies, sorry to raise this, you omitted the senior execs at Chester Hospital who tried to crush the senior paediatricians and parents of the children L Letby, who now pour out their contrition.
December 8, 2024 at 2:17 PM
@catherinebennett.bsky.social In your list of apologies, sorry to raise this, you omitted the senior execs at Chester Hospital who tried to crush the senior paediatricians and parents of the children L Letby, who now pour out their contrition.
So worrying what the govt is doing to the media.
November 30, 2024 at 9:21 AM
So worrying what the govt is doing to the media.