Angus Walker
@angusdawalker.bsky.social
I suspect that Trump's real value as a Russian asset arises from the fact that he's too stupid and too narcissistic (and Putin too clever and too skilled at manipulation) for him to realize that that's what he is
January 24, 2026 at 8:05 AM
I suspect that Trump's real value as a Russian asset arises from the fact that he's too stupid and too narcissistic (and Putin too clever and too skilled at manipulation) for him to realize that that's what he is
Seeing this as an attempt at an old-school hawkish regime change misses the point. From over here it looks much more like a mob protection racket hit. They don't care who runs the country so long as they get their cut
January 5, 2026 at 9:11 AM
Seeing this as an attempt at an old-school hawkish regime change misses the point. From over here it looks much more like a mob protection racket hit. They don't care who runs the country so long as they get their cut
Viewed from outside the US, what McConnell did looks pretty much identical to what Maduro did vis a vis the supreme court. I'm afraid any argument the US might make as to the superiority of its legal and constitutional system is looking pretty threadbare from over here
January 5, 2026 at 9:04 AM
Viewed from outside the US, what McConnell did looks pretty much identical to what Maduro did vis a vis the supreme court. I'm afraid any argument the US might make as to the superiority of its legal and constitutional system is looking pretty threadbare from over here
There are myriad examples in the other direction where taking an activity from the public to the private sector makes it less effective at meeting the needs of the public. Look at what happened in the UK when water, sewerage or railways were privatised
January 1, 2026 at 9:38 PM
There are myriad examples in the other direction where taking an activity from the public to the private sector makes it less effective at meeting the needs of the public. Look at what happened in the UK when water, sewerage or railways were privatised
I genuinely don't understand why the very rich have an issue paying more tax given that they will still have more money than they can ever realistically use. This isn't a pose - I actually don't understand their motivation for wanting to accumulate yet more money
January 1, 2026 at 9:33 PM
I genuinely don't understand why the very rich have an issue paying more tax given that they will still have more money than they can ever realistically use. This isn't a pose - I actually don't understand their motivation for wanting to accumulate yet more money
In France, if at the age of seven you can't identify at least 15 regional cheeses by taste alone you're basically banished from the country
December 27, 2025 at 3:09 PM
In France, if at the age of seven you can't identify at least 15 regional cheeses by taste alone you're basically banished from the country
Did you know also that the armistice was agreed in the early hours but its announcement was delayed until 11am because of the symbolic resonance of that time. There was fierce fighting that morning (2,738 killed) because newly arrived US officers saw it as their last chance to 'see some action'
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Did you know also that the armistice was agreed in the early hours but its announcement was delayed until 11am because of the symbolic resonance of that time. There was fierce fighting that morning (2,738 killed) because newly arrived US officers saw it as their last chance to 'see some action'
I have to say, as an outsider, I find it odd that in the US, the home of unregulated capitalism, it is seen as laughably extreme to question the idea that it is the only possible economic structure. From outside the country it seems obvious that capitalism has had, shall we say, its downsides
November 2, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I have to say, as an outsider, I find it odd that in the US, the home of unregulated capitalism, it is seen as laughably extreme to question the idea that it is the only possible economic structure. From outside the country it seems obvious that capitalism has had, shall we say, its downsides
The ones who have read it probably see Tom and Daisy as the heroes. I mean, Tom and Daisy are rich, they're accomplished liars and they literally get away with murder
November 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The ones who have read it probably see Tom and Daisy as the heroes. I mean, Tom and Daisy are rich, they're accomplished liars and they literally get away with murder
'freer than most countries' is a bit of a comedown from 'shining city on a hill'
October 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
'freer than most countries' is a bit of a comedown from 'shining city on a hill'
I think that given the extraordinary speed with which previously unquestioned assumptions about the functioning of democracy in the US have been abandoned, it would be a very confident (one might say arrogant) academic who could say with such certainty that this is NOT fascism
October 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I think that given the extraordinary speed with which previously unquestioned assumptions about the functioning of democracy in the US have been abandoned, it would be a very confident (one might say arrogant) academic who could say with such certainty that this is NOT fascism
That's exactly what is wrong with the US Democrat party. It, like the Republican party, is utterly in thrall to the interests of big money. Where the only political choices are both billionaire funded it's hardly surprising that the interests of billionaires are the only ones protected
September 7, 2025 at 7:06 AM
That's exactly what is wrong with the US Democrat party. It, like the Republican party, is utterly in thrall to the interests of big money. Where the only political choices are both billionaire funded it's hardly surprising that the interests of billionaires are the only ones protected
In fact if members of a community become police and in doing so adopt the idea of seeing other members of that community as the enemy to be distrusted and suppressed then that is as bad if not worse
September 1, 2025 at 5:46 AM
In fact if members of a community become police and in doing so adopt the idea of seeing other members of that community as the enemy to be distrusted and suppressed then that is as bad if not worse
I don't think the police have to be members of the communities they police. The key is that they don't start from a position of automatically fearing and hating them but instead make genuine and continuing efforts to engage with them and their concerns
September 1, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I don't think the police have to be members of the communities they police. The key is that they don't start from a position of automatically fearing and hating them but instead make genuine and continuing efforts to engage with them and their concerns
In other words, if by "cops" you mean heavily armed men whose default tactic is to use significant violence as a first response and make no attempt to support community activities or gain the trust of those they police, then maybe no, we don't need cops
August 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
In other words, if by "cops" you mean heavily armed men whose default tactic is to use significant violence as a first response and make no attempt to support community activities or gain the trust of those they police, then maybe no, we don't need cops
One contender for the origin of police forces is Robert Peel in England and a key principle was of policing by consent. The authority of the police derived from the public's trust in them rather than from state power. So they shd be unarmed wherever possible and actively engaging with the community
August 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
One contender for the origin of police forces is Robert Peel in England and a key principle was of policing by consent. The authority of the police derived from the public's trust in them rather than from state power. So they shd be unarmed wherever possible and actively engaging with the community
Yeah. Could have told you that ages ago (just didn't get round to it)
August 18, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Yeah. Could have told you that ages ago (just didn't get round to it)
Following the logic of capitalism (leaving aside any questions of ethics or fairness) that is certainly a more productive approach. The wealth owned by the most extremely wealthy is automatically self generating without effort and generates far less economic activity than it would if distributed
August 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Following the logic of capitalism (leaving aside any questions of ethics or fairness) that is certainly a more productive approach. The wealth owned by the most extremely wealthy is automatically self generating without effort and generates far less economic activity than it would if distributed
There is also nothing successful about it. Thomas Piketty has demonstrated very clearly, using 300 years of data, that extreme wealth inequality leads to anaemic growth. Many international studies have also shown that it reduces happiness, even for the most well off
August 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There is also nothing successful about it. Thomas Piketty has demonstrated very clearly, using 300 years of data, that extreme wealth inequality leads to anaemic growth. Many international studies have also shown that it reduces happiness, even for the most well off
They skipped lunch. Seems like Trump was just an amuse bouche for his KGB handler
August 16, 2025 at 6:17 AM
They skipped lunch. Seems like Trump was just an amuse bouche for his KGB handler
It's not that they can't explain but that they won't, because explaining what they find objectionable in wokeness would reveal their innate narrow mindedness and prejudice
August 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
It's not that they can't explain but that they won't, because explaining what they find objectionable in wokeness would reveal their innate narrow mindedness and prejudice
It's worth pointing out that from outside the US, many of the policy positions on healthcare, tax, policing etc that are apparently regarded by establishment Democrats as 'moderate' are seen as extremely right wing. From Europe, Bernie Sanders position would be seen as a moderate centre - right one
August 6, 2025 at 6:27 AM
It's worth pointing out that from outside the US, many of the policy positions on healthcare, tax, policing etc that are apparently regarded by establishment Democrats as 'moderate' are seen as extremely right wing. From Europe, Bernie Sanders position would be seen as a moderate centre - right one
I imagine that's where they put the chips and chicken nuggets options
August 2, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I imagine that's where they put the chips and chicken nuggets options
I wrote a little essay years ago about the role Hollywood blockbusters have played in radicalizing right wing Americans. I think it's even more relevant today: A' they wee words: share.google/cTLVc0ngk0Qx...
Radicalisation and the fifth column that threatens to destroy the USA from within
A blog about literature, politics and the state of the world
share.google
July 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wrote a little essay years ago about the role Hollywood blockbusters have played in radicalizing right wing Americans. I think it's even more relevant today: A' they wee words: share.google/cTLVc0ngk0Qx...
I just don't understand (I mean, genuinely, not as a debating stance) how acquiring more money could be any sort of incentive once you already have more money than you could possibly spend in your lifetime
June 30, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I just don't understand (I mean, genuinely, not as a debating stance) how acquiring more money could be any sort of incentive once you already have more money than you could possibly spend in your lifetime