Crisis communication is not just about performance but also policy substance. It does not seem to occur to them, that this kind of confrontation was not just a coincidence but a consequence of a situation they created. Talking less hostile won't change that. 2/2

I remember from former security forces in the last days of GDR that it was underappreciated how little desire there was among (para-)military personnel to seek confrontation even if there was an order to do engage. It may or may not happen, but receiving and following order are two separate things.

That doesn't even take into account that protests somewhere else may turn violent far more quickly. I also wonder whether other Dem governors would feel compelled to activate national guards (to protect local residents). That said, I do wonder whether it's a forgone conclusion that GOP goes along.

The "two pizza teams" originate from Amazon and are not really used anymore, if I am not mistaken. I know, that isn't the point of your critique but I think it's even problematic on its own (misguided) terms.

If you account for prices, Glasgow is probably one of the best choices for live and work.

You can see it even in some media portrayals of Glasgow. There are areas (outside West End) which are clearly quite prosperous or even rich (there are even pockets of it in areas which are rather deprived).

I suspect the USA is not the only one with this issue (looking at the UK). I think, at heart it's the inability to manage relative decline that made things much worse - US and UK politics seem to have very similar drivers.

For all the chatter, I also wonder what an electoral defeat in the mid term will do to the Trump administration (and declining support in general). The idea that a coherent (and successful) foreign policy is possible under those circumstances seems fanciful.

PS: Here is the linked to the incident

www.cnn.com/2025/11/28/p...

If you even consider that the descriptions provided of the order and the circumstances, servicemen should be expected to be able to understand it was criminal. But there does not seem to be any concerns about that. 3/3

The thing is, none of the writers to point towards criminal behaviour of this order seems to care over the criminality of following it by servicemen. If the situation was indeed as described and it constitutes a war crime - servicemen should be expected to not follow orders. /2

PR + strong two chamber system + constitution that can't be changed or ignored with a simple majority could help, but also creates other issues and is unlikely to overcome fragmentation. I would argue that it is somewhat more able to moderate the output, though. 5/5

In a way, that's what you are getting in a fragmented society and a FPTP system with very few veto players. Either radical unsustainable swings in one or the other directions or meaningless nothing for everyone leading to disappointment as a shared experience for everyone. /4

So whoever comes next will probably be to weak within the party to do something which pleases some of the factions because the disgruntled opposing factions will destabilise and oppose. /3

Whoever succeeds Starmer will probably face the same difficulties as Starmer (or the Conservatives for that matter): fragmentation of their party and their electorate who seem to have at times incompatible demands and priorities (e.g., on taxation, welfare and migration). /2

On a side note: That people love extensive public services and welfare while not wanting to pay the actual costs (because they believe those are massively inflated by inefficiencies or changes that frighten them) is not UK-specific (e.g., looks at the debates around migration and economics in GER).

Just comparing what would hit my bank account if I have an average salary in my job in Germany compared with UK looks pretty striking (i.e. it would be closer to 50-55% while in the UK you are more around 30%).