Jim Buck

A kitchen work-surface with a jar of homemade June tea containing pineapple mint, nettle, blackberry leaf, elderflower. Sat beside it is a black pot, inside the brew stirs into life.

I am preparing for the day as if I were an Argonaut.

That's started my day off perfectly, thank you.

It looks like a walrus.

A whole system based on individuals associated with a criminal paedophile gang?

A vote for Reform will put the country in the hands of those who want to sell it.

That's how patriotic they are.

Is she saying China cares more about US citizens than the US Government do?

There should be things like this dotted about, for anyone to happen upon them unexpectedly. Next to your bed when you wake, on a garden wall, on the windowsill of a house you pass every day.

They would brighten our mood immediately and return to our thoughts long after experiencing them.

Caught between a rock and a hard place. But, eventually, you would think that something must give. When is enough enough?

I'd like to thank all those who responded with their thoughts, greatly appreciated and educational (something I'm sure your current government are dead against).

From afar, your Democrat party does appear toothless and lacking in the energy needed to protect its citizens from this kind of onslaught.

Our own Labour government, which is very central in policies and outlook (some would even call them right-leaning), also come across as slow & lacking a spine.

Of course, and I'm glad you've reminded me of that. I sometimes forget which cities these crimes are perpetrated in. A deeply shocking event.

At least that officer was convicted of murder.

This I can believe, it's almost Kafkaesque in it's predictably bureaucratic political doublespeak.

You have my sympathy.

Beautifully written by Bo, and a great shame its contents are so depressing.

Well, didn't the US go through a civil war?

I know it's not 'cop on cop'.

Even England, where I'm from, has had many uprisings, plots and battles around who should lead it - we've even executed a king!

I know this is not what you're specifically asking, but you get my point, I hope.

I immediately thought of that line, 'the land of the free', when reading this.

Ultimately, it sounds like US citizens have wafer-thin protections and this government was almost inevitable at some point.

This is extraordinary. A powder keg.

Thank you.l for the insight.

Anyone might be forgiven for thinking that this situation is heading towards a clash between the two groups with more violence & bloodshed inevitable. I look at your midterm elections in almost the same light as Jan 6th, as if it were yet another test of your democracy.

I'm beginning to realise.

I'm reading Orwell's 1984 at the moment, an oft quoted novel in times such as these.

Your government and their little armies aren't original, at least history teaches us that.

I can't imagine that your voting rights will be upheld either, and even envisage residents being attacked while standing in line.

Appalling.

And the Governors or Mayors have no influence over this? I've seen that one or two are appalled at this behaviour.

Non-American here.

When does the city's actual law enforcement stsrt to get involved.

ICE's activities have clearly slipped from law enforcement into criminal behaviour, with the homicide of at least one member of the public.

Frightening that such a feeble character was so close to power. And so depressingly typical these days.

Americans should stop what they're doing, stop everything, and work only to get this woman's family the justice she deserves.

'Our hemisphere.'

This town ain't big enough for the both of us.

As I always say, keep kicking against the pricks.

It might also be about carving up territory between the US, China, and Russia.

None of this is new, none of it is particularly imaginative, most of it relies on a crippled class-ridden society, a defunct education and fervent distrust of science, and an eternal threat to national identity.

Who can predict? Hopefully, both the results of Brexit and the inept running of Reform Councils will suffice, and make up minds. For some, but not all.

Whether we like it or not, it is democracy and every vote matters (boring but true).

We've had Brexit and PMs Johnson and Truss, and we still have Farage and Reform, in the UK. We know what tribal insanity looks and sounds like, and we know where it comes from.

Indeed.

I believe there is enough evidence to show that his mantra is 'take, take, take and never give'.