What Elon Has Done Elon Musk's destruction of USAID has faded from public consciousness in America, despite leaving death and destruction in its wake.

"the largest act of mass murder of this decade, and of this century so far, was not perpetrated by militaries or militias, but by the world's richest man in Washington D.C.'s Eisenhower Executive Office Building."

www.liberalcurrents.com/what-elon-ha...

It's very hard for me to work out what she came into politics to actually *do*. She seems to mostly enjoy engaging in discourse.

What a telling quote

Clive Myrie in Africa was like this. Almost nothing on culture, society, how people live or what they believe - lots of Clive doing fun interactive activities with friendly locals... not sure who it was aimed at

This is nuts

He will also be 80 by the (most likely) time of the next election...

She's honestly vile - a genuinely mean-spirited person

I don't know if you're genuinely interested in this, but not today - most people really do stick to local issues. But of course sometimes national ones come up. Have you ever been canvassing yourself? I'd recommend it as an insight into public opinion, whoever you're out supporting!

Position on what? Mainly talked about local issues to be honest

I've been out talking to the electorate all morning...

Yeah. Being a rapist wasn't disqualifying. Who knew.

I have to say, this one did make me laugh!

Really? What power could I possibly have over random ppl on Bluesky? It was more - I don't think we're going to find any common ground so let's leave it here. I don't have the energy or capacity to debate people online all day...

It looks like calls for electoral reform are growing... plenty of Labour MPs support it now. I think AV would be better to PR though (keeps the constituency link). Agree we need to change FPTP

Fair enough. We'll just have to see how things play out.

I already have a job - being a councillor is not a full time paid role!

Hey, could you stop tweeting me please? Your views on Labour have been noted! Thanks

Far too big a conversation for Bluesky. Of course I don't agree with everything the govt says or does (although I think your characterisation overstates the case considerably). But whatever happens, I don't see a country where Labour has been 'destroyed' after next election as a better one. Do you?

Yes, it could go that way... I just worry whatever comes next won't be better (to put it mildly) 😐

I know. Even after all these years, it still doesn't compute as real to me - it makes me feel less like I don't understand politics than human nature (not him, of course, psychopaths have always existed, but his supporters)

I know, it's infuriating. I guess they just assume it's the political system will deal with the fallout somehow, rather than it being their duty to manage the tech they created responsibly? Ethics don't seem to come into it at all

The fact that *even holding Cabinet positions within a council* doesn't quite add up to a reasonable full-time salary, esp in London, is part of this problem too. And in terms of cllrs allowance, people are split between surprise that it's not paid full time, and surprise it's paid at all!

I think sometimes you can plant more of a seed of a doubt in someone than they are willing to publically acknowledge...

Fun fact: under-5 mortality rates in sub-Saharan Africa have halved since the advent of mass vaccination programmes around the turn of the millenium (no idea how anti-vaxxers would explain that and my sense is they rarely try). And yet there are children here in danger due to parents like this.

Also wasn't Brexit supposed to fulfil this impulse? When does it end?

The world must seem very black and white to you! In some ways, I envy it

Because understanding why your opponents believe the things they do helps you formulate better arguments against them, rather than just arguing against straw man positions? (And also just gives you a clearer picture of reality I suppose?)

... and I do also agree corporate lobbying/hospitality is a problem in politics - but there also has to be a way for sectors and interest groups (inc. financial services) to engage with gotv) perhaps we can leave it there?

I think this is a really big topic and probably not productively discussed over Bluesky! Good MPs certainly don't engage with constituents in that kind of cursory way...

Of course MPs should engage with their constituents - if you want to speak to yours, you should. No respect for any MPs who don't hold regular meetings and surgeries.