Thanks eDrek. No vaccine for me!

Just because I don't agree with his take on the global warming being primarily man made doesn't mean I think everything he says is rubbish.

I believe he knows what he's talking about when it comes to disease control & was pleased to note he has the good sense to stay out of politics.

I also agree with him about social media. There's a new phenomenon with that, K-Pop 'stans' who are likely to encourage their young followers to vote.

What happens if the usually apathetic youth turn out in force will be something to see, & it's not something I reckon I'm going to like.

However, there are a lot of bad lecturers, and just a few very good ones. I remember an enthusiastic biochemistry lecturer whose lectures were so good the biggest lecture theatres would be packed out by every kind of student. He was really funny but you also came away with a sense of amazement at the biochemistry going on in your body.

I think the great majority of learning material could be online. My son has very little tolerance for poor lectures and has sourced most of his own educational material. It's worked out very well for him. I think education could be easily vastly improved and at the same time made much cheaper or much of it free. You know, using the internet...

I think the current system is quite a con really, kids amassing big debts for an often poor education.

It's not a question of who should, but who does. As an OWG I'm fine with my demographic being in the majority vote wise. If the others can't be bothered that's their look out. Maybe, & it's a big if, my interests might get a look in if politicians have to concentrate mainly on the older cohort in order to get elected.

If younger generations get their finger out & vote for people like AOC & Jeremy Corbyn I don't envisage a good out come for the OWGs, or for them either in the end.

It can all get a very fucking great deal worse for everyone, young & old alike.

I decided to vote for the person I thought best in my constituency, & it wasn't Nazim Zahawi the Conservative candidate, who won of course, this being a true blue area.

I think we should reform the entire political system so that the Prime Minister could be directly elected (for starters) rather than being the appointee of what amounts to a tiny part of the demos, whether they be old fart nostalgics in the case of the Tories, or academic unrealists allied with still in the closet Stalinists in the case of Labour.

In any case we've ended up with a svengali figure in the form of Dominic Cummings running the PM as a glove puppet, to an extent which can only be guessed at, & for the benefit of obscure interests.

AOC would transform the US, & by extension the rest of the developed world, into Zimbabwe, so thank Christ there isn't anyone like her over here....yet.

I want a ballot box where you can tick a box that says none of the above. 

   

I'm of the same mind. That would be a step on the way to a reform of the system, maybe the 1st necessary step.

Maybe we should appoint a committee, of intelligent people who have some actual training in economics, diplomacy etc. They hash together some policies that are published online, we all get to comment and shout for adjustments, and then it gets done. The committee members are well paid, for the rest of their lives, but otherwise have no outside financial interests. Comfortable economic renunciates.

A ruling elite I guess, but they have to study and pass exams to qualify, rather than be the shoutiest. Just a glorified civil service really. I don't want the most charismatic to be voted in each time. I want the most competent.

Sounds like a plan. If the elected PM could only choose his cabinet from such a group & not from the ranks of his own party in the Commons, then the function of the Commons would be to hold the Executive to account, not to hope to join it as at present.

There are similarities with the American system here, which unfortunately hasn't turned out to be the greatest, so mucho thought will have to go into getting the detail right.

I don't think ideas such as these will gain traction in our lifetime though. A pity.

Certainly, with my calm demeanor and insistent need and respect of accurate (non-alternative) facts, I'm quite suitable for the job of Benevolent Leader.

I will be creating a GoFundMe page for my campaign today.

Thank you for your support.

There's a rather large black bear elected to the position, completely incorruptible other than for honey and everybody knows that so his address is unknown.  

I think Mr E Drek's heart is in the right place, it isn't that he wants the position so much as he is prepared to sacrifice himself to get rid of Mr Trump.

but he was quick to put in a bid for a gofundme page wasn't he.  who said anything about needing campaign money, that's exactly what's not needed.  

I don't think the bear need worry about being replaced any time soon.

13,

Can I send your Tree Planting Foundation a big donation? I'd like to help you out with your noble effort.

And don't forget to vote for me for Fearless Leader!

I'm growing avocado seeds hope to have a few trees down on the roadside.

here we are in Australia it is the thick of Winter and we've had good rains, the dams are full, the prediction is for a cooler rainier Summer and this is all just enough padding for people to start talking about how awful last Summer was.  God we are hoping it doesn't get that bad again.  not for a long time. 

What use is growing hemp apart from making postal sacks & those itchy looking shirts that give you that super sophisticated 'hillbilly out on the town' edge, over the dumbos who turn up in black tie.

There must be something....wait, it's on the tip of my tongue....shit, I just can't remember what I was going to say...never mind, I've got more important things to do...like fixing myself a little snack to keep the wolf from the door, & a bottle of beer to wash it down.