What are you listening to NOW?

[robertlouis]

OK. You guys win.

Yes. We can drool over the fair Adriana somewhere else. Preferably in person....

Now, one of the better bands of the late 60s. I think you'll like this, Dino.

[TSBootyLondon]

From me and my Ladyboys, we bid you all a safe and wonderful Saturday night xxxx

[TSBootyLondon]

Not sure of this one goes here or in the Politics and Religious thread

[robertlouis]

From me and my Ladyboys, we bid you all a safe and wonderful Saturday night xxxx

And the very same to you, Bella.

[Ben]

No offense but as an American I love putting up pics of European leaders. Like some sort of weird Star Wars bar. I know we had a guy that spent too much time in a saloon and now one that throws dice all day.

Boris is brilliant --

[robertlouis]

Boris is brilliant --

You want him? You have him.

We'll take Bloomberg in exchange.

[Ben]

You want him? You have him.

We'll take Bloomberg in exchange.

No. I'm a left-leaning libertarian. So I prefer: no Mayor --
Or maybe a cat. Check out this sensational story:

[robertlouis]

No. I'm a left-leaning libertarian. So I prefer: no Mayor --
Or maybe a cat.

Huh, that's nothing. In 2002 the citizens of Hartlepool in the north east of England elected their football club mascot, Hangus the monkey, to the newly-created post of mayor. He was only removed from office in 2012 when the post was abolished.

And why "Hangus"? Local rumour has it that when a ship was wrecked off the shore during the Napoleonic Wars, the only survivor was a monkey, which the patriotic locals strung up as a spy, thinking that this exotic being that they couldn't understand, was a Frenchman.

They're known colloquially as "Monkeyhangers" to this day.

[Ben]

Huh, that's nothing. In 2002 the citizens of Hartlepool in the north east of England elected their football club mascot, Hangus the monkey, to the newly-created post of mayor. He was only removed from office in 2012 when the post was abolished.

And why "Hangus"? Local rumour has it that when a ship was wrecked off the shore during the Napoleonic Wars, the only survivor was a monkey, which the patriotic locals strung up as a spy, thinking that this exotic being that they couldn't understand, was a Frenchman.

They're known colloquially as "Monkeyhangers" to this day.

A lot of people are apolitical. Because they think they have no say when it comes to policy. Which is true. About 70 percent of Americans have no impact on public policy. None.
One has more influence the higher up the income ladder you go. I mean, those at the very top -- think: Sheldon Adelson, Larry Ellison, Larry Page and others -- pretty much get what they want.
So, people understand that the system is deeply venal and serves the interests of the super-rich. So, they elect a cat. To point out their utter disgust with the whole system.
But just to clarify: everyone is political. Everyone has a notion about how the world should be run and governed... and how power should be distributed.
Conservatives believe power should be concentrated.
Others on the liberal end of the political spectrum have a different notion about governance --

[robertlouis]

But just to clarify: everyone is political. Everyone has a notion about how the world should be run and governed... and how power should be distributed.
Conservatives believe power should be concentrated.
Others on the liberal end of the political spectrum have a different notion about governance --

Interesting. Over here, the Conservatives preach distribution of power but concentrate it instead. Labour preaches centralisation and largely follows that principle through. So on that point there's little to choose between the major parties.

It's also nicely ironic that the Tories rail against EU centralisation in Brussels but are dead against giving further autonomy to the likes of Scotland and Wales.

But then, all conservatives, in my experience, are pragmatic compromisers at best and out and out hypocrites at worst.

Maybe we should play some music, Ben....

Billy Bragg, the English Woody Guthrie.