No wonder BJ BJ sacked this man. He's actually much more intelligent and much more competent than is permitted in the current Tory Party. You've got to be a twerp to get on in there. The narrowness and ineffectiveness of the press is symptomatic of UK institutions as a whole. Excellent point about Amber Rudd. She's up there with 'the great resigners', people with actual integrity and an understanding of how ethics work in public office and elsewhere, too. Every workplace, or public or private institution.
Thanks to Rory and to this excellent interview. I do not know how I did not fall upon this 10 months ago?!? "Less talk more action" would definitely appeal. Please return to do BOTH. Thank you...
*** PLEASE NOTE *** Just so listeners are aware this was recorded on 24th May 2022 which was several weeks before the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he would resign. ***
Funny how competent people are often humble and generous, like your guest. We need to learn how to identify and call out these monsters in real time. Educate yourself! Lots of good behavioral videos out there :)
There are a few I can respect enough to listen to, but I cannot agree with how the covid virus was treated as a "pandemic" sufficient to ruin our economy and, I believe, to cause so much excess illness and death. For me, the Conservative government dictat ended my trust in that party and in all the other parties who handed over control. I will be looking around for alternatives.
I want to second Rory's recommendations to read Timothy Snyder. He really put a lot of things in place from an historic perspective. You find loads of lectures by him on RU-vid. If you want to understand the Russian aggression or the background and present of EU he gives amazing insights.
The only thing that holds the tattered remnants and shards of UK democracy in some semblance of coherence is the willingness of enough high profile oracles to speak and perform to disclaim its state of brokenness, thus misleading enough people to go on believing we are on some sort of forward rather than collapsing trajectory.
I agree with Rory on the NYT (something I only discovered post 2016, shamefully), but the Economist still has a great place in international journalism. And the FT too. But from the moment I moved to Italy in the early 2000s I found myself shocked by the parochial nature of the UK press, including the BBC, sadly.
This gentleman is the sort who should represent the House of Commons and Parliament. Not the many who show arrogance and stupidity in equal measure. Oh, the loss of England, and can we get it back?
As a book recommendation Hannah White Held in Contempt; What's wrong with the House of Commons. And for an insight in to us as humans Robert Sapolsky's Behave; Humans at their best and worst.
Here's a slogan, Pragmatism Works! As an average of my political beliefs I'm almost certainly on the left of politics but I do find talking to those I agree with boring and fruitless. I'd love to debate and discuss policy with someone like Rory Stewart, a good mix of that which I aree with withat that which is further away with a good dollop of respect and reasonableness in the way he discusses issues.
Sometimes pragmatism is useful. I too love to learn and will do, from those who think differently to me. To meet and share common sense with others is, as you say, in some ways less interesting, but can feel good in other ways.
Gahhh Rory Rory Rory.... Prisoners and Screws know the rules, they're in prison for christ's sake. They really do know the rules. However the first part of your answer is key.... early years, sure start, schools... fix these and prisons follow as surely as night follows day. Increase Prison Officer numbers (a lot), pay them properly, ditch private prisons, and the reduction in violence is a natural by-product
RS is fantastic. I don’t understand how anyone with a hint of understanding of common decency, honesty, empathy could ever vote for someone like BJ or the Tory party in its current state of b.s.
I don't believe there is any less interest in global affairs than before. Human nature hasn't changed that much. Interest starts with oneself and immediate family, broadens out to the neighbourhood, then their nation and finally other nations. As with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, you have to have all your needs met before being relaxed and confident enough to engage with a broader world. Most people struggle with their lives and don't want to bear any more horror and pain. The newspapers, mindful of their purse, merely reflects this.
I also think a large part of it is that most people (including myself) just don't understand foreign affairs in the same way they may be more familiar with domestic issues. People are able to understand the NHS backlog and the skyrocketing cost of fuel, but they don't understand the complex relationships between countries
I suspect he got such a big majority because many people voted NOT to have Corbin, or because Farage pulled the Brexit candidate at the last minute . I bet few people who voted Tory really wanted the insane clown as PM, but our stupid first past the post electoral system tends to do this to us.
Politics is about policy. Talking produces policy. More action? We have a system and as far as I can tell it means we give up ceetain money and freedoms towards general governance. I do not want a hands on government. I want education to play a large part, educational content being about our political and economic systems, history, geography and how to educate ourselves. We need to read write and count to enable us to interact with people. We need some ethical classes to enable us to fully consider what is reasonable. The reasonable person should then be responsible for themselves. We have a welfare, health and police system to help. What action is it that you might be referring to I wonder....
