The Bully Boy

 

Donald Trump reminds me of that bully boy, a playmate from my childhood, with whom we played football.

 Unlike us, he was a kind of  child, to whom his parents did not deny anything. 

Some evenings, when he got tired of his individual games, he would join us in the small  field where we strolled around until the sun went down. Often he  brought with him a new football of his.

Then two teams were formed. I remember that he wanted to build his team with the strongest and most capable, even if the latter were not always happy to be on his side. 

Nonetheless, when his team lost, or he couldn't score, or things didn't turn as he said, he accused the referee of favoritism and in order to win, he was able to argue that one of his shots, clearly out of goal,  had instead entered the mirror of the door. 

When he was unable to impose his will, he would walk away, taking his balloon with him. 

So, sometimes, in order not to remainfootballless, we would bow his head and give it to him. 

This is what Donald Trump clearly  did. 

He wanted to take the White House away, because the voters didn't vote him. 

But this time, the owner of the ball went wrong.

Profilcracy:the power of the people vs the power of datacollecters

We all know that the word democracy comes form ancient Greek language and means power of the people.
But after discovering what kind of manipulation has done Cambridge Analityca in order to influence the vote of the Brexit and the election of american president Trump in 2016 I'm really doubting of the real meaning of the word democracy.
What does really remain of the the original meaning of the word in our times?
May be it would be  better  to talk about profilcracy!
Yes, it would be! Since the primary techonologic social firms own a lot of our data and they use them to profile us, in the best case just to sell our profiles to the web operating firms.
But in the worst we may become just target for untrustful politicians who just believe in power: the power of the pofilmakers; not the power of the people.

Someone is smiling somewhere

I apologize in advance with those who voted to leave EU; I know they are the majority, though so  fragile and changeable as politic matters are; nevertheless let me say that the loss of parliamentary seats in the  House of Commons, suffered by the Tories in the last elections, has a meaning that in some way goes against the Brexit; only in some way, I agree, not completely against, for I know even the Labours will be working to manage a definitive leave; of course there is a difference between a hard and reasonable Brexit. 

The gap between the two ways is filled with what is more careable for a left side party: social solidarity; health security; more equal health distribution; public services; social protections for the weak, even if they are continental workers, or simply  foreigner workers.

Democracy, if the word has still a residual meaning, in this society dominated by  financial and multinational powers, means also to give space to different points of view. 

So I still thinking that Great Britain should remain; I still believe European must stick together to face the challenges the world outside is waiting for and UK could play a great role in these challenges on our side. 

I believe it is also on respect of the memory who gave her life to defend the weak, on defending European Union, like MP Joanne  Cox did. 

And I still believe London is forever.

Thank you Lords

It  invites us to a serious reflection the amendment the Lords have inserted in  the Brexit bill in order to protect three millions of EU citizens, working and living in UK, after Artcle 50 is triggered.

What I expected  was to be done by the  House of Commons It has been done instead by the House of Lords.

It is a widespread belief, even abroad, that  Lords are  people of privileges,  living in the past,  insensitive and rich enough to snub all the rest of the world, indifferent to anybody'else problems.

I don't know if that's true.

What I know for sure it's that yesterday 358 (against 256) of them vote an amendment to secure the acquired rights of 3 millions of EU citizens living in UK.

But why such a vote is surprising?

I'll try to answer this question.

In my opinion as the Commoners were afraid  to lose the political consent by the voters, they voted, on both fronts (tories and labs) giving carte blanche to Government on Brexit bill.

The sad truth is that inspite we rant about democracy, a forum of no elected people (The Lords, as matter of fact) remember the world, with their amendment,  the real basis of morality and principles of human rights.

And in times of trumps, lepens and various despots, pushed by blind populism, it's not really a poor thing.

And anyway, I told you  various times that London is forever.