The world has been upended in just a week since Trump's sweeping victory - or at least for "liberal progressives." Many of these read the runes of Trump's recapture of the US presidency and Senate and retention of the House as giving "liberal elites" a deserved bloody nose. In explaining his triumph they excused or at least glossed over his excesses and accused Biden, Harris … [Read more...] about Welcome to a dark future under Trump 2.0
Trump
Blowing up the transatlantic bridge
Be afraid. Be very afraid. In this honeymoon period of the new Labour Government, there’s more than enough to send shivers down the spine: at home the prospect of an austerity Autumn Budget to meet public services pay bills with inevitable tax rises and abroad an extended/expanded Middle East war and/or rapid deterioration in Ukraine’s defences despite the imminent arrival of … [Read more...] about Blowing up the transatlantic bridge
Slaves of Fashion: from Punjab to Paisley
The Singh twins work in the Indian miniaturist tradition and have received many accolades for their art.Their latest exhibition Slaves of Fashion – on its way from Liverpool to Wolverhampton if you are in the vicinity – contains some of the most challenging, beautiful work I’ve seen in a long time.The exhibition aims to ‘explore enslavement and consumerism in the 21st … [Read more...] about Slaves of Fashion: from Punjab to Paisley
Tale of two tax reforms: Scotland v USA
At the end of 2017, my two home countries of the USA and Scotland are going in different directions in terms of tax reform.While the Scottish government is introducing more progressive taxes, the US is in the process of passing a controversial bill which cuts tax bigly for the rich.Tax rises for higher-earning Scots are modest - and there are also benefits such as free … [Read more...] about Tale of two tax reforms: Scotland v USA
Will Salmond’s RT show make him a Kremlin tool?
The decision of former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond to front a weekly political chat show on Russian international channel RT has been widely criticised across the British political and media mainstream.Why would a prominent Western politician risk his reputation by colluding with what many believe to be an propaganda instrument of the Kremlin?RT’s interest in … [Read more...] about Will Salmond’s RT show make him a Kremlin tool?