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‘The USA is the global leader based on GDP’. Who measures GDP? You need to ask: which country produces a massive surplus and which country runs a massive deficit? The USA has only survived because the rest of the world had to buy and hold dollars to trade. Now they don’t – BRICS has broken the spell.
I agree that the party currently leading the polls spends most of its time examining Trumps back end, but the hope is that the UK electorate will understand the stupidity of following someone who openly falsely criticises the UK, including calling our brave troops cowards.
We all want to find a way of eliminating illegal immigration, but do we want to see all immigrants being terrorized ICE style?
The future is China. Without this country we would all be treated as subordinates and bullied by the USA.
“the hope is that the UK electorate will understand the stupidity of following someone who openly falsely criticises the UK, including calling our brave troops cowards.”
I won’t be holding my breath.
Value – “The USA is the global leader based on GDP’. Who measures GDP?”
Ehmmm, everyone ???. Stating the obvious, it’s used by every country to
measure ecenomic activity and health of a country. Any country with a low
or stagnant GDC is a huge drawback to even be considered a superpower. I
feel I’m having to point out the bleedin obvious, but that’s what seemingly
I have to do. Any “superpower” must have the ability to maintain a dominant
military with Global reach. Thereby this requires immense and consistant
funding for the research, development and maintainance of high-tech weaponry,
land army, navy and oversees bases. Without a large GDP a nation simply cannot
fund these without ripping up it’s domestic econemy.Ask yourself, what “Superpower” would have to release 150.000 prisoners
just so they had sufficient troops for the “meatgrinder”. Can you imagine
the USA or China having to do this.America, GDP full value $30.62 Trillion
China, “” “” “” $19.4 Trillion
Germany “” “” “” $5.01 Trillion
I’ll miss out a few and drop down to Russia
9th place GDP full value $2.54 Trillion.It’s not quite an even playing field.
“Nueks aside, Russia are not a world superpower.”
I think that is correct, as is Big G’s assessment of Russian strength (or lack of it) based on GDP. Russia simply isn’t in a position to attempt any kind of world dominance. Its main preoccupation is keeping NATO away from what it considers its sphere of influence.
“it chooses the latter (alliance with USA) the UK will deteriorate to being a third world country”.
It is already on the way. As I have speculated before on these pages, the social contract is now frayed, the political system is broken and there has been a catastrophic collapse in trust between the government and the governed. Everything seems to be getting worse and there is no sign any of the political parties have any plan to make it better.
I believe the point made about the US dollar ceasing to be the world’s reserve currency is important and will become more so as time goes on.
Back to the more trivial world of Westminster gossip.
Andy Burnham has announced his intention to stand as Labour candidate in the by-election for the constituency Andrew Gwynne is vacating.
It is a problem for Starmer. On the one hand, the NEC could clearly refuse permission and tell Burnham to get on with being Manchester Mayor. On the other hand, if the NEC does block him, Starmer is open to accusations of running scared from a rival.
Burnham is possessed of any extraordinarily inflated sense of his own worth. The idea he would somehow make any difference! And his statement about why he wants to stand is self serving rubbish. It is obvious he is only interested in challenging Starmer and wanting to be Prime Minister, which he appears to regard as his entitlement.
However, he may not have it all his own way. Reform will clearly throw everything they have at the contest. And in a constituency with a large Muslim population, it looks inevitable that good old George will throw his famous hat into the ring. He might not be everyone’s Cup of tea but I will never get tired of watching him school this dimwit from Sky News:
An issue which is starting to get mentioned more by the media is the utter disaster with civil service pensions.
Towards the end of last year, the contract was taken over by Capita – and it has predictably descended into chaos. For this company has a litany of failure to its name – not for nothing was it dubbed “Crapita” by “Private Eye” (when it was still worth reading).
Compared to the previous system which worked well, the new website keeps on crashing, individual’s details are incorrect and people who have just retired have not received their pension payments or lump sums. This is a scandal.
I don’t know when Capita got the contract. Perhaps it was awarded by the previous government. Nevertheless, it has happened on this government’s watch.
The question which ought to be asked is: why does Capita, a company with a track record of well documented failures, keep on being awarded lucrative government contracts by the political establishment?
One of the most frustrating aspects of modern Britain is no one seems to be held accountable for anything. It is always excuses for failure.
“There was a grain of truth in what he said. But some things are far better left unsaid.”
Give your head a wobble CAS.
An issue which is starting to get mentioned more by the media is the utter disaster with civil service pensions.
I believe this was awarded in 2023 and they took it over in December 2025. Sounds like Fujitsu still getting the IT contracts all these years after the Post Office scandal.
BigG, I am afraid you are missing the point. Companies who grow too quickly eventually run out of cash and fall into administration. It is the same with countries; they only survive long term if they have the funds. The USA has spent above its means for decades and is effectively bankrupt. Companies only fail when banks stop funding them (note, Carillion) and countries only fail when other countries stop funding them. The USA has built up a huge debt because every country had to hold dollars to be able to trade internationally. Now they don’t, thanks to BRICS there is no need to hold dollars.
Trump is playing the end game. Unless he can break Canada, the USA will implode. We can all hope that Canada wins as having to grovel to the nastiest person in the world is unthinkable.
Starmer and the NEC have blocked Burnham from standing. I suppose Starmer will feel like he has kept his rival out of Westminster but it is clear that lots of Labour MPs (including some in the Cabinet) are not pleased with the decision.
Or it could simply be that the NEC have decided that a man who has said he is happy to stay as Mayor of Manchester – and is doing a fine job – is expected to stay in his role and continue the good work. And they certainly don’t want to run the risk of Reform winning the vote to replace Burnham as mayor.
Burnham went to the last party conference thinking he could gather support for a leadership challenge , he left disappointed , we can’t keep changing PMs , Starmer won the election , leave him to it
Exactly, HDLG. Best to leave constantly changing leaders to the Tories. I am not a Starmer fan, by any means, but the country needs stability at this time.
Thanks for that CAS, I got a good laugh. The American interviewer
must have put a note in his notebook “avoid interviewing Galloway”
You’ve got to hand it to George Galloway, whether you like him or
not he’s a terrific orator.I remember watching him taking apart the US Senate in the “oil
for food” programme so called scandal in Iraq. They obviously hadn’t
done their homework on George who wiped the floor with them . The
whole thing is a bit long (40 mins) but the Chairman Norm Coleman
who was getting touted as a future President (not after that) has
1st go and that’s worth a look, if you’re into that kind of thing
A different argument as to why the decision to block Burnham from standing is incorrect:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/jan/25/labour-reverse-decision-block-andy-burnham
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