RuamRudy

I suspect that this is more for public consumption than for avoiding purgatory.

There is no doubt about it that wages are alarmingly low for even middle class, well educated employees, but 200 pesos is nearly a 30% increase, and while any increase will apply to minimum wage earners, it means that all employees will require to see some distortion effect - a rising tide lifts all ships, so to speak. The reality is that most small companies cannot absorb that so the cost has to be passed on to the consumer - or layoffs.

I must admit that I have no clue as to what you are havering on about.

It's not my job to educate you. You have sufficient keywords to start you off. Good luck on your quest for betterment.

I think there was a wee bit more to it than that.

Well I am European and don't feel stifled. I can't comment on how Americans feel.

Who would name a cake after a pedophile?

Are you suggesting that unless he gets the unequivocal support of every single Canadian, he has failed?

Read about the Mountbatten plan.

Or it could spin off the smaller stuff from Westminster to allow it to work at a national / International level with an English assembly focusing on domestic English issues. 100% of the time in the Northern Irish, Welsh and Scottish parliaments is spent on those countries' affairs. England is not afforded the same level of focus from Westminster.

The partition of India in 1947.

Replace pope with potus and the paragraph still stands true.

You have made your opinion clear - that he should not espouse what you consider to be 'progressive' views. In fact you have only writtten about the possibility of him adopting a progressive tone. Personally ihope that the man has backbone, integrity and courage, and that he speaks out against injustice wherever he sees it. You know, like leaders are supposed to do.

The support of his followers? I guess there is a general set of rules and tenets set by the church, but that is also evolving over time so it's his job to lead it in what he considers to be the right direction. The support of world leaders? I would hope he will be less inclined to keep silent - and there's not much any of them could do if he spoke out against any in particular

Although I am not Catholic, I certainly would prefer a pope who's views were aligned to my own, much as you would yours, I assume. Would you be critical of him if he turned up on the balcony of St Peter's wearing a maga hat?

Your sentiments are clear but your understanding of his role both as a leader in general and as the head of the Catholic church is flawed. Leadership requires the courage to stand up and challenge inequity wherever it lies. It sounds like you want a pliant, supine figurehead who simply accepts the status quo.

Again you say 'if he has any sense' - what do you mean? It would sound sinister if someone with power made such a statement but from you it just seems churlish without context. What do you think might befall him should he comment on politics?

But as leader of the church he has to leadership and direction. To do so without political comment not feasible. And, of course, we need to consider his freedom of speech, what with it being such a hot topic these days.

Why would his most sensible option be to remain silent on political matters?

His roles include providing moral guidance to his followers and standing up to injustice. I doubt either would be possible without passing political commentary.

English voters who do not have a devolved national parliament face a “democratic deficit”, a Conservative MP has warned. Andrew Rosindell... told the Commons that English people suffer with a “rather diminished democratic voice”. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/andrew-rosindell-northern-ireland-edward-leigh-english-scotland-b1226643.html

You never needed therapy or you never had therapy? They are two very different positions.

REM - So Central Rain

I don't think her intention is for you to have concerns about her per se. She has spoken out on several occasions in the past about mental health issues, and she has been open and honest about her own struggles on that front. I believe her objective has always been to help remove the stigma mental health issues, and encourage people to talk more about it. Imagine how much better the world might be if there were fewer people beset with crippling anxiety or depression. She is doing her bit to encourage people to seek help without shame.

Although the objective of therapy is to improve one's self...