mfd101

Yes, Buttigieg looks good with plenty of potential. Age 57 about right. I have thought in the past he had a way to go to prove himself but his time in the Biden Cabinet will have been a growing experience. Anyone else? (remembering that other Presidents - eg Clinton & Carter - basically came from 'Nowhere' and made it to President through their campaign performance and facing weak Republican candidates).

Clearly the Dems need a new credible and effective candidate. Apart from Newsom, who else have they got?

Unfortunately, in just about every government and every bureaucracy in the world, the notion that 'Less is better' is an alien concept.

Well, most of the ones mentioned above look positive (university types) but of course the real question is what the balance is going to be among the 200. That may take some time to become clear as groups form and deform ...

Yes, and it's not just at school. The 'Don't ask questions' barrier is everywhere. I notice this in my peasant family (mostly illiterate) and with my b/f. No intellectual curiosity and you have to choose your moment (which I'm not good at). Because I ask questions my b/f says I always 'blame' him ...

https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=0296ea42-d69b-4ee2-a0f3-eadc31a931d0 I already posted this on another OP yesterday. A Times article. Worth reading.

Yes, though I can't help noticing that their average age looks to be about 25.

Not obvious to me that it's bad. If he gingers things up, keeps everyone on their toes, forces people to actually switch on their brain & think occasionally ... Can that be bad in a feudal society obsessed with status & hierarchy?

How very dare you ask a question! Are you implying I haven't taught you properly? Get out of my class I don't want to see you again.

I enjoy my 5-weekly visit to the barber here in Prasat. My b/f keeps the barber and any other customers falling about with his jokes, while I get shorn. 100฿ including tip.

The Times has a good summary. https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=0296ea42-d69b-4ee2-a0f3-eadc31a931d0

Oz government paying, though they claim they'll get it back from him. Which, if you believe ... Also on board the Oz Ambassador to Washington & the Oz High Commissioner (= Ambassador) to UK. You couldn't make this stuff up. Wonder what our friends in the US defence & intelligence system think of that.

No, but it will kill you slowly.

Yes, his instincts are those of a control freak - authoritarian, nationalist & racist. The job of his staffers is to make him seem quasi-sensible.

From all accounts a pretty unpleasant fellow but no doubt somewhat overpunished for his sins (and greatly punished by his own choices over the last decade).

No wonder Thailand is not noted for the English-language skills of its inhabitants.

Politicians are touchy-feely types. Zoom etc is used all the time but nothing beats pressing the flesh with friends & enemies ... if you want a deal.

Big structural change requires big long-term issues (education?) and unmentionables (feudal hierarchy, plutocracy and corruption) to be addressed ... with force if necessary. I don't expect to see it even if I live another 20 years.

Ignorant people in every country criticize their leaders for travelling overseas too much. Yet we live in a one-world conglomeration where everything that's important has international causes & effects - economy & investments, technology & comms, security & defence, population movements, climate change and on & on. If you want your country to be part of the decisions that will affect your country, then you need to accept that your country must be represented at the appropriate levels at the many many international meetings.

Based on those figures, the logic of Thaksin's alleged proposal isn't obvious. That is, it's not obvious that the party-list category is much of a problem for PTP. If MFP had gained 10 more seats than PTP with the constituency seats and equal both with party-list, would he be proposing the opposite?

The notion that Thailand can compete with China either in technical capabilities or on productivity is laughable. A whole world and 50 years of change are needed. Meantime Thailand will continue to slide down the ladder to client-state status, much like Laos and the Myanmar regime.

Every politician in actually-working democracies has to move to the centre to get elected. It's what happens once they're in power that matters and - mostly - what they do is in or round the centre. Starmer will be interesting to watch. But even more interesting will be La Le Pen in France, if she wins the upcoming there.

As in Australia. Welcome to the club.

Yes, I had thought that a large part of Buddhism was about being UNstressed ...

Seen from outside, Usofa looks less and less like a functioning modern democracy. Too many fruitcakes of all varieties, each of them intolerant of all the other varieties.