DBurx
@dburx.bsky.social
Londoner. Was Montrealer. Also Italian. Commercial Banker. Citizen of leisure. Trying to make jokes and find light humour. Quarreler. Can't be pigeonholed.
The left in both Italy and the UK appear to have a very strange view of 'the rich', and no concept of middle class at all (confusing middle class with average or median income; no those are working class!)
www.ft.com/content/3799...
www.ft.com/content/3799...
Giorgia Meloni’s ‘middle-class’ tax cut sparks political row in Italy
Critics say the measure will benefit mainly high earners while reducing government revenues
www.ft.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:29 PM
The left in both Italy and the UK appear to have a very strange view of 'the rich', and no concept of middle class at all (confusing middle class with average or median income; no those are working class!)
www.ft.com/content/3799...
www.ft.com/content/3799...
Reposted by DBurx
I proudly present the internet's nerdiest and prettiest tax calculator.
Other calculators just calculate your tax. This one calculates your tax now, and under various Budget proposals. And draws a pretty chart showing the marginal and effective rates for *everyone*.
Other calculators just calculate your tax. This one calculates your tax now, and under various Budget proposals. And draws a pretty chart showing the marginal and effective rates for *everyone*.
November 12, 2025 at 3:47 PM
I proudly present the internet's nerdiest and prettiest tax calculator.
Other calculators just calculate your tax. This one calculates your tax now, and under various Budget proposals. And draws a pretty chart showing the marginal and effective rates for *everyone*.
Other calculators just calculate your tax. This one calculates your tax now, and under various Budget proposals. And draws a pretty chart showing the marginal and effective rates for *everyone*.
Reposted by DBurx
One of the great tweets from blessed memory: ‘the Uk is a strange land where people think £100k is a very high salary but also £1m is a normal price for a family home’
November 11, 2025 at 7:55 AM
One of the great tweets from blessed memory: ‘the Uk is a strange land where people think £100k is a very high salary but also £1m is a normal price for a family home’
Reposted by DBurx
Featured on our $20 note, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial honours Canadians who served in the First World War.
Our next $20 note, set for early 2027, will continue to depict this important piece of history.
https://bit.ly/43qnfdg
#LestWeForget #RemembranceDay
Our next $20 note, set for early 2027, will continue to depict this important piece of history.
https://bit.ly/43qnfdg
#LestWeForget #RemembranceDay
November 11, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Featured on our $20 note, the Canadian National Vimy Memorial honours Canadians who served in the First World War.
Our next $20 note, set for early 2027, will continue to depict this important piece of history.
https://bit.ly/43qnfdg
#LestWeForget #RemembranceDay
Our next $20 note, set for early 2027, will continue to depict this important piece of history.
https://bit.ly/43qnfdg
#LestWeForget #RemembranceDay
Reposted by DBurx
Unfortunately this is actually how eugenicists think.
If you seek health care, you are unhealthy. Why should we listen to your perverted demands? You're diseased. You are a sick individual.
November 11, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Unfortunately this is actually how eugenicists think.
Reposted by DBurx
New apple review -- the BLACK OXFORD. An apple that will gladly buy your soul at the midnight crossroad.
Apple Review #33: Black Oxford
To talk about this apple, we first talk about other apples. Let’s talk about the Black Diamond apple, because I get sent this every once in a while — a meme goes around, like this one &…
terribleminds.com
November 10, 2025 at 6:55 PM
New apple review -- the BLACK OXFORD. An apple that will gladly buy your soul at the midnight crossroad.
Reposted by DBurx
Just leaving this here.
November 10, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Just leaving this here.
I'm beginning to reconsider the validity of the 'EU keeps the peace' line; not indeed in the EU, but between UK and France. Tearing up the fishing treaty needs to go back on the table.
It would now take a miracle for Labour to avoid defeat at the next election
November 9, 2025 at 10:10 AM
I'm beginning to reconsider the validity of the 'EU keeps the peace' line; not indeed in the EU, but between UK and France. Tearing up the fishing treaty needs to go back on the table.
We've had like 36 'rounds' (whatever that may mean) of sanctions on Russia, and aircraft parts come from, I hope, certified supply chains, and yet?
Govt competence is terrible? Or does it show sanctions are almost useless and performative.
Govt competence is terrible? Or does it show sanctions are almost useless and performative.
Exclusive: Officials are urgently trying to establish whether a £36m purchase of Russian aircraft breached the UK's sanctions regime
The government only discovered it had happened after being alerted by @theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
The government only discovered it had happened after being alerted by @theobserveruk.bsky.social
observer.co.uk/news/nationa...
Anger as £38m is spent on plane imports from Russia | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 9:11 AM
We've had like 36 'rounds' (whatever that may mean) of sanctions on Russia, and aircraft parts come from, I hope, certified supply chains, and yet?
Govt competence is terrible? Or does it show sanctions are almost useless and performative.
Govt competence is terrible? Or does it show sanctions are almost useless and performative.
Reposted by DBurx
This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
UK transport secretary says full electrification of railways ‘not affordable right now’
Heidi Alexander says focus will be on other projects such as HS2
www.ft.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:57 AM
This isn't just poverty of aspiration, it is incompetence. www.ft.com/content/5ecd...
Reposted by DBurx
The real clash of civilizations isn’t between East and West — it’s between two visions of order: citizens vs subjects.
The Coming Clash of Civilizations
From the Wilderness of a Recovering Technocrat
www.notesfromthecircus.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:23 AM
The real clash of civilizations isn’t between East and West — it’s between two visions of order: citizens vs subjects.
Reposted by DBurx
Fact for today: Canada has climbed from 4th to 2nd in the latest international reputation rankings. The US has dropped dramatically, from 30th to 48th among the 60 top economies. Switzerland ranks first, Russia last. The rankings are often a factor in country investment decisions.
November 2, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Fact for today: Canada has climbed from 4th to 2nd in the latest international reputation rankings. The US has dropped dramatically, from 30th to 48th among the 60 top economies. Switzerland ranks first, Russia last. The rankings are often a factor in country investment decisions.
I hesitate to ask @davidallengreen.bsky.social : if one thinks CIII has violated his coronation oath, what remedies are there?
ReformUK can only dream that one day they will achieve this level of petty sectarian bigotry
Senior Orange Order figures have written to Britain’s King Charles to “reflect on his coronation oath” over his praying with Pope Leo last month.
www.thejournal.ie/orange-order...
www.thejournal.ie/orange-order...
November 6, 2025 at 3:27 PM
I hesitate to ask @davidallengreen.bsky.social : if one thinks CIII has violated his coronation oath, what remedies are there?
Ah, someone is making the principled argument, well done! Yes the meaning of a "right to work" was corrupted by right wing to mean degraded conditions; but in origin its a sacred right equivalent to life. Only prisoners should not have right to work.
In the House of Lords, Bishop David spoke to his amendment that seeks to lift the ban on asylum seekers undertaking paid work. @bishmanchester.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Ah, someone is making the principled argument, well done! Yes the meaning of a "right to work" was corrupted by right wing to mean degraded conditions; but in origin its a sacred right equivalent to life. Only prisoners should not have right to work.
Reposted by DBurx
My take on today’s tariff arguments at the Supreme Court. Short version: LOL slate.com/news-and-pol...
November 5, 2025 at 8:52 PM
My take on today’s tariff arguments at the Supreme Court. Short version: LOL slate.com/news-and-pol...
If Reeves actually manages to - even partially - clamp down on what is the most pernicious subsidy in the UK, that will be a tremendous achievement.
www.ft.com/content/42f5...
www.ft.com/content/42f5...
Carmakers warn UK crackdown on Motability scheme will hit sales
Programme helps fund vehicles for disabled people
www.ft.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:33 AM
If Reeves actually manages to - even partially - clamp down on what is the most pernicious subsidy in the UK, that will be a tremendous achievement.
www.ft.com/content/42f5...
www.ft.com/content/42f5...
Reposted by DBurx
Land grabbers’ charter.
Let’s hope the Lords throw it out.
Let’s hope the Lords throw it out.
We are urging peers to oppose an amendment to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill which aims to remove long-standing public rights on green spaces when the land is sold by a local authority.
The amendment will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday: bit.ly/4oGy2YQ
The amendment will be debated in the House of Lords on Monday: bit.ly/4oGy2YQ
November 3, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Land grabbers’ charter.
Let’s hope the Lords throw it out.
Let’s hope the Lords throw it out.
Kind of funny that he's got so many bejewelled nonsense titles it takes a while to remember them all and file the paper work to remove them.
November 2, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Kind of funny that he's got so many bejewelled nonsense titles it takes a while to remember them all and file the paper work to remove them.
Reposted by DBurx
Hmm. I'm really not sure the best advert for an Anxiety PIP is to travel to a busy TV studio and then talk on live TV in front of thousands/millions.
Lady on PIP explains she's job hunting but also suffers from anxiety
Reform UK's Matt Goodwin doubles down criticising those on disability
#BBCQT
Reform UK's Matt Goodwin doubles down criticising those on disability
#BBCQT
November 1, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Hmm. I'm really not sure the best advert for an Anxiety PIP is to travel to a busy TV studio and then talk on live TV in front of thousands/millions.
Great column this. The new puritanism of the left is its undoing; its belief there is only one correct progressive set of values is so strobg that these have become conservative.
www.ft.com/content/9875...
www.ft.com/content/9875...
The cosmopolitan conservative
Why the right are often better internationalists than the left
www.ft.com
November 1, 2025 at 6:39 AM
Great column this. The new puritanism of the left is its undoing; its belief there is only one correct progressive set of values is so strobg that these have become conservative.
www.ft.com/content/9875...
www.ft.com/content/9875...
Reposted by DBurx
The year is 1998. You are being tasked with guessing the economic fortunes of Poland, Estonia, Argentina, and Venezuela over the next 25 years. Who would’ve guessed correctly?!
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 PM
The year is 1998. You are being tasked with guessing the economic fortunes of Poland, Estonia, Argentina, and Venezuela over the next 25 years. Who would’ve guessed correctly?!
Reposted by DBurx
I can answer this. I interviewed Peterson's tailor a few years ago, although the interview was never published because I fell behind on work. Here is the story of this suit. 🧵
October 31, 2025 at 2:43 AM
I can answer this. I interviewed Peterson's tailor a few years ago, although the interview was never published because I fell behind on work. Here is the story of this suit. 🧵
My contention that The Economist reflects conventional wisdom is reconfirmed; constitutions 'meaning' reflect what is societies agreement. Unfortunately.
Even a few months ago, The Economist would have said the plain meaning was a 2 term limit.
Even a few months ago, The Economist would have said the plain meaning was a 2 term limit.
There is a legal case for a third term—but it is strewn with obstacles
Trump 2028
There is a legal case for a third term—but it is strewn with obstacles
econ.st
October 31, 2025 at 4:21 AM
My contention that The Economist reflects conventional wisdom is reconfirmed; constitutions 'meaning' reflect what is societies agreement. Unfortunately.
Even a few months ago, The Economist would have said the plain meaning was a 2 term limit.
Even a few months ago, The Economist would have said the plain meaning was a 2 term limit.
Reposted by DBurx
The government is choosing via its policies to close local libraries and not investigate crimes in order to spend more on SEND, adult social care, and the NHS and the first two of these do not matter to the voters at all and they will punish you for this every time.
October 28, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The government is choosing via its policies to close local libraries and not investigate crimes in order to spend more on SEND, adult social care, and the NHS and the first two of these do not matter to the voters at all and they will punish you for this every time.
Very true on a number of fronts, the solution is for the govt to do some work, and not treating every problem as requiring new complex financing solutions and incentives and penalties.
Actually, one way to 'make developers develop' is for governments to actually do it: spend money building affordable housing.
Politicians can't make developers develop. In my town, even though they have been welcomed to build, build, build, there are no takers except for a few single family homes. The real estate market is dead around me, for new and resale.
October 28, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Very true on a number of fronts, the solution is for the govt to do some work, and not treating every problem as requiring new complex financing solutions and incentives and penalties.