Dr. Henry Tam
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henrytam.bsky.social
Dr. Henry Tam
@henrytam.bsky.social
Political writer - books include: 'Time to Save Democracy', 'Communitarianism', 'Against Power Inequalities', 'Who's Afraid of Political Education', 'Tomorrow's Communities', etc + the Anti-Con novels. More info from: https://hbtam.blogspot.com
Politics matters ...
Exclusive offer for any direct order with Bristol University Press/Policy Press, until the end of November - get 50% off any of my political books with code: BUP11.
Check out these works: bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/henry-tam @brisunipress.bsky.social
November 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM
It all seemed hopeless,
Until a Clemenceau came along,
A Churchill stepped forth.
Tyrants count on resistance crumbling,
& US Democrats need someone to rally the fightback ...
www.axios.com/2025/11/05/2...
Possible Dem presidential contenders jostle over election results
No one admits it, but the next presidential primary is already in motion for Democrats.
www.axios.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Many politicians and public servants still think they can best help communities by working technocratically without local ppl's involvement.
They really should learn the lessons from state-community collaboration & start building real partnerships.
www.transformingsociety.co.uk/2021/07/30/c...
Communities and public bodies: Finding the perfect collaborative balance - Transforming Society
Henry Tam shows how community-generated improvements can only achieve success when there is genuine collaboration with public bodies and commitment to a long-term partnership.
www.transformingsociety.co.uk
November 9, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Against the championing of moral sensitivity and evidential examination, the Counter-Enlightenment was born.
Riled by the promotion of universal compassion and empirical objectivity, the Anti-Woke strikes back.
Their continuing mission - keep people in the dark
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2023/09/coun...
Counter-Enlightenment, Anti-Woke
The ‘Anti-Woke’ bandwagon has been picking up speed in stirring up anger and resentment against ideas that annoy reactionaries. Exposing pre...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
November 9, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Local govt reorganisation, eh?
Simplified system - perhaps
Good for economic growth - where's the evidence?
Savings - excuses for more cuts, & high transitional costs?
Local connections - diminished with big, remote unitaries.
Democracy - further weakened
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk/blog/should-...
Should local authorities reorganise? A review of the evidence - Bennett School of Public Policy
There's been a growing interest in local government reorganisation from both the Conservatives and Labour. However, the case for reorganisation needs further investigation, with evidence suggesting it...
www.bennettschool.cam.ac.uk
November 9, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Always thought that a political system that demands support for every single budget proposal, or else cuts off the pay for all public workers, is a recipe for chaos. Funds should not be held back except in those specific cases where the proposal in question has been voted down.
#ChangeTheSystem
November 9, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Some right-wingers are doing their best 'fuming' act over the BBC allegedly misleading the world by giving the impression that Trump was in any way connected with the Capitol attacks. Quick reminder: Trump pardoned all those involved in the attacks; they have always had his full support.
November 4, 2025 at 2:57 PM
It costs very little to engage with local people in a deliberative way to work out together what should be done.
Its benefits are immeasurable in terms of effective policy designs and higher public satisfaction.
Find out more: citizen-network.org/library/civi...
@barryquirk.bsky.social
Citizen Network: Civic Dialogues and Citizen Democracy
We need to help people make decisions together on a much more local level.
citizen-network.org
November 2, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Americans were warned about Trump's intention to undermine democracy;
He still got elected & democracy is on life support in the US.
Brits are warned about mini-Trump's polling figures & similarities to his role model.
Here are 5 counter-measures to activate: henry-tam.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-...
The Tyrant’s Temptation
According to many surveys, an increasing number of people are indicating that they favour political leaders who would act without democratic...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Can the rule of law still stand in a country when judges are concerned they may have to set up their own armed security arrangements, as the government threatens those who won't bow down to executive intimidation: www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Judges reportedly eye new security measures as Trump’s rhetorical attacks get worse
As the president condemns unnamed judges as “monsters who want our country to go to hell,” there’s growing talk of systemic security reforms.
www.msnbc.com
November 2, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If people were asked if they would like a strong unelected leader to solve all their problems, they might say 'yes' if no one would warn them a dictator's more likely to throw ppl in jail for no good reason at all.
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
One in five Britons aged 18-45 prefer unelected leaders to democracy, poll finds
Exclusive: Voters overall are downbeat about politics and almost six in 10 think ‘the UK’s best years are behind us’
www.theguardian.com
November 2, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Show solidarity with Sweden's workers, members of the union IF Metall, on strike against Tesla for its refusal to recognise workers' right to organise a union.
There are other cars to buy, but no concession should be made to those who autocratically lord over workers.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
The striking Swedish workers taking on carmaker Tesla
The industrial action against the company's operation in Sweden has reached its second anniversary.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 11:40 AM
A voting system that can be manipulated by wealthy donors and the circulation of malicious disinformation poses a threat to us all.
We need to save democracy before it's too late: citizen-network.org/news/democra... @simonduffy.bsky.social @compassoffice.bsky.social
Democracy SOS
On the International Day of Democracy, a new report sharing eight steps to save the UK’s democratic system.
citizen-network.org
October 25, 2025 at 12:59 PM
A report in 2024 found that 92% of donations to Reform UK came from fossil fuel groups and climate change deniers.
Any wonder they are against all policies for cutting carbon emission into the atmosphere ...
www.desmog.com/2024/06/04/n...
Who Funds Reform? Nigel Farage’s Party Received 92 Percent of its Donations from Fossil Fuel Interests, Polluters, and Climate Deniers
Reform UK has received more than £2.3 million from oil and gas interests, highly polluting industries, and climate science deniers since December 2019, amounting to 92 percent of the party’s donations...
www.desmog.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
In these polarised times, there is actually much that can be done at the community level to overcome misunderstanding and support consensus-building.
Consider these tried and tested approaches:
citizen-network.org/library/comm...
Citizen Network: Communitarian Consensus-Building
There are many different ways we can work together to make democratic decisions that everyone can support.
citizen-network.org
October 25, 2025 at 12:45 PM
A written Constitution becomes an instrument of oppression when one presidential win along with the narrowest senate majority can secure a Supreme Court that will endorse pretty much whatever the Leader commands.
#NoKings
October 25, 2025 at 12:41 PM
Diversity is good on so many levels. Just look at the Premiership.
For those who can't stand our love of cultural enrichment, perhaps they should go to their spiritual home somewhere around the Führerbunker.
henry-tam.blogspot.com/2024/01/prem...
Premier Diversity
It is noticeable that people who rely on ‘information’ sources which have a not so hidden agenda of spreading negativity about immigrants, r...
henry-tam.blogspot.com
October 25, 2025 at 12:31 PM
The 1930s showed us that if authoritarian-minded leaders were given an inch, they would go miles to subjugate everyone.
Let's stop the world sliding into another fascist nightmare as we head towards 2030.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Millions expected across all 50 US states to march in No Kings protests against Trump
Events scheduled in more than 2,700 locations, from small towns to large cities, aligning behind message that the US is sliding into authoritarianism
www.theguardian.com
October 18, 2025 at 11:04 AM
Why would people support political figures who push policies that harm the environment, hurt the vulnerable, and cut public services to fund tax cuts for the superrich?
Ignorance prevails in the absence of good political education: policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/whos-afraid-...
Who’s Afraid of Political Education?
Who’s Afraid of Political Education? - The Challenge to Teach Civic Competence and Democratic Participation; Experts on learning for democracy come together to explore why and how the gap in civic com...
policy.bristoluniversitypress.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 10:57 AM
Was there ever any doubt that Trump's sole role was to keep giving Putin more time to attack Ukraine?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Zelensky fails to secure Tomahawk missiles at talks with Trump
Following the meeting, Trump calls for Kyiv and Moscow to
www.bbc.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 10:51 AM
Lie, cheat, commit frauds - as far as the Don is concerned, all criminal members of 'the family' are to be released from prison under his order. After all, the only crime to be punished is the crime of standing up to him.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
George Santos: 'Have a great life!' Trump orders prison release of disgraced ex-congressman
George Santos was jailed for seven years for stealing identities, including from members of his own family.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 18, 2025 at 10:46 AM
Trump has slashed $723 billion from Medicaid, took healthcare away from 13.7 million Americans, which would cause 21,000 preventable deaths every year, and added $3.94 trillion to the national deficit to fund tax cuts for billionaires.
How can anyone still support Trump, or back mini-Trump?
October 16, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Long, long overdue indictment of what Brexit and its reckless advocates did to damage our country's economy & deplete the capacity to fund vital public services: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...
Starmer ‘planning to blame Farage and Brexit’ for budget tax hikes
Sir Keir Starmer has been ramping up his attacks on Nigel Farage in recent weeks as Labour falls behind in the polls
www.independent.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 4:01 PM
An authoritarian regime moves forward by each oppressive step - violence, anonymity, no accountability, pervasive intimidation.
Will the US survive another 3 years?
Can the UK avoid a similar fate if the Xenophobic Party wins?
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
'They treated us like animals' - Inside the epicentre of deportations in New York City
Chaotic scenes have become routine in a federal immigration court in Manhattan.
www.bbc.co.uk
October 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM