Angus Walker
@angusdawalker.bsky.social
Did you know also that the armistice was agreed in the early hours but its announcement was delayed until 11am because of the symbolic resonance of that time. There was fierce fighting that morning (2,738 killed) because newly arrived US officers saw it as their last chance to 'see some action'
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Did you know also that the armistice was agreed in the early hours but its announcement was delayed until 11am because of the symbolic resonance of that time. There was fierce fighting that morning (2,738 killed) because newly arrived US officers saw it as their last chance to 'see some action'
I have to say, as an outsider, I find it odd that in the US, the home of unregulated capitalism, it is seen as laughably extreme to question the idea that it is the only possible economic structure. From outside the country it seems obvious that capitalism has had, shall we say, its downsides
November 2, 2025 at 7:48 AM
I have to say, as an outsider, I find it odd that in the US, the home of unregulated capitalism, it is seen as laughably extreme to question the idea that it is the only possible economic structure. From outside the country it seems obvious that capitalism has had, shall we say, its downsides
The ones who have read it probably see Tom and Daisy as the heroes. I mean, Tom and Daisy are rich, they're accomplished liars and they literally get away with murder
November 1, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The ones who have read it probably see Tom and Daisy as the heroes. I mean, Tom and Daisy are rich, they're accomplished liars and they literally get away with murder
'freer than most countries' is a bit of a comedown from 'shining city on a hill'
October 24, 2025 at 3:17 PM
'freer than most countries' is a bit of a comedown from 'shining city on a hill'
I think that given the extraordinary speed with which previously unquestioned assumptions about the functioning of democracy in the US have been abandoned, it would be a very confident (one might say arrogant) academic who could say with such certainty that this is NOT fascism
October 5, 2025 at 5:21 PM
I think that given the extraordinary speed with which previously unquestioned assumptions about the functioning of democracy in the US have been abandoned, it would be a very confident (one might say arrogant) academic who could say with such certainty that this is NOT fascism
That's exactly what is wrong with the US Democrat party. It, like the Republican party, is utterly in thrall to the interests of big money. Where the only political choices are both billionaire funded it's hardly surprising that the interests of billionaires are the only ones protected
September 7, 2025 at 7:06 AM
That's exactly what is wrong with the US Democrat party. It, like the Republican party, is utterly in thrall to the interests of big money. Where the only political choices are both billionaire funded it's hardly surprising that the interests of billionaires are the only ones protected
In fact if members of a community become police and in doing so adopt the idea of seeing other members of that community as the enemy to be distrusted and suppressed then that is as bad if not worse
September 1, 2025 at 5:46 AM
In fact if members of a community become police and in doing so adopt the idea of seeing other members of that community as the enemy to be distrusted and suppressed then that is as bad if not worse
I don't think the police have to be members of the communities they police. The key is that they don't start from a position of automatically fearing and hating them but instead make genuine and continuing efforts to engage with them and their concerns
September 1, 2025 at 5:39 AM
I don't think the police have to be members of the communities they police. The key is that they don't start from a position of automatically fearing and hating them but instead make genuine and continuing efforts to engage with them and their concerns
In other words, if by "cops" you mean heavily armed men whose default tactic is to use significant violence as a first response and make no attempt to support community activities or gain the trust of those they police, then maybe no, we don't need cops
August 31, 2025 at 9:53 PM
In other words, if by "cops" you mean heavily armed men whose default tactic is to use significant violence as a first response and make no attempt to support community activities or gain the trust of those they police, then maybe no, we don't need cops
One contender for the origin of police forces is Robert Peel in England and a key principle was of policing by consent. The authority of the police derived from the public's trust in them rather than from state power. So they shd be unarmed wherever possible and actively engaging with the community
August 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
One contender for the origin of police forces is Robert Peel in England and a key principle was of policing by consent. The authority of the police derived from the public's trust in them rather than from state power. So they shd be unarmed wherever possible and actively engaging with the community
Yeah. Could have told you that ages ago (just didn't get round to it)
August 18, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Yeah. Could have told you that ages ago (just didn't get round to it)
Following the logic of capitalism (leaving aside any questions of ethics or fairness) that is certainly a more productive approach. The wealth owned by the most extremely wealthy is automatically self generating without effort and generates far less economic activity than it would if distributed
August 17, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Following the logic of capitalism (leaving aside any questions of ethics or fairness) that is certainly a more productive approach. The wealth owned by the most extremely wealthy is automatically self generating without effort and generates far less economic activity than it would if distributed
There is also nothing successful about it. Thomas Piketty has demonstrated very clearly, using 300 years of data, that extreme wealth inequality leads to anaemic growth. Many international studies have also shown that it reduces happiness, even for the most well off
August 16, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There is also nothing successful about it. Thomas Piketty has demonstrated very clearly, using 300 years of data, that extreme wealth inequality leads to anaemic growth. Many international studies have also shown that it reduces happiness, even for the most well off
They skipped lunch. Seems like Trump was just an amuse bouche for his KGB handler
August 16, 2025 at 6:17 AM
They skipped lunch. Seems like Trump was just an amuse bouche for his KGB handler
It's not that they can't explain but that they won't, because explaining what they find objectionable in wokeness would reveal their innate narrow mindedness and prejudice
August 13, 2025 at 10:06 AM
It's not that they can't explain but that they won't, because explaining what they find objectionable in wokeness would reveal their innate narrow mindedness and prejudice
It's worth pointing out that from outside the US, many of the policy positions on healthcare, tax, policing etc that are apparently regarded by establishment Democrats as 'moderate' are seen as extremely right wing. From Europe, Bernie Sanders position would be seen as a moderate centre - right one
August 6, 2025 at 6:27 AM
It's worth pointing out that from outside the US, many of the policy positions on healthcare, tax, policing etc that are apparently regarded by establishment Democrats as 'moderate' are seen as extremely right wing. From Europe, Bernie Sanders position would be seen as a moderate centre - right one
I imagine that's where they put the chips and chicken nuggets options
August 2, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I imagine that's where they put the chips and chicken nuggets options
I wrote a little essay years ago about the role Hollywood blockbusters have played in radicalizing right wing Americans. I think it's even more relevant today: A' they wee words: share.google/cTLVc0ngk0Qx...
Radicalisation and the fifth column that threatens to destroy the USA from within
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July 15, 2025 at 5:57 AM
I wrote a little essay years ago about the role Hollywood blockbusters have played in radicalizing right wing Americans. I think it's even more relevant today: A' they wee words: share.google/cTLVc0ngk0Qx...
I just don't understand (I mean, genuinely, not as a debating stance) how acquiring more money could be any sort of incentive once you already have more money than you could possibly spend in your lifetime
June 30, 2025 at 12:52 PM
I just don't understand (I mean, genuinely, not as a debating stance) how acquiring more money could be any sort of incentive once you already have more money than you could possibly spend in your lifetime
I mean, I'm not saying Trump has read Lord of the Flies (has ever read anything at all, in fact), but I bet you some of the people around him have
June 29, 2025 at 5:02 PM
I mean, I'm not saying Trump has read Lord of the Flies (has ever read anything at all, in fact), but I bet you some of the people around him have
Lord of the Flies is all about unleashing cruelty in frightened people. All you need to do is focus their fear onto a largely imaginary bogeyman ("the beast") then give them ritualistic hate-filled ceremonies to bring the fear to the surface and release it in an orgy of cruelty
June 29, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Lord of the Flies is all about unleashing cruelty in frightened people. All you need to do is focus their fear onto a largely imaginary bogeyman ("the beast") then give them ritualistic hate-filled ceremonies to bring the fear to the surface and release it in an orgy of cruelty
Mind you, what baffles most of us is why did he get elected twice and why do nearly half of all American voters STILL apparently not see him for the pathetic, cruel, weak idiot he obviously is
June 15, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Mind you, what baffles most of us is why did he get elected twice and why do nearly half of all American voters STILL apparently not see him for the pathetic, cruel, weak idiot he obviously is
Or Netanyahu's Israel, come to that
June 13, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Or Netanyahu's Israel, come to that
Does the first sentence not equally apply to Trump's America?
June 13, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Does the first sentence not equally apply to Trump's America?
No bigger story in the US. Not massive coverage this side of the pond (item 3 on BBC news). I think people in the rest of the world are so tired of Trump and his made-for-TV dramas that they're washing their hands of it all. Maybe they'll pay more notice when the US becomes an actual dictatorship
June 8, 2025 at 9:03 AM
No bigger story in the US. Not massive coverage this side of the pond (item 3 on BBC news). I think people in the rest of the world are so tired of Trump and his made-for-TV dramas that they're washing their hands of it all. Maybe they'll pay more notice when the US becomes an actual dictatorship