The shakeup in German politics.

 Germany is going through a major change of direction. The former successful Christian Democratic Party (CDU) has lost another election and this only adds additional pressure on the chancellor Mertz. He isn’t considered a big asset to his party and his - lacklustre performance at various rallies - hasn’t helped him. The central problem is - the gene is out of the bottle and there is no going back to the - status quo ante. The travails of the CDU are manifold and started under the chancellor (2005-2021) Angela Merkel, with her disastrous policy in 2015 of - letting into the country over a million Syrian refugees. The rot started then. It’s now not possible to predict the future of German politics, but many think the AfD - is on route to power in the next few years. The big general elections across Germany are in 2029 and that could be the year the AfD - make a clean sweep. Be careful what you wish for - as we are rapidly approaching the victory of Hitler as chancellor in January 1933. We know what happened after that. 

A dagger into the heart of the monarchy.

 Well the Queensbeery rules are not being adhered to between the King and Earl Spencer, the younger brother to Diana. It’s turned rather nasty. Following the death of his sister in a tragic car accident in - Paris in August 1997 - there was universal mourning and some say - general hysteria in London and in particular Kensington Palace - was flooded with tourists and flowers. His book - Swan Song: Diana, My Sister is about to be published. And needless to say has caused a great deal of controversy on all sides. We are all familiar with this story of betrayal, illicit love making between Charles and Camilla and the general implosion of the House of Windsor. No one comes out - smelling of roses. Moreover this latest salvo from Earl Charles Spencer, is very incendiary and could completely undermine the King - in his attempts to do the right thing. We all know he - didn’t love Diana and was in love with Camilla - so the wedding in July 1981 was a complete farce. There appears to be no end to the - national soap opera of the House of Windsor. With Harry and Meghan - returning to England a few weeks ago - this adds another layer to the ongoing saga - of the rotten house of Windsor. What do you think William is going through? His father the King known as an adulterous father/husband and a errant brother - who has just reentered the stage and his vacuous wife Meghan. Could this be a mortal blow to the authority and majesty of the King? 

Why do some do better than others?

 The international Pisa educational study is worth considering - when looking at different ethnic groups in Britain - regarding education attainment. The most successful are: Chinese, Indian, Bangladesh, Black African, Caribbean. The Black Caribbean, does the least best in the Pisa study. Two other groups that will eventually feed into the research are the - Hong Kong Chinese and the refugees from Ukraine. Some 500,000 from each respective group - will soon make their presence known. However, the sub-group at the bottom of attainment is the - white working class. Why? Many arguments have been advanced for this underachievement. For example: a greater damage to working class infrastructure, jobs and pathways into industries not being available, the closing of social clubs for them, low expectations by both parents and teachers, family breakdown and divorce, increasing use of drugs and alcohol, living in an area where industries have left behind derelict sites and communities, living in coastal towns where there is only - seasonal work. Whatever the causes - their future is vey bleak - unless the government can change the trajectory - of these young white working class boys and young men. 

Channel 4 about the asylum protests.

 On Channel 4 there was a programme about the asylum protests across the country entitled England Till I Die and in particular Crowborough, Kent. The leader of the opposition was a chap called Liam. But these protests are not limited to Kent - there is widespread anger with successive governments about the number of asylum seekers. They are disproportionately unskilled men aged between - 16 and 25 of the Muslim faith - crossing the English Channel in boats. This disquiet - stems from an assumption about displacement - white indigenous people out populated by Muslims. The government is on the back foot and playing - catch up. Unless there is a dramatic change in the number of asylum seekers to the country - the Labour government could be kicked out and Reform and Nigel Farage, will have the - keys to Downing Street. Time to wake up and smell the coffee. 

A lack of knowledge about the King James Version (KJV).

 I was like many children of my age - I went to Sunday school, back in the late forties and early fifties. I enjoyed the weekly ritual and routine - slowly imbibing the stories of Christ and his disciples and of course the Old Testament. So I read with some sadness in The Spectator this week an article by an Oxford academic Gwion Wyn Jones, the fact that a - knowledge of the bible and its stories and parables are not known by many of our fellow citizens. According to 2014 Bible Society research of British children: 61 per cent were not familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan and 87 per cent didn’t know about the conversion of Paul on the Road to Damascus. These stories are part of the very - backbone of our collective knowledge of the bible. How is it possible that this - basic understanding and assumptions about the bible is lacking? I find it profoundly depressing and I’m not a Christian. 

Is AI a threat or not?

 Over recent weeks there have been dire warnings about the dangers of AI - from those in the vanguard of the industry. Is it - hype or is there something - to worry us all? According to The Daily Telegraph ‘we are  running out of time before AI kills us’. On the other hand, apparently Bill Gates has a plan: ‘to keep the world safe from AI oblivion’. For those not in the industry, it’s impossible to know - fact from fiction? Are we all - doomed or not? Quite candidly - I don’t know if I - should be fearful or not? 

Discrimination against LGBTQ+.

 A cruise ship The Scarlet Lady - has been refused entry to Turkey and now Egypt. The destination was for 10 days at sea from Athens to Venice, stopping off at various other destinations. The police in Turkey, have arrested a number of people for - undermining ‘traditional family values’. Needless to say this has caused great concern and anxiety in the LGBTQ+ community. This particular incident is an indication of how - combustible this political issue has become. It would appear - that we are witnessing a regression to more - reactionary and prejudicial attitudes and behaviour. This is a - right wing political ideology and we should be very worried by this turn of events. How much - lower will it go?