Richard Blogger
@richardblogger.bsky.social
Patient advocate, activist, campaigner. Pragmatically left of centre.
Considering all the autoimmune conditions I have, I am clearly allergic to me
Considering all the autoimmune conditions I have, I am clearly allergic to me
How do you complete these darasets? You employ more research chemists!
December 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
How do you complete these darasets? You employ more research chemists!
I'm not so sure its making advances in science. (Big tech wants you to think that.) My son is a research chemist, he's used the AI and found it underwhelming. Part of the problem is that it is finding patterns in datasets that are incredibly incomplete and hence biased
December 8, 2025 at 10:42 AM
I'm not so sure its making advances in science. (Big tech wants you to think that.) My son is a research chemist, he's used the AI and found it underwhelming. Part of the problem is that it is finding patterns in datasets that are incredibly incomplete and hence biased
Those jobs, sure. But many more jobs were created elsewhere. The problem was not the tech. It was capitalism treating people as a resource that can be switched on or off. My coal mining uncles suffered this when Thatcher closed the pits.
December 8, 2025 at 10:34 AM
Those jobs, sure. But many more jobs were created elsewhere. The problem was not the tech. It was capitalism treating people as a resource that can be switched on or off. My coal mining uncles suffered this when Thatcher closed the pits.
Well it is true, but I would be interested in the AI slant of the argument.
To be frank, computerisation has not led to mass unemployment (nor a leisure society), so the Luddites were wrong. In fact a lot of software is crap and creates work for humans
To be frank, computerisation has not led to mass unemployment (nor a leisure society), so the Luddites were wrong. In fact a lot of software is crap and creates work for humans
December 8, 2025 at 10:30 AM
Well it is true, but I would be interested in the AI slant of the argument.
To be frank, computerisation has not led to mass unemployment (nor a leisure society), so the Luddites were wrong. In fact a lot of software is crap and creates work for humans
To be frank, computerisation has not led to mass unemployment (nor a leisure society), so the Luddites were wrong. In fact a lot of software is crap and creates work for humans
Arguably the over-reaction of the German Greens to Fukushima is the reason why the Ukraine war has gone on so long. Germany made itself dependent on Russian gas for no reason at all
December 8, 2025 at 10:11 AM
Arguably the over-reaction of the German Greens to Fukushima is the reason why the Ukraine war has gone on so long. Germany made itself dependent on Russian gas for no reason at all
Oh come on, things are so volatile its nonsense to respond to "if there was an election tomorrow how would you vote" with anything other than "no idea". Next election will be won or lost in the 10 weeks of pre-election campaign, particularly those seats with small majorities
December 8, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Oh come on, things are so volatile its nonsense to respond to "if there was an election tomorrow how would you vote" with anything other than "no idea". Next election will be won or lost in the 10 weeks of pre-election campaign, particularly those seats with small majorities
No. They weren't "replaced" they stepped down. I refer you to my previous response. The only way there will be another PM is if Starmer steps down
December 8, 2025 at 12:05 AM
No. They weren't "replaced" they stepped down. I refer you to my previous response. The only way there will be another PM is if Starmer steps down
When has Labour ever won an election by dumping its PM for an (as yet unspecified) alternative? At least with Boris *everyone* knew he would be the replacement.
Streeting? He can't campaign while still in the Cabinet. Non-MP Burnham?
We all know the polls are nonsense anyway
Streeting? He can't campaign while still in the Cabinet. Non-MP Burnham?
We all know the polls are nonsense anyway
December 7, 2025 at 11:33 PM
When has Labour ever won an election by dumping its PM for an (as yet unspecified) alternative? At least with Boris *everyone* knew he would be the replacement.
Streeting? He can't campaign while still in the Cabinet. Non-MP Burnham?
We all know the polls are nonsense anyway
Streeting? He can't campaign while still in the Cabinet. Non-MP Burnham?
We all know the polls are nonsense anyway
"They"? We're talking about Labour, not the Tories. If he gets replaced it will be because he steps down. It's very difficult for "they" to dislodge him. ("They", those who are predicting this, are right wing commentators, of course.)
December 7, 2025 at 10:47 PM
"They"? We're talking about Labour, not the Tories. If he gets replaced it will be because he steps down. It's very difficult for "they" to dislodge him. ("They", those who are predicting this, are right wing commentators, of course.)
What you're missing us Polanski gas made the Clegg error: he's said he won't go into coalition with Labour if its led by Starmer. If Lanour are the largest party they wouldn't dump Starmer.
December 7, 2025 at 8:53 PM
What you're missing us Polanski gas made the Clegg error: he's said he won't go into coalition with Labour if its led by Starmer. If Lanour are the largest party they wouldn't dump Starmer.
Or.
Go back to the beginning, and start again without the trillion and no fucking sapphire mine!
Go back to the beginning, and start again without the trillion and no fucking sapphire mine!
December 7, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Or.
Go back to the beginning, and start again without the trillion and no fucking sapphire mine!
Go back to the beginning, and start again without the trillion and no fucking sapphire mine!
If you want the leftie policies then Corbyn/Sultana have them, AND they do not mandate Zero Growth. The Greens are utterly economically illiterate in comparison to Corbyn.
December 7, 2025 at 4:29 PM
If you want the leftie policies then Corbyn/Sultana have them, AND they do not mandate Zero Growth. The Greens are utterly economically illiterate in comparison to Corbyn.
In what way? Everything I said is true. Greens mandate Zero Growth. Grown comes from increase in *any* economic activity. Hence zero sum: the Greens will have to cut economic growth to enable it in other areas. Your cod has been spared a wallop.
December 7, 2025 at 4:27 PM
In what way? Everything I said is true. Greens mandate Zero Growth. Grown comes from increase in *any* economic activity. Hence zero sum: the Greens will have to cut economic growth to enable it in other areas. Your cod has been spared a wallop.
OK so you really do not know a thing about Green politics? You are the reason that the Greens will never get in power
December 7, 2025 at 4:25 PM
OK so you really do not know a thing about Green politics? You are the reason that the Greens will never get in power
The UK Health Security Agency for national policies. Local authorities for local plans. Personally I think it was (Tory) bonkers to separate it from the NHS.
www.gov.uk/government/o...
www.gov.uk/government/o...
UK Health Security Agency
UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) prevents, prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods. We provid...
www.gov.uk
December 7, 2025 at 3:05 PM
The UK Health Security Agency for national policies. Local authorities for local plans. Personally I think it was (Tory) bonkers to separate it from the NHS.
www.gov.uk/government/o...
www.gov.uk/government/o...
Here's another. Immigration is economic growth. So the flipside of Zack's immigration policy is that he will have to cut growth elsewhere. Maybe fewer new NHS treatments? Maybe fill fewer potholes? Maybe make people buy fewer clothes?
Seriously, Zero Growth is nuts.
Seriously, Zero Growth is nuts.
December 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Here's another. Immigration is economic growth. So the flipside of Zack's immigration policy is that he will have to cut growth elsewhere. Maybe fewer new NHS treatments? Maybe fill fewer potholes? Maybe make people buy fewer clothes?
Seriously, Zero Growth is nuts.
Seriously, Zero Growth is nuts.
Here's a more concrete example. A Taylor Swift UK tour increases economic activity and is growth. So will Zack tell people with Taylor tickets that they have to wait another year to upgrade their phone? How popular will that be?
December 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Here's a more concrete example. A Taylor Swift UK tour increases economic activity and is growth. So will Zack tell people with Taylor tickets that they have to wait another year to upgrade their phone? How popular will that be?
Zero Growth is literally a core policy of the Greens. Its a founding principle of theirs. Am I scared? Yes. I have a progressive degenerative condition with no current treatment. Nut what happens if their is one? Then that is "growth" what will Zack cut to treat me?
December 7, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Zero Growth is literally a core policy of the Greens. Its a founding principle of theirs. Am I scared? Yes. I have a progressive degenerative condition with no current treatment. Nut what happens if their is one? Then that is "growth" what will Zack cut to treat me?
I find this weird for two reasons. First. NHS England is being abolished (its responsibilities being re-absorbed into the Dept of Health) and second, public health, and pandemic response, was never their responsibility, which is one reason why they are not fit for purpose.
December 7, 2025 at 1:44 PM
I find this weird for two reasons. First. NHS England is being abolished (its responsibilities being re-absorbed into the Dept of Health) and second, public health, and pandemic response, was never their responsibility, which is one reason why they are not fit for purpose.
The Greens core policy is Zero Growth, so no child will be expected to ever have better living standards. It's a very Middle Class policy. And nuts.
December 7, 2025 at 1:38 PM
The Greens core policy is Zero Growth, so no child will be expected to ever have better living standards. It's a very Middle Class policy. And nuts.
And you think zero growth, a core policy of the Greens, is backed by evidence? Can you imagine the effect of a Green Chancellor deliberately cutting growth and people's incomes and standards of living? *shudder*
December 7, 2025 at 1:29 PM
And you think zero growth, a core policy of the Greens, is backed by evidence? Can you imagine the effect of a Green Chancellor deliberately cutting growth and people's incomes and standards of living? *shudder*
Indeed, and they are countries where Executive Orders are considered the acts of a dictator
December 7, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Indeed, and they are countries where Executive Orders are considered the acts of a dictator
Most countries have national sales taxes, they're regressive but haven't destroyed those countries because they retain progressive income tax
December 7, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Most countries have national sales taxes, they're regressive but haven't destroyed those countries because they retain progressive income tax
The plan appears to shift away from income tax to tariffs. There are loads of problems. First tariffs are a sales tax (the importer and consumer pays) so is regressive (the poor pay relatively more). But second, it mandates there are imports, so you have to deter domestic manufactoring
December 7, 2025 at 10:25 AM
The plan appears to shift away from income tax to tariffs. There are loads of problems. First tariffs are a sales tax (the importer and consumer pays) so is regressive (the poor pay relatively more). But second, it mandates there are imports, so you have to deter domestic manufactoring