In the summer of 1983 I became the first member of my family to be awarded a degree. I returned to the seaside town I grew up in with the letters BSc(Hons) after my name. I then became the first member of my family to sign up on the dole. The poor economic prospects of the inhabitants of coastal resorts are fairly well known nowadays, but back then it was something that was obvious enough if you lived in one but which weren’t that well known in the rest of the country. But nonetheless it was a frustrating time. The only source of work I had access to was the Job Centre which offered the odd paid gig for which there was considerable competition. I did a bit of moving of office furniture.
MacAskill, a Scottish philosopher and a leading figure in the Effective Altruism movement, challenges traditional notions of philanthropy by advocating for thoughtful and strategic giving. He suggests that when you’re feeling compassionate, you should engage your head rather than your heart.
This is a book of two halves. I read the first 200 pages I enjoyed and it kept me turning the pages. But they were very much the typical pop science or pop history paradigm. The author has some new or newish take on the standard view of things and explains why his ideas are better than the old ones. This is a trope that gets used a lot. To be fair, it does give the writing an edge, but it usually relies on oversimplifying the current understanding. I’d probably use it myself, to be honest, but even so, it does grate a bit.
Margaret Thatcher remains a towering figure in British politics, revered by her supporters as a visionary leader who transformed the U.K.’s economic landscape. Fondly remembered as the “Iron Lady,” Thatcher is praised for her staunch resolve and unwavering commitment to free-market principles, which many credit with revitalizing the British economy during her tenure as Prime Minister from 1979 to 1990.
Predicting elections is a mug’s game. They often surprise everyone, and there are some striking examples from recent UK history. For instance, during the Brexit referendum, you could still get odds of 8 to 1 on Remain winning while the votes were being counted. Similarly, Theresa May entered the 2017 General Election with a lead in the polls of around 20%, but still lost her majority on the day itself. People are fickle, and it seems like they’re becoming even more so. Even though the Labour Party has maintained a lead of around 20% for nearly a year and the Conservatives have hit their worst poll numbers ever, I still wouldn’t rule out the possibility of an upset that keeps the Tories in power.
Much of the art of politics is fitting a narrative that suits your purposes to recent events. A big event like the 300 or more missiles that Iran rained down on Israel spawns a number of them. Israel wants to be both the victim and the victor – earning the right to retaliate and to brag at its effectiveness in neutralising the attack. Iran points to its relative restraint and seeks to play the role of a patient but exasperated teacher coping with a badly behaved pupil. Both sound quite plausible stories based on the events of the weekend.
