But that's just it; TDS warps them to the point that hatred for him irrationally makes them forget the rest. Enjoy Germany (and Ethical); its my 'White Album' an interesting failure (still a good book just as the album still has gems) with a lot of bits I'm proud of, especially the history of Truman and Ike and the early Cold War
I love the White Album! It's a little different but Blackbird and Helter Skelter are classics. Back in the USSR was a karaoke staple of mine for years!
Rob, I like it too, though the band politics doomed it. After Brian Epstein dies, they dont know how to proceed in a disciplined manner; so in the White Album everyone puts just everything on it, with no quality control. Its a good double album that ought to have been a trip 10 ever single album! A bit like Ethical Realism actually and the creative process in Anatol and I writing it
Terri, I could only get a used one from Mr Bezos here in the UK. Once I have read it, I can send it to you if you can’t find it. Just please don’t put a tariff on it.
Yes, Rob, of course if Musk were to look under the hood of any other advanced industrial country he would find more the same (or worse). Thats why he terrifies the global blob, in following the money he is onto them. I well remember in my UK days the veneration of the NHS, which I never understood; as you say it is a beast that takes ever more money even as the service craters. Its a bot of the Stockholm syndrome, the British people have fallen in love with their captors!
Hey Kieran, you are onto it; it is tactically desperate. What they have overlooked (but not my substack) is that in strategic, larger terms of constitutionality and politics (both in the country and within the Supreme Court) will decisively swing in Trump's direction over Article II. You are entirely on the money; then they will look both silly (and desperate) indeed.
Having lived in the U.S, I do know that supporting an unconstitutional notion is never a wise look. It’s sacred territory. Surely, the rational and logical of those on the opposition see the fallacy in this? Can’t you lot just all get along?
Never thought of it like that. He’s certainly an emotive character. Knickers are in a twist, objectivity needed. When it comes to the hierarchy of loyalty, surely love for one’s country (and its constitution, if it has one) comes before allegiance to a political party.
Anyway, I’m off to Germany again. Literally got the last copy of your “Ethical Realism” to keep me company. All the best,
From a Limey on the outside, the bite-sized breakdown of the U.S. system is much appreciated, John. This all seems like little more than desperate opposition tactics, like dragons’ teeth on a beach, serving only to delay the inevitable. As I understand it, the Supreme Court cannot uphold something that is unconstitutional (that would mean the end of the U.S). So, the upside to all this is that when they finally do rule (presumably after a prolonged appeals process), their decision will set the ultimate precedent, filtering down through the judiciary hierarchy and leaving those who brought it there looking very silly indeed.
Another fascinating podcast, thank you again John for your wise words. There was quite an interesting article in the Economist about how far Elon Musk can actually go with this. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out and as previously mentioned it is something we really need here in the UK. The waste here in a bloated and inefficient public sector is terrifying. The UK population is 69million putting us 21st in the world by population size yet we have a health service that is (by some metrics) the 5th biggest employer on the planet. Every year it needs more money and more staff but the delivery of services gets worse. Musk would have a field day!
Hey Rob, sorry for butting in, but I’m torn on this one. The NHS saved my wife’s life, treatment that without it, would have likely bankrupted us. We might need them again too, where an insurance company could try to wriggle out of coverage due to pre-existing conditions and other technicalities.
No doubt, parts of the NHS are hugely inefficient. The concept was fantastic when we could afford it, but changing demographics have turned it into an ever growing burden on the taxpayer. Or so it seems, until of course, you need it. There’s a big moral dimension here. For most in the NHS, it’s much more than just a job; it’s a vocation.
The NHS is a perfect example of a system that could benefit massively from AI-driven efficiency gains. Brilliant, so let’s get on with radically improving it. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting fed up with all the AI hype and snake oil, without any real effort to inform the public where it can actually help us. Well here’s one!
If Musk turned up at an NHS hospital with his kid on his shoulders and started insinuating that staff would lose their jobs due to inefficiency, he wouldn’t end up streamlining anything. Instead, he’d probably just become a new NHS patient.
Hi Kieran, thank you for the comment. Glad to hear your wife is okay, there is nothing more important than health. I personally have mixed experiences with the NHS. The care my wife received when our son was born was a disaster and we were advised to take legal action, but we didn't. The comment was not a slight against doctors or nurses but an example of a cash cow. The NHS has 1.5million staff and only 377,500 of these are actually nurses. The biggest healthcare organisation in the world and yet the UK only ranks 34th in the world for quality of care. I would not want to see it go of course but it certainly cannot carry on as it is.
Totally agree Rob. It can’t go completely, but needs radical fixing. The concept at its core is sound and decent, at least in a UK setting. Thank you for your kind words and I hope your wife and son have completely recovered from their ordeal.
It is bonkers that the biggest failings seem to be where new life is most vulnerable.
Yes, my grandmother was a wonderful Midwestern lady who could do almost anything. She was usually very charming, but she didn’t suffer fools gladly! Morons covers it!
No doubt the politics is that the democrats want to delay Trump by 2 (mid term) to 4 years. They understand as much as anyone that they are operating outside of the law/the Constitution but - don't care.
We have seen this in Spain (Baltasar Garzón), in Italy (to blunt Berlusconi) and recently in Romania (which stopped a regular election which was going to elect the "wrong" president in a landslide - with even the losing opponent declaring the cancellation illegal), in Belgium (Vlaams Blok, now Vlaams Belang), in Germany, right now (attempt to shut AfD, which may land a quarter of the vote, larger than any of the parties in current government).
At root, these are public relations battles, not legal matters. The legal issue is trivial and not what motivates the democrats. The delay to blunt Trump is not a side-effect but the one & only intent: it's about delay as a strategy as they have no other argument. And hope that 2026 will land them a majority in the House or less likely, Senate, which then means stasis until 2028-9.
They can run this out across literally hundreds of line items in hundreds af law suits (and have that scenario in their pocket already). It is just a matter of (in their consideration) expediency how they schedule and roll out.
Sounds familiar? Me too: the Trump lawsuits before the election. Same people, same technique, same playbook.
What is needed is a blanket delineation of the executive versus the judiciary territory, and jail terms for corrupt judges. Yes, jail. This evens the justified interests of society against the excessive powers of the judiciary. Only jail creates an effective taboo on judicial abuse.
The US system works Erik; this Article II stuff will be before the court well within a year, so I’m not worried about the timetable from a legal perspective. The 2 year window, in historical terms, is utterly normal for US presidencies that work.FDR, Truman, Ike, Reagan all got most of their domestic program through in 2 years before midterms and stasis. Next time GOP likely to lose the House and keep the Senate. Then the President pivots to foreign policy. All of this is just fine.
But that's just it; TDS warps them to the point that hatred for him irrationally makes them forget the rest. Enjoy Germany (and Ethical); its my 'White Album' an interesting failure (still a good book just as the album still has gems) with a lot of bits I'm proud of, especially the history of Truman and Ike and the early Cold War
Am I the only one who likes The White Album, I love it! Lol. Now I need that book!
I love the White Album! It's a little different but Blackbird and Helter Skelter are classics. Back in the USSR was a karaoke staple of mine for years!
Rob, I like it too, though the band politics doomed it. After Brian Epstein dies, they dont know how to proceed in a disciplined manner; so in the White Album everyone puts just everything on it, with no quality control. Its a good double album that ought to have been a trip 10 ever single album! A bit like Ethical Realism actually and the creative process in Anatol and I writing it
Terri, I could only get a used one from Mr Bezos here in the UK. Once I have read it, I can send it to you if you can’t find it. Just please don’t put a tariff on it.
I will let you know… no tariff!
Thank goodness. I get a de minimis but I’ll do the shipping for goodwill.
Yes, Rob, of course if Musk were to look under the hood of any other advanced industrial country he would find more the same (or worse). Thats why he terrifies the global blob, in following the money he is onto them. I well remember in my UK days the veneration of the NHS, which I never understood; as you say it is a beast that takes ever more money even as the service craters. Its a bot of the Stockholm syndrome, the British people have fallen in love with their captors!
Hey Kieran, you are onto it; it is tactically desperate. What they have overlooked (but not my substack) is that in strategic, larger terms of constitutionality and politics (both in the country and within the Supreme Court) will decisively swing in Trump's direction over Article II. You are entirely on the money; then they will look both silly (and desperate) indeed.
Having lived in the U.S, I do know that supporting an unconstitutional notion is never a wise look. It’s sacred territory. Surely, the rational and logical of those on the opposition see the fallacy in this? Can’t you lot just all get along?
Its TDS (Trump derangement syndrome). Truly, the man’s superpower is to make his enemies crazy, and then overreach.
Never thought of it like that. He’s certainly an emotive character. Knickers are in a twist, objectivity needed. When it comes to the hierarchy of loyalty, surely love for one’s country (and its constitution, if it has one) comes before allegiance to a political party.
Anyway, I’m off to Germany again. Literally got the last copy of your “Ethical Realism” to keep me company. All the best,
From a Limey on the outside, the bite-sized breakdown of the U.S. system is much appreciated, John. This all seems like little more than desperate opposition tactics, like dragons’ teeth on a beach, serving only to delay the inevitable. As I understand it, the Supreme Court cannot uphold something that is unconstitutional (that would mean the end of the U.S). So, the upside to all this is that when they finally do rule (presumably after a prolonged appeals process), their decision will set the ultimate precedent, filtering down through the judiciary hierarchy and leaving those who brought it there looking very silly indeed.
Yes, you understand well.
Another fascinating podcast, thank you again John for your wise words. There was quite an interesting article in the Economist about how far Elon Musk can actually go with this. It will be fascinating to see how it plays out and as previously mentioned it is something we really need here in the UK. The waste here in a bloated and inefficient public sector is terrifying. The UK population is 69million putting us 21st in the world by population size yet we have a health service that is (by some metrics) the 5th biggest employer on the planet. Every year it needs more money and more staff but the delivery of services gets worse. Musk would have a field day!
Hey Rob, sorry for butting in, but I’m torn on this one. The NHS saved my wife’s life, treatment that without it, would have likely bankrupted us. We might need them again too, where an insurance company could try to wriggle out of coverage due to pre-existing conditions and other technicalities.
No doubt, parts of the NHS are hugely inefficient. The concept was fantastic when we could afford it, but changing demographics have turned it into an ever growing burden on the taxpayer. Or so it seems, until of course, you need it. There’s a big moral dimension here. For most in the NHS, it’s much more than just a job; it’s a vocation.
The NHS is a perfect example of a system that could benefit massively from AI-driven efficiency gains. Brilliant, so let’s get on with radically improving it. I don’t know about you, but I’m getting fed up with all the AI hype and snake oil, without any real effort to inform the public where it can actually help us. Well here’s one!
If Musk turned up at an NHS hospital with his kid on his shoulders and started insinuating that staff would lose their jobs due to inefficiency, he wouldn’t end up streamlining anything. Instead, he’d probably just become a new NHS patient.
Hi Kieran, thank you for the comment. Glad to hear your wife is okay, there is nothing more important than health. I personally have mixed experiences with the NHS. The care my wife received when our son was born was a disaster and we were advised to take legal action, but we didn't. The comment was not a slight against doctors or nurses but an example of a cash cow. The NHS has 1.5million staff and only 377,500 of these are actually nurses. The biggest healthcare organisation in the world and yet the UK only ranks 34th in the world for quality of care. I would not want to see it go of course but it certainly cannot carry on as it is.
Totally agree Rob. It can’t go completely, but needs radical fixing. The concept at its core is sound and decent, at least in a UK setting. Thank you for your kind words and I hope your wife and son have completely recovered from their ordeal.
It is bonkers that the biggest failings seem to be where new life is most vulnerable.
All the best,
Such wonderful conversation going on here, I just love all of this, and appreciate everyone's comments.
John, this was once again a stellar discussion.
My Favs
Grandmother's quote " Morons" Absoulty she knows best
Shopping for Federal Judges..insane
6/3 SCOTUS will rule, yes
Elon, and Scott indeed have Indirect Power
DSMlll TDS is real
Yes a Realist Revolution has arrived, much thanks to John and the team.
One thing John, you left out the humor of Big Balls, sorry I just had to bring this up.
Also little X', he is stealing the lime light ...brilliantly without even knowing it.
This is such a turning point moment in America, and maybe I should not find humor in these small things, but I do.
I feel blessed to be living in at this point in time, its both crazy, and joyful.
Yes, my grandmother was a wonderful Midwestern lady who could do almost anything. She was usually very charming, but she didn’t suffer fools gladly! Morons covers it!
No doubt the politics is that the democrats want to delay Trump by 2 (mid term) to 4 years. They understand as much as anyone that they are operating outside of the law/the Constitution but - don't care.
We have seen this in Spain (Baltasar Garzón), in Italy (to blunt Berlusconi) and recently in Romania (which stopped a regular election which was going to elect the "wrong" president in a landslide - with even the losing opponent declaring the cancellation illegal), in Belgium (Vlaams Blok, now Vlaams Belang), in Germany, right now (attempt to shut AfD, which may land a quarter of the vote, larger than any of the parties in current government).
At root, these are public relations battles, not legal matters. The legal issue is trivial and not what motivates the democrats. The delay to blunt Trump is not a side-effect but the one & only intent: it's about delay as a strategy as they have no other argument. And hope that 2026 will land them a majority in the House or less likely, Senate, which then means stasis until 2028-9.
They can run this out across literally hundreds of line items in hundreds af law suits (and have that scenario in their pocket already). It is just a matter of (in their consideration) expediency how they schedule and roll out.
Sounds familiar? Me too: the Trump lawsuits before the election. Same people, same technique, same playbook.
What is needed is a blanket delineation of the executive versus the judiciary territory, and jail terms for corrupt judges. Yes, jail. This evens the justified interests of society against the excessive powers of the judiciary. Only jail creates an effective taboo on judicial abuse.
The US system works Erik; this Article II stuff will be before the court well within a year, so I’m not worried about the timetable from a legal perspective. The 2 year window, in historical terms, is utterly normal for US presidencies that work.FDR, Truman, Ike, Reagan all got most of their domestic program through in 2 years before midterms and stasis. Next time GOP likely to lose the House and keep the Senate. Then the President pivots to foreign policy. All of this is just fine.