Agreed that we are all entitled to vote for our own choice and accept responsibility for our choice. We are also entitled to change our minds and admit we may have made the wrong choice. Not unheard of here or elsewhere in the world. Just find it a bit odd that anyone would really vote for a leader simply because he/she can sow such controversy and discord throughout the world. Maybe it is time to get rid of the United part ( here and in America) - think of the ongoing divisions between England, Scotland, Wales and N Ireland. America is no better in this regard as @redstar points out. At least here we don't have any ambitions to take over other countries ( been there and done that ) and America would be wise not to try going down that route in today's world. As for Trump - for or against - he's here and unless a miracle occurs, we all have him for the next 4 years - not just in America.
I don't think either side in this discussion are ever going to persuade the other side so I find it interesting but sad to watch this thread. The mid-terms (Nov. 2026) will see which way there may be some movement.
I would be happier if Trump restricted himself to the US and left the rest of us alone. However he, his minions and various sycophants insist on interfering outside the US. For example: NHS puberty blocker trial is “not ethical”, according to a Donald Trump-ordered review of children's gender medicine. What the US does on this topic is their business and likewise what the UK does is ours. Is the trial ethical I expect so, should it go forward I don't know.
@pete I find it very worrying that Reform has had such success and sincerely hope it's a protest vote. Farage has been shown to be as dishonest as any other extreme politician and has been wooing Musk to get funding for more campaigning and twisting of news. I hope it's a wake up call for the other UK parties to make some changes, tax the wealthy more and help the poor break out of poverty in education, housing, health and life expectations, public transport, decent jobs. They could start by looking at how other countries in our neck of the world do things better and emulating their policies and ambitions. @redstar it is fatuous to compare Texas with France which has more than twice the population. It also has better education and health outcomes, better public transport, better jobs, fewer murders and home invasions, better environmental regulation, higher foreign tourism (because it's safe, beautiful, historically and culturally interesting and significant and the food is good). The roads are safer too. I don't understand how any woman can vote for Trump let alone be happy with his deportations of legitimate US citizens including separating children, both sick and well, from their parents. That is just inhumane and harks back to Hitler's camps for Jews, gays, gypsies and anyone who dared to criticise him.
That is the crux of things. Trying to steal other country's resources and causing grief in peaceful countries. If he really wants to steal oil, how about he stop being a coward and go after Putin's territory? Anyhow, already 100 days have passed since Trumpnmusk came in. Now that we've got our election behind us, we can start sending our resources elsewhere so that is a good thing he's pushing us to do
Israel is another quandary as anyone arguing against the actions of that present govt. is immediately accused of anti semitism - stupid when you consider how many Israeli citizens fall in to that category. There is undoubtedly still anti sematism rife in many areas but to include those - Jewish or not - who are simply questioning/disagreeing that govt's actions is both divisive and stupid . We are all entitled to question leaders/govts wherever we live. Hence Trump, Starmer, Carney, Macron, Putin just to mention a few. @CanadianLori my friend in Toronto says she did actually vote for Carney - mainly as an anti Trump vote - she assures me that there are plenty of "gun slingers " on the border to see him off. I think she was joking
I'm not sure why anyone would find how others vote as worrying. I find that attitude fairly condescending, I often disagree with how others vote but never worrying. I don't find any of the others to be doing a good job and as for the comedian running Lib dem, well he reminds me of Boris stuck on a zip wire. I'm sure Reform may not up to the job, but none of the others are either. I have never seen Farage as Extreme, just saying what the majority of ordinary people think.
I find the idea of anyone voting for Trump worrying! And having seen what he has been up to, and what he has been saying (not fake news, direct from him) I think there is plenty to be worried about. I suspect that there is a lot of protest voting going on here, as it is mainly councils and relatively few MPs. Unlike the current state of the USA, we will quite rightly protest against the actions of any politician, including the ones we actually voted for, and will hold them to account. Hopefully we will never end up letting a prime minister get themselves into position where he (or she) can censor the press, unleash retribution on anyone he doesn’t like, and use his position to wage personal vendettas on anyone who dares to oppose him.
I don’t think letting off steam about Trump counts as politics, I’d classify it as a global disaster, like climate change!