On Friday I was asked what was my theory of change that might explain how we might end this dire situation. I suggested a four stage process.
First, there has to be angst amongst sufficient people. A critical mass (but not the majority) has to think something is wrong.
Then there is analysis. That explains what is wrong, and how it can be put right.
The third stage is the promotion of solution focussed change. In other words,the demand is not just for something different, but for something specific that solves the problem. Analysis is not enough. Detailed plans are required that convince people that change is possible.
And then, finally, there is a need for champions who are willing to promote these solutions until change happens.
Well, unless he’s about to launch the SpudYouLike Party.
It’s easy for people to agree that ‘what is’ stinks. It’s really hard to get agreement on ‘what ought to be’.
Who on earth is asking this buffoon any questions? Doesn’t he already have an inflated sense of his own importance?
Why feed it?
Gorgeous to see Spud get the words final and solution into that last sentence. Ok it’s finally and solutions but close enough.
“This challenge presented itself to me this morning. Faced with limited time (there is a plan for the day) and a messy news agenda, out of which little actually stands out, the question as to what to write about, if anything, did come to mind.”
A suggestion – why not just spare us and STFU?
This isn’t another weekend where he comes up with a plan to restructure the entire economy is it? We haven’t had one of those for a while.
Faced with limited time (there is a plan for the day) Put the dog on his string & go sit outside Tescos with the plastic cup. It’ll be chilly but Sundays can be quite rewarding.
Spud joining Reform would just be proof that the establishment is genuinely frightened and has seen a sure-fire way of destroying it from the inside!
All I can say as a potential Reform voter is “dear God, NO!” and hope that the party administrators have enough sense to reject Spud’s application.
Dear Mr Worstall
Somewhat off topic and apologies if you have already seen this:
https://www.samizdata.net/2024/01/things-you-can-not-say-at-davos/#comments
Direct link: https://twitter.com/BasedBeffJezos/status/1747870867902926899?t=V_Qi8HYHs3ULDbQLkpkfQw&s=19
Is President Milei one of your avid followers?
He seems to share the same barber as Wolverine.
Happy New Year.
DP
Actually not the worst post from RM.
The Tories dislike the state and all it stands for. They love wealth and use the state to increase the wellbeing of those already possessed of it. If a little (or even a lot) of none-too subtle corruption is required to assist that, so be it. That happened in the 90s. It has happened again more recently. As for anyone else, in reality the message is ‘sod you’. Games will be played to secure votes, but that is about as far as things go.
I guess they have done a pretty woeful job of it in the past seven years if that’s their raison d’etre. I’ve never felt poorer certainly.
Labour just wants power for its leadership. That is it. There is no philosophy, belief system or creed. The prevailing status quo without the overlay of Tory incompetence and corruption will do for them. If that power happens not to meet the needs of the electorate the attitude is, once again, ‘sod them’, because incompetence is the only other choice in Labour’s opinion.
That’s actually not a bad summation to be fair, even if it is motivated by being passed over by the former leadership.
The LibDems want the EU back. As for the rest? Who knows?
Again he’s not far off the money. Which is why even before Ed Davey’s travails I think they were not likely to do especially well
The Greens want to save the planet but still have other issues to sort out.
I’d say wanting to kill 80% of the population a bit more than an ‘other issue’ but whatever floats your boat. We know from his backing of Hamas that he feels genocide is justified in certain circumstances.
And, quite reasonably nationalists want out of here without as yet being sure how, which creates the paradoxical demand to try to present a veneer of competence in a system stacked against them doing so.
So nationalism is fine just not the UK wanting out of the EU? One wishes he’d studied basic logic but of course that wouldn’t be as much fun
It’s all so deeply unedifying.
Again I’d agree – having someone in their sixties who believes in things that would be naive if the creed of a teenager is frankly embarrassing. Blocking 20,000 people on Twitter is almost surreal, and certainly not edifying. Calling anyone who disagrees with you a troll is pretty unedifying,
So he wants to turn widespread dissatisfaction with the current system into support for his agenda?
Isn’t that what he usually criticises as ‘populism’?
Martin Near The M25 said:
“This isn’t another weekend where he comes up with a plan to restructure the entire economy is it? “
Unfortunately we’re in for a spell of wet weather, when he’ll be stuck inside with nothing to do except dream up grandiose economic plans.
Can’t someone send him some new model train kits or something to occupy him?
“A critical mass (but not the majority)”. Spud nicely explaining how moslems use democracy against us, already in areas such as Londinistan and Leicester but coming to a town near you. It only needs 25 – 27%.
Not in my lifetime around here perhaps (although the extension to the local
mosque“Education Centre” is nearly finished so maybe they know something I don’t – Tendring is presently 0.4% moslem), but I fear for my children and grandchildren.Coming to a care home near you:
Channel migrants have been quietly given the right to work in sectors including care, construction and agriculture and can still retain access to state-subsidised bed and board under a Home Office scheme…
Yes, I’m sure you’re thrilled to find out what young toughs from North Africa are going to do to your helpless elderly Nan.
So important we defeat Russia, guys.
Probably not the Reform party, but having just checked the manifesto of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party his ideas will fit in quite seamlessly.
“On Friday I was asked”
No he wasn’t. He’s uses this sort of phrase every time he wants to talk about something anyway.
Steve
I noticed this although it’s been policy apparently (according to North Senior and Junior) for some time – they make the point that the Rwanda (or any other) repatriation plan is now a Dodo. Even a solicitor on their first case could stop any likely repatration with no issue. Important to highlight big business here – they obviously got this concession and they need to answer for it.
Like all armchair revolutionaries, he assumes he will have a seat at the top table when the revolution comes.
A small moment of joy in the mayhem of the revolution would be to see the look on his face when he is wheeled off to the gulag.
‘Someone should tell Comrade X about this – if he knew this was going on he’s put a stop to it’.
“And, quite reasonably nationalists want out of here without as yet being sure how, which creates the paradoxical demand to try to present a veneer of competence in a system stacked against them doing so.”
Riiight. He sounds like a “community police officer” trying to explain to a shopkeeper why the local scrotes have made off with the contents of his till for the sixth week running. They’re not really to blame, it’s the system. Nothing to do with them being a gang of crooks whose only competence is convincing the gullible to vote for them, then? The missing millions, the campervan scandal, the ferries, the now-emerging covid coverup and deliberate destruction of evidence… that’s all “the system” is it? The only error in “the system” was that it handed these tartan-clad Arthur Daleys a power-base in the first place.