The politicians are ignorant numpties. That is plain for all to see in the West, Canada, Australia etc. But who is to blame? If there was a call for economics and finance in the papers someone would provide it. As the chap alluded in his piece, we are in an age of decadence, which will lead to a time of ruin and hardship. Whether it will produce hard men is to be seen.
One of my guilty pleasures is reading Regency romances (normally with a criminal or fantasy twist). In those days The Ton refered to the high society of London during the early 19th century. The word comes from the French le ton, meaning "the tone" or "fashionable style," reflecting the era's obsession with French culture and etiquette.
Being part of the Ton wasn't just about being wealthy; it was about having the right lineage, manners, and social connections. It looked down on those in trade as infra dig and concern about money or the economy was a failing.
I suggest that the recent bunch of politicians are a modern day equivalent being primarily concerned with social matters and social connections, and once again looking down on 'trade'.
Mike - yes we are in an age of decadence. Maybe it doesn't seem like it to those who adapt or pretend it isn't so, but the signs are hardly hidden.
DJ - something similar was quite common well into the last century in that the only people who mattered were still those with the right lineage, manners, and social connections. Wealth came into it too of course, but I agree, many modern politicians obviously look down on 'trade'.
Socialism and political games such as the climate game seem to have an underlying motive of wanting to look down on 'trade' too, particularly among those without an aptitude for it.
For much of the First German War the Chief of the Imperial General Staff was Wullie Robertson who had been a village boy who'd joined up as a private. The man who ran the navy for much of the time was Jackie Fisher who had attended a Grammar School before becoming a midshipman at age 14. The PM for much of the war was Lloyd George whose background wasn't as 'umble as he claimed but was still pretty modest. A few years late the PM was Ramsay Mac, the bastard child of a farm servant and a housemaid. The greatest British scientist of the day was Rutherford, born in an NZ village to a mechanic and a schoolteacher, the fourth of their twelve children.
dearieme - yes, enormous talent did break through the social barriers, it was a measure of ability that it did. Yesterday I was reading about Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan. His background was fairly modest but he must have had enormous ability to climb as far as he did. Can't find a biography though.
"Tony Blair’s daughter-in-law to run £500m government AI fund"
That story and Imogen Walker are reminders that the nepotism weevil is probably worth looking at.
Penseivat - and became Professor of Greek at the age of 25. Politics hasn't attracted people like that for a long time. Starmer, Lammy, Miliband, Reeves... good grief it's a poor show.
9 comments:
The politicians are ignorant numpties. That is plain for all to see in the West, Canada, Australia etc.
But who is to blame?
If there was a call for economics and finance in the papers someone would provide it.
As the chap alluded in his piece, we are in an age of decadence, which will lead to a time of ruin and hardship.
Whether it will produce hard men is to be seen.
One of my guilty pleasures is reading Regency romances (normally with a criminal or fantasy twist). In those days The Ton refered to the high society of London during the early 19th century. The word comes from the French le ton, meaning "the tone" or "fashionable style," reflecting the era's obsession with French culture and etiquette.
Being part of the Ton wasn't just about being wealthy; it was about having the right lineage, manners, and social connections. It looked down on those in trade as infra dig and concern about money or the economy was a failing.
I suggest that the recent bunch of politicians are a modern day equivalent being primarily concerned with social matters and social connections, and once again looking down on 'trade'.
Mike - yes we are in an age of decadence. Maybe it doesn't seem like it to those who adapt or pretend it isn't so, but the signs are hardly hidden.
DJ - something similar was quite common well into the last century in that the only people who mattered were still those with the right lineage, manners, and social connections. Wealth came into it too of course, but I agree, many modern politicians obviously look down on 'trade'.
Socialism and political games such as the climate game seem to have an underlying motive of wanting to look down on 'trade' too, particularly among those without an aptitude for it.
For much of the First German War the Chief of the Imperial General Staff was Wullie Robertson who had been a village boy who'd joined up as a private. The man who ran the navy for much of the time was Jackie Fisher who had attended a Grammar School before becoming a midshipman at age 14. The PM for much of the war was Lloyd George whose background wasn't as 'umble as he claimed but was still pretty modest. A few years late the PM was Ramsay Mac, the bastard child of a farm servant and a housemaid. The greatest British scientist of the day was Rutherford, born in an NZ village to a mechanic and a schoolteacher, the fourth of their twelve children.
For them, Economics is just another field where they have obliterated the hereditary principle. Or as the Telegraph headline phrases it:
"Tony Blair’s daughter-in-law to run £500m government AI fund"
Well, well, the things you learn from comments threads:
Morgan McSweeney's wife is Imogen Walker who, since 2024, sits as the Labour MP for Hamilton and Clyde Valley.
dearieme - yes, enormous talent did break through the social barriers, it was a measure of ability that it did. Yesterday I was reading about Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan. His background was fairly modest but he must have had enormous ability to climb as far as he did. Can't find a biography though.
"Tony Blair’s daughter-in-law to run £500m government AI fund"
That story and Imogen Walker are reminders that the nepotism weevil is probably worth looking at.
Enoch Powell, allegedly, the best Prime Minister we never had, joined the British Army as a Private, and ended up as a Brigadier.
Penseivat
Penseivat - and became Professor of Greek at the age of 25. Politics hasn't attracted people like that for a long time. Starmer, Lammy, Miliband, Reeves... good grief it's a poor show.
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