Roachmill

This is something I have yet to understand; the reverence of being invaded by the Norse when the Pictish folk, and their time eternal link to the NE mainland, were here long before. Favouring subjugation over reunification has always been a puzzler
 
Anyway, I'm with Mr Stormzy and his beautifully orchestrated Glastonbury tribute to Boris (live on the BBC). His music may have me reaching quickly for the off button, but the sentiment is right on the mark.

It's interesting to note that the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond is estimating that the immediate impact of a no deal Brexit will cost us £90 billion - in effect wiping out the fiscal headroom built up through years of Tory austerity. I should imagine he'll have to austed from cabinet in the next Boris / Hunt reshuffle for pissing on the hardline Brexit chips with that prediction. 
 
It's good to see all the hardships the least wealthy members of society have endured recently will have been worth it 
 
But the disproportionately wealthy Tory membership who will be deciding on the new PM seem to be willing to accept that, so long as we 'take back control'
 
Hey ho, bring back the spirit of the blitz and all that.

There have been few periods in the past 40 years or so when global economic politics and conditions have been so unfavourable for international 'trade talks'
 
There has been a significant change toward nationalistic protectionist economic policies, of which the USA's 'trade tariffs' are symptomatic, in the past 18 months. This, and many other factors, are increasing the chances of a global economic downturn and possible recession. The early indicators of recession in the UK are already visible.
 
An economically weakened UK cut loose from the EU will not be in a favourable bargaining position.
 
Politicians who are advocating a no-deal Brexit and fail to address this material change in circumstances are, in my humble opinion, simply playing to the short-term populist gallery.

The vast majority of our fellow Shetlanders who voted in the European election have opted for pro remain parties just like every single other council area in Scotland, very similar to the EU referendum itself.
We maybe don't wear kilts but the majority of Shetlands voters seem to share a dislike of Brexit.

If it's a choice between having Boris in charge or kilts, bagpipes, Irn Bru and shortbread, I'll take the kilts, bagpipes, Iru Bru and shortbread.

"Cool story bro"? 
Are you American ***? 
I do very much enjoy your colonial colloquialisms. I'm less of a fan of your continuous links to (less than balanced) media as a tool of choice to derogate other media sources for being politically motivated however. It makes you come across as a bit of a hypocrite. 

So a vote on an informed position is a terrible, nasty and weak idea... while one based on ignorance and lies is somehow democratic and worth defending. Jesus wept.

We don’t recognise sectarianism up here, let’s leave it that way. Up here we thinks it’s only a game of football.

^And bits of that debunking want debunking e.g. Dems want walls, just not one continuous wall. Your youtube randomer illustrates perfectly how both sides are guilty of misrepresenting each others views to vilify the opponent into oblivion. And it's working so well 
 
In other news you couldn't make up if you tried, Trump is now claiming he never said Mexico would pay for the wall. Here's an article about it from one of his most favourite sources; remember those fake Time covers he put up at his golf course(s)?
 
http://time.com/5499391/donald-trump-border-wall-mexico-pay/

^And bits of that debunking want debunking e.g. Dems want walls, just not one continuous wall. Your youtube randomer illustrates perfectly how both sides are guilty of misrepresenting each others views to vilify the opponent into oblivion. And it's working so well 
 
In other news you couldn't make up if you tried, Trump is now claiming he never said Mexico would pay for the wall. Here's an article about it from one of his most favourite sources; remember those fake Time covers he put up at his golf course(s)?
 
http://time.com/5499391/donald-trump-border-wall-mexico-pay/

^ where did you get the 90% statistic from? I thought it was more like 60 to 70%
 
And, with the greatest respect, saying Democrats want open borders is just nonsense. Here's the New York Times fact check on the claim - https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/27/us/politics/fast-check-donald-trump-democrats-open-borders.html

Let's look at what just happened. Someone who is claiming media bias against Trump wrote:
 

When the linked article, from a broadly neutral and well-respected news source, actually says:
 
 
Now lets compare two key phrases from the above quotes
"policy of arming ISIS" vs "A downside... is that some armed and trained rebels defected to Islamic State and other radical groups" There is indeed some bias on display there....

You're missing the point. Anyone could post links to videos biased towards Trump too. It doesn't mean either are right but it only takes a small mount of clicking around to garner some facts and make up your own mind. Go looking for whatever you want to find and you'll find it.

You're missing the point. Anyone could post links to videos biased towards Trump too. It doesn't mean either are right but it only takes a small mount of clicking around to garner some facts and make up your own mind. Go looking for whatever you want to find and you'll find it.

You're missing the point. Anyone could post links to videos biased towards Trump too. It doesn't mean either are right but it only takes a small mount of clicking around to garner some facts and make up your own mind. Go looking for whatever you want to find and you'll find it.

Trump & Family are, and have been for years (decades?), up to their respective oxters to the likes of Deutsche Bank (DB) e.g. after defaulting on a loan to DB, him then trying and failing to counter by suing them for $3 billion, he then borrows from DB to pay DB off. /s Genius!
 
He was some £300 million in debt to them in 2016. Sprinkle the fact DB were fined $500 million for laundering $10 billion of Russian money for some sugar on top. Then add a cherry consisting of decidedly dogy ties between DB, the Russian state-owned (well hello Mr Putin) VTB Bank and Trump.
 
And then there's the whole ex lawyer going to jail in part for paying off two ladies Trump cheated on his wife with. I'd say he's not exactly Mr Teflon.

There are many news shows and other sources that are broadly neutral or supportive of Trump. And reporting on a president who tries to get himself in the news 24/7 is hardly 'going after him'.
 
But it is a common perception which is not borne out by evidence. It is this belief that has resulted in the 'fakenews' phenomena whereby people won't accept facts as reported by the media that don't agree with their worldview. There is also much evidence to support the Hostile Media Effect, which is "the tendency for individuals with a strong preexisting attitude on an issue to perceive media coverage as biased against their side and in favor of their antagonists point of view" - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hostile_media_effect

Trump comes across as an ignorant bully, appealing to rednecks and nazis. Whether he chooses to reduce himself to that level on purpose or whether he can't help is difficult to say. There is a misogynist, racist, right wing element waiting in the wings everywhere, including Shetlink,  for some messiah to lead them.
 
Theresa May is, fortunately, well educated and able, despite the media machinations. It is obvious EU leaders respect her, despite the rhetoric. When theyhave a laugh it is at the expense of Trump, Boris Johnson and Rees-Mogg, howver they are nor#t really funny but rather sinister individuals, trying to appeal to the extremists as well. Who else do we have. Corbyn and McDonnell - well unfortunately I don't see any hope there. I think it is time for a major rethink of our political system.

The article you linked to only discusses employment rate. Whilst the numbers aren't bad for Trump, they were less positive than expected and are part of a trend since the 10% unemployment rate caused by the 2008 banking crisis.
 
Better news for him regarding employment, with a wider impact on the economy as a whole, would be the promised increase in average wages which would increase consumer spending. But that hasn't happened yet, and the impact of his tax cuts will only be known over the next few years.
 
 
 
The US economy as a whole is in reasonable shape but the US markets have been on a downturn since October and there are predictions of a recession in 2019.
Recent history - BBC Business - What's knocked markets off course? Current / Short term predictions - Wall Street Journal - Sharp Decline Puts Dow in Correction Territory Longer term predictions - Barron's - A Recession Is Unlikely, But Expect Slower Economic Growth in 2019 Longer term predictions - Financial Times - US economy set to slow, says IMF chief economist  
 
Since this thread is discussing Trump, it's worth noting that individual politicians and political parties often claim credit for 'booming' economies, and blame others and/or their predecessors for poor performance. The reality is that in a globalised economy there are so many interconnected factors and external influences that it is difficult to draw any kind of "cause and effect" line from a domestic fiscal policy to a measurable impact to the wider economy. It's a case of fine-tuning rather than "I did this, so that happened"
 
In general, Trump's unpredictable nature (a single off-the-cuff Tweet can knock several points off the global markets, for example), blunt and ill-informed interventions, and habit of threatening tariffs and trade embargoes on other countries doesn't help the US or global economy. 
 
I also wonder about the common belief that because he is a 'businessman' in a narrow market sector that this equips him for calling the shots on the wider US, and therefore global, economy. His experience is of trying to make his company more profitable than other companies, often at the expense of others, rather than fostering an economic environment to make many companies, countries and individuals prosperous.

Absolutely, America has been desperately needing to divide itself even more than ever, be laughed at / pitied by the rest of the world and signal to the rest of said world that grabbing lady bits is OK, white supremacists are "good people" and being balls deep in dodgy Russian money is perfectly fine. Nevermind the neverending gush of half witted lies, gaslighting and self-revealing moronic quips.
 
As you say, nobody is perfect. He is quite clearly not that by a country mile; and it beggars belief why anyone would defend his far-too-numerous dreadful actions.

Trump & Family are, and have been for years (decades?), up to their respective oxters to the likes of Deutsche Bank (DB) e.g. after defaulting on a loan to DB, him then trying and failing to counter by suing them for $3 billion, he then borrows from DB to pay DB off. /s Genius!
 
He was some £300 million in debt to them in 2016. Sprinkle the fact DB were fined $500 million for laundering $10 billion of Russian money for some sugar on top. Then add a cherry consisting of decidedly dogy ties between DB, the Russian state-owned (well hello Mr Putin) VTB Bank and Trump.
 
And then there's the whole ex lawyer going to jail in part for paying off two ladies Trump cheated on his wife with. I'd say he's not exactly Mr Teflon.

Absolutely, America has been desperately needing to divide itself even more than ever, be laughed at / pitied by the rest of the world and signal to the rest of said world that grabbing lady bits is OK, white supremacists are "good people" and being balls deep in dodgy Russian money is perfectly fine. Nevermind the neverending gush of half witted lies, gaslighting and self-revealing moronic quips.
 
As you say, nobody is perfect. He is quite clearly not that by a country mile; and it beggars belief why anyone would defend his far-too-numerous dreadful actions.

Trump & Family are, and have been for years (decades?), up to their respective oxters to the likes of Deutsche Bank (DB) e.g. after defaulting on a loan to DB, him then trying and failing to counter by suing them for $3 billion, he then borrows from DB to pay DB off. /s Genius!
 
He was some £300 million in debt to them in 2016. Sprinkle the fact DB were fined $500 million for laundering $10 billion of Russian money for some sugar on top. Then add a cherry consisting of decidedly dogy ties between DB, the Russian state-owned (well hello Mr Putin) VTB Bank and Trump.
 
And then there's the whole ex lawyer going to jail in part for paying off two ladies Trump cheated on his wife with. I'd say he's not exactly Mr Teflon.

Absolutely, America has been desperately needing to divide itself even more than ever, be laughed at / pitied by the rest of the world and signal to the rest of said world that grabbing lady bits is OK, white supremacists are "good people" and being balls deep in dodgy Russian money is perfectly fine. Nevermind the neverending gush of half witted lies, gaslighting and self-revealing moronic quips.
 
As you say, nobody is perfect. He is quite clearly not that by a country mile; and it beggars belief why anyone would defend his far-too-numerous dreadful actions.