Latest news with #OvertonWindow
The National
3 days ago
- Politics
- The National
John Swinney could light a path through the far-right fog
We've gone past the protest vote stage, and shifted to increasing adherence to an imagined world of tidy moral sorting, in which only the 'deserving' are allowed a stake. As Feher notes, and as Assa Samake-Roman rightly amplifies, this is not an accidental by-product of voter alienation, it's a stepping stone to unchallenged domination. READ MORE: John Swinney launches report showing Scotland 'must be in charge of destiny' In that context, the leaked comments of Patriotic Alternative founder Mark Collett (as published in The Sunday National on May 18) are essential reading. Collett boasted of 'massive shifts in the Overton Window' and spoke openly of influencing Reform UK from within by fielding covert candidates. When bad-faith actors say the quiet part out loud, it's a good idea to take them seriously. So far, too few have done so. Labour won't, as they're too busy dancing to the tunes of Thatcher and Blair while invoking the ghost of socialism past. The LibDems are lost in a sea of 'balance,' on a novelty inflatable, and Alba have mistaken grudge for principle. The Greens might be allies, but their opportunism will require some grown-up restraint that they know they're capable of, but seem to begrudge at times. That leaves John Swinney almost alone in the political wilderness, with no dependable help coming. And yet, paradoxically, that might be where his strength lies. If Swinney has the courage to channel his inner John the Baptist (now that actual Baptist John Mason is rightly in exile), he could use this moment to reframe the SNP's message. Rather than vaguely resisting the far right, he could name the ideological architecture that underpins it. He could show how SNP policies such as public ownership, progressive taxation, and free prescriptions counteract the moral rot of producerism not with slogans, but with solidarity. READ MORE: UK 'feeding Scotland poison pills', John Swinney says To do so would require abandoning defensive posturing and leaning fully into moral clarity. The right have not made gains because their ideas are better, they've done so because they've fabricated a more engaging story. The rapt audience hears a rousing tale of identity, contribution, and resentment in which they're the put-upon hero fighting off 'bad hombres', and the good guys win and make everyone rich. Those on the relative-left (whose stance is actually not massively left-of-centre, but deeply grounded in nuance and justice) need to tell a different story: one that acknowledges complexity, foregrounds care, and reminds people that dignity is not a zero-sum game. We need to highlight the same old parasitism that prevails in Farage's fairy story. Swinney cannot expect applause from the usual corners, but if he speaks clearly to those who still believe in decency and shared fate, he may yet light a path through the fog. He needs to offer hope, while properly addressing the very real threat posed by this perilous political shift. Ron Lumiere via email IS honest John Swinney our latter-day Nero? The latest internet bot tried to persuade me that Nero fiddling while Rome burned had, like a lot of urban myths, no basis in historical fact – particularly since he was an accomplished lyre player and the fiddle hadn't yet been invented – but why let the facts get in the way of a good story? However, it's a handy phrase when you want to describe someone ignoring a crisis or neglecting serious matters. The Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election isn't a serious matter in the grand scheme of things, but a mealy-mouthed approach to the impending Holyrood election most certainly is. READ MORE: Yes campaigners react to John Swinney speech on independence Last week we learned that Alexander Dennis is closing with the loss of 400 jobs. It is described as the largest bus and coach manufacturer in the United Kingdom, with a 50% market share in 2019, and is based in Larbert. You might expect the First Minister to come out fighting but instead he offers the usual platitudes … no stone left unturned, will explore all options. How many times have we been here before? Last month we lost our one and only refinery and we all know about the reserved powers. But where was the fight, particularly since the company of billionaire Jim Ratcliffe was given a €700 million (£600m) UK Government guarantee to build a petrochemical plant in Antwerp, the biggest in 30 years? An industrial policy disaster for Scotland and surrendered without a fight. READ MORE: New Dumfries and Galloway Council leader admits 'vulnerable' position Swinney's steady-as-you-go attitude and trying to 'govern sensibly' to build support for indy simply won't wash any more. As for his wishy-washy Cabinet reshuffle … for one thing, the Constitution Secretary should have been reshuffled oot the door given his penchant for photo ops with the Israeli ambassador. His real and culpable failure, however, is being taken in by civil servants and studiously ignoring the opportunity for our country's freedom presented by incorporating the UN's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights into Scots law. The Covenant is unambiguous, in Part 1 Article 1: 'All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.' Those behind the petition (PE2135) have clearly established the nonsense spouted by the civil service that adoption of the convention in an infringement of reserved powers in the Scotland Act. The Great Fire of Rome lasted for six days and destroyed a large portion of the city, and rumours were that Nero ordered the fire so he could rebuild the city in his own image. God save us all from Emperor John's image of more and better devolution, which threatens an electorate so disillusioned that Holyrood will once again become a political enclave of North Britain. Iain Bruce Nairn
New York Post
31-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
NYC's cyclist crime and more: Letters to the Editor — June 1, 2025
Stop cyclist crime The bikes are totally out of control in New York City today ('E-bike danger an e-emergency,' May 29). The bike lanes next to the curb are borderline unsafe. Bikers ride at extreme speeds using gasoline and electric motors, while being oblivious to pedestrians and any traffic laws whatsoever. How many times must one see them riding on the sidewalk? Or going the wrong way on a one-way street? Riding against traffic? Running full stop signs and red lights? Advertisement How many vehicular accidents have they caused and just kept going? How many pedestrians have they injured or killed with no consequences? They think they can do anything they want with zero consequences from the NYPD because elected officials protect them. Every type of bike should be licensed, registered and insured. Peter Janosik, Philadelphia, Pa. Trump's triumphs President Trump opened the Overton Window wide and let fresh air chase away the stale ideas of the left ('End of the Woke Road,' Rich Lowry, PostOpinion, May 28). Advertisement Democrats imposed pronouns, equity for 'oppressed' people regardless of personal effort, political favor based on skin color and — perhaps the foulest idea of all — intersectionality. The woke destroyed many schools, from elementary to universities, with mephitic ideas. They reduced heroes' statues to rubble, rewrote our history and tried to transform our country into Nazi Germany for Jews. No matter what others think of his presidency, Trump has engineered a great victory for America. Advertisement Paul Bloustein, Cincinnati, Ohio Not all migrants While I have no problem with sending violent criminal migrants back to Venezuela, I find it cold-hearted and foolish to now be sending back the exceptional ones ('Ire at ICE detain of migrant student,' May 28). Under a Biden-era entry program, this boy was legally here and on track to become a productive member of society. He was in high school, working part-time to help support his mother and siblings and showing up to his immigration hearings. The government changed the rules, and he is now locked up. The old bait-and-switch is for catching rats, and not all immigrants are rats. Advertisement Donathan Salkaln, Manhattan Democratic doom One of the great things about Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez running against Sen. Chuck Schumer in a Democratic primary is that we can get rid of one of them ('Schu're in big trouble,' May 26). Schumer has become an increasingly pathetic political figure over the last few years. As a Jew, his silence over pro-Hamas activists threatening Jewish students at many levels is an embarrassing example of political cowardice. His 'we're moving forward' responses to questions about his role in covering up former President Joe Biden's mental capacity is insulting to the intelligence of Americans. If AOC wins, we're still stuck with an elitist phony whose concern for her constituents is a disgrace. Regardless, one is better than two. Robert DiNardo, Farmingdale Fugitive found You can run, but you can't hide (' 'Cop stomper,' busted,' May 28). The coward who beat up an NYPD officer was nabbed in Virginia. Will his mommy and family friend be charged with harboring a fugitive? The feds should give them a look. Advertisement Mike Lapinga, Staten Island Want to weigh in on today's stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@ Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Keep Importing Oil From U.S. Companies Stationed Abroad
Affordable, abundant energy is the pre-requisite for a modern, thriving economy and a secure America. The United States is working its way to energy independence, which is an important reality for our national security and economic prosperity. This is true after the U.S. suffered through four years of the Biden administration's political war on energy and modernity. Energy abundance and a secure border are the two most obvious and important differences to emerge so far in the second Trump administration. To move America toward an energy-abundant future, the Trump administration must support and ensure that we keep all sources of energy open to the American market, including foreign oil leases controlled by American companies. The United States still imports a great amount of oil – it was 8.51 million barrels per day in 2023 – because we need it. The 'Drill, Baby, Drill' approach of the Trump administration will help lower that number in the future, but not the immediate future. More exploration and drilling in America is the first not the last step in an extensive process that involves companies taking risks to meet America's energy demand. The Biden administration did all they could to put roadblocks in the way of drilling. Yes, they claimed to have thousands of leases for drilling already approved, but many of those locations were either dry or impractical – it was all politics; a fantasy to give the pro-Biden media talking points. Citing those leases was a numbers illusion, never a practical reality. And, the media played along. 'For American energy, the Overton Window has gone from almost shut under President Biden to fully open under Trump. Energy scarcity and its policy of Net Zero by 2050 has been replaced by energy abundance and a 'Drill, Baby, Drill' mindset.' Not only did President Joe Biden place choke points in the exploration and drilling process, he simultaneously drained the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). According to Reuters, 'In 2022, the administration of President Joe Biden announced a sale of 180 million barrels of oil, the largest ever SPR sale, in an attempt to lower gasoline prices.' That oil needs to be replaced, which only served to increase our dependence on foreign oil. In an ideal world President Trump could snap his fingers and refill the SPR and strike oil everywhere a drill was placed in the ground, but building America's energy future will take time, ingenuity, and good policy. Since oil is fungible – meaning it is all for sale on the world market, regardless of where it comes from, with the exception of heavily sanctioned countries like Iran, expanding from where we get oil will help make refilling the SPR less expensive. Think of oil like water in a swimming pool; it doesn't matter to which end you add water to the pool – the deep or shallow end – or which side you pour it in, it all ends up filling the pool. The U.S. government has allowed American companies to purchase Venezuelan oil through a licensing agreement that is set to expire on May 27th. To keep prices low and help the American consumer, as well as pull the rug out from under China as it tries to make inroads in the western hemisphere, the Trump administration should extend that deadline. Oil extracted from anywhere in the world ends up on the world market. While Venezuela is a damaged country with horrific leadership, their oil is useful – and it's useful for American purposes. Many oil producing countries are not places you'd like to vacation, that doesn't mean you don't use their oil. Putting America first means leveraging America's global adversaries to advance our own interests. The Venezuelan government is moving to partner with China to buy their oil. Allowing American companies to purchase this oil is good for the U.S. economy and our national security. We do not want the Chinese to gain an 'energy foothold' in our backyard. For America, abundant, affordable energy is the key to a prosperous, secure future. Period. The Trump administration must continue to make America energy independent. It must implement and extend policies that encourage innovation and exploration. At the same time, the administration cannot let China partner with Venezuela to purchase oil. The Trump administration has already extended the lease once—the May 27th deadline—that allows U.S. companies (Chevron Corp currently holds the lease) to pump and export Venezuelan oil. President Trump should extend the lease again. It's good for America; bad for China. For more ideas on how to build America's energy future, check out RealClear's Future of Energy Forum, scheduled for May 19 in D.C. Jerry Rogers is editor at RealClearPolicy and RealClearHealth. He hosts 'The Jerry Rogers Show' on WBAL NewsRadio 1090/FM 101.5 and the Federal Newswire's 'The Business of America'. Follow him on Twitter @JerryRogersShow.
The National
08-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
How can UK democracy have been allowed to come under such a threat?
Those warnings are all policies of the Reform UK party. How can this be, how have we sunk to such depths? Over the last decade the main Westminster parties both in government and in opposition have demonstrated what is all wrong with our political system, with sleaze, corruption and dishonesty all playing a part. The vulnerable and needy left out in the cold and the rise in food bank use exacerbated. READ MORE: Lesley Riddoch: SNP must beware of Reform trying to woo Scots voters Those alarming results in England have given a green light to policies of the far right. Make no mistake, Reform UK are promoting far-right policies along with a dictator of a leader. England is going to experience councillors under the banner of Reform UK take control, take the reins and make decisions on policy matters like education, social care and housing that are vital local services – a breath-taking thought. Scotland's First Minister recognised the threat, heard the alarm bells and summoned a summit of political leaders, civic and faith leaders in Scotland, but since that summit, his concerns have been realised. How did we get here, how can we allow our democracy to come under such a threat? READ MORE: How would a 2026 election win for the SNP translate into independence? Reform was born out of the Brexit Party and we all know the economic and social damage that has raged in Scotland since we left the EU, the single market and the customs union, incidentally through no fault of our own here in Scotland – remember Scotland voted to remain. Surely those results in England speak volumes and are a wake-up call to Scotland, not to let the influence of England's alarming results creep over the Border. Scotland can take a different road, Scotland must protect her democracy when the opportunity presents itself in 2026 at the Holyrood elections. Catriona C Clark Falkirk PLENTY of food for thought in Monday's National. The fact that most of this is responses to the resistible rise of the ultra-right-wing Reform party is perhaps yet another sign that the Overton Window is still shifting rather inexorably rightward! If we are to reverse this trend, and we must, never has Scotland's independence been more vital! READ MORE: Third Aberdeenshire Conservative councillor defects to Reform UK On Monday's page 10 we had Tommy Sheppard telling us, quite rightly, that Reform/Farage are an ultra-Unionist party with nothing of value or substance to say to Scotland. On the very next page we have the witless, still wet-behind-the-ears Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay laughably telling us that Reform supporters are disaffected nationalists! Yet another example, if needed, of a man who is way out of his depth! I would suggest that we cut to the chase, stop pussyfooting around and call Reform what they really are – fascists! Drew Macleod Wick I'VE written before about Starmer being in counter-productive appeasement mode regarding Trump's America. However, there is something disturbing going on in UK domestic politics regarding our own bargain-basement used-car-salesman, chief gurning racist, discontent-manipulator using politics to enrich himself – Farage. It's long been identified that the remaining rump of the Tory party – Cameron's infamous 'swivel-eyed-loons'– are desperate to colonise Farage's Reform UK voters. They are realising too late that even a leader as off her trolley as Badenoch cannot out out-loon Nige. READ MORE: Scotch whisky left out as Starmer and Trump strike UK-US trade deal But Labour are also attempting 'muscular and heard-hearted' to appeal to the aggrieved, sprinkled with anti-migrant political pepper. It's never worked, it never will work and it will alienate the increasing number who see Labour as Tory-lite at best or those – like me – who remember the Iraq invasion and have a horrible sense regarding Gaza that Labour's penchant for being involved in situations that put tens of thousands of brown civilians in body bags is just too uncomfortable. In the US, MAGA label anyone who dislikes Trump's autocratic chaos as having Trump Derangement Syndrome. One state in Texas is trying to have TDS officially added to a list of mental illnesses! The Tories have had it for a while. Now Starmer's Labour seem to be suffering Farage Fixation Syndrome. Amanda Baker Edinburgh I WAS disappointed to see that the 80th anniversary of VE Day did not feature on the front page of the May 8 edition of The National. After then reading the edition I think it is disgraceful that not a single reference of VE Day features in the entire paper. In the ten years I was a town councillor for Gourock, the greatest privilege I had was representing the town at our war memorial. The names of 50 Gourock men who died fighting in World War Two are listed on the memorial. Each year when I see my own father wear his father's Second World War medals I beam with pride and am humbled at the living connection of someone that fought in the war. READ MORE: Scotland marks VE Day amid warnings of rising global fascism Every community in Scotland suffered and made great sacrifices during the war. It is an affront to the memory of those that made the ultimate sacrifice to have snubbed covering such an important anniversary. Commemorating our war dead, paying tribute to those to whom we owe our liberty and celebrating victory over the forces of Nazism is an event for all of Scotland, whether Unionist or Scottish nationalist. Christopher McEleny Gourock
The Print
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Op Sindoor mix: Surprise, optics, audacity & some patience
The first, of course is, how does one secure surprise when the other side has been in a most heightened state of alert for 14 days, fully mobilised, assets airborne, missiles locked and loaded. Many analytical takeaways and lessons will emerge from Operation Sindoor in the course of time. Who knows, if there are more episodes left in this story, and what the next might be. The second, the optics, packaging and headline-management for India's riskiest moment in a generation. And third, the audacity it needed to take risks of this magnitude, to game the escalation ladder and tolerance/acceptance levels. The most remarkable is the surprise. With Uri and Pulwama, the Modi government had set a template. Everybody in Pakistan—and indeed in India—knew the strikes were not a matter of whether, but when. There were many who said these retaliations must take place within 24 hours, if not immediately after the killings. Or the Overton Window keeps shrinking. Why wait out for a full 14 days then? You can be sure that the armed forces would've war-gamed this response. There has been an inevitability to major terror attacks in India since 13 December, 2001 (Parliament attack). There is one always around the corner. The forces did not need these 14 days to make fresh plans, or to acquire a new weapons system. Why the long wait then? Conjecture is that this was needed to take away that predictability. The other side also saw the Overton Window shrinking and that contributed to that window of a few seconds, no more than 30 seconds of surprise becoming available. You can be sure that the Pakistanis knew when the IAF aircraft took off, which type these were and what their likely targets were. You can also be sure that the PAF flew their best-equipped aircraft parallel to these on their side. The question was, how would they determine that IAF wanted to fire, and when to bounce them. It was in that situation, when fully visible to the other side, your general intention pre-announced, that those seconds of surprise needed to be found. Just enough to line up the target, shoot, and start the journey home. The fact is, the weapons were launched right under the eye of the PAF. Also Read: Operation Sindoor strikes aren't the 'end'. It's the first salvo of a long-drawn-out battle The Modi government utilised these 14 days to build an impression that there was no hurry, that it might even follow the advice of many of its social media supporters to strangle Pakistan with a long rope, blocking them at IMF, reopening FATF and keep squeezing them on the Indus rivers. We can now see that even the 'action' on the waters was part of this grand deception. That India would prefer the safer and slower approach of starving Pakistani farmers of water rather than risk an armed conflict. The PM had big meetings on a daily basis, the Cabinet Committees, including CCS. There was one with the service chiefs, NSA and Raksha Mantri, and then with individual chiefs, NSA and defence secretary. All on camera. One evening, the government let the word drop that a big announcement was coming. It was the caste census. An impression was created that the government was letting public anger dissipate. The India-UK FTA was announced and celebrated, Modi went to the ABP News summit and delivered his usual Viksit Bharat speech with just a mention of the Indus waters. That again was a distraction, we can now see. For the next day, a large air power exercise was scheduled in the Rajasthan sector. A couple of other exercises had been held already, so this also seemed like buying time. For the day after this, nationwide civil defence drills were called. Again, as if to drag things along. Even on the night/early hours of 6/7 May as fighters took off, Pakistanis must have tracked them in parallel. It is probably the repetitiveness of such activities with no outcome that created those few seconds of surprise. Whatever the Pakistani claims, those weapons hit their targets. The optics and messaging, with the codename addressed to Indian women who were made to watch the men in their family killed by terrorists in Pahalgam, two women officers underlining the jointmanship of our forces and multiple diversities of our people. The briefing was measured, minus the grandstanding or jingoism. Please note also how the social media handles on the BJP's Right 'rectified' their position on Himanshi Narwal and her secular liberalism. There were words of regret and even advice to the comrades not to fall into the divisive trap. In the briefing today, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the objective of the massacre was to trigger communal riots across India. The third, the audacity. This was a risky move and at the very least, entailed possible casualties. After Pulwama the PAF knew for sure there would be an attack. The risk was failure, and finally, of an uncontrollable escalation particularly if the bombing succeeded. This is by far the riskiest action by Modi in more than a decade. Especially now with many ongoing wars, distractions, Russia war-weary. The Trump administration makes it more uncertain. To sum up, while all of this is so far, so good and the ball is now in Pakistan's court. How they want to play, what they can do with it, and how prepared we are to counter them, will script the next episode of this story. Also Read: Away from LoC, General Munir is losing a far more fateful war within Pakistan
