Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
Latest Commentary:
Australia's Liberal-National Coalition Wins Surprise Victory -- The Liberal-National Coalition, which is effectively a single right-of-centre party, was supposed to lose Saturday's general election according to the polls. The Labor Party had an ambitious program to address the economy, climate change and a number of solid would-be cabinet members. The Liberal-National Coalition had Scott Morrison, the survivor of a nasty leadership coup a while back. ScoMo, as he is known, managed to win an outright majority (76 of 150 seats, with two seats still to be called). How he did is it a lesson for other democratic leaders. [20 May]
Labour-Tory Brexit Talks Fail -- The minority Conservative government in Britain has been trying desperately to find a way out of the European Union since the referendum three years ago put Britain on the road out. Just about every path tried has failed, and there is not a majority in the House of Commons for anything. Prime Minister May's hopes of passing anything shrank to the point where she opened up talks with the opposition Labour Party to find enough common ground to cobble together a majority. After a month of chattering at each other, the two sides have called it quits. Brexit is rapidly running out of road. [17 May]
Trump Blacklists Chinese Telecom Huawei -- With an executive order, President Donald Trump has blacklisted the Chinese telecom giant Huawei. In essence, the company and about 70 affiliates can no longer acquire components and tech from US firms. The government can provide special waivers, but in general, Huawei and its units will have to find alternatives. A different order also bars US companies from using products from telecom companies deemed a threat to national security. Mr. Trump got this one right. It's not about free markets; it's about free societies. [16 May]
Withdrawal Agreement Bill for Brexit Vote Set for Early June -- Prime Minister Theresa May has announced that the House of Commons will vote on the Withdrawal Agreement Bill [WAB] the week of June 3. While this looks like a fourth vote on the same thing, the first three votes on Brexit were to ratify the agreement between London and Brussels on the future relationship of the UK and EU. Following the ratification, the WAB would enshrine Brexit in British law. Since the PM can't get a fourth vote on the same thing, she is opting for this new approach to the problem. In practical terms, it is the same thing again. Again, it will probably fail. [15 May]
Oil Tankers Attacked off UAE Coast, Tensions Rise -- Four oil tankers were attacked Sunday in the Persian/Arabian Gulf doing minimal damage but putting everyone even more on edge than before. The US is blaming Iran, Iran appears to think Israel did it, and the Saudis are hardly commenting in any useful way. This comes at a time when US, Iranian and Arab leaders are already ratcheting up the propaganda. As this is written, reports are crossing the wires saying there has been a drone attack on a Saudi pipeline. If cooler heads don't prevail pretty soon, everyone is going to suffer. [14 May]
© Copyright 2019 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
Volume XVII, Number 89
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