Idiots voting for idiots. What could be more uncomplicated ? It's called Democracy in some areas, but in others it's called Communism. Money makes the choices,.......

"The facts have changed", Rishi Sunak

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If Biden is a stalking horse, and he may well be but not immediately in my view, then there will not be any need to "oust" him. He will be party to the arrangements and will go willingly on medical grounds. I very much doubt though whether they will anything to do with his mental health.

Do you really blame him for refusing to be bullied by Trump in an obvious campaign stunt, when Trump has consistently refused to release so much data about himself that other Presidents have?

I have little doubt that Biden would agree to have mental health assessments made part of the routine health checks for all future Presidents, and would do so now if Trump also agreed.

One of the problems with Trump has always been trust and it is no less with those who serve as his doctor as anyone else. He tried to reward his last one by giving him a big job, only to be stymied by Congress who refused to confirm him as he had no relevant experience. The current one has an aura around him which leaves a lingering aroma surrounding his pronouncements that they may be being made under pressure to window dress them. Are they truthful? The whole truth? He has admitted presenting them in a positive light already.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I didn't make any comparisons, I provided an example of "using diplomacy, internationally co-ordinated pressure and economic sanctions to gradually encourage the people to establish democracy for themselves" not working. Another example would be the fact that chemical weapon use was outlawed following the effects during studied during the Great War, but we see them used in Salisbury. Or the illegal testing of nuclear weapons by North Korea. Sanctions have been used against both countries, but nothing changes them. They do as they will. They just will not be "encouraged" by anyone. Thinking they can be persuaded to change their ways is, quite frankly, naive.

Systematically dragged down by the lawmakers

There's nothing the least naive in trying. You may not succeed but to go straight to the alternative is quite frankly ridiculous. As has been said "jaw jaw is better than war war".

And your assertion that it doesn't work is simply untrue. Sanctions do work, isolated regimes buckle. Both Iran and N Korea are feeling the pressure. It won't always work, and often takes a long time, but it can and it does, especially when it's in the international community's mutual interest that it should.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

There is nothing idealistic at all involved. They are entirely practical and pragmatic. The very fact that human nature has the characteristics you describe means that the need to collectively curb them exists. We all know power-hungry and greedy bullies exist and have always done so. Whilst in the past they may well have prospered, and still do in some places, that's not to say they cannot be dealt with. The only way to deal with a bully is for enough people to collectively refuse to be bullied.

Your cynicism is misplaced. If it wasn't we would all be engulfed in hot wars much more frequently than we are now, and there are still far too many. Trade wars and cyber wars still hurt people but they also put pressure on governments.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Well said

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