Alternative history- the possibilities are endless

 Hi All, 

There are a plethora of choices a person can make in a lifetime and many different ‘what if’s’ of history. If you could visit these different timelines, what would you do? That’s the universal question and it is one that only a handful of species can actually answer.

This is just one of an infinite possible worlds where one simple divergence changes… everything.

In this scenario we go to 1944. It is the height of the Second World War and we need to look not at the battlefronts or the rantings of a genocidal madman, but the politics of America, specifically the ruling Democratic Party. As in our universe Roosevelt was President, but he was dying. Therefore whoever was or whoever became his Vice- President was a pitchfork in the historical road. For those who don’t know at the Democratic Convention of that election year, the party’s conservative wing succeeded in nominating Harry S Truman of Missouri for Vice President, in effect unseating incumbent- and ‘liberal’ (in American terms left wing) - Vice President Henry A Wallace. Truman would of course go on to become POTUS in April 1945, eventually overseeing the Marshall Plan, The Cold War ‘Truman Doctrine’, the Korean War and most controversially,  the dropping of the Atomic bombs on Japan. But what if Wallace had continued to be Vice President and succeeded Roosevelt and not Truman?

Let's find out.

 

A self inflicted crisis?

 Hi All,

To those of us with Parliametary Systems of government, the current 'debt ceiling crisis' in America seems strange to the point of being a self inflicted, shoot yourself in the foot event. 

In the 'Westminster' system a government depends upon  Parliamentary 'supply and confidence', supply in this meaning is the ability of the government to spend, tax and issue debt or a codified budget, if the government cannot then it collapses and further elections are called or another government that can pass a budget takes over. 

In the American  system of checks and balances the power of the purse is given to the Congress, not the Executive (President) and the 2 houses of Congress and the Executives could all be controlled by different fractions. Hence Congress passes expenditure and tax legislation, then the President can pass it into law or not. So far so good. In this instance, however, the crisis is not because no budget has been passed, the problem is that America also has a limit to the debt that can be issued.  The budget has been passed, but no-one bothered to register the fact that the debt limit was almost maxed out anyways, even as the Congress agreed to trillions in spending for Green politics under the 'Inflation reduction act' (as if inflation will be reduced in a time of existing high inflation via a trillion or two dollar simulus !) and stuff like providing student debt relief, which is going to help people who are already going to do well in life with a better education.  . 

It does seem illogical to a practical mind that Congress can pass expenditures knowing full well that it will not have enough money coming in from taxes, but not vote at the same time to increase the debt limit. Therefore one has to ask oneself, why didn't the Democrats -or at least Treasury Secretary- ask for or actually increase the limit at the same time they were spending vast sums of someone else's money and in control of all 3 levers of government. 

Either the Democrats forgot, are stupid or want to manufacture a political crisis for the upcoming Presidential elections next year and blame it on the Republicans, like Clinton did in the 1990s. I mean the Democrats  know full well that the GOP would, when facing a Democrat President and in control of at least the House,  never agree to a debt increase (when in Office under Trump it was of course voting for unfunded tax cuts, a massive increase in borrowing and spending, but that's a different story). 

Is it conspiracy theory territory to think that? Or will a deal be reached and all of this is just political theatre, in a way a Brit cannot understand American hyper partisan politics,  but no-one really wants to go nuclear with  no limit increase, 14th Amendment lawfare, gold selling or trillion dollar coins?

God Save the King!

 Hi All, 

We will be celebrating tomorrow's Coronation and we say God Save the King!

Also of interest is that Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis and his wife are spending the night with the King and Queen as they are taking part in the Coronation. Tonight both the Chief , the King and their spouses will be celebrating Shabbat with Kosher Coronation Chicken. 

Shabbat Shalom!

No, Not the Alukah!

 Hi All,

I thought I would just post to say that I am feeling much better, however, I have been having multiple outpatient appointments and attempting but not getting a GP appointment, hence my absence of late.

Last week was the lung people, as I had a plural effusion (water inbetween lungs) on the right side. Thankfully it has gone down and they decided not to drain it and I have to live with it.

Today was the hemotology people (that is the study of blood). The clot should be gone in  a couple of months, but I still have to take blood thinners and my spleen is still enlarged, which they believe is the fault of my liver 'issues'- i.e. is the spleen enlarged because of damage to the liver and those absesses- for which I have a CT and then a Fibrosis scan in the next few weeks.  

But they also have to look at the hemotological 'pathway' too.

To be able to see if it is a 'hemotological problem' i.e. blood cancer,  or not, I  have had blood tests today filling 10 test tubes, across 2 arms as my veins aren't as good as they were*.  and in the next 2 weeks, I will having a bone marrow biospy, which will be taken from the hip, via a needle. Nice.

Anyway tomorrow is a meeting with the dietician.

*because of having blood tests every day for 4 weeks in hospital and then repeat blood tests at GP and Outpatient clinics as well as multiple canulars while in hospital, the only place they didn't get was my foot as I'm diabetic, also had to have a test when they took blood directly from the arterial line, which only doctors are allowed to do. I have have not yet had any Alukah (leeches), which is to my a great disappointment. Maybe I will be getting a call from the Alukah, Lilith, Motetz Dam, Vampyres, Strigoi and Moroi at some point. In the meantime there is always blood tests. Only joking. Blood tests are very important.