By David Manners 16th May 2022
There’s something in the Continental psyche that makes them susceptible to dictators.
Napoleon, the Kaiser, Hitler, Putin etc.
It wouldn’t matter to us if these dictators kept themselves to themselves but they don’t.
When their grip on power weakens they pick a fight with a neighbour and rally their populations to the cause of territorial expansion.
And who has to out a stop to it? Us – with help from our friends.
It’s easy to see why the Continentals are prone to acquiescing in dictatorships – it’s because they have government systems which make it difficult to replace appointed politicians.
Here, once a pol looks looks like they’re barking, the men in grey suits edge them towards the door.
On the Continent, pols’ jobs are more sticky – the removal process appears to be more difficult.
The answer is clearly to have a wholesale reform of the constitutions of the countries with the worst records of throwing up dictators – Germany, France, Italy and Hungary for starters.
The EU could have been the answer, but has turned into an unaccountable authoritarian dictatorship itself
Authoritarian dictatorships are a miserable system for people to live under, and the Continent’s predilection for dictatorships is continually threatening Europe with its imposition.
If it hadn’t been for Britain spending its peoples’ lives and money standing up against these dictators, Europe’s system of government would already be an authoritarian dictatorship.
Read a little history my friend. Numbers of the senior British aristocracy, right wing politicians and wealthy industrialists gave money, newsprint airtimeand political space to the Nazis. Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson were guests of Hitler and were known to have had links to members of the Nazi movement as far back as 1932.
And how well did things work out for that grisly mob, robetc?
Not too well thank goodness, but it was close run. I do concede that my view at the moment is coloured by the sight of a lying hypocrite getting away with it, while ever more repressive measures are imposed on us plebs by this desperate gov.
I do agree that France has bad quality presidents.
But I really don’t see how UK has better quality ones.
You’re absolutely right Djonne, but we have mechanisms for summarily getting rid of a Prime Minister i.e. a vote of no-confidence in the House of Commons or a leadership election which can be triggered by 15% of the party’s members of parliament asking for it. The latter is the way Maggie Thatcher was kicked out when she was displaying delusions of grandeur. The UK PM is not elected for a fixed term – he/she can be removed at anytime.
I just wonder why these anti-continental remarks in electronics magazine ? Nobody in Europe cares about UK anymore, the separation is bigger than La Manche channel.
We talk about a lot more than electronics on the blog, Ivan, just because you’re involved in electronics doesn’t mean you don’t take an interest in the world in general.
> Nobody in Europe cares about UK anymore, the separation is bigger than La Manche channel.
Then Ivan, could you kindly take back all the Europeans who seem to have got stuck living over here before the English channel gets even wider. And ban airlines from taking British citizens to holiday spots to prop up your economies so they can spend their money where it’s appreciated.
When your ass has been saved by the British military, Ivan, people will care a hell of a lot about the UK
Particularly when the Brits have done it twice in a century.
And particularly when we’ve been schooled for 150 years in Acton’s adage: “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” We know it’s vital to be able to kick out would-be dictators quickly and we have the constitutional means to so. The Continentals don’t and that’s the problem with their political systems.
There’s a great video on YouTube. Soldier fires anti-tank shoulder missile. Huge explosion of a tank some distance away, the soldier turns to camera and says “Thank you Boris”
Although we’re out of the EU we’re leading Europe in supporting the Ukrainians and they appreciate it.
But these dictators cost us a fortune in money and lives to stop them robetc, and IMHO, it’s their countries’ flawed constitutions and political systems which allow them to gain unaccountable, unremovable power.
And before our very eyes the unwritten constitution that has served us well when observed by men/women of honour is being corrupted and made subservient to the partisan interests of a government who proudly announce that rule by diktat and privileged exceptionalism are fine under what is now effectively a presidential system (a la Rees-Mogg). If removal of a dishonest and incompetent leader was so straightforward under our system then why is the lying b****r still in post?
Because most Tory MPs think he’s an electoral asset who will keep them in their seats, robetc
Very selective presentation of the facts. Hitler was incredibly popular and supported with propaganda and money from this country beyond all others. Mussolini also was a very popular figure. As Wim notes Napoleon was a long time ago, and Macron, who I assume you refer to, has been a pretty good President. Of course the far left and right loath him; after all he has managed to unite the centre and rendered them impotent. At least he man has the interests of France at heart which is more than you can say for the lying hypocrite who is currently overseeing the destruction of the Union.
OK robetc, that’s your opinion. First time I’ve heard that the UK was responsible for Hitler.
Come back in 5 years when Macron’s gone and assess his legacy. I’d put money on the UK union surviving far longer than Macron.
Sorry, the last French dictator was 2 centuries ago, please get over it. For a European, your “first past the post” election system does not seem very democratic; for each party, there are a vastly different amount of votes needed for a seat in the parliament.
You elect pretty awful presidents who can’t be fired
Which president ever has been fired? Not reelected maybe, but that is normal democracy. And, many democratically elected politicians change the rules (Gerrymandering) and/or replace the press and judiciary with their cronies (Hungary, Poland) to reduce the risk of not being reelected.
My point is that these dictators who want to stifle freedom in Europe always come out of Continental Europe because the Continent has defective political systems which make them unremovable. Here in the UK we kick out guys when they look like going potty.
I disagree on this “French dictators” view of David’s. I think the main problems with French politics lie elsewhere.
Let’s not forget Chirac and Sarkozy – both convicted of corruption, but never served a day in jail. And that’s probably just the tip of the iceberg – read any 19th century French novel – none of this is new. Then there’s Mitterand who served under the Vichy regime and the Observatory affair.
I fon’t much care how awful French presidents are in France, Peter, I only object when Continental dictators try to shatter the peace of Europe and kill its freedoms by declaring war on other European countries. Then it always seems to be poor old Buggins Britain which has to lead the way in standing up to the tyrants.
> Sorry, the last French dictator was 2 centuries ago, please get over it.
Ask any French citizen of Algerian lineage and you might get a different answer.
Don’t count out the Americans just yet … in 2024 they might get there, which will then be proven in 2028 … A lot of steps have already been taken all around the country, Florida is already very close.
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Ruminations on the electronics industry from David Manners, of Electronics Weekly.
Get our news, blogs and comments straight to your inbox! Sign up for the Electronics Weekly newsletters: Mannerisms, Gadget Master and the Daily and Weekly roundups.
Read our special supplement celebrating 60 years of Electronics Weekly and looking ahead to the future of the industry.
Read the Electronics Weekly @ 60 supplement »
Read the first ever Electronics Weekly online: 7th September 1960. We've scanned the very first edition so you can enjoy it.
Read the very first edition »
Electronics Weekly teams up with RS Grass Roots to highlight the brightest young electronic engineers in the UK today.
Read our special supplement celebrating 60 years of Electronics Weekly and looking ahead to the future of the industry.
Read the Electronics Weekly @ 60 supplement »
Read the first ever Electronics Weekly online: 7th September 1960. We've scanned the very first edition so you can enjoy it.
Read the very first edition »
Tune into this Xilinx interview: Responding to platform-based embedded design
Tune into this podcast to hear from Chetan Khona (Director Industrial, Vision, Healthcare & Sciences at Xilinx) about how Xilinx and the semiconductor industry is responding to customer demands.
By using this website you are consenting to the use of cookies. Electronics Weekly is owned by Metropolis International Group Limited, a member of the Metropolis Group; you can view our privacy and cookies policy here.