These are not normal times
Over the decades, moderates, centrists, left-of-centrists and even those further left have massively
underestimated what the right will do to gain and keep power.
This is problematic enough in “normal” times. These are not normal times. Decent folk have to stop being
shocked at the behaviour of the extreme right wing and also stop doing politics as normal.
On this side of the pond the solution is obvious. The so-called opposition party needs to ditch possibly the
worst leader in its history and everyone with a conscience needs to act as one against Steve Bannon-
supported Boris Johnson and start making deals like the one that won the Brecon by-election last week.
In the US, the Democrats must stop party-politicking like it’s 1999 and get behind one candidate, even if
it’s not their political wet dream.
The bodies from the two recent shootings can certainly be piled up on Trump’s moral lawn. However, if
they don’t do what is needed to defeat him, Democrats must hang their heads in shame after 2020 while
four, and possibly more, years of white nationalist terror, babies in cages and more, blight America’s
history.
Amanda Baker Edinburgh
Cannabis must be decriminalised
I voted for Brexit, but I will be voting for the Liberal Democrats at the next election. Not because I want to
stay in Europe, but because of their cannabis reform laws. I suffer from Tourette’s Syndrome, PTSD and
chronic pain. Cannabis is the most effective medicine at stopping my tic-induced seizures, dealing with my
pain and helping me sleep due to the PTSD.
It blows my mind that I am labelled a criminal for choosing my own healing methods. I have many friends
who smoke cannabis and none of them are bad people and none of them deserve to be criminalised whether
medically or recreationally.
Jimmy Finch Address supplied
Just cancel Brexit
So, we’re stuck on how to proceed. Has everyone totally forgotten that a court decided we would be able to
ask to cancel the whole thing at any time before the deadline? How about doing that, taking a few years to
sort the mess out, then starting again.
Elizabeth Pullan Boxgrove, West Sussex