New York has just elected its first muslim mayor, Zohran Mamdani. A democrat in name but self described socialist, he has a history of immigrant advocacy and community organising. His campaign focused on perennial issues in New York such as affordable housing, public transport, and other more typically left leaning issues such as climate action, reducing economic inequality, and mental health support for criminals. 

Critics argue his plans are completely unfunded and unworkable, and in Trumps words "these communist plans have never worked and will never work". Some warn that raising taxes will push people out of the city, and introducing state run grocery stores will push markets out as well (as well as people losing their jobs). 

So can Mamdani deliver on any of his promises? They are promises we've all heard before, especially from socialist politicians...and they usually always fail. 

How can New York deal with its high housing prices, terrible infrastructure, and high crime rate?

And does Mamdani's win signify a wind change in American politics away from Trump and right wing politics towards a more left wing and/or socialist style politics?

 

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Until last year, the UK had a conservative government for about 14 years. During that time, the opposition party, Labour, was constantly criticising the government saying they were corrupt or incompetent. We have now had a Labour government for the last year, and as a Brit, it is hard to see how the country has got better under their leadership. In the last year, we have seen hundreds arrested for posts on social media, dozens of protests, especially against migrant hotels, where the government is keeping thousands of illegal immigrants and/or possible refugees. Notably, wherever these hotels open, crime increases, specifically theft, sexual harassment and rape. Then just recently, we were told that a prison had "accidentally" released a foreign prisoner. The man was in prison for sexual assault of a 14 year old girl. The man even tried to hand himself back into prison, but was turned away. He was finally recaptured. But a week later, a second foreign sexual assaulter was "accidentally" released from prison!

 

All of this raises a lot of questions about the state of the UK. The UK was once the most powerful, influential, and richest countries in the world. UK governance was applauded and respected around the world as the gold standard. It now seems the UK is sliding into failed state territory. So what is happening to the UK, and why? Is the UK failing? Or is this a larger problem facing all former world powers? Is there anyway to halt and/or reverse this apparent decline?

 

 

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