The Monday Mix (07/11/2022)
Hi friends,
Not much to report this week so I’ll get straight into it.
Civil War in America
This was a harrowing piece I read yesterday about the probability of civil war in America. Three experts gave their opinion on the likelihood of war breaking out in America in the near future, and all three of them believed it was more than likely. While I live in the UK, if civil war did break out in America it would be devastating for Europe and much of the world.
We depend on America as a kind of guarantor of security in Europe. If there was a civil war that protection would be gone and Europe would have to face a reality it should have prepared for long ago. As the biggest economy in the world and home to most of the biggest companies, a civil war would have big ramifications for the global economy. Whatever way you look at it, civil war is bad for everyone, but with America so polarised, it seems a civil war is a distinct possibility in the future.
Russia’s Dangerous Decline
It’s amazing to think back in February that Putin thought the war with Ukraine would be over in a matter of days. That Russian tanks would roll into Kyiv and that would be that. Eight months later and the war is dragging on and dragging down the reputation of Russia and Putin. What’s become clear is that Putin is unlikely to give in. He could have retreated or called off the invasion now but he hasn’t.
This piece deals with what will happen now that Russia has failed with its primary objectives and is struggling to hold together its secondary ones. A country with a vast nuclear arsenal that feels scorned is a dangerous one. As bad as Putin is, there’s no guarantee that what comes after will be better. Whatever happens in the next few years, Russia will remain an issue on the world stage.
The First Sand Battery
Cool article on how a battery is being developed using sand. If this sounds fanciful, then you’re not alone. I was sceptical when I saw the headline but the article is fascinating. It just goes to show that no matter how perilous the climate crisis is, there are lots of potential solutions out there, they just need more funding and the political will to make them happen.
Book I’m reading - False Dawn by John Gray
Another of John Gray’s books. This one deals with the globalised economy of the early 00s, and how Gray believed it couldn't last and would result in turmoil. He was right. He wrote this in 1998, which is incredible given what happened after 2007. It’s a fascinating book and well worth reading if you want to understand the belief systems that led to the crash.
Quote I’m pondering: – “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” – George Santayana
That’s all for this week.
Until next time,
Tom