We are developing the social individualist meta-context for the future. From the very serious to the extremely frivolous... lets see what is on the mind of the Samizdata people.

Samizdata, derived from Samizdat /n. - a system of clandestine publication of banned literature in the USSR [Russ.,= self-publishing house]

Samizdata quote of the day

It is telling that so many cosmopolitan liberal globalists now care about sovereignty for Ukraine, yet spent years telling Brits sovereignty was some kind of fascist fantasy. It’s now okay to be a ‘flag shagger’ if you’re from Lviv or [Kyiv], but not if you’re from Leeds or Kings Lynn.

– Commenter Martin

7 comments to Samizdata quote of the day

  • Mark

    Maybe it’s a pavlovian response to blue and yellow?

    Pavlov? Isn’t he a meerkat? Must be as they’re about the only thing Russian that hasn’t been sanctioned

  • Mark

    I stand corrected!

    Think of the pups!

  • Paul Marks

    I supported the independence of the United Kingdom – and I still do.

    I support the sovereign independence of all nations – including Poland and Hungary (which the European Union is now working to destroy).

    And I support the sovereign independence of Ukraine – and I would warn the Ukrainian people that Mr Putin and the European Union share an objective. The evil of Mr Putin is out in the open – it is a matter of poison, and bullets, and bombs and shells. The evil of the European Union is far more subtle – but they also seek to destroy the sovereign independence of Ukraine.

    As for “liberal” – if this means that I wish that Gladstone had defeated Disraeli in the elections of 1874 and had abolished Income Tax (both men promised to get rid of income tax – but only Gladstone was sincere, Disraeli was a liar) then YES I DO.

    But I doubt that this is what is meant by the word “liberal” in the post.

  • Mr Ed

    The EU is happy to support the independence of the Ukraine, it’s not so keen on the independence of its own members or even a former member. It seems to have got over Greenland leaving a previous incarnation, but the EU is a not a world away from Putin’s view, which seems to be that it is OK to ‘vote’ to join Russia if you are not a part of it, but not OK to vote to leave it.

  • Paul Marks

    Mr Ed.

    The European Union is NOT happy with the independence of the Ukraine – indeed it is plotting against it (as it is with Hungary and Poland – in the Polish case using the blackmail of MONEY). The evil of Mr Putin is obvious – it is a matter of poison, and bullets, and bombs and shells. The evil of the European Union is far more subtle – but they also seek to destroy the sovereign independence of Ukraine.

    The President of the Ukraine might say “better the rule of Brussels than the rule of MOSCOW” and he might well be CORRECT. But neither is independence.

    “Please do not sell me down the river master – you are a KIND master, the masters down the river are CRUEL”.

    Is that the position the Ukraine has come to? With independence (freedom) not even an option? Just a choice between a kind master and a cruel master?

  • Mr Ed (March 18, 2022 at 7:21 am), the EU seems to share the view of Islam. Limitations are imposed on those who do not join, but they’ll impose a much stronger punishment on apostates – if they can.

    Putin presents himself as bringing the lost sheep home, but if the creature keeps on refusing to cooperate, he’ll slit its throat – if he can.

    Is that the position the Ukraine has come to? (Paul Marks’ comment just above)

    I very much hope not, and think I have reason to. That said, consider the position long ago, when the choice could be between being a serf of the Russians or a slave of the Ottomans (as a post of mine pointed out, the difference between serf and slave was noticeably less than in the mediaeval west), or not so long ago, when the choice was between Hitler and Stalin. The Ukraine has more chance now that in much of its history.