George Monbiot: *We must confront Russian propaganda – even when it comes from those we respect.*

*The argument of the Left should be, that in 2003, other governments did not put enough pressure on the United States over Iraq. Not that it is necessary to exert less pressure on Russia over Ukraine now.*

One of the flaws of "carbon emission trading" is that speculators enter the trading market. That is causing volatility now in the EU's emission trading market -- the price has fallen, so that it is now cheaper to pollute.

A carefully-designed carbon tax would avoid this problem. It has no room for speculation. Furthermore, it is possible to make a special increase the tax if emissions are not declining fast enough.

Two extremist Republicans in Congress have crossed the Republican Party's line by speaking at a white supremacists' event. Powerful Republican politicians are condemning them.

The corrupter has been close friends with Putin since before being elected, and has been trying to undermine or abolish NATO.

Rebecca Solnit: *It's time to confront the Trump-Putin network.*

I am skeptical of the claim that Wikileaks got the material showing the dishonesty of Clinton and the Democratic National Convention towards Sanders from Russian spies. Assange said that was not so, and I trust him.

However, that was just a side point in the article linked to.

Overall, I think the name "Trumputin" fits what we are dealing with.

The Tories have degraded to the point that 15% of Britons are ready to pay for private medical treatment.

Next step: make the NHS so inadequate that anyone who can afford private treatment will go for that, and the rest will get only the most basic treatment for the easily cured diseases. More or less like the US.