January 21st 2025.
There has been a lot of talk about Donald Trump and his slogan "Make America Great Again." Our readers have shared their thoughts on whether or not Trump has anything to do with what makes America great. Have you joined in on the discussion? If not, feel free to share your views in the comments section of MetroTalk.
But let's take a step back and ask ourselves, when did America stop being great? It's a sad thought to ponder, especially when we think of all the things that have made America great in the past. From Hollywood films to jazz music, from pioneering space technology to world-class medical research, and from esteemed universities to celebrated writers, these are just a few of the things that have contributed to America's greatness. It's not the actions of one individual, especially not a bigoted and ignorant one, that make a country great.
As Jules Stewart from London points out, it was disheartening to see the crowds of Trump supporters at his inauguration, proudly proclaiming that their president will make America great again. But did any of these supporters stop to think about when America stopped being great? Probably not. They were too caught up in the excitement and rhetoric of their leader.
But let's not forget, Trump is only the president of the US. He does not have absolute power, as Congress and individual states still have their own checks and balances. And as Kevin from Watford reminds us, he is not the ruler of the whole world. The media coverage of his inauguration was excessive and in some ways, exaggerated. There needs to be a reality check here.
Some readers have also raised interesting points about Trump's beliefs and actions. Maz from Cumbernauld wonders why he didn't place his hand on the bible during his inauguration, if he truly believes he was "saved by God to make America great again." And Neil Dance from Birmingham laments that Monday was a sad day for the planet.
Moving on from Trump, there have also been discussions about public inquiries. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper recently launched an inquiry into the Southport stabbings, after the killer pleaded guilty to murder. Pedro from Hammersmith wonders if we can also have an inquiry into the lies surrounding Brexit. It seems that making enough noise can get us public inquiries, as seen with the grooming gangs and Southport killer inquiries.
The topic of cashless transactions has also sparked some interesting comments. Henry believes that shops who only accept cash are doing so to avoid paying taxes, but Roger from London points out that credit card companies charge a percentage for using their services, hence why some shops prefer cash. Phil B from Brighton adds that a cashless society would make many people unemployed and it's refreshing to see cash usage rising post-Covid, as it shows support for local shops and businesses.
Debbie from Croydon strongly disagrees with the notion that businesses go cash-only to avoid taxes or launder money. She believes it is part of the propaganda of card companies and cashless businesses to force a cashless society, which will only benefit the corporate greed of those who already have too much money.
Finally, there have been discussions about other topics, such as the number of playing fields sold off by the Tories between 1979 and 1997, the inflation-busting pay rise, and the criticism of Labour by the Tories. It seems that the Tories are quick to criticize Labour for anything they can think of, as Andrew from Hornchurch points out.
The conversation also turned towards TV presenter Richard Madeley, with Corin from London calling him the most pompous and irritating presenter. Others have also shared their dislike for his dismissive and know-it-all interview style, with Joan from Sutton bringing up the fact that air fryers have been around for several years but cooking instructions still don't include them. It seems that viewers are not impressed with Madeley's behavior and it's time for food manufacturers to catch up with the times.
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