Are Lydon, Trump, Or Starmer Right?

Since COVID, this podcast has pretty much been all about the questions that you, the listener, have sent in for Stuart ‘The Wildman’ Mabbutt and William Mankelow, the two co-hosts, to conversate around.

In every episode, two of these listener questions are discussed, and by sheer coincidence, both questions in today’s episode, have come from the same person; Elodie in Brittany, France.

The first of Elodie’s questions is as follows: “What does the ideal form of government look like, and why?”

From this question the conversation begins with an exploration of what constitutes an ideal form of government. Stuart advocates for a system that is fair, progressive, and breaks free from traditional constraints, even referencing John Lydon's controversial support for Donald Trump, as an example of challenging the establishment. William counters with a stark reality check, arguing that Trump causes real harm to working people and asserting that no truly ideal government can exist, due to inherent human disagreement and dissent.

The discussion evolves into a fascinating examination of power dynamics, with William drawing unexpected parallels between government structures and the music industry's shift from record label dominance to streaming platform control. Both hosts ultimately agree that effective governance requires balance - strong leadership willing to make difficult decisions, paired with robust opposition ready to find middle ground through reconciliation.

The second question from Elodie is “How do names and labels influence our perceptions and reality?

William expresses discomfort with gendering non-human objects like hurricanes and ships, leading to a broader conversation about the difference between grammatical gender and sexual identity. Stuart provocatively argues that society's obsession with labeling - whether by profession, sexuality, or identity - may actually hinder progress, rather than advance it.

The hosts examine the LGBTQ+ movement through different lenses, with William viewing it as necessary activism against those who deny gender diversity, while Stuart questions whether continued focus on gender categories prevents true social evolution.

What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to ⁠[e-mail]

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