Thread by @swardley

At JFK, heading to Edinburgh then home ... then Map Camp ... then Brighton then Sweden then ... and the beat goes on ...

X : Don't you think you should travel less for climate reasons?
Me : I happen to believe in a 70% wealth tax beyond £1M for all people, funds and corporations to tackle climate change. Once we've done that, I'll talk about individual responsibility.

X : That seems like you're avoiding responsibility.
Me : Quite the opposite. The wealthy have benefited, they should pay. No ifs, no buts. Gov action, hunt them down if necessary. A one off 70% wealth tax above £1M is reasonable.

X : "Hunt them down" ... you have an angry side that sneaks through.
Me : Not at all. I'm extremely peaceful. That doesn't mean I opposed to violence when necessary to support Gov action that benefits the many.

It also doesn't mean I'm in favour of it. I would certainly be very lenient to hunting down the wealthy that avoid their responsibility to society especially given the 120,000 deaths due to austerity. That first blow has been struck.

X : "first blow has been struck" implies a war.
Me : I know we've all been very civil and comfortable about this but I've observed class warfare going on for my entire life. This surely can't be news? It has just become more visible.

... the great battle has always been between the individual and the collective. There is no magic answer ... it's a balancing act of opposing forces. The role of any good Government is to keep it in balance.

... that role was abandoned in the later Blair years and from Cameron and on. Something has to bring it back in balance. The whole pitchforks are coming is spot on - politico.com/magazine/story…

X : This seems all very melancholy.
Me : I do so love the idea of "Be excellent to each other".

X : What do you think to Boris?
Me : Not a great deal, I respect his play / capability but not his intent. Corbyn is by far the better leader.

X : Do you think UK should remain?
Me : That's probably one of the daftest ideas I've heard. It's difficult to describe how mind numbingly stupid and bereft of any social awareness that is. By all means have another vote or referendum but leave what to do until after.

X : On your travel, do you only fly business class?
Me :Yes, when my back is messed up.
X : When it's not?
Me : Yes, mostly
X : Mostly?
Me : As far as you and anyone else is concerned ... yes.

X : Do you reclaim the ticket?
Me : Hell no. That says more about you and your thought processes than me.
X : I don't get the "mostly".
Me : If I'm really tired and will sleep through anything, if my back is fine ... i might swap seats.
X : You're kidding?
Me : Nope.