Reflections on January's current affairs

There are two things That I feel the need this week talk a little about of which I think is the collapse of Carillion the  construction and service operating concern which here in the North-west Midlands is quite important not just for those who worked directly for it such as the office staff in Wolverhampton that I know well but also for the many small and medium sized business across our region who were sub-contractors on projects for local and national government plus concerns such as Network Rail who own the railway lines across the UK.
While rightly the Governments attention has been focused more around ensuring contracted work continues and with that the employees turn in and get paid, this still leaves potential business a quarter million pounds or more each out of pocket with little likelihood of getting that after the taxman and banks have taken from whatever assets can be sold to pay what is owed to them.
Part of this is because contractual payments are made in arrears often strung out meaning considerable monies are spent before it comes in causing cash-flow issues and payments due were delayed sometime ago. It has the potential to bring down these companies and with it the well being of their employees.
I hope the business meetings due to take place from Tuesday onward bring forth a plan to assist them until much of Carillion's work is stabilized and so contracts can be renewed.
The other is The Donald and the infamous "sh*thole" remarks at least attributed to his meeting with Foreign Affairs senators.
The absence of a categorical denial by all present of these reported comments has only added to their widespread revulsion around the world.
Some of us would defend strong terms in condemning the issues of corrupt poorly performing governance in parts of Central America and much of Africa where money just disappears from western countries aid and medical welfare provision and where far from growing their economies they engage in petty squabbling and rewarding supporters.
In saying that though, one should not prejudge entire peoples who often feel as frustrated as we in the West do with their so-called leaders, the stolen monies and bare faced lies nor should we fail to understand facing that, any of us would look to moving to a better society to allow us and our families the chance to move on and to earn a better life.
Using highly offensive terms too is often counter productive in making valid points and diminish the moral authority not just of those who do but of those they represent such as the American people all ethnicities and family backgrounds. Such comments deserve widespread condemnation.
This is not a good moment in a year of many others sadly for those of us recognize who and support the American people and what their country stands for regardless of politics.