Comments by "Derek Mills" (@derekmills1080) on "David Starkey Talks" channel.

  1. David - a masterclass in ‘taking the Mickey’ - your first three minutes and twenty seconds (up to ‘she elephant’) had me in stitches. Irony has nothing on it, you effectively destroyed an almost non-existent reputation with the minimum of words. Thank you!! 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  2. David, you are a prize amongst historians; 'Reading tealeaves is Bidenology'. I drank a superb malt after hearing that comment and was enthralled with the remainder of your talk. Finishing with a true pearl of wisdom; 'only if we understand, can we react properly', a profound, erudite comment. I would suggest that these talks would be real food for the intellect if synthesised into book form. Thank you again for a superb talk.
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  3. Absolutely enthralling. I'm reminded of how outstanding this programme was when I first watched it on TV. We all know, David, one of the reasons that you are no longer on the 'repeat' programmes list. Your standards are considerably higher than most of the other potboilers.
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  4. There is so much to say, but I shall only mention one item related to David’s reflection on a sense of involvement and voluntary work, together with a sense of pride, despite hardships. During the 1930s years of depression, most cotton mills in Bolton closed. There were some 240 mills (Bolton was one of the biggest producers in the world when in full production) so jobs were in short supply. My great uncle Joe, a spinner, found ONE day’s work, a 12 hour shift, at India Mill, Darwen. Somehow, they managed to stay open during the depression era. Uncle Joe had no money (no job - no money!!), so couldn’t afford to use buses, trams or trains. He got up at 3 in the morning, made sandwiches and a flask of tea and walked from Great Lever, in the south of Bolton, to Darwen via Blackburn Road (the A666). Of course, after his 12 hour shift he walked back. When he used to talk about this, there was absolutely no sense of shame or being poor, everybody was in the same boat. Maybe that’s what David is hinting at - these days we don’t want to be in the ‘same boat’, we aren’t interested in fellow man. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  5. As Ian Dale intimated at the beginning, David is a 'youtuber' that one listens to from beginning to end. So it has been with this discussion. Thank you again.
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  6. A fascinating conversation indeed. David Starkey’s closing words reflect a great deal of my views of Britain, particularly England (we all have our choice areas). My younger brother and I were brought up by wonderful parents. My father had seen much destruction in WWII (as a Sherman tank commander) and postwar, encouraged appreciation of our wonderful history. While other children were kicking a ball or whatever, we were looking at Neolithic sites on the moors around Bolton; visiting wonderful castles; exploring architectural gems of cities and towns; amassing collections of artefacts, books and pamphlets - all to add ‘grist to the mill’. I remember well the (one of many) depressing advent of ‘new labour’ and the reality of the devaluing of Britishness. I doubt the current lot in ‘government’ will return compatriots values - but at my age, one can only hope! 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  7. I haven't watched the New Culture Forum, so your talk, David, was entirely new to me. Touching on the lamentable state of our armed forces, I truly believe that our patriotism needs to be rekindled. One suspects a considerable improvement in loyalty to our country would be made with a more meaningful approach to education in schools. My own experience (O.K., I was an academic, so am somewhat biased) is that young members of my family know nothing worthwhile about British history; but then I live next door to a 40 year old teacher and he looks at me in a puzzled way whenever I raise some topic or other in conversation. He simply doesn't know anything at all.
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  8. Again, David, my mind is tingling after having listened to your talk. What was particularly interesting to me was your assertion towards the end that 'hate' was a stronger emotion, or perhaps action, than 'love'. Regrettable but true.
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  9. David, forgive any comment I may have that is a repeat of former ones. I watched and listened intently from start to finish and, again, my mind is tingling with thoughts and ideas derived from your intellectual analysis of the current situation in Ukraine and associated political problems. Thank you for a thoroughly engaging talk.
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  10. Thank you, David, yet again, a thoroughly engaging and informative talk. I loved your amusing reminiscence of childhood playing dukes et al. with your friend. Was this a lamentation of falling educational standards, in that most children now have a very poor understanding of British history? I wonder; perhaps the twinkle in your eye gave the game away.
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  11. After a mundane day shopping and doing other tedious chores, I had been looking forward to your talk. I was not disappointed. Thank you, again, David, for another enthralling analysis of historical events.
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  12. Thank you. 👍🇬🇧👍🇺🇸👍
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  13. Always a pleasure to listen to your talks, David.
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  14. Thank you. 👍🇬🇧👍🇺🇸👍
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  15. An intellectual backdrop to the sad events that are inevitable in the next few days, leaves my mind, as ever, David, tingling. Thank you.
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  16. Quite frankly, David, you are a genius.
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  17. Thank you for an enthralling talk - again.
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  18. I listened from start to finish and my cup of tea ended up cold and thrown away. Your intellectual approach, David, is both refreshing and enlightening. My mind is now tingling with thoughts on matters raised in the half hour talk. Thank you.
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  19. Thank you again, David. It is a great joy, to me, to listen to erudite argument by (I hope you don't think me patronising) someone with a good command of English. Your talk, possibly an Orwellian 'lament', about the decline of the 'Society of Authors' lasted over 35 minutes; time meant nothing to me, it seemed like 5 minutes of clear argument and reasoning.
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  20. David, your veracity and perception of matters pertaining to inflation should be compulsory listening for our lamentably stupid 'politicians'. Your argument was, nay, is an example of intellect and clarity spiced with, dare I say, cynical humour. I much appreciated this talk - it has stimulated my mind, yet again.
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  21. A fascinating talk, much substance to be agreed with; some to be cautiously discussed. I’m a postwar child and remember clearly being surrounded with euphoria from many quarters, when Blair became the figurehead of ‘New Labour’. I realised that my life was going to lack intellectual quality, simply because ‘New Labour’ pandered to the gutter-level politics of populism. Fast forward to now; not a single intelligent person I know can think of ANYTHING constructively engineered by recent ‘governments’. David mentioned the inept Heath and astronomical rises in prices and such a feeble attitude to discipline and law and order that we have never regained economic stability. My problem - shared by many - is who are the people who might vote this country down the plughole by allowing ‘labour’ in as a dreadful ‘government’? One only has to look at the collection of has-beens in His Majesty’s Opposition to see examples of the lower octile of IQ distribution. I’m going to become a hermit for the remainder of my life ……. but where??
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  22. A memorable talk, David, with a memorable quote, amongst many, "that jumped up little squirt Lord Faulkner". Thank you.
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  23. Thank you, David, for yet another fascinating talk. I am always encouraged to read more after listening to your discourse.
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  24. A genuine thank you, David, for making me realise that I have scant knowledge about this topic and that your talk is encouragement to rectify that as soon as possible.
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  25. Thank you David. If only our scheißfest in Westminster were intelligent enough and amenable enough to listen and absorb your intellectual views upon the disastrous denigration of our British values. I also share your views about, inarguably, the worst alleged ‘prime minister’ in British history. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  26. While I completely understand David’s omission of reference to Reform and it’s potential to become the major ‘opposition’ in parliament - it has not yet created sufficient contemporary ‘history’ to evaluate its efficacy for the future - the truth is that, in my humble opinion, ‘conservatism’ is dying on its feet. I am slightly younger, but have experienced almost as many changes in governments and their political effectiveness. Rishi’s behaviour at the D Day commemoration was, frankly, shameful. As for Starmer and his dreadful assortment of low IQ fools, I just wish David’s description of Starmer’s personality could be spread far and wide and heard by all. It was a masterclass in character dissection, or rather destruction.
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  27. Congratulations, David, on your award. Well deserved Indeed!
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  28. Again, David, a thoroughly engaging and informative talk.
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  29. As usual, a splendid talk with some truly memorable quotes, in particular, the ‘word salad’ of that buffoon Harris (American, I believe) morphing into a ‘not very good minestrone soup’. Looking forward to the next, David. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  30.  @roygardiner2229  Thank you for your kind comments.
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  31. My mind has been refreshed - and reminded how good this programme was, the first time I saw it. Thank you, David.
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  32. Many thanks, David, for another fascinating talk.
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  33. Thank you David; would that the ‘20% government’ had the intellect to listen to, and understand the implications of your talk. My money is with Reform, but if the conservatives restructured and became allies of Reform; I am convinced that a ‘labour’ ‘government’ would never, ever occur again - ever. In the meantime, our precious country slides rapidly into the abyss. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  34. I did!!
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  35. Thanks again, David, for keeping me glued to the video from the very start to the end. I'm not completely swayed toward Mr. Johnson's veracity, but I appreciate your analytical approach to the subject matter. I note that the shock of your linking 'Boris' and 'the truth' may have caused your mantelpiece clock to advance 5 minutes and chime, but it seems to have wrecked its movement, for it hasn't worked since.
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  36.  @steveste7922  👍
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  37. An interesting question from Todd Torkelson. I could listen for hours to David's discourse and must admit to looking forward to the next one.
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  38. My initial thought 'gosh, I don't know if I can maintain interest for over a hundred minutes'. My final thought (after one or two concurrent glasses of 12 year old malt) 'I'm jolly glad I persevered'. Thank you again, David, for an informative and, at times, highly opinionated, talk.
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  39. As always, my mind is now enlightened.
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  40. I have the greatest respect for David’s intellect, but shall never agree with his views on REFORM. After 14 years of truly awful ‘conservative’ incompetence, and a devastating 100 days or so of the worst so-called ‘government’ in recent memory, apparently lead by the worst alleged ‘prime minister’ in British history, there is no other realistic alternative. REFORM must be the choice from now on, at both local and national elections; ‘labour’ must never, ever be elected to Westminster again - ever. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  41. A clear insight into a dark period that I remember all too well. Thank you, David.
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  42. I completely agree with you. Starting next year, America shall be spearheading ideas that gel with the sensible aspects of world economy and politics. I used to get (nearly) first hand reports on President Trump’s first tenure - one of my best friend’s sister was married to a Texan and he visited her and her family three or four times a year. The consensus was that, against the odds, he tried to do exactly what he said he would do - a novel idea for any politician.
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  43.  @DenaInWyo  👍
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  44. Well said, David. You unearthed the legal equivalent of ‘Catch 22’ - not that I would EVER equate you to Captain Yossarian - yours is a more intellectual and determined opposition to the lunacy of alleged ‘lawyers’ that WE fund. 👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍🇮🇱👍🇬🇧👍
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  45. As always, fascinating. Thank you, David.
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  46. Thank you for your kind thoughts. 👍🇬🇧👍🇺🇸👍
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  47. David, as usual, a fascinating talk. Your analysis of the recent few weeks and an utterly disastrous ‘government’ overseeing inequality in a palpable manner, is a lesson in historical analysis of the first rank. I would make it compulsory viewing for those in Westminster, save I doubt that there would be many intelligent enough to understand your reasoning. Thank you, David, for injecting sanity into my confused mind.
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  48.  @trawlins396  Yes. I can’t for the life of me remember when. Google might be useful here.
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  49. Absolutely excellent, as usual. Thank you, David.
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  50.  @carolinejohnson22  true.
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