Politics

Aaron Nietfeld said:

. . . Also don’t forget where those geese you guys love shooting are named after!

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sierraone said:

What is your government telling you the hold up is?

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HWL said:

..... America calls Germany an enemy......and treats it like an enemy!!!

Simply watch your president.

Today, Germany is a well respected country all over the world.

How many real friends America does have any more?


HWL

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Alistair said:

Not sure I entirely agree here. I doubt many of the rich Oligarchs who are actully in charge over there care much, but I suspect many of the common people, especially of the older generation and lower economic classes really do.

My logic is this: For a whole swathe of the Russian populace, a time when Russia was a genuine world power is within living memory. Everyone over the age of about 45 was born in a Soviet system, educated in a Soviet system and formed their opinions over their country from what was effectively Soviet propoganda during much of their formative years. That doesn't just go away. Now, if you are an Oligarch, that doesn't matter. Capitalism is clearly and demonstrably better because it's made you billions and you live in a major city which sees the benefits from that investment. Your life is better now than it was in 1980.

But for the rural farmer, living basically hand to mouth and watching increasing wealth inequality, what has capitalism ever done for them? Their country is still corrupt, they're still poor, but now they can buy a McDonalds. Big deal.

For these people, the 'good old days' of the USSR are precisely that. To them the changing regime hasn't helped them personally, so it seems that the ruling classes have sacrificed Russias place on the word stage for personal wealth, something that isn't going to go down well with people who again, were educated in a communist state. Where is Russias economic might now? Where is her grand civil engineering projects, her world class military, her cutting edge technology? All sacrificed for personal profit, whilst the rest of the world has passed her by.

So what's the relevance of this to expansion into former Soviet states? Well, Putin and the russian government are at least slightly beholden to these people. And for these people, empire building, a return to the glory days when Russia was powerful on the world stage, an acknowledged super power is very appealing. They don't actually care about the economic benefits of regaining these countries, its all pretty academic when your net assets are a few acres of tundra and an aged Lada, they care about the perception of their country.

We see this in Britain as well. People still hearken back to the old 'Great' Britain, empire on which the sun never sets, blah blah, and that was well before living memory. Just think how unbearable Nigel Farage would be if we granted India independence in 1987, not 1947.

So that's why it could happen. For many people in Russia, regaining the old eastern european states is positive, not because it helps them economically, but because it soothes their national pride. They equate regaining those lands with a resurgence in Russian prominence with all the attendent benefits that brings in prestige and to a lesser degree standard of living. That's what Putin is potentially banking on, and why annexation could happen. Plus, of course, Putin is ex-KGB, he's hardly immune to a bit of nostalgia for the glory days himself, as long as it doesn't hurt his bank balance...

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Scott CWO said:

Bernie and Ocasio-Cortez lie to young people and the lazy about free college, free health care and open borders so they can seize power and get elected even though they know the tax payers cannot afford such foolishness. It's all about power and votes of naive young people and illegal immigrants that the media have brainwashed.

We can't afford the social programs of Europe and Canada while we pay for the free-world's defense. I believe the limits on the defense budgets of Germany and Japan have been lifted but they still don't want to pay for the majority of their own defense. Past Presidents have allowed this to go on for too long. Same for trade.

China requires a 51% Chinese "partner" to do business inside China. This gives them access to all the intellectual property that they want to steal. We don't require them to have a 51% partner here. The Chinese people now enjoy all the West's high tech products and lifestyle that has been stolen without being paid for or developed on their own. In the USA, we are fighting and bickering about social issues, marijuana, immigration, health care, guns, etc... and meanwhile the Chinese are kicking our azzes with a central government and central purpose to build airports, freeways, high-speed trains, etc... They have convinced their people to forget about democracy through buying them off with a western lifestyle they have stolen. I was in China for 10 days in April. The women dress to the "nines", the streets are full of BMWs, Mercedes, etc... They are killing us. Don't even get me started on the Chinese in Africa and illicit ivory...

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jacques smith said:

Holy Christ—after attempting to follow this—I need a drink

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jacques smith said:

Holy Christ—after attempting to follow this—I need a drink

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BRICKBURN said:

You need a drink before attempting to follow anything in this thread. I assume intoxication assisted posting has occurred here.
Perhaps we should install an Alcohol interlock on keyboards!

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• Trump - 50% (Obama was 45% at this same point in his presidency)
• Macron - 36%
• May - 30%
• Merkel - 29%

Hogpatrol said:

Back when I was a kid and other kids had better ball gloves, board games, school supplies or other things, I collected soda bottles, mowed lawns, shoveled snow, grew tomatoes and other vegetables and sold them door to door, made and sold lemonade and iced tea to construction workers, etc. to get the money to buy them or at least help buy them. This work ethic culture is now upside down. Can't afford a cell phone, internet access, a computer, a bike, a school backpack and other school supplies? No worry, the government or the charity/church/NGO down the street will supply them, no work, no sacrifice or effort required. This country was founded on work, risk taking and sacrifice, something completely lost on liberal do gooders the takers and do nothings. I'm sorry but every time I see a giveaway in some city to kids, I think what is that teaching them?

In other news, father of FORTY THREE beaten to death in Chicago.

https://patch.com/illinois/westside/father-43-children-killed-west-side-report

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Dragan N. said:

There's way to much red tape now a days. Try being a kid and shoveling snow or cutting lawns, that kid or their parents could probably endup in shit for not having liability insurance, WSIB, no HST number or registered company bla bla. Try a lemonade or iced tea stand, there was a case not to long ago of health inspection getting involved here as the stand didn't meet health codes for food safety etc... Not to mention that technically you cant even be legally employed if you are under 15 at least in Ontario...

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lwaters said:

That's the problem. We pay for Europe and Japan defense and they get health care. No matter what's right the American voter won't buy this for long.

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Foxi said:

Nobody's forcing America to station its troops.
No Baltic States, no Poland, no Germany.
No one other is forcing America to be present worldwide.
If you want to continue as a world policeman and leader that
costs money, but it always costs money to defend its interests.
It's a great power's geopolitical considerations. Nothing else.

What exactly do the Americans mean by "make it great again"?
Influence and power can't be to reduce it then.
Regards

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