Politics

[Rocked and Loaded]

Germany has multiple political parties...and more or less all european states are taking measurers towards halting immigration. The problem is that many immigrants, now citizens are muslims that wount assimilate into western culture. But the law prohibits re-immigration of citizens..so unless the german people, via elections, choose to change that, AfD´s re-immigration talk is futile..

In addition to that, AfD is anti EU and pro Russia like Viktor Urban of Hungary.. There is also anti-NATO feelings in AfD:

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has recently questioned Germany's membership in NATO, suggesting that the alliance may not serve the country's interests.

Key​

1. Tino Chrupalla's Critique: The co-leader of the AfD, Tino Chrupalla, has publicly stated that NATO is no longer functioning as a true defense alliance. He argues that Europe has been compelled to implement U.S. interests, which he rejects. Chrupalla emphasized that NATO must respect the interests of all European countries, including Russia, and suggested that if NATO cannot ensure this, Germany should reconsider its membership in the alliance.

It’s sounds like you’ll just have to live with things as they are then. Or things just get so bad that an AfD victory becomes inevitable.

 

[Rocked and Loaded]

So far its more troublesome for a european to visit the US. Too many proceedures and even if you pass on-line forms they can still reject entery when arriving to JFK for-what-ever. For an american to visit EU can just arrive without pre-applicationforms. A valid passport is enough.

I have suggested it should go both ways but so far the establishment go silent when suggesting. This however may change now...

I was surprised to see plenty of Germans in Kauai last summer.

 

[RLD]

We can stay here and have a good time.

This comment seems particularly funny on a site dedicated to the pursuit of travelling to distant continents to hunt.

Personally, I quite enjoy travel to many places in the United States and Europe.

 

[Red Leg]

That is because you do not understand the complex European political spectrum and how things work here. We do not have a two party system. Everything is worked out in the shadows and by conflicting interests, businesses.

Most of the population is fed up with politics and want change. In most countries almost three quarters is against immigration but the governments are not listening.

In several countries parties are banned or there is a cordon sanitaire. Change will come but is it already too late is the question.

What I find fascinating in most of Europe is the success the left has had in dividing the right - or perhaps it is a political suicide pact on the right? Nowhere is that more obvious than in Germany where the CDU/CSU simply can not make common cause with the AfD because of AfD's successful demonization by the left. It would be the same in this country, were significant traditional republican conservatives to make common cause against the MAGA movement. I'll acknowledge a few have, but they are a distinct minority.

In this nation's case, the US is also fortunate not to have a parliamentary system. Where parliaments and coalitions tend to foster narrow, even encourage single issue parties, the republican system encourages, even demands, combination into two parties broadly representing conservative and liberal platforms. With rare exceptions like the current mayor of NY, this broad electorate base tends to be a barrier to narrow minority political movement like Marxism.

At the same time the nation is fortunate to have a constitutionally protected free press and the freedom of speech that can be exercised through such a press or other media. Those protections also further limit the amount of control a single party can actually exercise while in power. For instance, the social control being exercised over social and political speech in much of Western Europe currently would be impossible in this country as the failure of limited efforts attempted by the Obama and Biden administrations demonstrated.

All that said, we still have a lot of work to do to determine how to manage the sheer propaganda that populates much of social media. Spend an hour reviewing the comment sections of X or Reddit postings will leave any educated person somewhat despondent for the fate of the republic. Still, I will chose that freedom of expression - even by idiots or enemies - over state control.

 

[Brent in Az]

Switzerland has a put a 4 year freeze on assets held in the country by Maduro and his associates.

 

[CJW]

Most of the population is fed up with politics and want change.

Authentic looking copies of the US Constitution can be purchased on Amazon for $4.99. US resident Amazon Prime members get free two day shipping though European shipping will incur more charges.

Or just Google it.

 

[Red Leg]

I believe you might be a bit disingenuous when you say you don't know what I mean, but I'm a good guy so I'll endulge you. I never said some or most Europeans don't think positively of us. Though some things I have read in repetition in this very thread would lead me to believe that some of you think we couldn't locate Europe on a map, can't breathe out of our noses and use our shirt sleeves as napkins. To be fair most of this comes after some perceived slight by one of you folks across the pond.

Your current, accelerating demographic nightmare and everything that goes along with it seems endearing and Lord knows I love a good day away in jail hanging out with some tyrants for saying some hurty words or even just saying a quiet or even silent, private prayer, but some might not. If in your opinion it's going well for you, your offspring and subsequent generations, please keep it up. Meanwhile, America has vast rolling plains, mountains topping 14,000 ft, rainforest, desert, vast ocean coastline, tundra, wetlands, seemingly bottomless lakes, the 1st and 2nd amendment, etc. We can stay here and have a good time.

Let's not get too carried away with the self idolatry and the neo-isolationism that spawns it. I love international travel and much of European and South American Culture especially. For reasons beyond my comprehension, the administration is in the process of making it ever more difficult for Europeans, among other foreign populations, to visit our country. It is only a matter of time before those nations reciprocate in kind. Given a choice between the Redneck Riviera and Med, I'll opt for the Med.

 

[Pondoro]

MSN

1,5 trillion..jeez

 

[CoElkHunter]

One of two explanations come to mind.

1. White guilt.

2. Power grab. Take from reprehensible middle class whites and give housing away to minorities/illegals thus further increase her power base.

Since I can’t comprehend white guilt my guess is she is trying to gain power.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008903817341931618

Just another hypocritical Marxist as usual.

 

[mdwest]

Rick Scott is predicting the fall of the Cuban regime.

While I'd love nothing more than to see the Communist regime in Cuba fall, I think Rick Scott is probably getting a little out in front of his skis on this one..

That regime isnt leaving power without a full blown revolution happening (or Delta maybe snatching Diaz-Canel out of his bed at 2AM while simultaneously smoking a dozen or so leaders in the Cuban military)..

Economic dispair isnt going to cause their collapse.. they have been in economic dispair since the opening months of Castro taking charge.. and their military has an absolute death grip on the country..

There was a reason Cuban special forces were the inner cordon of Maduros security. They are well trained, well equipped (by Caribbean standards), and dogmatically loyal..

Until we start seeing substantial intelligence that the Cuban military is starting to turn, I dont see it happening..

Venezuela is certainly going to have an impact.. It appears the VP (now President) is playing ball at least reasonably with Trump... if thats true thats going to create an energy problem for Cuba.. most of their electricity comes from VZ oil if I understand correctly.. and Russia isnt really in a position to prop Cuba up like they have been in the past..

But.. I'd bet my next check that China is more than willing to fill any void created... they need friends in the Western Hemisphere.. and a friend just 60 miles from Miami is extremely valuable..

 

[Red Leg]

MSN

1,5 trillion..jeez

Good. That would equal the 5% of GDP the Trump administration is demanding of Europe.

 

[CJW]

Let's not get too carried away with the self idolatry and the neo-isolationism that spawns it.

I wasn't. Merely trying to get my point across. Don't look too deep into that post.

I love international travel and much of European and South American Culture especially.

Exactly. But you go there for the European and South American culture. Not the cultural suicide of imported barbarism.

Fort reasons beyond my comprehension, the administration is in the process of making it ever more difficult for Europeans, among other foreign populations, to visit our country. It is only a matter of time before those nations reciprocate in time. Given a choice between the Redneck Riviera and Med, I'll opt for the Med.

 

[Pondoro]

Good. That would equal the 5% of GDP the Trump administration is demanding of Europe.

At the expense of the american tax payer though..

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

At the expense of the american tax payer though..

Freedom isn't free.

 

[Red Leg]

https://www.barrons.com/articles/defense-stocks-trump-bans-dividends-buybacks-12b5b842?siteid=yhoof2

RTX and Other Defense Stocks Fall After Trump Says He’ll Ban Dividends, Buybacks

This is certifiably insane - the sort of action a Mamdani would propose. Defense stocks typically are not purchased by individuals trying to ride an up ramp. They are purchased by institutions looking for stability and predictable dividends. The typical Defense Corporation operates on 9.5-10% profit margin. Where does the financial genius in the White House think defense R&D money will originate if investors move to other corporate sectors significantly lowering stock value. Defense stocks have fallen over 5% across the board in the last hour since this was released.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

MSN

1,5 trillion..jeez

Well, how is the USA going to care about Europe, through protection when necessary, without funds to replenish our military? Being the best doesn't come without cost.

At the expense of the american tax payer though..

That's what tariffs are for!

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Political, but unrelated to the last few pages here...

Did anyone watch Gutfeld's segment on Walz last night? (Walz: "Expect for the next 11 months for me to ride you like you’ve never been ridden...") It's well worth looking up and watching, if you need a laugh.

 

[DieJager]

I believe you might be a bit disingenuous when you say you don't know what I mean, but I'm a good guy so I'll endulge you. I never said some or most Europeans don't think positively of us. Though some things I have read in repetition in this very thread would lead me to believe that some of you think we couldn't locate Europe on a map, can't breathe out of our noses and use our shirt sleeves as napkins. To be fair most of this comes after some perceived slight by one of you folks across the pond.

Your current, accelerating demographic nightmare and everything that goes along with it seems endearing and Lord knows I love a good day away in jail hanging out with some tyrants for saying some hurty words or even just saying a quiet or even silent, private prayer, but some might not. If in your opinion it's going well for you, your offspring and subsequent generations, please keep it up. Meanwhile, America has vast rolling plains, mountains topping 14,000 ft, rainforest, desert, vast ocean coastline, tundra, wetlands, seemingly bottomless lakes, the 1st and 2nd amendment, etc. We can stay here and have a good time.

I honestly didn't know what you mean and if that is the message that you understood I definitely apologize.

I think you need to read some more posts of me and see that I'm an agreeing one that part that we are on the wrong way. I was slighted by the too simplistic characterization of another
member than it is somewhat the fault of our own making whilst the majority is and was never for these policies. Like we are all lefties over here.

How our societies functions is vastly different and we have much less room to offer our opinions because we don't have free speech and because most countries our entrenched with families that make the decisions since times the US didn't even exist. It is way more complex

I never tried to characterize Americans as uneducated are otherwise. I think the American constitution is one of the greatest documents ever written and if you felt that I tried to make fun or talk down in everyway anyway that is definitely not what I was trying to do.

If you never been there and know how things work in other systems it is better to ask questions or visit those places. Visit us before make grand statements.

 

[mdwest]

https://www.barrons.com/articles/defense-stocks-trump-bans-dividends-buybacks-12b5b842?siteid=yhoof2

RTX and Other Defense Stocks Fall After Trump Says He’ll Ban Dividends, Buybacks

This is certifiably insane - the sort of action a Mamdani would propose. Defense stocks typically are not purchased by individuals trying to ride an up ramp. They are purchased by institutions looking for stability and predictable dividends. The typical Defense Corporation operates on 9.5-10% profit margin. Where does the financial genius in the White House think defense R&D money will originate if investors move to other corporate sectors significantly lowering stock value. Defense stocks have fallen over 5% across the board in the last hour since this was released.

Thats completely out of left field...

@Red Leg is right.. john and jane doe arent the typical defense stock investors... Longview Asset Management is a huge investor in General Dynamics.. They, plus Vanguard, Blackrock, and other investment firms own 86% of that firm..

Vanguard is the biggest investor in Northrop.. they along with Blackrock, Capitol Research, and other investment firms own 80% of that company..

Lockheed is the same.. and the same investors are present.. Blackrock, Vanguard, State Steet, Charles Schwab, etc own 75% of Lockheed..

Im wondering if that isnt a shot across Larry Finks bow (he and Trump have a love-hate relationship that is largely defined by hate)..

Thankfully, my firm is in defense services and not defense materials.. a huge chunk of that proposed 1.5T will go into materials.. the pentagon wants ships, planes, tanks, missiles, and munitions more than anything else.. but a big enough piece will go into services (someone has to manage all of that stuff).. and thankfully we arent publicly traded, or I'd be shitting myself right now..

and.. I wish we averaged 9.5-10%

I have always been envious of the margins the materials guys are able to pull (which is crazy low compared to most other industries)... On the services side of the house you consider yourself very lucky if youre making a true net 8%.. if I had to guess what the average is across industry right now I'd peg it closer to 7.. and thats only because the IT guys and some other specialized services are able to charge a "premium" lol... most of industry on the services side is probably closer to a true 6%..

 

[DieJager]

successful demonization by the left.

Especially this but also the censorship is real. Also what is called the right are mostly centrists parties. They do not want to work with parties on the right side. The elites are not on the right and they have vast powers in Europe.

People get fired for the wrong opinions, careers destroyed and even jailed. The institutions of my country are majority of the left side.

Change is very difficult in this system. The younger generation sees through it. The internet was somewhat free but the European Union is trying to censor it now because the Overton window is shifting fast to the right. Hopefully sane minds will prevail.