Politics

[Certus]

Us uneducated folks chuckling softly at the near pointless debate over stemmed by ego

 

[mdwest]

Us uneducated folks chuckling softly at the near pointless debate over stemmed by ego

Peasant!

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Us uneducated folks chuckling softly at the near pointless debate over stemmed by ego

I remember a college professor summing it up perfectly:

We all know what BS stands for, right? MS is more of the same and PhD is piled higher and deeper.

This concludes today's lesson.

 

[Betterinthebush]

There was a guy in my high school that used to have a girlfriend in Niagara Falls.

Ontario.

Canada.

Coincidence..?

 

[coreydb]

Not passing judgement yet, but I have my biases. Pretti intentionally went to MN to actively engage in activities other than peaceful protests.

 

[PARA45]

Can we please get back to more educational topics, like the Ukraine war, how is the economy doing, how Trump is going to get Greenland, how are the Rep going to do in the mid-terms, etc.

BTW, @mdwest, I flat out love how you analyze things, and how you write them on here. I would have followed you to the gates of hell if that is how you gave out a pre-brief before a mission.

 

[Woodcarver]

Can we please get back to more educational topics, like the Ukraine war, how is the economy doing, how Trump is going to get Greenland, how are the Rep going to do in the mid-terms, etc.

BTW, @mdwest, I flat out love how you analyze things, and how you write them on here. I would have followed you to the gates of hell if that is how you gave out a pre-brief before a mission.

Yes. The comic relief period has indeed been entertaining, but I too, am curious on what the recent developments in Ukraine might indicate.

 

[Jeff505]

Masters and PhD are both Canadian. Recall I said I finished editing the PhD thesis conclusion while I was waiting for the plane to fly me to Winnipeg for my 3rd emergency retina surgery. The dept was getting cranky about extensions for completing the program. And they don't give extensions away either. I had a family to take care of so needed to get finished. I remember showing up for my thesis defense (also in Winnipeg) with half my face still swollen and bruised from surgery.

Let look at areas where you expertise might be appreciated.

1. Maple syrup and it’s uses in recipes and modern society.
2. Tim Horton’s stories, most significant and/or embarrassing moments.
3. Hockey, speak your mind.
4. Back bacon, yeah it’s Canadian but is it really bacon. No, absolutely not. Try and defend this.
5. Beer at breakfast, we might be on the same page here.
6. Being overly friendly to everyone, I don’t think you picked up this habit.
7. Trying to act like a different country. Ok this might offend some. Canada is actually a suburb of the United States, you use this metric stuff that is just silly. You refer to your government as the crown, equally silly. Several hundred years ago good men in North America drove out the British. Don’t pretend to be part of this imperialistic losers club.

Well that’s about it, I would still recommend using dog pictures to communicate in a way that most would understand.

 

[Jeff505]

Let look at areas where you expertise might be appreciated.

1. Maple syrup and it’s uses in recipes and modern society.
2. Tim Horton’s stories, most significant and/or embarrassing moments.
3. Hockey, speak your mind.
4. Back bacon, yeah it’s Canadian but is it really bacon. No, absolutely not. Try and defend this.
5. Beer at breakfast, we might be on the same page here.
6. Being overly friendly to everyone, I don’t think you picked up this habit.
7. Trying to act like a different country. Ok this might offend some. Canada is actually a suburb of the United States, you use this metric stuff that is just silly. You refer to your government as the crown, equally silly. Several hundred years ago good men in North America drove out the British. Don’t pretend to be part of this imperialistic losers club.

Well that’s about it, I would still recommend using dog pictures to communicate in a way that most would understand.

I forgot to add poutine, French fries, cheese curds and gravy. You guys got this one right.

 

[Betterinthebush]

I forgot to add poutine, French fries, cheese curds and gravy. You guys got this one right.

Dude, I’m going to rerupture my wound if you don’t stop!

Thank you for your awesome spot-on-fact humor.

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Let look at areas where you expertise might be appreciated.

1. Maple syrup and it’s uses in recipes and modern society.
2. Tim Horton’s stories, most significant and/or embarrassing moments.
3. Hockey, speak your mind.
4. Back bacon, yeah it’s Canadian but is it really bacon. No, absolutely not. Try and defend this.
5. Beer at breakfast, we might be on the same page here.
6. Being overly friendly to everyone, I don’t think you picked up this habit.
7. Trying to act like a different country. Ok this might offend some. Canada is actually a suburb of the United States, you use this metric stuff that is just silly. You refer to your government as the crown, equally silly. Several hundred years ago good men in North America drove out the British. Don’t pretend to be part of this imperialistic losers club.

Well that’s about it, I would still recommend using dog pictures to communicate in a way that most would understand.

Heys not Canadian not sure how to say that in dog pictures so here’s a sleepy hound

 

[Newboomer]

Let look at areas where you expertise might be appreciated.

1. Maple syrup and it’s uses in recipes and modern society.
2. Tim Horton’s stories, most significant and/or embarrassing moments.
3. Hockey, speak your mind.
4. Back bacon, yeah it’s Canadian but is it really bacon. No, absolutely not. Try and defend this.
5. Beer at breakfast, we might be on the same page here.
6. Being overly friendly to everyone, I don’t think you picked up this habit.
7. Trying to act like a different country. Ok this might offend some. Canada is actually a suburb of the United States, you use this metric stuff that is just silly. You refer to your government as the crown, equally silly. Several hundred years ago good men in North America drove out the British. Don’t pretend to be part of this imperialistic losers club.

Well that’s about it, I would still recommend using dog pictures to communicate in a way that most would understand.

UK people are subjects. Americans are citizens. Ruled versus free.

 

[Scott CWO]

BA, MA, PhD. All are bona fide university degrees, all courses that I attended, PhD thesis published. Also enough post-graduate courses in another field to essentially qualify for a second BA. As we all know, online courses are notorious for lacking credibility. It is often impossible to ascertain if the students are actually turning in their own work or somebody else doing it for them. I think the fact that Noem attempted degree programs at various other schools, failed to complete them, and only received her diploma online kinda speaks for itself. Prospective employers rarely give much credence to online degrees listed on resumes. There are good reasons. Personally, I think I would be more inclined to hire someone with just a high school diploma.

Edit: My mistake. Noem couldn't even complete her online program at South Dakota State. Just one of many washouts. She eventually received her BA from U of South Dakota while she was in Congress. According to the Washington Post she completed a program in political science based on "intern" credits for simply holding office. Why didn't they just give her an honorary PhD? We know what those are good for ... wallpaper. So apparently she doesn't have a "real" bachelor's degree. She tried repeatedly but just didn't have the right stuff. Or that's the way it looks anyway.

Hell of a thing to say about someone you don’t even know who left college to help run the family farm and ranch after her father was killed when he basically sank and suffocated in a grain bin. She saved the family farm and ranch while having to borrow money to pay ridiculous inheritance taxes (death taxes). Death taxes are what motivated her to lobby against such stupid taxes and eventually run for office after encouragement from several people. She excelled in school and received awards from several organizations as a youth. I can only speculate that I would have had a tough time staying in college had my father died while I was away, leaving my mother and siblings a mess.

Quit being an imbecile.

 

[Pondoro]

More and more europeans now ask themselves if NATO is slowly dying.. USA´s new defence strategy says that USA will not proritize to defend Europe..but rather Asia against chinese expantion.

https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF

" Europe. As the NSS makes clear, Europe taking primary responsibility for its own conventional defense is the answer to the security threats it faces. The Department will therefore incentivize and enable NATO allies to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense with critical but more limited U.S. support. Central to this effort, DoW will work closely with our allies to ensure that they deliver on the defense spending pledge that they made at the Hague Summit. We will also seek to leverage NATO processes in support of these goals, while also working to expand transatlantic defense industrial cooperation and reduce defense trade barriers in order to maximize our collective ability to produce forces required to achieve U.S. and allied defense objectives. Finally, we will be clear with our European allies that their efforts and resources are best focused on Europe. "

" More limited US support " What exactly is that..? 80 years of NATO resolve down the drain..?

If you read between the lines in this document it is rather clear the Trump and his administration has lost focus/interest in defending Europe.

That begs the question:

Lets say Putin attack one of the Baltic states, or Finland or Norway for that matter..to probe NATO and Trump´s resolve. Will Trump block article 5 to maintain the relationship to Russia..?

As it is now I am not convinced that NATO is alive and well.. And I do not trust Donald Trump at all on these matters..

Trump et Co. are laughing at us and are leaving us..

 

[spike.t]

https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/markets/gold-extends-gains-above-5-000-as-debasement-trade-gathers-pace/

 

[spike.t]

Russia attacking its usual "military " targets ...

Ukraine's Zelensky condemns Russian drone strike that killed five on passenger train

Drones targeted a packed train in north-eastern Ukraine, officials say.

www.bbc.com

 

[spike.t]

'We all know someone who was killed': Iran protesters describe personal toll of crackdown

Young Iranians able tell the BBC how they saw friends and other people die as security forces crushed protests earlier this month.

www.bbc.com

 

[KJE81]

https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/markets/gold-extends-gains-above-5-000-as-debasement-trade-gathers-pace/

I read that gold has allready replaced the US treasuries in terms of the amount of reserves held by the various central banks in the World.

www.visualcapitalist.com/central-banks-now-hold-more-gold-than-u-s-treasuries/

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

More and more europeans now ask themselves if NATO is slowly dying.. USA´s new defence strategy says that USA will not proritize to defend Europe..but rather Asia against chinese expantion.

https://media.defense.gov/2026/Jan/23/2003864773/-1/-1/0/2026-NATIONAL-DEFENSE-STRATEGY.PDF

" Europe. As the NSS makes clear, Europe taking primary responsibility for its own conventional defense is the answer to the security threats it faces. The Department will therefore incentivize and enable NATO allies to take primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense with critical but more limited U.S. support. Central to this effort, DoW will work closely with our allies to ensure that they deliver on the defense spending pledge that they made at the Hague Summit. We will also seek to leverage NATO processes in support of these goals, while also working to expand transatlantic defense industrial cooperation and reduce defense trade barriers in order to maximize our collective ability to produce forces required to achieve U.S. and allied defense objectives. Finally, we will be clear with our European allies that their efforts and resources are best focused on Europe. "

" More limited US support " What exactly is that..? 80 years of NATO resolve down the drain..?

If you read between the lines in this document it is rather clear the Trump and his administration has lost focus/interest in defending Europe.

That begs the question:

Lets say Putin attack one of the Baltic states, or Finland or Norway for that matter..to probe NATO and Trump´s resolve. Will Trump block article 5 to maintain the relationship to Russia..?

As it is now I am not convinced that NATO is alive and well.. And I do not trust Donald Trump at all on these matters..

Trump et Co. are laughing at us and are leaving us..

My perception of Europe assuming the primary role in its defense is just that. Take control, be responsible for your own destiny. The USA will have your back but other NATO countries need to at least put up a fight against agression!

Since its creation in 1949, based on its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the USA has lead the funding the defense of NATO countries against the Soviet bloc. Post World War II, the Soviet Union was aggressive and much of Europe was still devastated by war. One could argue that the USA funded much of Europe’s defense to stop the spread of communism and/or to fund its “military industrial complex”. While those are considerations, twice the USA had entered 20th Century European wars. I think (my opinion) during this period the American people and the Congress had enough of that.

In the 80 years since the end of WWII, most if not all European economies have certainly recovered. It wasn’t so long ago that Trump was egging NATO countries to increase their defense spending to the agreed upon 2%, per NATO member’s agreement in 2014. That percentage was prompted due to Russia’s aggressiveness.

Should European countries assume the primary role in defending themselves against conventional warfare agression? Why shouldn’t they? NATO is an alliance of mutual defense but it shouldn’t be a welfare state. Why should some “rich” countries that do not prepare for their own defense expect the USA to be their primary protector?

Based on total funding, in 2025 the USA spends $980 billion on defense while combined Europe and Canada spend a total of $512 billion per this reference, https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/com...visualizations/nato-defense-spending-tracker/

The above does not mean that the USA won’t be there assisting Europe's defense. I think it means that European countries need to shore up their own defense to at least give Russia and any other aggressor something to think about. I believe Poland has had enough of foreign invaders and thus is steadily increasing its defense spending toward 5%. It is presently at 4.48%. Why 5% ?

https://nationalsecurityjournal.org/poland-is-slowly-preparing-for-the-unthinkable-war-with-russia/

In 2025 NATO countries agreed to increase their defense spending to a total of 5% including an increase of 3.5% direct military spending and another 1.5% on hardening their infrastructure. This information is from the NATO website with excerpt below.

The chart below shows total dollars in billions spend by each country and the percentage of their GDP in 2014 (light blue graph bar) and 2025 (dark blue graph bar.

Infographic: Where NATO Defense Expenditure Stands

This chart shows military spending of NATO countries and estimated share of GDP in 2025.

www.statista.com

This excerpt below is from NATO’s website,

https://www.nato.int/en/what-we-do/introduction-to-nato/defence-expenditures-and-natos-5-commitment

" The 5% defence investment commitment

At the 2025 NATO Summit in The Hague, Allies made a commitment to investing 5% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually on core defence requirements and defence- and security-related spending by 2035. They will allocate at least 3.5% of GDP annually based on the agreed definition of NATO defence expenditure by 2035 to resource core defence requirements and to meet the NATO Capability Targets. Allies agreed to submit annual plans showing a credible, incremental path to reach this goal. They will account for up to 1.5% of GDP annually to inter alia protect critical infrastructure, defend networks, ensure civil preparedness and resilience, innovate, and strengthen the defence industrial base. Previously, in 2014, NATO Heads of State and Government had agreed to commit 2% of their national GDP to defence spending, to help ensure the Alliance's continued military readiness. This decision was taken in response to Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea, and amid broader instability in the Middle East. The 2014 Defence Investment Pledge built on an earlier commitment to meeting this 2% of GDP guideline, agreed in 2006 by NATO Defence Ministers. The 2% of GDP guideline was an important indicator of the political resolve of individual Allies to contribute to NATO’s common defence efforts.

In 2025, all Allies are expected to meet or exceed the pre-summit target of investing at least 2% of GDP in defence, compared to only three Allies in 2014. Over the past decade, European Allies and Canada have steadily increased their collective investment in defence – from 1.43% of their combined GDP in 2014, to 2.02% in 2024, when they invested a combined total of more than USD 482 billion (adjusted to 2021 prices) in defence.

As part of the 2014 Wales Defence Investment Pledge, NATO Allies had also agreed that at least 20% of defence expenditures should be devoted to spending on major equipment, including the associated research and development. This metric is perceived as a crucial indicator for the scale and pace of modernisation. Where expenditures fail to meet the 20% guideline, there is an increasing risk of equipment becoming obsolete, growing capability and interoperability gaps among Allies, and a weakening of the defence industrial and technological base."

-------

In finding information to support my opinion I had a thought…

Trump bullying European countries to spend more on their own defense is a lot like being in the US Marines. If as a Marine, I wasn’t perfect, I needed to un-fxxk myself and work harder to become perfect. That never stopped as enlisted and was even more so as an officer. Also, if there ever was a perfect Marine, they darn sure better be leading the Marines under their charge to become perfect.

Trump is dogging out NATO countries to prepare their own defenses. Someday and I hope that never happens, if invaded those countries that heed Trumps warnings will in hindsight, thank Trump. The USA will be there but deploying forces will take a day to several days. Moving a brigade of armored vehicles isn't accomplished overnight. One hopes the invaded NATO country will at least be able to delay the invaders.

Yes, Trump is Asshole of the Highest Degree, but sometimes we all need a kick in the arse by a big A-hole.
That of course is my opinion... Have a nice day!

 

[KJE81]

I have a feeling that at present most of the european countries highly doubt that the US under Trump will honor their treaty obgliations under the Nato treaty if Russia would attack a member. So that alone will probably mean that the build up of the european military forces will continue for the time being and hopefully reach the agreed 5 percent of GDP.

The buildup of european militaries forced by the war in Ukraine and the demands from Trump are a good thing regardless, europe can and should take responsibility for our own safety.