Politics

[Red Leg]

A bold option now open to the administration that would be unthinkable just a year ago due to Iranian defensive and retaliatory capabilities is the seizure of Kharg Island. I am not sure the exact totals, but believe about 90% of Iranian export leaves from Kharg. Unlike a mainland incursion, Kharg, which is 15 miles from the mainland, could be relatively easily defended from Iranian counter attack. I would have to assume they would also want to be careful of destroying those critical facilities. Should the regime survive in some form, it would represent a significant bargaining chip in exchange for something like their enriched uranium stockpile.

Curious the thoughts of the petroleum industry experts in our discussion. Assuming the terminal is not severely damaged, what does that do to the price of crude?

 

[fourfive8]

Strange how things evolve. I may have figured out a, possibly the only, truly positive outcome of the blind push to AI. First overt clue was idiot Bill Gates suddenly bailing out of support for wind/solar green energy. It was a decision where greed won out over false virtue signaling. He finally figured out that solar and wind couldn’t power his data centers and AI has become the new religion for the 21st century. Maybe we have broken through the “green energy virtue” barrier in an indirect way. It’s not necessarily full speed in reverse back in time for fossil fuel, although at least in the mid term yes, large production fossil power is still extremely important. The breakout from the green virtue psych, may be AI needing onsite or near onsite power generation!! Enter small, portable nuke plants. The tech is not new, the Navy has been using it for years. The need to power the new religion of AI may remove both the memory and habit of worshipping the current tech of green energy nonsense and the stigma of nuke power, both at the same time! Win-win I hope… time will tell.

Also will be interesting to watch fusion power. Fusion power generation is a tough nut to crack but has nearly unlimited potential. Many are caught up in the wishful thinking, maybe delusion on fusion power generation. Again… time will tell.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Yeah, working conditions were WAY better before workers got together to stand up for themselves.

Don’t get me wrong. They served a purpose at the beginning. Now they don’t. Simple as that

 

[Tanks]

Don’t get me wrong. They served a purpose at the beginning. Now they don’t. Simple as that

Yep, just look at teachers unions during Covid, they refused to open up the schools even though States said they could. Not to mention them being very political.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

From what I’ve seen all unions primarily do in the present day is serve as voting blocs, hold companies (and institutions) captive, inflate prices and hamper progress (in terms of innovation and efficiency). Obviously prime targets for corruption as proven by decades of precedent

 

[Aaron N]

Yep, just look at teachers unions during Covid, they refused to open up the schools even though States said they could. Not to mention them being very political.

If corporations can be political and lobby in their best interests, why can’t unions?

 

[Wheels]

A bold option now open to the administration that would be unthinkable just a year ago due to Iranian defensive and retaliatory capabilities is the seizure of Kharg Island. I am not sure the exact totals, but believe about 90% of Iranian export leaves from Kharg. Unlike a mainland incursion, Kharg, which is 15 miles from the mainland, could be relatively easily defended from Iranian counter attack. I would have to assume they would also want to be careful of destroying those critical facilities. Should the regime survive in some form, it would represent a significant bargaining chip in exchange for something like their enriched uranium stockpile.

Curious the thoughts of the petroleum industry experts in our discussion. Assuming the terminal is not severely damaged, what does that do to the price of crude?

Kharg Island certainly makes strategic sense regarding both Iran and China.

1. Chokes off life support for IRGC while maintaining leverage over a successor government.

2. Continues the strategy of Panama Canal, Greenland, Venezuela in leashing China and controlling choke points.

Other than Kharg Island the only other boots on the ground scenario I could see Trump involved in is securing the 400+ kg of 60% uranium Iran has stockpiled which seems to be a SOF operation.

 

[Aaron N]

From what I’ve seen all unions primarily do in the present day is serve as voting blocs, hold companies (and institutions) captive, inflate prices and hamper progress (in terms of innovation and efficiency). Obviously prime targets for corruption as proven by decades of precedent

Or they ensure that the bar stays raised, somewhat slowing the race to the bottom we are seeing.

 

[Brent in Az]

If corporations can be political and lobby in their best interests, why can’t unions?

Ask Jimmy Hoffa.....who is probably entombed under a bunch of concrete.....somewhere.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

If corporations can be political and lobby in their best interests, why can’t unions?

Says the guy who was earlier commenting on how people shouldn’t tow a party line..

I posit that they have no reason for being in 2026 and that precludes the voting issue.

 

[Tanks]

Or they ensure that the bar stays raised, somewhat slowing the race to the bottom we are seeing.

So, $25/hr for someone serving fries is good. Here in CA it has backfired already. All delivery drivers got fired, hours reduced and workforce reduced as well. At drive throughs AI is taking your order. Inside there are ordering stations. Basically, one guy handling the front. Even cooking is being automated.

Bar is being raised for very few, while the rest is going without jobs.

Another example is hotel workers in City of LA. They raised the minimum wage for hotel workers, resulting in loss of hours and jobs.

All of this was driven by union lobbying.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Or they ensure that the bar stays raised, somewhat slowing the race to the bottom we are seeing.

I assume the “race to the bottom” you refer to is the growing wealth gap? If so, it sounds like your view of it is based on a false assumption or narrative. The rich are getting richer but so is literally everyone else.

Workers rights have pretty much been hashed out and enshrined in law. In this litigious age the there is recourse for impropriety

 

[Aaron N]

So, $25/hr for someone serving fries is good. Here in CA it has backfired already. All delivery drivers got fired, hours reduced and workforce reduced as well. At drive throughs AI is taking your order. Inside there are ordering stations. Basically, one guy handling the front. Even cooking is being automated.

Bar is being raised for very few, while the rest is going without jobs.

Another example is hotel workers in City of LA. They raised the minimum wage for hotel workers, resulting in loss of hours and jobs.

All of this was driven by union lobbying.

The wage wouldn’t need to be so high if California wasn’t taxing everyone to death? Do you know many of those minimum wage workers? Are living high in the hog, or still scraping to get by?

The whole point of AI is to replace workers, so of course they’re using it to do exactly that.

 

[Aaron N]

I assume the “race to the bottom” you refer to is the growing wealth gap? If so, it sounds like your view of it is based on a false assumption or narrative. The rich are getting richer but so is literally everyone else.

Workers rights have pretty much been hashed out and enshrined in law. In this litigious age the there is recourse for impropriety

Laws can be repealed if no one’s fighting to keep them in place.

 

[Tanks]

The wage wouldn’t need to be so high if California wasn’t taxing everyone to death? Do you know many of those minimum wage workers? Are living high in the hog, or still scraping to get by?

Part of the problem is the new perception that fast food jobs are supposed to provide a living wage enabling one to buy a house, buy a car, raise a family etc., etc..

In the past it was the job of young people who were looking for a way to get extra spending money. I myself worked at McDonalds, flipped pizzas, worked at the pool hall and bowling alley of student union in college. Never expected to make my living doing those things. They did pay for a new stereo though and unbudgeted stuff. Not to mention becoming a scratch bowler and making the school bowling team.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Part of the problem is the new perception that fast food jobs are supposed to provide a living wage enabling one to buy a house, buy a car, raise a family etc., etc..

In the past it was the job of young people who were looking for a way to get extra spending money. I myself worked at McDonalds, flipped pizzas, worked at the pool hall and bowling alley of student union in college. Never expected to make my living doing those things. They did pay for a new stereo though and unbudgeted stuff. Not to mention becoming a scratch bowler and making the school bowling team.

You flipped pizzas?

 

[Newboomer]

View attachment 751480

And it thinks it might become President?? Haw, haw, ha, ha.

 

[Tanks]

You flipped pizzas?

Yep. After making the dough and expanding it kept flipping it until it expanded to the right size. Similar to the video below, I was in the front just in front of the oven where customers could see me doing it. It was a lot of fun. I was making $3.50/hr or so, above minimum wage - lol.

 

[Aaron N]

Part of the problem is the new perception that fast food jobs are supposed to provide a living wage enabling one to buy a house, buy a car, raise a family etc., etc..

In the past it was the job of young people who were looking for a way to get extra spending money. I myself worked at McDonalds, flipped pizzas, worked at the pool hall and bowling alley of student union in college. Never expected to make my living doing those things. They did pay for a new stereo though and unbudgeted stuff. Not to mention becoming a scratch bowler and making the school bowling team.

And I don’t disagree with you there, but let’s face it, not everyone is smart or good with their hands. So some people have to flip burgers or clean hotel rooms. I don’t expect them to be buying houses and driving a new car, but they should be able to cover rent and groceries.

 

[Newboomer]

Don’t get me wrong. They served a purpose at the beginning. Now they don’t. Simple as that

They have outlived their usefulness.