Politics

[PHOENIX PHIL]

I’m sure they have their fingers in a lot of pies. But shut down their main ports, and they lose most of their GDP. There’s no surviving that, even with the remaining trade from their satellites.

Unfortunately I think that is a sword that cuts both ways. We are just about as dependent on their cheap goods as they are on us buying them. Perhaps that is actually good thing in that it mitigates any severe actions/reactions.

 

[Opposite Pole]

But shut down their main ports, and they lose most of their GDP. There’s no surviving that, even with the remaining trade from their satellites.

North Korea seems to manage, despite widespread, enforced and largely adhered to embargoes.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Unfortunately I think that is a sword that cuts both ways. We are just about as dependent on their cheap goods as they are on us buying them. Perhaps that is actually good thing in that it mitigates any severe actions/reactions.

Very true. Almost everything we buy has a China label on it. Although, I've recently seen many more products coming from other Southeast Asian countries plus India and Pakistan.

 

[CoElkHunter]

North Korea seems to manage, despite widespread, enforced and largely adhered to embargoes.

Because 95% percent of their trading is with China. Embargoes aren't very effective in that situation.

 

[Doug3006]

Unfortunately I think that is a sword that cuts both ways. We are just about as dependent on their cheap goods as they are on us buying them. Perhaps that is actually good thing in that it mitigates any severe actions/reactions.

We have allowed ourselves to become too dependent upon China. A blockade would be painful here in the US. We’d see inflation like we haven’t seen sine the 70s. But the process of reshoring and finding alternate sources is already well underway. China imports most of its food and almost all of its energy. We‘d survive. They won’t.

 

[Doug3006]

North Korea seems to manage, despite widespread, enforced and largely adhered to embargoes.

China‘s sponsorship of the N Korea is the only thing that keeps the populace there from having to eat grass. Without China, the DPRK is SOL. North Korea produces practically nothing. So it exports practically nothing. China and its people are 100% dependent on an export economy.

 

[DillonG]

I will just leave this here.

 

[geoff rath]

Recently, an Aussie warship (HMAS FREMANTLE) was immobilised in Japanese-claimed waters whe a larger PRC ship approached, while Aussie divers were in the water, clearing fishing nets tangled in it's propellers. The PRC ship activated its sonar, DESPITE being warned to keep its distance, and not to do anything "offensive". The Fremantle resumed sailing, allegedly through the Taiwan straight. This during the recent OPEC summit. Our "fearless leader" did NOT raise the matter with Xi, or call int the PRC ambassador.

 

[geoff rath]

Recently, an Aussie warship (HMAS FREMANTLE) was immobilised in Japanese-claimed waters whe a larger PRC ship approached, while Aussie divers were in the water, clearing fishing nets tangled in it's propellers. The PRC ship activated its sonar, DESPITE being warned to keep its distance, and not to do anything "offensive". The Fremantle resumed sailing, allegedly through the Taiwan straight. This during the recent OPEC summit. Our "fearless leader" did NOT raise the matter with Xi, or call int the PRC ambassador.

Australia is led by leftist, Hamas-supporting cowards .

 

[fourfive8]

Yep unfortunately and Australia is smack in the middle of that strategically important part of the world. If China keeps developing its military and weapon technology at the current pace, I wouldn’t doubt the par to US prediction of 2035 is a bit off. Maybe off by a huge factor. Time to zero gap could well be closer to 5 years. In our terms and culture they might be suffering economically but that does not at all mean they aren’t simply sacrificing their large civilian population to a labor-for-less economy while increasing the pace of building their advanced tech war machine. IMO, to think otherwise with the false pride that seems common here in the US, would be a huge error of judgement and a mistake. An assumption made to our peril.
I hope I’m wrong

If indeed China has an operational, hypersonic "harpoon-type" weapon ,as some believe, no US ship is safe...no matter the jargon used for whatever weapon a US ship may have, including the Aegis system. Right now Russia may be suffering from that same glib over-confidence in Ukraine in a conflict that could go on indefinitely.

 

[Wheels]

 

[Tanks]

Unfortunately I think that is a sword that cuts both ways. We are just about as dependent on their cheap goods as they are on us buying them. Perhaps that is actually good thing in that it mitigates any severe actions/reactions.

It is not just cheap goods.

We just ordered bunch of Phoenix Contact (a German Company)24V power supplies etc., all made in China even paid a 10% tariff on the goods due to some sort of a sanction.

Not to mention a lot of other electronics, iPhones etc., all made in China.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I'm really surprised China hasn't manufactured sporting firearms and exported them everywhere? I think Norinco is Chinese made, but I haven't heard of any others.

 

[cash_tx]

Can anyone explain why 113 Republicans would vote No on expelling George Santos from the House? I get wanting to keep a Republican in the office, but the guy is a prolific liar that you can't utilize effectively. Seems a dereliction of duty to vote No on that issue.

 

[Red Leg]

I have no idea how accurate this polling actually is or if it matters in a state where an election outcome can be truly predetermined. However, it would be a sad day for this country if a dithering administration, joined arm in arm by ignorant right wing neo-isolationists, succeeded in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in Ukraine.

Russians' support of Ukraine war collapses, finds poll

The Kremlin is worried about the political impact of war disaffection leading up to the 2024 presidential election, according to a US think tank.

www.euronews.com

History never repeats itself exactly, but often offers parallels. It is worth remembering that it was the Mothers' Movement in the Soviet Union that played such an important role in the decision to withdraw from Afghanistan.

https://www.reddit.com/r/UkraineWarVideoReport/comments/1890zf7

 

[Red Leg]

Can anyone explain why 113 Republicans would vote No on expelling George Santos from the House? I get wanting to keep a Republican in the office, but the guy is a prolific liar that you can't utilize effectively. Seems a dereliction of duty to vote No on that issue.

Nothing quite like a single digit majority in the House to focus decision making.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Can anyone explain why 113 Republicans would vote No on expelling George Santos from the House? I get wanting to keep a Republican in the office, but the guy is a prolific liar that you can't utilize effectively. Seems a dereliction of duty to vote No on that issue.

I would guess that it’s simply a visceral response to the consistent response by Democrats to circle the wagons whenever one of their own is in the soup. Accounts for a large percentage of Trump’s support as well.

 

[Wheels]

The Babylon Bee
@TheBabylonBee
·Nov 28

To Encourage Biden To Rescue Hostages, Posters Will Now Feature Photos Of WNBA Players https://buff.ly/49Rk3sJ

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have no idea how accurate this polling actually is or if it matters in a state where an election outcome can be truly predetermined. However, it would be a sad day for this country if a dithering administration, joined arm in arm by ignorant right wing neo-isolationists, succeeded in snatching defeat from the jaws of victory in Ukraine.

Russians' support of Ukraine war collapses, finds poll

The Kremlin is worried about the political impact of war disaffection leading up to the 2024 presidential election, according to a US think tank.

www.euronews.com

I didn't know Putin and his criminal mafioso running Russia held elections? What a joke. And I guess Xi was elected in a fair election by the voters in China and not the CCP? Maybe the Ayatollah in Iran will be defeated by the voters in their next election. LOL Why are we even talking about elections in these countries run by dictators? IMHO, the West needs to quit legitimizing these "elections" by giving them press coverage, call them the shams they are and concentrate on more debilitating sanctions on these countries. Because what we've been doing isn't working. Russia is still in Ukraine, Iran is still providing them with at least drones and now North Korea with at least munitions. Iran and its proxies continue threatening/attacking Israel and attacking our troops in Syria/Iraq. China is still threatening everybody in the South China Sea and the United Nations is still as worthless as the day it was formed! Now, who's running against Putin in 2024? Ha! Ha! Ha!

 

[Red Leg]

I didn't know Putin and his criminal mafioso running Russia held elections? What a joke. And I guess Xi was elected in a fair election by the voters in China and not the CCP? Maybe the Ayatollah in Iran will be defeated by the voters in their next election. LOL Why are we even talking about elections in these countries run by dictators? IMHO, the West needs to quit legitimizing these "elections" by giving them press coverage, call them the shams they are and concentrate on more debilitating sanctions on these countries. Because what we've been doing isn't working. Russia is still in Ukraine, Iran is still providing them with at least drones and now North Korea with at least munitions. Iran and its proxies continue threatening/attacking Israel and attacking our troops in Syria/Iraq. China is still threatening everybody in the South China Sea and the United Nations is still as worthless as the day it was formed! Now, who's running against Putin in 2024? Ha! Ha! Ha!

Agreed.

However, dictators stay in power based upon achievements, i.e. Hitler through '42 and Napoleon through 1811, or intimidation and suppression of criticism. I believe that Putin may have squandered the first through this invasion and has been relying upon the latter for more than a year. At some point the damn will break - probably through a popular alternative or even a complete collapse of system that we saw 1991.

If Putin is smart enough to see it coming, and believes that Ukraine resistance will continue with strong Western support, he will look for a negotiated way out. If he believes Ukraine will be forced to seek un unfavorable "peace", through this administration's lack of resolve or Trump's cooperation, then he will likely attempt to ride out the swelling discontent.