Politics

[Boyd Brooks]

What is it with ice cream and idiots?

 

[Wheels]

China's Belt and Road initiative.

Things can go wrong with your investments when you bribe a family. Wonder how China is feeling about the Biden's about now.

China Made a Failed Bet on Sri Lanka’s Rajapaksa Family

Beijing’s investments in the island look shaky after protests topple the government.

foreignpolicy.com

 

[jeanes]

It not as strong as the 1980's thanks to W Bush. I remember back in 1985, 1 USD bought 2.5 Swiss Franc. Now about 1 to 1, at least it's not way under a dollar anymore.

In the early 1970s, before Nixon worked his magic, 1 USD bought 4 West German Marks (DM). A really good bottle of wine could be had for 3 Marks.

 

[Newboomer]

What is it with ice cream and idiots?View attachment 476663

Call it a draw.

 

[PARA45]

Call it a draw.

They don’t suffer from brain freeze

 

[BSO Dave]

 

[BSO Dave]

 

[Foxi]

It might be time to vacation in Europe again.

As bad as America has debased the dollar, it is hard to believe it is so strong.

Opinion | The Political Agony of the Euro’s Parity With the Dollar

The currency’s slide is an effect of a fundamental yet barely acknowledged change in its purpose.

www.wsj.com

Wheels.
We, Germans, risk a serious economic crisis because of Ukraine.
When there was a war in Kosovo, we only cancelled the carnival in solidarity (really true).
If Germany is in deep recession, all other European EU countries will fall into coma.
Isn't that what the Russians, Chinese and Americans want?
A weak EU?

 

[Wheels]

Wonder which world leader is next.

MSN

 

[Doug3006]

Wheels.
We, Germans, risk a serious economic crisis because of Ukraine.
When there was a war in Kosovo, we only cancelled the carnival in solidarity (really true).
If Germany is in deep recession, all other European EU countries will fall into coma.
Isn't that what the Russians, Chinese and Americans want?
A weak EU?

We’d much prefer a strong EU that stops doing stupid stuff!

Putin’s war machine is fueled by the Euros sent his way in exchange for energy. Was enriching Russia ever thought to be risky? Was risking Europe’s economic and physical security betting on Moscow’s goodwill a wise choice?

20th century European history makes many of us in America a bit apprehensive. Decisions made so far in this century aren’t putting us at ease.

 

[Alistair]

In the early 1970s, before Nixon worked his magic, 1 USD bought 4 West German Marks (DM). A really good bottle of wine could be had for 3 Marks.

Funny old world, ain't it. Back when my parents used to visit California a lot in the 90's and 00's, the british pound was worth nearly 2 bucks. Cheap holidays for them back then, especially as my uncle was living there so accommodation was free. Now it's what, $1.20/1GBP?

 

[Vashper]

So when does your country plan on getting a new president and to develop a system that will replace your president peacefully on a regular basis. Not willing to change your leadership is a distrust of freedom, too.

Show an example, and then we'll see

 

[Wheels]

Wheels.
We, Germans, risk a serious economic crisis because of Ukraine.
When there was a war in Kosovo, we only cancelled the carnival in solidarity (really true).
If Germany is in deep recession, all other European EU countries will fall into coma.
Isn't that what the Russians, Chinese and Americans want?
A weak EU?

Foxi,

I agree, the Russians and Chinese want a weak Europe. A continent with purchasing power that will keep their exports propped up. They want a weak America too.

America wants Europe to be strong. America would prefer Europe being the pointman in the Russia/Ukraine affair. America tried to get Europe to pay the required 2% NATO fees for years, to no avail. Instead, Germany goes into mock war games with broom sticks. No I am not joking. It happened.

If Europe wants to be strong, they have to be self sufficient. How can a continent be self sufficient when the breadbasket of Europe(Netherlands) tries to stop 30% of their farm production. This decision just in the past two weeks. If Europe doesn't fix things, they are on the road to perdition.

Four years ago, Trump was trying to get Germany to pay 2%. Germany laughed at Trump. Trump tried to get Germany to not buy Russian gas but to import from other places. If I remember right you said that Germany has nothing to fear from Russia and Russia is a better friend to Germany than America. If NATO was strong instead of bickering and if America had a strong leader, would Russia have gone into Ukraine. We will never know.

Germany has a green energy problem that has been self inflicted by leadership. Would Germany have near the problems if they had kept their nuclear plants open. Would Germany have these problems if they had been self sufficient with coal instead of shutting the plants down. Instead Germany has wind turbines and solar that is not dependable because it doesn't work all the time. It is not just Germany. America is shooting itself in the foot in the same way.

Europe has significant problems. So does America.

Regarding a severe economic crisis, it is not just Germany. The world is about to have a massive economic crisis as years of central bank mismanagement comes due. Germany and America will suffer the pain, but we will get by. In north Africa and southcentral Asia, many will die due to famine. It may get worse for the parts of the third world that can't grow enough food for their population. Watch out for China. They fall into that category and war may be their answer.

The world may be about to enter a phase it hasn't seen for at least 90 years. Keep many months of food on hand. Make sure you have liquid assets. Don't keep it all in fiat. Don't keep it all in one place. Make sure you are prepared for an EMP. I'm glad you have a firearm and a place to hunt. Hopefully we all come through on the other side in good shape.

 

[Newboomer]

They don’t suffer from brain freeze

No brain to freeze.

 

[Vashper]

Funny old world, ain't it. Back when my parents used to visit California a lot in the 90's and 00's, the british pound was worth nearly 2 bucks. Cheap holidays for them back then, especially as my uncle was living there so accommodation was free. Now it's what, $1.20/1GBP?

This process has been going on for a long time. I was not an avid collector of postage stamps, but in the mid-60s I bought a luxury series of stamps of Burundi with African animals. It cost me exactly 1 British pound, of course in ruble equivalent. Then it was equal to about 4 US dollars.

 

[Vashper]

Foxi,

I agree, the Russians and Chinese want a weak Europe. A continent with purchasing power that will keep their exports propped up. They want a weak America too.

Wheels, we have almost the same, but partly mirror opinion. We believe that the United States is trying to weaken Europe as a competitor, and Russia, of course. Only today I participated in the discussion, and, I must say, many reasons were expressed in favor of such a scheme.

 

[Wheels]

Wheels, we have almost the same, but partly mirror opinion. We believe that the United States is trying to weaken Europe as a competitor, and Russia, of course. Only today I participated in the discussion, and, I must say, many reasons were expressed in favor of such a scheme.

Europe is America's primary ally. America wants a strong Europe. America built back Europe after WWII. Long term, America needs Europe when dealing with China.

A unified Europe isn't really a threat to America. Northern Europe and Southern Europe can't get along. They are completely opposite of each other. Eastern Europe and Western Europe don't see eye to eye. Unless a Napoleon or Hitler type personality comes along to unify the continent, the EU will struggle with internal politics.

America would like to get along with Russia as long as Russia had no expansionist plans. A reunification of the Soviet Union is not in America's interest.(ie: Ukraine) America will try to weaken Russia as long as those type plans exist.

 

[Alistair]

This process has been going on for a long time. I was not an avid collector of postage stamps, but in the mid-60s I bought a luxury series of stamps of Burundi with African animals. It cost me exactly 1 British pound, of course in ruble equivalent. Then it was equal to about 4 US dollars.

Yup, a good reflection of relative international importance and economic might.

Britain in the 60's mattered a bit on the world stage, even in comparison to America. Today (or even in the 90's), not nearly as much. Loss of empire, loss of export markets, loss of trade, increase in social spending. Weakening currency. What a surprise...

It'll be interesting to see how the dollar fares over the coming two or three decades against the Yuan I guess.

 

[Vashper]

Europe is America's primary ally. America wants a strong Europe. America built back Europe after WWII. Long term, America needs Europe when dealing with China.

A unified Europe isn't really a threat to America. Northern Europe and Southern Europe can't get along. They are completely opposite of each other. Eastern Europe and Western Europe don't see eye to eye. Unless a Napoleon or Hitler type personality comes along to unify the continent, the EU will struggle with internal politics.

America would like to get along with Russia as long as Russia had no expansionist plans. A reunification of the Soviet Union is not in America's interest.(ie: Ukraine) America will try to weaken Russia as long as those type plans exist.

Wheels, about 25 years ago I read Brzezinski's monograph "The Great Chessboard". He was already considering the world in 25 years (that is, today) as a world in which the United States will have to abandon the role of "international gendarme" and its military presence everywhere. For economic reasons. The monograph is devoted to the question: how to do it with the least losses and prevent a global catastrophe. And I see that something similar has been happening in the last couple of decades. The United States, in addition to supporting allies in Europe and Asia (and this is not cheap), also controlled their nuclear-free status. What happens if the US evacuates? Probably, some plans continue to be built even now, although Brzezinski is no longer taking part in this.
There was a quote above (in my opinion, completely fair) that it is necessary to judge not by intentions, but by results. So far, the main bumps are falling on the Europeans, although they are not the main beneficiaries of the current crisis.

 

[Wheels]