Politics

[Hunt anything]

@Red Leg , that’s interesting to learn. I guess most of us out here just see “made in Japan” stamped on final products and never notice the origins of other products like fertilizer and the like that we use everyday.

 

[Altitude sickness]

The EU, around $900 billion in trade (imports and exports) pretty much dwarfs Japan, Taiwan, and S. Korea at $540 billion. US trade deficit ratio is about the same for both. The EU market is far deeper for a much more diverse opportunity set for US products.

I think Taiwan's role in semi-conductors may indeed give it an outsized importance to our economy, but of course that is rapidly changing with S Korea onshoring semi-conductor production in this country. Japan's and secondarily Korea's export focus other than tech is auto production.

I suspect the challenge of China provides the Pacific Rim with a perception of importance that the EU does not presently carry, but the sheer weight of trade isn't really close.

Looking at our trade deficit, for Marxists, the EU is pretty good at this capitalist trade model.

Good point I guess I changed the conversation midstream from economic to military importance.

We will need the Pacific rim nation technology more than what the EU can offer and we’ve already got the EU in our back pocket.

 

[Tanks]

Someone should alert Sotsu that their business model won’t work. Amazon still sells them at $549

I actually ordered them from Amazon as they had the black model while Sotsu was out.

The price increase is supposed to happen on March 1, will check both on that day.

 

[Tanks]

...

The pacific rim nations are becoming more free while the EU goes off the deep end towards Marxism.

Try selling US cars there.

 

[spike.t]

US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on invasion of Ukraine

The UK and France abstain as the UN Security Council passes a text that does not criticise Moscow.

www.bbc.com

 

[bowjijohn]

I don’t pretend to understand the nuances of shuttle diplomacy

However I do understand this

1. NATO is finished

2. Trust has been replaced by diplomatic manoeuvres and fake smiles

3. We in the UK have a Stalinist regime we can’t get rid of for 4 more years, by which time there will be little to salvage

4. Putin has a place at the big table, whilst

A.His chemical attacks in the UK
B.His taking of other people’s sovereignty by force of arms
C. His support of terror regimes

All forgiven

Bought for by someone else’s mineral wealth

 

[mdwest]

US sides with Russia in UN resolutions on invasion of Ukraine

The UK and France abstain as the UN Security Council passes a text that does not criticise Moscow.

www.bbc.com

A couple of key observations in that BBC article..

The US politicians quoted don't do anything to help the situation with Ukraine.. frankly no one on the right (to include the right-center) gives more than 1/10th of a dried up rat turd what Nancy Pelosi thinks about the situation... its expected she complain about anything this administration does.. if Trump decided to dump $5T into Ukraine tomorrow, she'd run to the first camera she could find to bitch about it and claim he was Hitler for doing it... partisan politics is why we are where we are.. and Nancy Pelosi is about the worst possible example of partisan politics..

John Curtis is more of a centrist (and a Republican), but no one in the US knows who he is.. he literally just got elected to the senate in November.. he served in the house for a few terms, but maintained a fairly low profile.. his voice carries little to no weight..

If the BBC wants to make a point that the US general public cares about, they're going to need to get comments from the party in power, from members of that party that make a difference..

the other blinding flash of the obvious was the comment from Ukraines FORMER minister of economy (a current relevant minister wasn't available for comment?)... "This is no longer rhetoric or political theater" and "the choice to side with Russia was deliberate"... well.. no shit...

The Pelosis of the US political world are known for their political theater (tearing up notes in the middle of a state of the union address... wearing African garb during BLM protests.. taking a knee in the capital to mimic NFL players, etc.. the list goes on and on and on)...

Trump is an entertainer at heart.. but he plays very hard ball and has no problem kicking an opponent in the nuts in front of the entire world and then being accused of using a cheap shot technique.. If people haven't figured out that you better take him seriously and that his actions, while often viewed as theatrics, have real consequences involved.. they very obviously haven't been paying attention..

 

[Altitude sickness]

 

[Altitude sickness]

The European Union (EU) has a 10% tariff on passenger cars imported from the United States, which is four times higher than the US tariff of 2.5%

 

[mdwest]

View attachment 667896

that diagram has many flaws...

for example... there is no current tariff on French Wine.. both the US and the EU suspended tariffs on each others wines in 2021.. which was part of a larger deal trying to end trade disputes over Boeing and Airbus..

and.. Trump did in fact put a 25% tariff on Single Malts in 2019.. Biden suspended that tariff in 2021 just like he suspended the wine tariff, as part of the larger deal to end the dispute between Boeing and Airbus.. .

 

[spike.t]

The European Union (EU) has a 10% tariff on passenger cars imported from the United States, which is four times higher than the US tariff of 2.5%

Maybe because they usually 4 times bigger.....

 

[Altitude sickness]

that diagram has many flaws...

for example... there is no current tariff on French Wine.. both the US and the EU suspended tariffs on each others wines in 2021.. which was part of a larger deal trying to end trade disputes over Boeing and Airbus..

and.. Trump did in fact put a 25% tariff on Single Malts in 2019.. Biden suspended that tariff in 2021 just like he suspended the wine tariff, as part of the larger deal to end the dispute between Boeing and Airbus.. .

Good now I can remove my Self imposed travel band to the Isle of Man. Scotland and Ireland.
I’ll just have to pretend like I’m not having fun.

 

[bowjijohn]

Maybe because they usually 4 times bigger.....

… and can’t turn corners …

 

[mdwest]

… and can’t turn corners …

sadly theres LOTS of truth in that...

My old chevy 1500 truck had the turning radius of a freaking battleship.. my new Toyota tundra is 14" longer, but turns MUCH tighter..

 

[Pondoro]

Tesla sales are down 45% in Europe.. Hello again Elon.. Tesla is down 7% at the stock market..

 

[Red Leg]

A couple of key observations in that BBC article..

The US politicians quoted don't do anything to help the situation with Ukraine.. frankly no one on the right (to include the right-center) gives more than 1/10th of a dried up rat turd what Nancy Pelosi thinks about the situation... its expected she complain about anything this administration does.. if Trump decided to dump $5T into Ukraine tomorrow, she'd run to the first camera she could find to bitch about it and claim he was Hitler for doing it... partisan politics is why we are where we are.. and Nancy Pelosi is about the worst possible example of partisan politics..

John Curtis is more of a centrist (and a Republican), but no one in the US knows who he is.. he literally just got elected to the senate in November.. he served in the house for a few terms, but maintained a fairly low profile.. his voice carries little to no weight..

If the BBC wants to make a point that the US general public cares about, they're going to need to get comments from the party in power, from members of that party that make a difference..

the other blinding flash of the obvious was the comment from Ukraines FORMER minister of economy (a current relevant minister wasn't available for comment?)... "This is no longer rhetoric or political theater" and "the choice to side with Russia was deliberate"... well.. no shit...

The Pelosis of the US political world are known for their political theater (tearing up notes in the middle of a state of the union address... wearing African garb during BLM protests.. taking a knee in the capital to mimic NFL players, etc.. the list goes on and on and on)...

Trump is an entertainer at heart.. but he plays very hard ball and has no problem kicking an opponent in the nuts in front of the entire world and then being accused of using a cheap shot technique.. If people haven't figured out that you better take him seriously and that his actions, while often viewed as theatrics, have real consequences involved.. they very obviously haven't been paying attention..

I wish he knew the difference between his opponents and our nation's opponents. It is ever clearer they are not the same thing and he is willfully oblivious.

 

[spike.t]

How Trump's sweeping new policies could change travel

As the new US president makes massive governmental cuts, issues tariffs and leads an immigration crackdown, domestic and international tourism faces unprecedented changes.

www.bbc.com

 

[mdwest]

[emoji6][emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]" data-quote="Pondoro" data-source="post: 0" class="bbCodeBlock bbCodeBlock--expandable bbCodeBlock--quote js-expandWatch">

Tesla sales are down [emoji6]% in Europe.. Hello again Elon.. Tesla is down [emoji[emoji6]]%..

Do you really think he cares?

Musks personal net worth has increased 77% since November… (per Bloomberg)…

Barrons claims his net worth has increased 84% since November…

If Tesla never sold another car in Europe, it wouldn’t amount to anything of concern for Musk…

Tesla stock dropped 5% in the last 30 days....

That said it increased by more than 70% over the last 12 months.. Its got a LONG way to go before anyone really sees it as a loser investment..

More importantly, SpaceX and his other holdings are all continuing to skyrocket..

And.. he has been very forward and open about how Trumps tariffs would have possible negative impact on some of his products.. and how he doesn't care.. because he supports the reasoning behind the moves..

 

[Pondoro]

Do you really think he cares?

Musks personal net worth has increased [emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]% since November… (per Bloomberg)…

Barrons claims his net worth has increased [emoji[emoji6]]% since November…

If Tesla never sold another car in Europe, it wouldn’t amount to anything of concern for Musk…

I think he cares..it is very negative for Tesla and obviously an european boycott..

This is probably just a start..lets see how your isolasionist policies will turn out..

 

[mdwest]

I wish he knew the difference between his opponents and our nation's opponents. It is ever clearer they are not the same thing and he is willfully oblivious.

completely concur..