Politics

[spike.t]

Oh yeah....

Congress moves to block California ban on petrol-only cars

Califormia's plan was expected to have significant influence over the wider car industry in the US.

www.bbc.com

 

[spike.t]

World’s seven wealthiest countries agree to counter China’s trade practices

G7 finance ministers and central bank governors pledge to address ‘economic imbalances’, without naming China

www.theguardian.com

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Trump allows white settlers from South Africa to enter the USA as refugees. The reason is an alleged genocide in their homeland. He wants to convince South African President Ramaphosa of this with the help of pictures. However, the material is from a completely different country.

A picture presented by US President Donald Trump as evidence of alleged mass murders of whites in South Africa comes from a video of the Reuters news agency from the Congo. Trump had presented the still image as part of material to his South African colleague Cyril Ramaphosa with the words: "These are all white farmers who are buried."

What an asshole.

And that changes the reality how? So what? It is amazing to me that someone wants to be hyper critical over something like that instead of realizing how good it is that he’s actually confronting RSA over this incredibly important issue.

Not to mention the fact that it was some incompetent staffers screw up. If it is true that is.

 

[spike.t]

Yes, they are applying this strategy which has proved to be successful in other African countries.

Gradual squeeze instead of brutal expulsion, but in the end, they just want the whites out, and keep the wealth, of course.

 

[mdwest]

There is a high amunt of crime, unfortunately farmers are amongst the victims as well. Otherwise it‘s a lovely country.

If I wonder how many of you have ever lived in South Africa and know what they are talking about? South Africa has been my home for decades, unlike most of you I know what I'm talking about.

Idiot Musk is the cause of all these exaggerations and lies. USA isn‘t a safer place than South Africa.

I was a SA farmer (Limpopo and Western Cape), nothing ever happened to me, my family and friends.

I completely agree with you on South Africa being a lovely country and that in many ways problems with crime are exaggerated by the media and others. I’m an American, and have no problem at all renting a car and driving all over the country with my family (I have done it).. just stay out of the townships and obviously bad parts of the large cities and the chances of trouble are relatively low..

All of that said, you are incorrect about the US not being safer than South Africa….

The South African murder rate is currently 45 people out of every 100,000 will be murdered…

The USA rate is 6.3 murders per 100,000 people..

The USA burglary rate is 250:100,000

In South Africa the burglary rate is 590:100,000

If you compare all “index crimes” (serious felonies against humans or personal property), ALL South African rates are substantially higher than US rates..

It can be argued that much of the crime in South Africa is in the cities and townships and is black on black crime, and therefore the white population isn’t as impacted as the numbers might imply…

The problem with that argument is the same is true in the US… most of the index crimes committed in the US are in the inner cities, and are minority on minority crimes (isolated to the neighborhoods where the minorities live)… middle class people are typically unimpacted…

And yet South Africa’s crime rates are much, much, higher..

 

[Altitude sickness]

I don’t think crime is the leading indicator of a failing government or country. It’s a lagging indicator.

One of (not only) leading indicators show up is in the electric generation and distribution system. It’s in a death spiral of corruption and incompetence. That drives out business. Crippling production. Which furthers poverty and crime.

I hope the U.S. doesn’t just hand money over to “invest” in ZA. It needs to be similar to how the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) conducts inspections. Send competent people in to run the utility industries. (And others) And verify the corruption isn’t still rampant.

If we send money it needs to be similar to the reconstruction of WW2 Germany and Japan

 

[WAB]

Trump allows white settlers from South Africa to enter the USA as refugees. The reason is an alleged genocide in their homeland. He wants to convince South African President Ramaphosa of this with the help of pictures. However, the material is from a completely different country.

A picture presented by US President Donald Trump as evidence of alleged mass murders of whites in South Africa comes from a video of the Reuters news agency from the Congo. Trump had presented the still image as part of material to his South African colleague Cyril Ramaphosa with the words: "These are all white farmers who are buried."

What an asshole.

I am truly glad that you have not been a victim. However, I have a number of very close friends who are Farmers in RSA who have had a very different experience than you have. They have lost friends, family and neighbors to this atrocity. Please don’t belittle their suffering or begrudge the attention this issue is finally getting.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

Tariffs live updates: Trump threatens Apple with 25% tariff if iPhones not made in US

President Trump on Monday took aim at another giant corporation in his ongoing trade war, threatening Apple (AAPL) with increased duties if the company does not make iPhones in the US.

"I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S."

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/tariffs-live-updates-trump-threatens-apple-with-25-tariff-if-iphones-not-made-in-us-191201249.html

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

There is a high amunt of crime, unfortunately farmers are amongst the victims as well. Otherwise it‘s a lovely country.

If I wonder how many of you have ever lived in South Africa and know what they are talking about? South Africa has been my home for decades, unlike most of you I know what I'm talking about.

Idiot Musk is the cause of all these exaggerations and lies. USA isn‘t a safer place than South Africa.

I was a SA farmer (Limpopo and Western Cape), nothing ever happened to me, my family and friends.

“It hasn’t happened to me” does not discount the reality of the situation.

 

[Red Leg]

Trump allows white settlers from South Africa to enter the USA as refugees. The reason is an alleged genocide in their homeland. He wants to convince South African President Ramaphosa of this with the help of pictures. However, the material is from a completely different country.

A picture presented by US President Donald Trump as evidence of alleged mass murders of whites in South Africa comes from a video of the Reuters news agency from the Congo. Trump had presented the still image as part of material to his South African colleague Cyril Ramaphosa with the words: "These are all white farmers who are buried."

What an asshole.

As I said above, too many South Africans seem capable of grasping at any copium. Perhaps you also saw or read Ernie Els comments in the Whitehouse - mirroring concerns he has been expressing since at least 2017. I am truly glad nothing has happened to you or anyone you know.

https://twitter.com/x/status/923263014517854211

 

[Red Leg]

Tariffs live updates: Trump threatens Apple with 25% tariff if iPhones not made in US

President Trump on Monday took aim at another giant corporation in his ongoing trade war, threatening Apple (AAPL) with increased duties if the company does not make iPhones in the US.

"I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhone’s that will be sold in the United States of America will be manufactured and built in the United States, not India, or anyplace else," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "If that is not the case, a Tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple to the U.S."

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/live/tariffs-live-updates-trump-threatens-apple-with-25-tariff-if-iphones-not-made-in-us-191201249.html

And this little nugget as well. A normal enterprise waits until a Friday evening to announce this sort of thing to the markets. Trust Trump to throw a tantrum without thinking and do more damage to himself than those inciting his ire.

Check out Dow futures this morning.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/23/trump-recommends-50percent-tariff-on-european-union-starting-june-1.html

Of course, if he changes his mind again in a few days, then maybe we'll quit listening.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

 

[Altitude sickness]

It’s becoming more and more apparent that Trump sees the tariffs primarily as a revenue stream. And secondary to help US industries.
to offset his spending and tax cuts.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

It’s becoming more and more apparent that Trump sees the tariffs primarily as a revenue stream. And secondary to help US industries.
to offset his spending and tax cuts.

Think you’re correct. Sadly

 

[mdwest]

Do you think 1931 out of 340,000,000 is a significant number? A12% jump equals a little more than 200…

So out of 340 million people, 200 more decided to move to the UK than the year before… and this is news?

What it is, is a ridiculous argument…

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump’s re-election.

Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023.
CNN

Is anyone surprised about this...?

Do you honestly believe 1931 Americans is a large amount? There is 340 million of them it stands to reason 1931 would likely only represent those who moved for relationships and or business/employment opportunities. Hardly an exodus as you’re trying to portray.

I dislike trump as much as anyone I think he is a lier and hypocrite but your blatant hatred is doing nothing to further your cause and regurgitating others articles to disparage trump does as much to win you points as those who post memes when they feel trump has down something else wonderful.

Try offering your own opinion and then providing facts to back it up you’ll get way farther with those on here that can be reasoned with and those who can’t you’ll never reach anyway so why bother?

 

[Tubby’s Canteen]

Do you think 1931 out of 340,000,000 is a significant number? A12% jump equals a little more than 200…

So out of 340 million people, 200 more decided to move to the UK than the year before… and this is news?

What it is, is a ridiculous argument…

You beat me to the draw on this one but it looks like we both come to about the same conclusion.

 

[bowjijohn]

A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump’s re-election.

Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023.
CNN

Is anyone surprised about this...?

Me thinks we have a political player

Not an honest hunter

I suspect you are no more a white SA farmer than I am an astronaut

 

[Tbitty]

A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump’s re-election.

Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023.
CNN

Is anyone surprised about this...?

 

[deewayne2003]

A record number of Americans applied for British citizenship between January and March, according to the first set of data covering the start of Donald Trump’s second presidential term. Some 1,931 Americans put in an application, the most since records began in 2004 and a jump of 12% on the previous quarter, figures from the UK Home Office showed Thursday. Applications had already soared during the October-December period, which coincided with Trump’s re-election.

Successful applications by US citizens to settle permanently in the United Kingdom, rather than just move there initially, also hit a record high last year, the latest period for which official data is available. Settlement comes with the right to live, work and study in Britain indefinitely and can be used to apply for citizenship. More than 5,500 Americans were granted settled status in 2024, a fifth more than in 2023.
CNN

Is anyone surprised about this...?

Once again your data lacks context.... context that is very telling!

Good riddance to them! Meanwhile the people of the UK are fleeing in record numbers with more than 20,000 moving to the USA in 2024.......

Moving to the USA from the UK

Thinking of living in America? Here’s everything you need to know before making the leap across the Pond

www.telegraph.co.uk

UK with 68mil people has 20,000+ moving to the USA ..... compared to the USA with a population of 340mil who has less than 2,000 people applying to move to the UK.

USA to UK = 170,000:1
UK to USA = 3,400:1

In internet terms that is known as being "ratioed".....

Is anyone surprised by this??????

With 23% of the UK considering leaving

23% of Brits plan to move abroad: Here's where their money goes furthest - IFA Magazine

A new report from Currencies Direct has revealed that 23% of Brits—the equivalent of 12.3 million UK adults1 - are considering moving abroad in the next five

ifamagazine.com

Furthermore the amount of UK citizens moving to South Africa in 2024 is so low that I can't even find data on it..... Is that surprising?