Random Chat Thread VIII (Aka the world politics shitfight thread)

[DesertRoo]

Clinton delivered three consecutive surpluses in 98/99/00.

Deficit is a choice and one they can only sustain while $USD is the world's de facto reserve currency.

Their choice to weaponise that status via sanctions has led to countries recognising the danger of a USD denominated world.

I don't think BRICS is as powerful as many others do, nor do I dismiss it like others.

But one outcome of the Ukraine War so far is that Western sanctions absolutely have a limit and are survivable.

Russia's main economic issue is they are running their wartime economy too hot, not that the sanctions did anything.



They have numerous threats to their economy, obviously climate change is a massive issue.

Trump's economic madness can hurt them very badly.

Thing with the US is its sheer size, population and geography, means they can operate as a self sustaining unit if they want - they have all the energy, minerals and food they need.

Was it Bismarck who said God looks after drunks and the US?

Like, lithium is the new gold, of course they're finding huge deposits of across the US.

The real economic basket case is Britain, they're utterly stuffed.

They have to start producing to not end up of the last days of the Roman Empire, where their biggest export was manure.
One problem I see for the US if it does go all isolationist, is they have to restart supply lines again.
It’s going to be a monumental task, the quickest way posible would be enforced industry consolidation but that would would be completely against a capitalist ideology. How do you compete with China at manufacturing at present?

Completely agreed with UK, I think they’re were stuck trying to be Singapore to China, whilst watching the EU tear itself apart.

Going to be such an interesting ride the next four years.

 

[DesertRoo]

I'm not an economist. The whole thing looks like rubbish to me. But I'm starting to think defecits don't matter. .... like ... where does money come from?

Yeah economics doesn’t make sense when you’ve only got one super power. I’m not sure the US is going to be able to keep the status of reserve currency anymore, Biden blew that game with the sanctions.

 

[Liam Boy]

this guy totally could've served until january 2029

 

[DesertRoo]

this guy totally could've served until january 2029

lol keep this up and you’ll be added to the imaginary clique

 

[Ligma]

lol Americans jumping onto a Chinese social media platform ‘red note’ because TikTok is getting banned.

And these red note users are calling them TikTok refugees

 

[Chadwiko]

The Koch brothers brought the republican party in 2010 via the Tea Baggers and then almost shut down the US government. They brought states as well.

Yes, and it's still nothing in comparison to the current situation.

 

[ferball]

Yes, and it's still nothing in comparison to the current situation.

This is just the moment when they take down the scenery and move the chairs and tables out of the way.

 

[The Dark]

They have to start producing to not end up of the last days of the Roman Empire, where their biggest export was manure.
One problem I see for the US if it does go all isolationist, is they have to restart supply lines again.
It’s going to be a monumental task, the quickest way posible would be enforced industry consolidation but that would would be completely against a capitalist ideology. How do you compete with China at manufacturing at present?

Completely agreed with UK, I think they’re were stuck trying to be Singapore to China, whilst watching the EU tear itself apart.

Going to be such an interesting ride the next four years.

FDR did it, they just need a really big war.

 

[Liam Boy]

lol Americans jumping onto a Chinese social media platform ‘red note’ because TikTok is getting banned.

And these red note users are calling them TikTok refugees

I'm on there, it's good fun

 

[The Brady Bunch]

This x infinity.

People who think government debt/deficits = household debt/deficit are among the stupidest people in the world.

Sadly it is a simple sell to the electorate when parties hit election time, because most people can't or don't want to understand actual economics.

Dutton will roll hard with it.

It's also an issue of scale and leverage, or as J Paul Getty put it:

"If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem."

In other words, the bank can foreclose on a household debt and seize assets. It's a little bit harder foreclose on a country.

 

[ferball]

It's also an issue of scale and leverage, or as J Paul Getty put it:

"If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem."

In other words, the bank can foreclose on a household debt and cease assets. It's a little bit harder foreclose on a country.

The IMF and World Bank try hard to in the developing world.

 

[The Dark]

It's also an issue of scale and leverage, or as J Paul Getty put it:

"If you owe the bank $100, that's your problem. If you owe the bank $100 million, that's the bank's problem."

In other words, the bank can foreclose on a household debt and cease assets. It's a little bit harder foreclose on a country.

Exactly this.

 

[Ligma]

I'm on there, it's good fun

Same hahaha it’s so good

 

[The Dark]

Fun fact: the United States (the world's largest oil and gas producer) has very harsh sanctions on three of the other largest producers in Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

Yet it doesn't impose sanctions on other dictatorial human rights abusing major oil and gas producers like Saudi, Kuwait and Qatar, which happen to host major US military bases.

Tell me again about SOVEREIGNTY and which nation goes around imposing it's will at the point of the sword again.

 

[Chadwiko]

Fun fact: the United States (the world's largest oil and gas producer) has very harsh sanctions on three of the other largest producers in Iran, Russia and Venezuela.

Yet it doesn't impose sanctions on other dictatorial human rights abusing major oil and gas producers like Saudi, Kuwait and Qatar, which happen to host major US military bases.

Tell me again about SOVEREIGNTY and which nation goes around imposing it's will at the point of the sword again.

...what's this got to do with anything?

 

[Chadwiko]

The United States has sanctions on Russia and Iran for... pretty obvious reasons. (They're not the only country that sanctions these nations though, with the UK and EU having similar sanctions).

Venezuela sanctions are a little more complicated, but still reasonably easy to understand when you look at the situation with Maduro.

Saudi, Qatar, and Kuwait are problematic countries for sure, especially in terms of human rights and democratic freedoms.

But it would be intellectually dishonest to suggest they're on some sort of equal footing with Russia and Iran.

This "fun fact" raised out of nowhere seems to just be a thinly veiled reason to defend Russia and attack the US for... reasons?

 

[The Dark]

...what's this got to do with anything?

Trump readies tougher oil sanctions against Russia, Iran

Scott Bessent, Donald Trump’s nominee for Treasury secretary said he supports dialling up the sanctions on the Russian oil industry to end the war in Ukraine.

www.afr.com

I saw it in the clips today. It's a pretty major geopolitical factors I would have thought.

 

[The Dark]

The United States has sanctions on Russia and Iran for... pretty obvious reasons. (They're not the only country that sanctions these nations though, with the UK and EU having similar sanctions).

Venezuela sanctions are a little more complicated, but still reasonably easy to understand when you look at the situation with Maduro.

Saudi, Qatar, and Kuwait are problematic countries for sure, especially in terms of human rights and democratic freedoms.

But it would be intellectually dishonest to suggest they're on some sort of equal footing with Russia and Iran.

This "fun fact" raised out of nowhere seems to just be a thinly veiled reason to defend Russia and attack the US for... reasons?

Did you just say Kuwait and Saudi arent as bad as Russia?

You may want to run that worldview past a woman.

Anyway, it's always fascinating and amusing to see you scurry out into frankly ridiculous positions like this to defend US imperialism.

 

[Chadwiko]

Did you just say Kuwait and Saudi arent as bad as Russia?

Yes, and I stand by that.

I acknowledged quite clearly in my post that Saudi/Qatar/Kuwait are problematic and I don't pretend otherwise. I'm not sitting here 'defending' them or their human rights abuses and their systems of oppression.

But on the global stage, in comparison to Russia and Iran? Yes, they are "aren't as bad".

Anyway, it's always fascinating and amusing to see you scurry out into frankly ridiculous positions like this to defend US imperialism.

Likewise, it's always amusing and bemusing to watch you turn every headline into an opportunity for you to extol how Russia is good and America is the great satan. Without fail.

 

[The Dark]

Yes, and I stand by that.

I acknowledged quite clearly in my post that Saudi/Qatar/Kuwait are problematic and I don't pretend otherwise. I'm not sitting here 'defending' them or their human rights abuses and their systems of oppression.

But on the global stage, in comparison to Russia and Iran? Yes, they are "aren't as bad

Saudi attacked its neighbour in Yemen and created a famine that killed untold numbers.

It's quite astounding you're out here pretending an openly anti Semitic country like Saudi isn't as bad as Russia.

I mean, you couldn't actually visit Saudi as a Jewish person right?

Your wife would have to wear a sack in Kuwait.

Your Russiaphobia is soooo funny man.

 

[Chadwiko]

Saudi attacked its neighbour in Yemen and created a famine that killed untold numbers.

It's quite astounding you're out here pretending an openly anti Semitic country like Saudi isn't as bad as Russia.

I mean, you couldn't actually visit Saudi as a Jewish person right?

Your wife would have to wear a sack in Kuwait.

Your Russiaphobia is soooo funny man.

Again, I'll repeat myself;

I'm not defending those countries. I've acknowledged repeatedly how problematic they are.

Russia and Iran are more disruptive and dangerous on the global stage. That's just a fact.

 

[Chadwiko]

Saudi attacked its neighbour in Yemen and created a famine that killed untold numbers.

Also, in support of my point;

Why did Saudi Arabia launch attacks in Yemen?
What precipitated it?
Who were they targeting?
Who was backing and supporting the group that the Saudis targeted?

You know the answer to all of these questions.