Interesting comment but typical from you.



We are loaded with 155mm, of course.

Agreed
It will never happen otherwise

Take it easy before you stroke out, damn.

If we "have the money" why are we over $30 Trillion in debt and our annual debt now is about 125% of our annual GDP?

According to the Office of Management and Budget, the United States recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 129 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2022

That’s BS.

Bunch of damn pinko, commie, Putin puffers in this thread.

In case any of you have not figured it out yet:  this ain’t about Ukraine.  

It is about toppling the Russian government. They must go (permanently).

You would not go negotiating with Hitler.  Would you?!?

LOL. What decade are you living in?

Rated Troll

Which decade?  

- apparently the decade where far too many Americans inexplicably love the Putin regime, even though that regime is an enemy of the United States.

What’s your excuse?

Actually, if I could have found a simple and trustworthy way, a rifle or two of mine might have found their way over there.  A bunch of my gear and dollars have.

We did it on purpose to stimulate the economy. It's called an investment.

"Ukraine’s Zelenskyy did not purchase two luxury yachts in October. They’re still up for sale"
https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-zelenskyy-luxury-yachts-75-million-067680385163

"U.S. Producers Break Annual Oil Production Record"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rrapier/2023/12/15/us-producers-have-broken-the-annual-oil-production-record/?sh=4b4c9dc46cc6

" Samsung (Korea) and Apple (made in China) would like a word with you"
Apple makes $500 on every iphone sold:
https://fourweekmba.com/how-much-profit-does-apple-make-per-iphone/
The Chinese laborers who put them together make less than $3/hr:
https://www.scmp.com/tech/tech-trends/article/3217551/foxconn-wages-fall-below-us3-hour-shenzhen-apple-shifts-supply-chain-away-china
Clearly we're on the winning end of that exchange.

"It is fixed now"

What? Prices have still risen 18 - 24% over the past 3 years and prices are still rising now. Do you understand how inflation works? Americans are hurting, badly.

Yes. The Fed targets a 2% inflation rate, they try to achieve that through manipulating interest rates, printing money, and issuing govt bonds (debt) and not overdoing it. Inflation normally hovers around 3-4% though, a little short of their goal. But as I said, 18-24% in 3 years is a decades worth of inflation. So we had a problem.

They stopped printing money and raised interest rates, and look where it is now:
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/how-the-us-economy-tamed-inflation-in-2023-211000867.html

It's fixed, and now they said they're going to start lowering interest rates again.
https://www.ft.com/content/ff1f4787-57fb-4187-a215-5a32c55deeed

So, one less thing to be all upset about, right?

Yep, same here. I even have vehicles I can send for the right influence

And for the record, the Fed tried to address inflation 5 years ago. But addressing inflation means shrinking the economy, because they're putting less cash in the economy and higher interest rates makes it harder to take out loans and make investments. The stock market takes a dive too. This all is not good for re-election, so Trump got on Twitter like usual and roasted them:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/17/18144497/trump-tweet-fed-reserve-jay-powell

and they started cutting interest rates again. Then we had the covid stimulus which made inflation even worse, but it's good for votes and at the time people needed the money.

Sounds like a bunch of mind reading too me.

This is based on Ziehan's retarded theory that nuclear super powers need to secure terrain features on thier borders to prevent invasion from Mongol archers?

I've got news for you. Russia can stop any threat of invasion from its neighbors for the foreseeable future so long as nukes continue to be deliverable by bombers, subs, icbms, briefcases, satellites, and artillery.

The amazing thing is that our dominant GDP globally is despite us not even trying.

This country would be unstoppable if we got our heads back in the game.

It's closer to 50%, and that's on the low end.

Yes. Zeihan, the guy referenced above, (and his old boss George Fridman) likes to say we continue to do well no matter how much the politicians try to screw it up. We're lucky we have a breadbasket in the midwest, and the Mississippi River to cheaply ship all that food throughout the country and the world. Not to mention our vast oil, iron and coal deposits. Then we have national treasures like Hollywood, Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Harvard and Yale, and so on. Nobody matches American innovation. We are geologically and demographically in a spot that you can't screw it up. But I think the Inflation Reduction Act (that had nothing to do with inflation) was us trying to get our shit together.

Look at north and south Korea. Leftists can easily screw up America. Look what they are doing to California.

Don't forget Zeihan has a blind spot for his fellow travelers.

Catherine the Great (Russia's leader in the 1700s) used to say:



And there is evidence that it is still somewhat valid today. Look at the North Caucasus:



This area is not inhabited by ethnic Russians. They are Muslim and speak different languages. But it's clear that Russia wants to control up to the mountain range despite the wars in Chechnya and Georgia and general unrest in the area.

Then look at where the carpathian mountains are:



Russia already has troops in Moldova. We've seen in the Ukraine War how much terrain matters.

Why does this bother you? The UK suspended elections for 10 years during WWII and they weren't even invaded. You can't have enemy sympathizers in your govt when the existence of your country in under contest. And after WWII the US booted a lot of people out of the govt that were commie sympathizers.

These are extraordinary times there. For Ukraine to survive post-war, they need to join the EU. And the EU won't let in a country that is a dictatorship. The EU is also telling them they need to fight corruption, and by every measure they are.

This is important for them:

Things don't really feel "fixed".

I just spent over $500 on a cart of groceries.

Ouch! I agree. It doesn't feel that way for me either. You get a decades' worth of inflation in 3 years and it doesn't matter if it's fixed and prices aren't still rising, it still hurts for awhile.

But we're not alone. We're doing a whole lot better on inflation than Europe. Here's the UK:
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65037292

Yeah there's a Danish moderator, DK-Prof, who wants to make sure that everyone in that thread is pro-Ukraine to the max. No teetering, no middle ground. They have to capture Crimea (who is only 20% ethnic Ukrainian). And I've talked to the owner of this board.... as the average American and European point of view changes towards "don't spend my money on who governs Crimea" it'll become more difficult for him and the other Ukebros in that thread.

WE HAVE THE MONEY?!? hahahahhaa

It's only 1% to 1.5% of our federal budget. What's funny about that?

Now, if it's not worth it I get that. But don't tell me the money isn't there, we have plenty of funds. More than any other country. Our F-35 program costs more than Ukraine aid. It's a matter of priorities, but there's $3 trillion in federal funds.

You weren't banned from that thread for offending people with conflicting views. You were banned from that thread for constantly trolling in attempts to get it shut down. I even remember one day where you posted at least three times (summary mine), "Oh shucks, I guess the only option is for mods to close this thread!"

Anyway, glad to see you're back to posting the same shtick you've been posting since literally day 1 of joining Arfcom (summary mine again): "Oh gee willy, I totally support Ukraine, but they really need to give up DPR/LPR/Crimea! And they need to do that on China's terms because [insert political class shill here] said so!"

No one fell for it before. No one is falling for it now. Your Soviet apologism is clear.

This is exactly what I got:
"CoC 7 - disrupting a thread.  Posting patently incorrect information in the Ukraine War thread, seemingly to support the narrative that Ukraine should be prepared to let Russia keep Crimea (an argument the poster has made repeatedly in the thread)." -DKProf

So, that's not your truth or my truth, it's the truth. And I'm an American, I really hope Ukraine (my country's ally) wins. They already have in many ways, they still have a country. That's how skewed you guys are, you think anyone who doesn't support their maximal goals is the enemy. And you're so paranoid, like someone who had their country invaded.

I also know that the US isn't going to spend endless amounts of money on Ukraine governing Crimea (which is ~20% ethnic Ukrainian). I've tried to warn you! Ukraine is going to end up on their own if they keep on this path.

Biden's National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan says America 'deserves a degree of gratitude' for $113 billion in support
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12290643/U-S-blasts-ungrateful-Zelensky-Kyiv-slammed-absurd-delay-NATO-membership.html

Joe Biden ‘lost temper at Volodymyr Zelensky over ingratitude for US aid’
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/10/31/joe-biden-lost-temper-volodymyr-zelensky-ingratitude-us-aid/

Your pulling at heart strings image not withstanding
"You can't have enemy sympathizers in your govt when the existence of your country in under contest"
Hmm, if the populace of the non-occupied territories decided to vote for someone other than Zman, and that someone supported closer ties with Russia (probably not going to happen but a lot of western Ukr is tired of the war, mainly because it only affects them conscription and economy wise)  that would be democracy wouldn't it.
You neglected that he pretty much said "I know my gov't is still massively corrupt but I can't fix it because Reasons"

Did you actually read that link? They stated, in 1940 that we should extend Parliament for 12 months at a time
"I do not wish to affirm either that it will be or that it will not be so, and it is for that very reason that the Government do not propose to extend the maximum life of 584the present Parliament by more than twelve months. Let us see what that twelve months bring forth and we shall then be in a better position hereafter to determine what is the proper course to pursue. Well, finding as I do that your Lordships are of one mind as to the carriage of this Bill, I will put the Question. I do not propose to invite the House to take the Committee stage upon it, and the final steps in the measure will not be undertaken until to-morrow."

FYI, it failed On Question, Bill read 2 ; Committee negatived.

They have elections every 5 years
The election due by 1940 was not held due to the Second World War (1939 1945).
They had the next election in 1945 (the next regular election)
The 1945 United Kingdom general election was a national election held on Thursday 5 July 1945

The UK also does not have a written Constitution which they continually say makes this all even a consideration.

The Ukrainian constitution does not allow to hold elections to Verkhovna Rada while martial law is in effect, it does  allow for presidential elections. Elections are every 5 years
"In the event that the term of authority of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine expires while a state of martial law or of emergency is in effect, its powers are extended until the day when the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine elected after the cancellation of the state of martial law or of emergency convenes its first meeting of the first session."

There is no mention that martial law or a state of war suspends Presidential elections.

"Article 103
The President of Ukraine is elected by the citizens of Ukraine for a five-year term, on the basis of universal, equal, and direct suffrage, by secret ballot.

A citizen of Ukraine who has attained the age of thirty-five, has the right to vote, has resided in Ukraine for the past ten years prior to the day of elections, and has command of the state language, may be elected as the President of Ukraine.

One and the same person shall not be the President of Ukraine for more than two consecutive terms.

The President of Ukraine shall not have another representative mandate, hold office in bodies of state power or in associations of citizens, and also perform any other paid or entrepreneurial activity, or be a member of an administrative body or board of supervisors of an enterprise that is aimed at making profit.

Regular elections of the President of Ukraine are held on the last Sunday of the last month of the fifth year of the term of authority of the President of Ukraine. In the event of pre-term termination of authority of the President of Ukraine, elections of the President of Ukraine are held within ninety days from the day of termination of the authority.

The procedure for conducting elections of the President of Ukraine is established by law."

After victory in Europe was achieved in 1945 they held elections, yeah. Though Churchill wanted elections delayed until victory in Asia was achieved, the opposition party got their way.
" No election had taken place during the war (until 1945). The members of the British Parliament, the House of Commons, had been elected as far back as 1935."
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/a-brief-political-history-of-the-united-kingdom/

This is not a unique thing, to suspend elections when your country is a war zone.

U.S. manufacturing is not what it was during WW2.

All the politics aside, this foreign conflict has demonstrated our national vulnerability when it comes to weapons production rates.

We don't have enough dual-use factories, we don't have enough skilled labor with transferrable skills, we are too reliant on foreign materials and electronic components, and a serious overhaul of our entire manufacturing base is required.

Hell, U.S. Steel just got bought out by a Japanese firm.    

I'll say this though, the Ukrainian's idea of building their own defense manufacturing capacity during the middle of this conflict in time to actually impact its outcome is insane.  Factories take years to get up and running, especially in todays technological world.  I think this talk of having western arms manufactures set up shop in Ukraine is just being done to line some pockets with initial investments that ultimately wouldn't go anywhere.

$113 billion in support is not small.  I believe that was double the size of Russia's defense spending in 2021.  Now, it's not our fault that Ukraine didn't allocate all of that money towards defense.  

Biden Administration let Boris Johnson walk us into being in the middle of this conflict.  Biden should have taken a far more stand off approach to Ukraine just as his predeceasors had with Ukraine and before that Georgia.   Instead those idiots jumped right into the middle of this damn thing.  I was firmly against U.S. talks with Russia over Ukraine leading up to the 2022 invasion,  we should have never put anything NATO related within a million miles of discussions surrounding this conflict.   This should have been very clearly just between Ukraine and Russia.  Now, you can guarantee Russia is going to demand NATO concessions especially if U.S. State Dept makes itself a party to any eventual negotiated settlement talks.

U.S. should have just given a small amount of aid, a pat on the back, made some statements and formal complaints against the invasion, and turned to its own affairs.  Never insert yourself in a situation where you have no direct control over the outcome.  That's essentially what we did in 2014 and before that what we did with Georgia.  

Biden Admin let the British and the NECONS in D.C. put them into a terrible spot, because they're morons.  Even Obama would have handled this situation better.

Except the UKR Constitution does not allow Presidential elections to be suspended. Only the Rada

So what? My understanding is they're trying to figure out the logistics of how they would even pull off a fair election when almost 1/5th of their territory is occupied, cities like Kherson are getting shelled and cities like Odesa getting hit by missiles, hundreds of thousands of their men are on the front lines, and they've got enemy tanks just a few hundred miles from Kyiv.

I mean, what do you want from them? Sorry you didn't get your Russian dictator loyal to Putin installed by force as head of Ukraine a couple years ago. Thems the breaks. Like I said, a dictatorship won't get into the EU or NATO or a NATO-like treaty. They'll end up on their own if they suspend elections forever and everything they've done shows they want to join Europe and not be just another version of Russia.

So Ukr is out?
Because that is pretty much where they're heading

I would hope the Republicans hold out till the 12th of never on this one, but they won't


Ukraine should make a deal with Vlad and all their other cousins, and go back to business as usual F'Em.

The best reason for a flat tax, at least on earned income. Not only do people not pay taxes, but the IRS, in fact, sends them refund checks every year that are far in excess of what they paid in. And we wonder why the tax system is broken. It's simple. Pick the percentage we need to pay. Across the board. Everyone. No refunds.

Nah, there's no way this guy is headed to be the Kim Jong Un or Vladimir Putin of Ukraine:



You

Stop listening to Russian propaganda.

After 200 billion, if you're losing the war it's because you're a loser.

Borderlands should sign up for onlyfans because they're fucked.

We've been saying that for years. We lost our thing when the companies we were working for decided they would sell out to  foreign entities, and declared us as part of the package. They decided that our education would be helpful to the other guys. My Dad, who was a college professor ( he's dead, Jim ) used to tell me that education is the one thing they can't take away from you. Survey says, "That was a lie." And judging from what I've seen on college campuses these days, the people who run the educational institutions are balls deep in it, and turned it into a cottage industry. Just so long as we are willing to do all of the work, and pick up the tab.

A good percentage of what passes for a graduate these days is absurd. The videos that clearly demonstrate that people, as a whole, have so little of an understanding of what goes on in the world are pretty solid evidence that eliminating the standards didn't work. College? I'd be surprised if any of them actually was able to pass high school. But they don't hesitate to send us the bill, like they're doing something so important for this country that it warrants a taxpayer burden. No patriotism, and no loyalty to us anymore.

The biggest faux pas was giving away the keys to the IT kingdom. We sent our manufacturing, programming, and technical support to a third world country, and now, we can't understand why information security is at an all time low. Why is it that they are somewhat able to keep a totally open source system reasonably secure, but can't secure a phone, or a desktop? Look no further than who makes the hardware right now. The Pentium series is less secure than a 486 was. Remember mitigations for Meltdown and Spectre? Yeah, we didn't think so. They didn't fix it. They buried it.

We now live in a nation where flying a commie flag, and chanting 'genocide the jews' is protected speech, pronouns
are mandatory, and anyone telling the truth is ostracized. Our good American brahs are not only turning this into a third world country, they're actually importing third worlders, in record numbers, to adds to the realism of it all. They don't even try to hide it anymore. I hope it was worth it to them. I can't say it was to us.

And, after all of that smash a fash commie flag waving, the kids are turning absolute Nazi. Our government is funding a war where white people are killing each other, and our tech is leaking like a sieve to China, Typically red states are overwhelmingly voting in communist heads of state, but there's no fraud. The entire time, all these businesses, and politicians, are getting rich on chinese slave labor. And our working base is turning toward third world dope pushing human traffickers, while our own population is on a path towards terminal retardation.  

But, it's a good thing that Rooskie is dying. And, who really cares about 'The" Ukraine?

That thread is a joke.

Oh, that Danish Mod!.

Really? - DK prof has never seemed to be anything other than fair and honest.

We haven’t sent 200 billion.

Furthermore the aid has been working as evident by the collapse of the Russian army in several areas and the majority of Ukraine being out of Russian control.

There was an excellent documentary in the 80s about how to deal with Russians invading your country.  We should have sent them several copies beyond that nothing else.

I guess the only the most die hard dems still support that little fruit in leather pants.

We've done exactly the opposite of that. Russia starts off every war a complete soup sandwich and spends a couple of years getting their incompetents killed off. Eventually they find their footing and produce a halfway decent fighting force.

At this point all we've done is made sure they had that time to gear up with an inferior opponent. If the absolutely absurd idea of them sweeping across Europe is the fear you've only made it more likely for them to succeed. I'd rather they try it with the army they had two years ago to get stompped into the dirt by NATO. Now with some warmup they might put up a fight.