Random Politics & Religion #19
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Random Politics & Religion #19
Air Cushioned Vehicles? Like Hoverboats? Freakin Canadians. Why don't we just invade.
Asura.Kingnobody said: » Viciouss said: » I guess you just count on the American Navy to protect you -.- FUCK YEAH Unpaid world police. Everyone *** and moans about US military action while simultaneously slashing their defense budgets to the smallest possible while just assuming if anything happens "the US will take care of it".
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Josiahkf said: » The one thing that bothers me the most about the point Saeval and Trump are making is the hypocrisy of so many countries, including my own. All us Nato countries signed in agreement that we would all provide 2% of our gross domestic products towards defensive. We all have failed the United States. Yes we'll all of y'alls 2% is not the same as our 2%. Viciouss said: » Can somebody please send out a destroyer to chase off this Russian rustbucket hanging out on our coastline. Its an eyesore. This doesn't mean it can't have an "accident" but we don't seem able to pull those off. Not under any administration since LBJ's.
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Lakshmi.Zerowone said: » Yes we'll all of y'alls 2% is not the same as our 2%. It's a lot more then 2%, the US pays a ridiculous amount of it's GDP vs other nations, not just NATO but also the UN while those same nations reap the benefit from that. By itself it wouldn't be a big deal since that was the agreement during the Cold War, but then those same countries get all indignant at the US and start criticizing it, while still accepting that kind of subsidization. USA spends over 3% of it's GDP and nearly a third of it's national budget on Defense, that's a *** ton of Cheddar to be throwing out there and it's not necessary if the USA takes less of an interest in world defense. That's a lot of money that could fund social programs, which is exactly what all those European Socialist countries do.
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The USA has but one operational icebreaker.
We have ceded the arctic ocean to Russia which has at least 14 icebreakers, 4 of them nuclear powered. But hey, can't raise taxes yaknow.... This is a bipartisan effort. They have 15 other vessels with "significant icebreaking capabilities."
We haven't one. Garuda.Chanti said: » They have 15 other vessels with "significant icebreaking capabilities." We haven't one. + for Global Warming!
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Cheer up Donny this place wouldn't be the same without you !
Meanwhile how I spend most nights:
YouTube Video Placeholder Bismarck.Josiahfk said: » Mr. Fonewear this is a gaming website meeting Is it? Or is it that you girls can't admit that you have a problem I'll admit I have a problem with girl scout cookies ! State Dept. carries out layoffs under Rex Tillerson
CBSN (WTF is CBSN?) Quote: While Rex Tillerson is on his first overseas trip as Secretary of State, his aides laid off staff at the State Department on Thursday. Much of seventh-floor staff, who work for the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources and the Counselor offices, were told today that their services were no longer needed. These staffers in particular are often the conduit between the secretary’s office to the country bureaus, where the regional expertise is centered. Inside the State Department, some officials fear that this is a politically-minded purge that cuts out much-needed expertise from the policy-making, rather than simply reorganizing the bureaucracy. There are clear signals being sent that many key foreign policy portfolios will be controlled directly by the White House, rather than through the professional diplomats. Not a single State Department official was included in the White House meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this week. Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner - who has no regional expertise or diplomatic experience - had a greater role in the meeting than the Senate-confirmed secretary of State.... Welp Italy is ***.
For thos who followed my ramblings about italian politics(so no one), they might remember there was a risk of splitting in the Democratic Party and now it's officially happening. This all because of Renzi, may he burn in hell. The result will be that the 5 Stars Movement will now win elections in a landslide and destroy Italy, Europe, and why not the world!
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Valefor.Sehachan said: » Welp Italy is ***. For thos who followed my ramblings about italian politics(so no one), they might remember there was a risk of splitting in the Democratic Party and now it's officially happening. This all because of Renzi, may he burn in hell. The result will be that the 5 Stars Movement will now win elections in a landslide and destroy Italy, Europe, and why not the world! You've done enough with Italian cuisine to make up for it ! Plenty of NATO countries haven't held up their part of the deal, but you never publicly put into question whether we would honor our agreement if they were invaded. You have those conversations 1 on 1 over a secured line. GHW Bush made a public comment about Kuwait and a year later Iraq invaded.
I really think there needs to be some normalization of dollars, too. Looks like Trump is removing anyone might be loyal to the Democrats from positions where they could do harm. Expect a lot of staff in in the Executive branch to be removed and replaced, especially anyone Hillary or Obama hired.
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Jassik said: » I really think there needs to be some normalization of dollars, too. Valefor.Sehachan said: » Jassik said: » I really think there needs to be some normalization of dollars, too. Simple, the relative economies of countries and currencies varies a ton, and costs for a lot of things are fixed. The other reason I would like to see normalization is that a country can call just about anything military spending or cook the books to inflate costs. Too much variability in an already unbalanced metric.
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Jassik said: » Valefor.Sehachan said: » Jassik said: » I really think there needs to be some normalization of dollars, too. Simple, the relative economies of countries and currencies varies a ton, and costs for a lot of things are fixed. The other reason I would like to see normalization is that a country can call just about anything military spending or cook the books to inflate costs. Too much variability in an already unbalanced metric. It's also a reason why businesses don't repatriate profits (they are waiting for the "right" time to do so). That, and some countries actually forbid foreign companies from repatriating profits to their home countries (France is one, Switzerland, and China are those who I can think of off the top of my head). Valefor.Sehachan said: » Welp Italy is ***. For thos who followed my ramblings about italian politics(so no one), they might remember there was a risk of splitting in the Democratic Party and now it's officially happening. This all because of Renzi, may he burn in hell. The result will be that the 5 Stars Movement will now win elections in a landslide and destroy Italy, Europe, and why not the world!  We should probably start naming those posts "Chicken Little" posts.
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Asura.Kingnobody said: » Jassik said: » Valefor.Sehachan said: » Jassik said: » I really think there needs to be some normalization of dollars, too. Simple, the relative economies of countries and currencies varies a ton, and costs for a lot of things are fixed. The other reason I would like to see normalization is that a country can call just about anything military spending or cook the books to inflate costs. Too much variability in an already unbalanced metric. I'm thinking more along the lines of things that aircraft that are bought from us. I'm not honestly sure if they pay the same price for them that we do, I kind of doubt it. If they don't, it means our dollars go further for the same things. So, a country could spend the target percent of GDP and get less for it. We might also pay significantly more due to government contracts for things that other states produce themselves, making it look like they're underspending. It's hard to compare so many variables at once and come up with a number that paints the whole picture. All I see are bar-graphs, and it would be surprising if much of that information was publicly available and trustworthy given the number of governments involved. |
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