Political Posts

[KCLarkin]

1 hour ago, james22 said:

 

And I'm quite sure most outside the US don't understand how little Americans give a fuck what we're thought of anymore.

 

Oh, we understand this very clearly. Though the "anymore" is probably unnecessary, since the average American never really gave a fuck, right? At least that is the stereotype...

 

But in the context of Elon Musk and Tesla, the issue is that 50% of sales are international. And this is a car manufacturer trading at 8x sales. And Elon has margin loans against this stock, IIRC.  Where does the growth come from? And if it isn't growing, why doesn't it trade at less than 1x sales, like other automakers? Most of that premium, is the "Elon Premium". And if Elon Premium turns negative or even neutral?

[cubsfan]

26 minutes ago, Viking said:

@cubsfan , as I said, I agree that the US has legitimate grievances with the rest of the world. There are many ways to settle those grievances… All I am trying to do is:

1.) understand/process what Trump is doing, and

2.) the consequences that his actions will have on the US/global economy and stocks over time. 

 

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. And as of today, I have no idea what Trump’s end game really is and what the impacts to the US/global economy will be. It literally keeps changing every day. Crazy times.

 

Anyways, I apologize for taking this thread into the realm of politics (yes, I am Canadian). So I will stop  

 

It's real simple @Viking . I know you can't figure it out - but you're a very smart guy.

 

It's a new world order - driven by Trump. A total re-examination of NATO, which hopefully we will leave - it that's what it takes to have Europe and their lapdog leaders bark at the USA - and do

nothing.

 

It's sad to watch the warmongers in Europe and Canada, going utterly insane. The rhetoric from

these guys is nonsense. No admission of the predicament Ukraine is in - they are losing this war, as they don't have the manpower. It's only been going on for 2 years. 

 

It's going to cost lots of money to defend themselves - and Europe/Canada just can't stand it.

They certainly aren't going to send soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

 

If you believe in incentives: Trump was elected on the issue of cutting an enormous deficit, sealing the border (and deal with Mexico), and getting OUT of Ukraine.

 

That's why he was elected - to deal with the significant problems we have in this country.

[73 Reds]

36 minutes ago, Viking said:

@cubsfan , as I said, I agree that the US has legitimate grievances with the rest of the world. There are many ways to settle those grievances… All I am trying to do is:

1.) understand/process what Trump is doing, and

2.) the consequences that his actions will have on the US/global economy and stocks over time. 

 

I am not the sharpest knife in the drawer. And as of today, I have no idea what Trump’s end game really is and what the impacts to the US/global economy will be. It literally keeps changing every day. Crazy times.

 

Anyways, I apologize for taking this thread into the realm of politics (yes, I am Canadian). So I will stop  

<<as I said, I agree that the US has legitimate grievances with the rest of the world. There are many ways to settle those grievances>>

 

@Viking, I am genuinely interested in some of those ways.  I don't think asking nicely works anymore. Try to understand that Trump is doing largely what his electorate wants.  He ran first and foremost on US strength.  He and his followers believe that once adequate strength is achieved a lot of good both domestic and world-wide will come of it.  What I don't understand is why so many accuse Trump of perpetual lies except that when it comes to tariffs they are all-in Trump believers.     

[cubsfan]

35 minutes ago, John Hjorth said:

 

Mike [ @cubsfan ],

 

That you grab a question for James [ @james22 ] from me, tells me a lot about the ability to discuss this matter based on sobriety and objectivity. Why are you always entering a state of more of less self-occilation?

 

The next thing is you start talking about USD 350 billion, right?

 

Poor John. You can pass out the insults and outrage, but certainly can't deal with any blowback on your silly opinions. I'm quite used to it.

[Jay Rent]

Trump knows that placing tariffs on Canada is a losing battle which is why he keeps backing down at the last moment.

 

Unfortunately as he is weak he will eventually take it too far.

[rogermunibond]

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/trumps-reckless-war-on-canada/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/does-trump-know-why-he-was-elected/

 

Maybe the National Review editorial board and op/ed writers are RINOs.

 

Or maybe tariff wars are stupid.

Edited March 12, 2025 by rogermunibond

[Charlie]

1 hour ago, Viking said:

understand/process what Trump is doing

 

@Viking 

I think Trump is trying to run the U.S. like it is a giant business.

That means he tries to get the Costs down at all costs.

And means he tries to get the Earnings up at all costs.

He hopes that more big companies come to the U.S. through the lower taxes in the U.S.

and through the tariffs long-term.

 

Of course, how smart it is to start a global trade war in a world with a lot of weapons of mass destruction is another question.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited March 12, 2025 by Charlie

[formthirteen]

3 hours ago, John Hjorth said:

It may end up being as 'simple' as a situation showing the eventual outcome of the combination of alcohol on the workplace, and how bad it can go, if the person in charge is intoxicated on the watch, 'running' a vehicle with a mass of perhaps thousands of tons, perhaps even loaded with hazardous stuff. It's about company culture and safety regulations at the shipping company.

 

Yes, we will probably never know if this was a drunk captain and crew or a part of the hybrid war Russia is fighting.

 

Coincidently, this report was published today:

 

Playing With Fire
Are Russia's hybrid attacks the new European war?

By the EBU Investigative Journalism Network

Published on 12 March 2025

https://investigations.news-exchange.ebu.ch/playing-with-fire-are-russias-hybrid-attacks-the-new-european-war/

 

My pet theory is that the crew has been drunk since summer 2024 when they were inspected in Ireland:

 

Quote

 

Port state control (PSC) inspection documents show the ship failed steering-related safety checks in July last year. Irish officials deemed Solong’s “emergency steering position communications/compass reading” was “not readable”.

 

This was among ten deficiencies highlighted during the inspection of the Portuguese vessel in Dublin. Other issues included alarms being “inadequate”, survival craft “not properly maintained”, and fire doors “not as required”.

 

 

https://www.scotsman.com/news/world/cargo-ship-oil-tanker-collision-solong-captain-revealed-as-russian-as-scottish-inspection-details-emerge-5029565

Edited March 12, 2025 by formthirteen

[Jay Rent]

8 minutes ago, Charlie said:

 

@Viking 

I think Trump is trying to run the U.S. like it is a giant business.

That means he tries to get the Costs down at all costs.

And means he tries to get the Earnings up at all costs.

He hopes that more big companies come to the U.S. through the lower taxes in the U.S.

and through the tariffs long-term.

 

Of course, how smart it is to start a global trade war in a world with a lot of weapons of mass destruction is another question.

 

 

 

 

Charlie  -  

 

Except as a business owner you want to sell as much product to your customers (yes Canada is a customer) as possible.  He needs to give Canada a win-win solution that is negotiating 101.  Currently he is not.

 

Even if you give Trump credit for his business skills it is as a landlord not as a seller of a multinational product.

[cubsfan]

24 minutes ago, rogermunibond said:

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/trumps-reckless-war-on-canada/

 

https://www.nationalreview.com/2025/03/does-trump-know-why-he-was-elected/

 

Maybe the National Review editorial board and op/ed writers are RINOs.

 

Or maybe tariff wars are stupid.

 

National Review is filled with RINOS, which is fine since no one listens to them.

 

Here's the flip side:

 

https://www.heritage.org/defense/commentary/nato-has-canada-problem

[73 Reds]

6 minutes ago, Jay Rent said:

Charlie  -  

 

Except as a business owner you want to sell as much product to your customers (yes Canada is a customer) as possible.  He needs to give Canada a win-win solution that is negotiating 101.  Currently he is not.

 

Even if you give Trump credit for his business skills it is as a landlord not as a seller of a multinational product.

Negotiating 101:  Get the other side's attention.  Why do you think it ends there?

[rogermunibond]

How does the Canadian contribution to NATO factor into tariffs which are ostensibly about fentanyl, immigration, and manufacturing?

[Jay Rent]

13 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Negotiating 101:  Get the other side's attention.  Why do you think it ends there?

 

13 minutes ago, 73 Reds said:

Negotiating 101:  Get the other side's attention.  Why do you think it ends there?

What?   You can get my attention but if you have nothing for me and my position is just as strong, I don't give a shit.  

 

What do you actually expect Canada to do to deescalate without harming themselves (honest question, please no right wing responses)

[Gregmal]

13 minutes ago, rogermunibond said:

How does the Canadian contribution to NATO factor into tariffs which are ostensibly about fentanyl, immigration, and manufacturing?

Please. You ever have a girlfriend/wife who gets mad at you for not emptying the dishwasher but the anger seems out of line and then later you find out it was really cuz she was pissed you didn’t answer her call while out golfing with the boys the day prior?

[73 Reds]

1 minute ago, Jay Rent said:

 

What?   You can get my attention but if you have nothing for me and my position is just as strong, I don't give a shit.  

 

What do you actually expect Canada to do to deescalate without harming themselves (honest question, please no right wing responses)

No worries; I'm not right (or any) wing.  But unless you feel that no issues exist at all, the first move is necessary.  And if you truly believe the US "has nothing" for Canada, would Canadians prefer the protection of, and to border Mexico or any other country?

[flesh]

11 minutes ago, rogermunibond said:

How does the Canadian contribution to NATO factor into tariffs which are ostensibly about fentanyl, immigration, and manufacturing?

It’s about all costs and who’s paying them. Usa de facto pays for Canada’s defense uncompensated because Canada is part of nato and has a weak military/spending and the usa will have to spend it’s citizens money to protect Canada should anything happen, the fact nothing has happened simply means Canadians are unlikely to think it’s a real cost, because they haven’t paid it. If the usa had spent less on defense for decades because Canada spent more, usa would be better off. This also reflects the nato is bullshit thread/leave nato idea. NATO gets into wars in the future and then we pay for them because our “friends” past underspending. Add that the usa can’t afford it and remain the best of the worst leaders of the free world. 

 

Coming together?  

[cubsfan]

25 minutes ago, rogermunibond said:

How does the Canadian contribution to NATO factor into tariffs which are ostensibly about fentanyl, immigration, and manufacturing?

 

Because it's not.

 

Tariffs are all about the free ride for Canada's defense.  Why pay for it?

 

Canada's motto:  Don't worry, the Yanks will pay for it!

[Viking]

2 hours ago, 73 Reds said:

<<as I said, I agree that the US has legitimate grievances with the rest of the world. There are many ways to settle those grievances>>

 

@Viking, I am genuinely interested in some of those ways.  I don't think asking nicely works anymore. Try to understand that Trump is doing largely what his electorate wants.  He ran first and foremost on US strength.  He and his followers believe that once adequate strength is achieved a lot of good both domestic and world-wide will come of it.  What I don't understand is why so many accuse Trump of perpetual lies except that when it comes to tariffs they are all-in Trump believers.     

@73 Reds , the short answer is: it is complex. What is the problem that needs to be solved?
 

Immigration? Drugs? USMCA? Free trade? Nato? Other? Or is it Trump needs to find some new revenue sources to pay for his $1.4 trillion dollar tax cut? 
 

To state the obvious, the US’ relationship with the rest of the world has been evolving since world war 2. Many presidents - both Democrat and Republican - have been part of that process.
 

Ok. So how does the US get to a getter place? 
 

I don’t know. That is well over my pay grade. To answer your question properly would require a deep dive into the many different issues - and that is not something I have the time / inclination / skill set to actually do. 

Perhaps Trump’s way is the only/best/optimal way. We will see.

Edited March 12, 2025 by Viking

[Paarslaars]

But tarrifs don't give you money from Canada... It just makes US citizens pay more for stuff.

[rogermunibond]

8 minutes ago, Paarslaars said:

But tarrifs don't give you money from Canada... It just makes US citizens pay more for stuff.

 

+1

[rogermunibond]

He's lost Jamie Dimon

 

[Charlie]

28 minutes ago, Paarslaars said:

But tarrifs don't give you money from Canada... It just makes US citizens pay more for stuff.

But tariffs make the domestic alternatives more attractive.

[cwericb]

9 minutes ago, Charlie said:

But tariffs make the domestic alternatives more attractive.

 

Are domestic alternatives available? At what cost? 

Canada's main exports to the US are Electricity, Natural Gas, and Oil.

If those products were easily or cheaply available in the US why would the US be importing them? 

[dealraker]

Tariffs are a distraction (so other more personal accomplishments can be attained) and a tax on citizens of the US.

 

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/03/business/warren-buffett-tariffs-trump/index.html

[flesh]

 

 

most of us know the benefits of free trade by now, this video will familiarize you with both sides. Notice who won. It’s not simple. 
 

“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that.“

Edited March 12, 2025 by flesh