CorpRaider Posted January 1 Posted January 1 (edited) EFV up ~42% in 2025. I'll have to try and remember that the next time I'm told about the death of statistical value. Edited January 1 by CorpRaider
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 5 Posted January 5 What's missing here is that China emits *more* CO2 per unit of production than Europe would have in producing the same goods. They shifted CO2 emissions to China and increased Global CO2 more than if that production stayed home. On par with most leftist ideologues, they just make the problem they are trying to solve much worse.
Ballinvarosig Investors Posted January 5 Posted January 5 On 12/24/2025 at 9:03 PM, Spekulatius said: Ireland spends ~13% of their GDP on social expenses which is the very low end. Thats one reason they are doing so well. For most other states, something has to give because otherwise the young workers are going to get buried in taxes. If you are a worker in Ireland, the marginal higher rate of income tax (for those earning 70k+) is over 52%. If you're self-employed, it's 55%. Ireland may have the lowest rates of corporation tax in the EU, but as I can attest, personal rates of taxation are extremely heavy.
Spekulatius Posted January 5 Posted January 5 (edited) 9 minutes ago, Ballinvarosig Investors said: If you are a worker in Ireland, the marginal higher rate of income tax (for those earning 70k+) is over 52%. If you're self-employed, it's 55%. Ireland may have the lowest rates of corporation tax in the EU, but as I can attest, personal rates of taxation are extremely heavy. So you pay 55% taxes and get little in return. Thats a lousy deal. I guess everyone should start a one person LLC, work for 1£ and just distribute the earnings as salary. In the US we can have engineers and technicians work for tips Edited January 5 by Spekulatius
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 6 Posted January 6 (edited) https://www.dw.com/en/berlin-blackout-how-dangerous-are-leftwing-extremists/a-75400358 Brussels keeps telling us to worry about the "Far Right". Crickets when you discuss the leftist radicals who are on a mission to destroy the continent: Quote According to security authorities, the assault on a gas power station in southwest Berlin was carefully planned. On Saturday, January 3, 2026, attackers deliberately destroyed cables using incendiary devices. The consequences were severe: cold apartments, dark streets, disrupted rail lines and widespread internet outages. Of the 45,000 households initially affected, two-thirds were still without electricity on Monday. Because of the extensive damage, repairs are expected to continue until Thursday. Quote Responsibility for the attack on the fossil‑fuel‑powered plant has been claimed by a left‑wing extremist network known as the "Volcano Group." Police and the Berlin Senate deem the claim credible. In a statement titled "Cutting Off the Rulers' Power," the group asserts that it "successfully sabotaged" the Lichterfelde gas plant. Quote In the letter, the group frames its motives in radical ecological terms, accusing society of exhausting and destroying the planet in its pursuit of energy. They maintain that widespread blackouts were not the intended outcome; rather, their aim was to strike at the fossil‑fuel industry. Experts, however, warn that the attack created a serious risk for uninvolved civilians — including the possibility of fatalities in hospitals where medical equipment lost power. Quote Several attacks on Tesla facilities in Germany have drawn significant attention in recent years. In May 2021, unknown perpetrators carried out an arson attack at the company's Grünheide plant near Berlin. The most serious incident followed in March 2024, when the destruction of a high‑voltage pylon halted production and cut power to nearby towns for days. A "Volcano Group" also claimed responsibility for that attack. Intelligence reports outline the group's ideological rationale: Tesla is depicted as a symbol of a supposedly "totalitarian system" that must be opposed because of its technological expansion, environmental impact and perceived oppression of people. Quote In 2020, a "Volcano Group" claimed responsibility for an arson attack on Berlin's Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications, the Heinrich-Hertz-Institut (HHI), accusing it of contributing to the development of aCOVID-19 tracking app. A cold winter without power. But hey, since it's Leftist "environmentalist" terrorists involved, no need to make it a big story... These guys and their friends convinced Germans to shut down nuclear power and send manufacturing to China. They have done incredible work in destroying the continent Edited January 6 by Dalal.Holdings
John Hjorth Posted January 15 Posted January 15 Novo Nordisk Foundation [January 15th 2026] : Novo Nordisk Foundation grants DKK 5.5 billion to elevate innovation in Denmark and Europe Executive brief : The Novo Nordisk Foundation has allocated up to DKK 5.5 billion (EUR 736 million) to BioInnovation Institute (BII), a leading institute for life science and deep tech innovation in Copenhagen. The funding will enable BII to expand its activities into new strategic areas and geographies, and support even more entrepreneurs and start-up-companies, thereby strengthening innovation in Denmark and Europe. The new funding frame runs from 2026 to 2035.
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 16 Posted January 16 A story that took 7 years with the ultimate plot twist for Germans:
John Hjorth Posted January 16 Posted January 16 (edited) 37 minutes ago, Dalal.Holdings said: A story that took 7 years with the ultimate plot twist for Germans: Yes, that's true @Dalal.Holdings, The consequences of Die Grüne getting its way and will in the sentiment [folly, panick<-?] after the TepCo accident, combined with the disruption of the relations between Western Europe and Russia afterwards, have for especially Germany been servere and far reaching. Mind you, later Germany has taken initiatives to seek for permission of eternal storage of nuclear waste material in the underground of the Eastern part of Funen, near Kerteminde. It's actually very similar to ring the doorbell to your nice neighbour [we Danes are nice!], asking the neighbour : 'Is it OK with you that I take a dump in the backyard of your garden?' lol! It also turrned the before then great German energy companies E.ON and RWE into zombie companies. Edited January 16 by John Hjorth
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 19 Posted January 19 https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-environment/articles/germany-forces-lexus-remotely-kill-173212814.html The magnitude of stupidity of the European Regulatooor is unmatched around the globe: Quote Germany Forces Lexus to Remotely Kill Car Heating In Dead Of Winter Quote The reason? Legislators consider remote engine warm-up “unnecessary running” that creates “avoidable exhaust pollution,” with Toyota disabling the function “to protect the vehicle user from fines.” That European citizens routinely tolerate this sort of thing from their government is astounding.
Spekulatius Posted January 19 Posted January 19 36 minutes ago, Dalal.Holdings said: https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-environment/articles/germany-forces-lexus-remotely-kill-173212814.html The magnitude of stupidity of the European Regulatooor is unmatched around the globe: That European citizens routinely tolerate this sort of thing from their government is astounding. Some states in the US have exactly the same restrictions. MA being one of them.
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 19 Posted January 19 46 minutes ago, Spekulatius said: Some states in the US have exactly the same restrictions. MA being one of them. One thing that is clear is that leftists/climate nutjobs really are bad at choosing the right battles in "fighting climate change". Like outlawing starting your car for 10 minutes to warm it up in a northern latitude and pissing off a whole bunch of people from supporting your cause. Meanwhile, there is a huge source of emissions they give zero attention to:
cubsfan Posted January 19 Posted January 19 4 hours ago, Dalal.Holdings said: https://autos.yahoo.com/policy-and-environment/articles/germany-forces-lexus-remotely-kill-173212814.html The magnitude of stupidity of the European Regulatooor is unmatched around the globe: That European citizens routinely tolerate this sort of thing from their government is astounding. 2 hours ago, Dalal.Holdings said: One thing that is clear is that leftists/climate nutjobs really are bad at choosing the right battles in "fighting climate change". Like outlawing starting your car for 10 minutes to warm it up in a northern latitude and pissing off a whole bunch of people from supporting your cause. Meanwhile, there is a huge source of emissions they give zero attention to: Don't tell that to @Luke and his esteemed Kiel Institute led by Greta Thunberg! After all, they are Germany's finest economists held in reverence by Luke! ROFL
Spekulatius Posted January 20 Posted January 20 (edited) I think when you put it all together Europe needs to work on three things. 1) defense sovereignty 2) digital sovereignty 3) energy sovereignty These three things would enable many other things . Energy sovereignty needs to involve nuclear power as well, because I don’t think renewables alone will get Europe there. These are all stretch goals but it’s important to get going . Even the right wing parties in most countries would agree to above goals, I think. Edited January 20 by Spekulatius
Marco Van Basten Posted January 20 Posted January 20 33 minutes ago, Spekulatius said: I think when you put it all together Europe needs to work on three things. 1) defense sovereignty 2) digital sovereignty 3) energy sovereignty These three things would enable many other things . Energy sovereignty needs to involve nuclear power as well, because I don’t think renewables alone will get Europe there. These are all stretch goals but it’s important to get going . Even the right wing parties in most countries would agree to above goals, I think. I would add social cohesion - which means no immigration from places with diametrically opposed values to traditional European values, drastic cuts in the social net, and drastic cuts to the regulatory burden.
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 20 Posted January 20 4 hours ago, Spekulatius said: I think when you put it all together Europe needs to work on three things. 1) defense sovereignty 2) digital sovereignty 3) energy sovereignty These three things would enable many other things . Energy sovereignty needs to involve nuclear power as well, because I don’t think renewables alone will get Europe there. These are all stretch goals but it’s important to get going . Even the right wing parties in most countries would agree to above goals, I think. Well Europe is run by people like this--intellectuals who are crazed leftists: They do seem to be (finally) getting the importance of military power now that both Trump and Putin are squeezing Europe form both sides I am not sure how quickly the others occur
Sweet Posted January 20 Posted January 20 4 minutes ago, Dalal.Holdings said: Well Europe is run by people like this--intellectuals who are crazed leftists: They do seem to be (finally) getting the importance of military power now that both Trump and Putin are squeezing Europe form both sides I am not sure how quickly the others occur And energy security hopefully. These idiots have governed us for way too long. We need a political realignment grounded on common sense.
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 22 Posted January 22 Man, Davos this year has been a grueling assessment of the thousand ways Europe went wrong. And not just from the American speakers: Gee, I guess @Dalal.Holdings was on to something with his posts in this thread over the years…
NnnnotSoSmart Posted January 22 Posted January 22 (edited) Belgian (writing in Dutch) gets it: https://stevenschrijft.substack.com/p/een-jaar-trump-wanneer-de-realiteit?triedRedirect=true Google Translate: STEVEN ARRAZOLA DE OÑATE JAN 20, 2026 It is January 20, 2026. Today marks exactly one year since Donald Trump began his second term as president, and the world is watching his performance with a mixture of fascination and bated breath. In the video above, we see the American president last night at an airport in Florida, just before his departure for the World Economic Forum in Davos. When a journalist asks him about French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump responds in characteristic fashion: “Nobody wants him, because he’ll be gone soon.” This is followed by a threat that is now as typical as it is predictable: a 200 percent import tariff on French wines and champagnes, unless Macron joins Trump’s latest creation, the so-called “Board of Peace.” To understand this, we need to rewind for a moment. The core of all this lies in Trump’s ambition to de-escalate the Gaza conflict. On January 16, he presented a revised version of his twenty-point plan, with its centerpiece being the “Board of Peace”—a new international structure intended to oversee the transitional government in Gaza following the Israel-Hamas conflict. This council would provide strategic direction, mobilize financial resources, and coordinate reconstruction, formally inspired by a 2025 UN resolution. The composition of the executive council is anything but accidental: Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, and even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Permanent membership costs one billion dollars, and the official launch is scheduled for January 22 in Davos. Macron has rejected the invitation. His objection is classic: the initiative would undermine the role of the United Nations and concentrate too much power in Trump’s hands. And yet, I must admit that I find this maneuver by Trump particularly intriguing. He seems to place less and less value on the UN, which he presumably regards as a sluggish, inefficient, and bureaucratic institution, more focused on self-preservation than on results. In its place, he is betting on a new center of power in which a limited number of influential states—read: the United States and its allies—actually give direction to the world stage. An exclusive club for geopolitical heavyweights, with Trump himself emphatically at the helm. That being said, Macron deserves no pity whatsoever. His refusal is not principled, but strategically foolish. Anyone who wants Trump on their side must understand how power works and be prepared to give him what he asks for. Trump is currently the most powerful man in the world, backed by an economy and a military apparatus that outshine every other player. By resisting, Macron has squandered his last bit of credit. Trump is leaking private messages, threatening trade wars, and does not even shy away from geopolitical pressure regarding files like Greenland. European politicians and journalists stubbornly continue to believe they can slow Trump down or isolate him. It is a form of collective self-delusion. Europe has not cared about Greenland for decades, while the United States has shown strategic interest in it since World War II. That they will eventually get it this year is beyond question. The more Europe resists, the greater the damage it inflicts upon itself. Instead, European leaders should be asking themselves how to make our continent economically resilient again. However, that debate seems to be intellectually beyond them. Macron perfectly embodies this failure. Once, nearly ten years ago, he was celebrated as the wunderkind of Europe. Today, it is abundantly clear that he has structurally hollowed out France—economically, socially, and institutionally. Yet, the European press remains strikingly silent about that reality. Instead, people prefer to aim their arrows at Trump. It is a lazy reflex and an intellectual bankruptcy of journalism. Europe needs leadership comparable to that of Trump. Leaders who dare to put our European interests at the center again and who think in terms of decades instead of election cycles. That does not mean Trump is infallible, but it does mean that, compared to our current leaders, he has a backbone. European leaders, on the other hand, hide behind woke dogmas, political correctness, and simplistic CO₂ narratives, while failing to provide fundamental solutions for energy supply and economic competitiveness. What Europe needs is a revaluation of its classic Western values: freedom, security, and economic growth. Leaders who dare to look forward and do not cling desperately to institutions that have long since lost their relevance. Leaders who act like Trump: pragmatic, assertive, and without fear of questioning the established order and taboos. That is not radicalism; that is Realpolitik. And exactly that is what is missing in Europe today. It is therefore not surprising that European leaders see the “Board of Peace” as an attempt to bypass the UN. The plan is vague, the power dynamics are unusual, and the participant list is uncomfortable. The United Arab Emirates are already on board, Israel is hesitating, and even Russia, with Putin, was invited. I find that strategically brilliant. Once again, European leaders stand by powerlessly, not quite knowing whether to be indignant or to watch in silence. Personally, I find all of this nothing short of fascinating. The first year of Trump’s second term has brought confrontation, disruption, and the piercing of countless illusions. Sacred cows have been toppled, certainties have disappeared. I sincerely hope that Trump maintains this pace for another three years. Not because it is comfortable, but because it is necessary. We are moving toward a world that is less politically correct, but more honest and transparent. Europe will initially pay a price for that. Economically, it will hurt. But that pain is inevitable if one finally wants to settle scores with incompetence and mediocrity at the top. The population will gradually realize that Trump is right more often than people want to admit. They will see how American citizens build prosperity, while Europe continues to lose companies and jobs. This discrepancy cannot be covered up endlessly with slogans and moral superiority. The lie wears thin; the narrative is cracking. I am therefore looking forward to the coming weeks and months. Not with fear, but with intellectual curiosity. Thanks to Trump, the world is once again sharply defined, less hypocritical, and fundamentally more honest. And however uncomfortable that may be for many, it is precisely that honesty that we have missed for far too long. Steven Arrazola de Oñate Edited January 22 by NnnnotSoSmart
Kizion Posted January 22 Posted January 22 17 minutes ago, NnnnotSoSmart said: Dutch guy gets it: He's not Dutch; he's Belgian—but he speaks Dutch
NnnnotSoSmart Posted January 22 Posted January 22 (edited) 15 minutes ago, Kizion said: He's not Dutch; he's Belgian—but he speaks Dutch You're right. Thanks for the correction. My mother was born in Lille, France. Birth and Background Steven Arrazola de Oñate was born in Belgium, specifically in the Limburg region (with professional ties often linked to Genk and Kontich). He belongs to the Arrazola de Oñate family, a Belgian noble house with a long and storied history: Heritage: The family is of Spanish-Basque origin, stemming from the town of Oñati. A branch of the family moved to the Southern Netherlands (now Belgium) in the late 16th century when Juan Alexandro Arrazola de Oñate served as chamberlain to Archduke Albert VII and Isabella. Edited January 22 by NnnnotSoSmart
cubsfan Posted January 22 Posted January 22 37 minutes ago, NnnnotSoSmart said: Belgian guy gets it: https://stevenschrijft.substack.com/p/een-jaar-trump-wanneer-de-realiteit?triedRedirect=true Google Translate: STEVEN ARRAZOLA DE OÑATE JAN 20, 2026 It is January 20, 2026. Today marks exactly one year since Donald Trump began his second term as president, and the world is watching his performance with a mixture of fascination and bated breath. In the video above, we see the American president last night at an airport in Florida, just before his departure for the World Economic Forum in Davos. When a journalist asks him about French President Emmanuel Macron, Trump responds in characteristic fashion: “Nobody wants him, because he’ll be gone soon.” This is followed by a threat that is now as typical as it is predictable: a 200 percent import tariff on French wines and champagnes, unless Macron joins Trump’s latest creation, the so-called “Board of Peace.” To understand this, we need to rewind for a moment. The core of all this lies in Trump’s ambition to de-escalate the Gaza conflict. On January 16, he presented a revised version of his twenty-point plan, with its centerpiece being the “Board of Peace”—a new international structure intended to oversee the transitional government in Gaza following the Israel-Hamas conflict. This council would provide strategic direction, mobilize financial resources, and coordinate reconstruction, formally inspired by a 2025 UN resolution. The composition of the executive council is anything but accidental: Jared Kushner, Marco Rubio, and even former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Permanent membership costs one billion dollars, and the official launch is scheduled for January 22 in Davos. Macron has rejected the invitation. His objection is classic: the initiative would undermine the role of the United Nations and concentrate too much power in Trump’s hands. And yet, I must admit that I find this maneuver by Trump particularly intriguing. He seems to place less and less value on the UN, which he presumably regards as a sluggish, inefficient, and bureaucratic institution, more focused on self-preservation than on results. In its place, he is betting on a new center of power in which a limited number of influential states—read: the United States and its allies—actually give direction to the world stage. An exclusive club for geopolitical heavyweights, with Trump himself emphatically at the helm. That being said, Macron deserves no pity whatsoever. His refusal is not principled, but strategically foolish. Anyone who wants Trump on their side must understand how power works and be prepared to give him what he asks for. Trump is currently the most powerful man in the world, backed by an economy and a military apparatus that outshine every other player. By resisting, Macron has squandered his last bit of credit. Trump is leaking private messages, threatening trade wars, and does not even shy away from geopolitical pressure regarding files like Greenland. European politicians and journalists stubbornly continue to believe they can slow Trump down or isolate him. It is a form of collective self-delusion. Europe has not cared about Greenland for decades, while the United States has shown strategic interest in it since World War II. That they will eventually get it this year is beyond question. The more Europe resists, the greater the damage it inflicts upon itself. Instead, European leaders should be asking themselves how to make our continent economically resilient again. However, that debate seems to be intellectually beyond them. Macron perfectly embodies this failure. Once, nearly ten years ago, he was celebrated as the wunderkind of Europe. Today, it is abundantly clear that he has structurally hollowed out France—economically, socially, and institutionally. Yet, the European press remains strikingly silent about that reality. Instead, people prefer to aim their arrows at Trump. It is a lazy reflex and an intellectual bankruptcy of journalism. Europe needs leadership comparable to that of Trump. Leaders who dare to put our European interests at the center again and who think in terms of decades instead of election cycles. That does not mean Trump is infallible, but it does mean that, compared to our current leaders, he has a backbone. European leaders, on the other hand, hide behind woke dogmas, political correctness, and simplistic CO₂ narratives, while failing to provide fundamental solutions for energy supply and economic competitiveness. What Europe needs is a revaluation of its classic Western values: freedom, security, and economic growth. Leaders who dare to look forward and do not cling desperately to institutions that have long since lost their relevance. Leaders who act like Trump: pragmatic, assertive, and without fear of questioning the established order and taboos. That is not radicalism; that is Realpolitik. And exactly that is what is missing in Europe today. It is therefore not surprising that European leaders see the “Board of Peace” as an attempt to bypass the UN. The plan is vague, the power dynamics are unusual, and the participant list is uncomfortable. The United Arab Emirates are already on board, Israel is hesitating, and even Russia, with Putin, was invited. I find that strategically brilliant. Once again, European leaders stand by powerlessly, not quite knowing whether to be indignant or to watch in silence. Personally, I find all of this nothing short of fascinating. The first year of Trump’s second term has brought confrontation, disruption, and the piercing of countless illusions. Sacred cows have been toppled, certainties have disappeared. I sincerely hope that Trump maintains this pace for another three years. Not because it is comfortable, but because it is necessary. We are moving toward a world that is less politically correct, but more honest and transparent. Europe will initially pay a price for that. Economically, it will hurt. But that pain is inevitable if one finally wants to settle scores with incompetence and mediocrity at the top. The population will gradually realize that Trump is right more often than people want to admit. They will see how American citizens build prosperity, while Europe continues to lose companies and jobs. This discrepancy cannot be covered up endlessly with slogans and moral superiority. The lie wears thin; the narrative is cracking. I am therefore looking forward to the coming weeks and months. Not with fear, but with intellectual curiosity. Thanks to Trump, the world is once again sharply defined, less hypocritical, and fundamentally more honest. And however uncomfortable that may be for many, it is precisely that honesty that we have missed for far too long. Steven Arrazola de Oñate Indeed that is a great article. Europe - save yourself - for the good of the West.
Spekulatius Posted January 22 Posted January 22 (edited) Bord of peace is a joke. Trump alone is calling the shots, he made this clear and putting in $1B just is like giving him a donation. Other than to appease Trump, there is no reason to join. My guess is that Saudi Arabia, Putin and perhaps Israel will join for different reasons. This also belongs in the political thread. This has nothing to do with Europe being investible or not. Edited January 22 by Spekulatius
John Hjorth Posted January 22 Posted January 22 12 minutes ago, Spekulatius said: ... This also belongs in the political thread. This has nothing to do with Europe being investible or not. I've already reported it. Please continue the discussion in the Politics topic, so we avoid any access-related consequences for any of us. You could delete your individual posts here, and repost them in the Polititics topic, ex. @NnnnotSoSmarts post above, which is alredy there.
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 22 Posted January 22 (edited) https://www.politico.eu/article/germany-rams-mercosur-deal-eu-parliament-roadblock/ Quote Major clash looms after European lawmakers send Latin American trade deal for a judicial review that could take two years. The 25 year process of the Mercosur trade agreement tells you all you need to know about the bureaucratic processes of the EU. Merz is livid. The EU is just a mechanism to throw roadblocks at any progress. Ursula was just proudly bragging they will have a trade deal with India soon…that is not believable at all with the clown show that is the EU. And of course it is the French who are responsible for endlessly dragging on the process of Mercosur and now trying to kill it…meanwhile Macron talks tough about a united Europe…what a joke the “Union” in European Union is… If anyone is wondering why Europe is mired in dysfunction, this story is an illustrative example… Edited January 22 by Dalal.Holdings
Dalal.Holdings Posted January 22 Posted January 22 The Leftists of Europe doing what they’ve done for the past 20 years and ruining their continent in the process. Congratulations.
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