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Topic: What's Going on in the Americas? (Read 261679 times)

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #800
Debt is a different thing than budget surplus/deficit. In short, you didn't look at the right number. But nice try. Try again.
Here's a little something to help you out ...
And here is something for you to think about when speaking about Clinton's savings: The Myth of the Clinton Surplus

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #801
And here is something for you to think about when speaking about Clinton's savings: The Myth of the Clinton Surplus
When you redefine things (in this case, "surplus"), you can prove anything. Particularly if you are partisan. This guy is so partisan that even his own party is not agreeing with him. From W's campaign promises that I have quoted before in this thread:
The federal government is expected to run a surplus of nearly $5 trillion during the next ten years...
They call it a surplus because that's what it's called in accounting.

The right way for you to learn economics is to study accounting (bookkeeping) first and examine its background assumptions later. And leave out partisan nagging. However, if you don't wish to learn about economics, then go ahead with partisan blogs like Common Sense American Conservatism.

 

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #802
It wasn't clear whether Hillary Clinton would follow her husband's debt-cutting turnabout, but the candidate the US eventually ended up with is estimated to increase the debts significantly more, if his program is to believed.
It doesn't depend on the candidate's program so much, but (also) on what kind of congress he is facing. For Clinton, the congress would have been hostile, like it has been to Obama.

For example, Obamacare is a miscarriage not because it's a national healthcare system, but because it's not a national healthcare system. It's a private health insurance system as before, just covering more people now with more support from the government. It could not become a national healthcare system due to hostile congress. Similarly, Hillary's program and spending would have been held in check by the hostile congress.

That's the only possible organic damage control possible under the US constitution - have a president from a different party than the majority in congress. There's nobody foreseeable to keep Trump's spending in check, just like there was nobody to keep W in check.

Edit: By the way, RJ has created this thread: US Economy - what do you think??

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #803
Repealing Obamacare is an obvious first step but the support in his party for that isn't representative of the support for him. He'll have to survive the midterms riding on the coattails of pro partisan policy for a couple of years before trying anything radical. A second term feels dangerous.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #804
By the way, RJ has created this thread: US Economy - what do you think??
Former Representative Ron Paul has moved on… He's now selling freeze-drying mechanisms that allow you to keep everything from veggies to ice cream for 25 years!
What a savant…
进行 ...
"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)


Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #806
I believe there's a thread for such conversation.

I can offer my hopes. But I've considered getting a chamber pot for those.


Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #808
Quote
The outgoing Secretary-General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) Ernesto Samper on Tuesday called on the bloc to develop a joint strategy to deal with U.S. President Donald Trump's anti-immigration policies.
How about fixing your economies and government enough so that your people don't flee to the racist xenophobic hell-hole that is the United States?
Nah! Too hard. (It's a cultural thing… :) )
进行 ...
"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #809
First granddaughter Arabella sings a Chinese new year song in Mandarin, wishing everyone an amazing year.

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBvfIhz7E1I[/video]

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #810
A matter of attitude.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #811
The cover is fairly subtle and mild-spoken compared with the editorial.

Trump as Nero
Europe Must Defend Itself Against A Dangerous President


Quote
That's why under President Trump, both the justified and the contemptible will be melded. Injustice is a major issue of our times, as are fears of digitalization and globalization -- and rightfully so given that the division of society and the speed of modern life is, in fact, extreme. Trump fuses these worries of his voters with nationalism and xenophobia. That's how demagogues work and it is how they become effective. The fact that the United States, a nuclear superpower that has dominated the world economically, militarily and culturally for decades, is now presenting itself as the victim, calling in all seriousness for "America first" and trying to force the rest of the world into humiliating concessions is absurd. But precisely because this nonsense is coming from the world's most powerful man, it is getting trapped by him.

This is not a threat that will somehow resolve itself. The German economy has become the target of American trade policy and German democracy is ideologically antithetical to Trump's vision. But even here, in the middle of Germany, right-wing extremists are trying to give him a helping hand. It is high time that we stand up for what is important: democracy, freedom, the West and its alliances.

This does not mean escalation or that we must abandon our contacts with America and all the working groups between our governments. What is does mean, though, is that Europe must grow stronger and start planning its political and economic defenses. Against America's dangerous president.


Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #813
 :lol: Indeed...
A matter of attitude.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #814
[…] trying to force the rest of the world into humiliating concessions […]
Histrionics seems to be the usual mode of expression, nowadays. :)
I prefer to call it "getting one's panties in a twist"…

What, btw, were the egregious assaults on the German economy, from the Trump administration's all-of 17 days of power?

We went through Reagan Derangement Syndrome, Clinton Derangement Syndrome, Bush Derangement Syndrome and Obama Derangement Syndrome. So, we now have Trump Derangement Syndrome… :)
But I don't have to suffer its full effects: I've been vaccinated! (I'm a conservative…)

President Trump will be successful or not. Am I to feel ashamed, for wanting him to succeed? I'm in favor of many of his policies… Am I to be castigated, for wanting my country to prosper — both economically and politically? I'm an American, not a European… :)

As John Quincy Adams said a long time ago: America is the friend of Liberty everywhere! But we are the protectors only of our own.
I think that's how it should be. And it sorta sounds like "America First" to me…
进行 ...
"Humor is emotional chaos remembered in tranquility." - James Thurber
"Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts!" - Richard Feynman
 (iBook G4 - Panther | Mac mini i5 - El Capitan)

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #815
That's a nice post. I can understand your preferences.
IMO the problem is: you had to elect a lunatic to do the job.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #816
I'm not a fan of Trump but I wasn't Obama's fan either.
I despise falsehood and hypocrisy wherever it comes from, be it my own country, Europe or the USA.
"Der Spiegel" can hardly be topped as far falsehood and hypocrisy goes.
Just one example even so I could come up with several - Trump's Muslim ban.
Granted it was stupid but the chosen countries were exactly those demonised by the former administration.
Exactly as Obama, he left out the biggest sponsor and ideologic mentor for terrorists, namely the Saudis.
While Trump's Muslim ban produced a mass hysteria in our media, the aprox 1.5 million Muslims killed by the USA during the past 15 years have been 'politely' ignored by the same media.
As for the Spiegel's cover-cartoon:
America Has Been At War 93% of the Time – 222 Out of 239 Years – Since 1776
None of those false and hypocritical pen pushers from "Der Spiegel" would ever come up with the idea of a cover for their tabloid like that below.
   
   


Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #818
None of those false and hypocritical pen pushers from "Der Spiegel" would ever come up with the idea of a cover for their tabloid like that below.
I think that "pen pusher" Der Spiegel's cover with Trump cutting liberty's head is much better than your meaningless image at any way you can consider.

Which is not an endorsment for Der Spiegel editorial line that I don't know nothing about.
A matter of attitude.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #819
I think that "pen pusher" Der Spiegel's cover with Trump cutting liberty's head is much better than your meaningless image at any way you can consider.
Each to his own. :)
And since we are at cartoons:



Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #821
It's more fashionable to sing "Deutschland first".

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #822
Anybody heard before about a country named Limpopo?
Don't worry, you didn't because it's neither a NATO member state nor does such a country exist.

Congresswoman Maxine Waters pranked:
[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YnWr5FQTPY[/video]

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #823
Not a happy day for Ku Klux Klan.
Frank Ancona, the professed leader of the Traditionalist American Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, was shot and killed in Missouri last week in what officials called a “tragic and senseless act of violence.” His wife and stepson were charged in his death on Monday.

Re: What's Going on in the Americas?

Reply #824
"tragic (and not so senseless) act of violence."