So getting us better trade terms with China and forcing NATO members to beef up their contributions somehow weakened our position and that of NATO?
And we are less polarized under Biden? Flooding the nation with low-skill illegals strengthens us? And then agreeing to take in only 100,000 much more highly skilled Ukrainians strengthens us further? Ruining our energy industry strengthens us?
If that constitutes a moonshot my money is on Putin and Xi. Democratizing Afghanistan had a better chance of succeeding. In any event Americans will decide in about 7 months.
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Yes US also benefits from USD dominance economically, mostly Wall Street. Our bankers facilitate the world’s financial activities and take in huge fees for the service.
Downside is that it hurts exports.
As to why US wants USD supremacy, it was set up as part of the global order after WW2, when the entire Europe and most of Asia were in ruins. We were the only big nation left standing and we naturally shaped the system to have the US as sole leader. Those are big political advantages. Once something is setup, the vested interests will make sure the status quo continues.
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Ukraine doesn’t have criminals like thief, rapists?
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We’ll have to agree to disagree. Trump had and has no love for NATO. I don’t think it was strengthened. I agree about getting tougher on China (which I mentioned) in my original post. Are you trying to say Biden is more polarizing than Trump?
Not surprising your money is on Xi and Putin… like many extreme Republicans.
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Those guys probably stuck around with the Russians so they could loot and pillage in the chaos.
For conversation purpose we can say that but in reality it won’t be. If all those refugees are vetted then I understand the 100K high skilled argument but when someone says a thief from specific race is ok to enter but not the other race then isn’t it pure racism?
Without attempting actual analysis on Ukranians vs… some other group, there are different values for different countries/ethnic groups, etc. We should not pretend that women will be treated the same way by men from every different country. Some countries definitely have values that are not in-line with how women expect to be treated in the US.
Just saying…
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I agree with Trump and Obama trying to coax more spending out of our NATO allies.
But what Trump was saying to his inner circle goes far beyond tough love: Trump Discussed Pulling U.S. From NATO, Aides Say Amid New Concerns Over Russia - The New York Times
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AFAIK, Trump asked the question “Why is USA among all the members paying most for NATO , when the reason for creating NATO, huge Soviet Union no longer exists, and Russia is much weakened today as compared to USA”?
Also I thought ‘Politics’ category was relegated to the backwaters here.
Turns out Romney was right and Obama laughed about Russia being a threat.
The US is 69% of NATO defense spending:
Russia’s economy was $1.7T/yr or 8% of the US GDP. US military spending is $0.7T a year which is 41% of Russia’s entire economy. Russia’s entire economy is smaller than social security and medicare spending.
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Maybe you could issue a “warning graphic descriptions” next time?
Sure but I thought this thread is to share Russian/ Ukraine military atrocities and even saw photos of dead bodies being shared without any warning and mine was only a news without any image.
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I guess child rape gets to me more than bloody images.
Also the English news reports do tend to have a “graphic” warning… (I guess Russian ones don’t? Maybe I missed that part)
And the photos posted directly here were likely fake with no actual deaths (just people lying down).
Sorry… It just took me by surprise.
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I also think the internet -and cell phones- have had a caused a manufacturing -and labor - depression everywhere.
One phone can be a phone, camera, a sound meter, a beeper, a two-way messaging system, an alarm, a calendar, a music player, a calculator, a newspaper or book (all things that used to be machines or “hard copy” in and of themselves.)
It can be a medical alert device, hail rides, (less cars, taxis and transport), work from home, you name it. The list goes on and on and keeps growing. Even hard assets like cars are far more technically advanced - think of electric cars that need far less maintenance than conventional cars.
AI is also replacing lawyer, managers, doctors, and professionals.
Were we intelligent we would have invested far more brain power into adapting to this new economic reality. Curious to ponder how these developments will affect reserve dollars when so much less manufacturing, so much more software-orientation.
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I think USD is held as reserve more for “store of value” rather than for trading with USA. IMHO, so long as USA maintains a huge military roaming around the world, its global reserve currency status won’t be shaken.
It means brain is paid more than muscle. A good development for women. Fun fact: In Singapore 6-7 out of 10 millennial married couples, wife earns more than the husband.
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Why doesn’t Ukraine just surrender to Russia since they can’t win?
Ukraine has been under Russian slavery for a very very long time. Centuries! Through all this time, Ukrainian people have learned, that Russian slavery and oppression is the most horrible thing, that can happen to a people.
Nowadays you can hear Russians talking about how Ukrainians have no culture, while the Russians have Tolstoy and Pushkin and whatever. The reality of it is, that Russians have persecuted and suppressed Ukrainian culture for so long, and have murdered so many prospective Ukrainian artists, writers, intellectuals and other prominent society figures, that it’s a veritable wonder, and a great testament to Ukrainian people’s resilience and love of their nation, that Ukrainian language and culture still exist.
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