OK, Now I Understand Our Political Leadership

[Charlie24]

The problem with Trump is he has a mouth problem. He does not know when to keep it shut.

He is like a child that because his parents tell him he is the best then thinks he can tell everyone what to do.

I have been around long enough to see that those with a narcissistic personality when given power are an overall disaster. They think they have all the right ideas.

Just look to the north and what has happened in Canada under Trudeau.

And at the same time the whole world knows that mouth means what it says, even Putin respects Trump and knows he will take swift action.

I hate the problem you're having in Canada, but that has been long coming, trump just accelerated it.

 

[atpollard]

Putin is no joke, he will pull the plug over this and Trump knows it. Putin is going to get at least some of what he wants or he'll decimate Ukraine.

I saw an interesting analysis of the USSR at the time of its fall. An economist visited Russia in the late 1980's (about the time the USSR was breaking up) and noted that stores in Moscow had goods stamped "IMPORTED" in Russian rather than a country of origin. This designated something made in a Soviet Republic outside of Russia itself (like Lithuania or Ukraine or Bellarus). The important thing was not WHERE it was made, but that it was not made in Russia. EVERYWHERE ELSE made better goods than Russia did! That is what the Merchant wanted to communicate.

The Economist noted, and history bore out, that the USSR was a donut shaped Economic Empire. In most economies, the POWER and POPULATION concentrate at the center and the fringes are weaker (compare the EAST COAST of the US to the Great Plains or Dakotas, or Germany to Scandinavia). In the USSR, Russia has most of the POLITICAL POWER and POPULATION, but all the ECONOMIC POWER flows into Russia from the more productive populations around it. Like Ancient Rome, it is an empire that needs constant expansion to pillage resources to support itself.

That is what we see happening. When the USSR broke apart, the surrounding countries thrived without Russia stealing resources to support itself. Russia, in contrast, discovered it had an army and technology and population that it could not support ... it was too inefficient. It was too dependent upon the countries that it had lost. It was the "hole" in the center of the economic donut. So Russia did what it needed to survive ... it recaptured its slaves to force them to support it.

Until and unless Russia dramatically changes its culture, it will either expand/enslave or it will collapse.

 

[Charlie24]

I saw an interesting analysis of the USSR at the time of its fall. An economist visited Russia in the late 1980's (about the time the USSR was breaking up) and noted that stores in Moscow had goods stamped "IMPORTED" in Russian rather than a country of origin. This designated something made in a Soviet Republic outside of Russia itself (like Lithuania or Ukraine or Bellarus). The important thing was not WHERE it was made, but that it was not made in Russia. EVERYWHERE ELSE made better goods than Russia did! That is what the Merchant wanted to communicate.

The Economist noted, and history bore out, that the USSR was a donut shaped Economic Empire. In most economies, the POWER and POPULATION concentrate at the center and the fringes are weaker (compare the EAST COAST of the US to the Great Plains or Dakotas, or Germany to Scandinavia). In the USSR, Russia has most of the POLITICAL POWER and POPULATION, but all the ECONOMIC POWER flows into Russia from the more productive populations around it. Like Ancient Rome, it is an empire that needs constant expansion to pillage resources to support itself.

That is what we see happening. When the USSR broke apart, the surrounding countries thrived without Russia stealing resources to support itself. Russia, in contrast, discovered it had an army and technology and population that it could not support ... it was too inefficient. It was too dependent upon the countries that it had lost. It was the "hole" in the center of the economic donut. So Russia did what it needed to survive ... it recaptured its slaves to force them to support it.

Until and unless Russia dramatically changes its culture, it will either expand/enslave or it will collapse.

Let's hope Russia doesn't face a collapse, Putin has the capabilities to take some of the world down with him.

Given the right situation, I have no doubt he would do it.

 

[atpollard]

Let's hope Russia doesn't face a collapse, Putin has the capabilities to take some of the world down with him.

Given the right situation, I have no doubt he would do it.

Russia has a long history of quiet, peaceful regime change via a bullet to the head.
Oligarchs and Generals want stability, if Putin can deliver that, he remains in power. If Putin threatens THEIR stability, then his successor will have to see how well they can do.

That is, after all, how Putin got the job, so it is not "inconceivable" that someone could replace him.

However, just to be 100% clear ... THAT IS NOT A U.S.A. ISSUE ... that is a matter for Russia and Russians to decide when and how THEY choose. The US needs to focus on Heathcare and Schools and Roads and Bridges and leave other sovereign countries to make their own decisions. We SUCK at guiding the world.

 

[Silverhair]

And at the same time the whole world knows that mouth means what it says, even Putin respects Trump and knows he will take swift action.

I hate the problem you're having in Canada, but that has been long coming, trump just accelerated it.

You give Trump way to much credit. What the world knows is that what he says can not be trusted as he changes with the wind. He is an opportunist.

Agree the trouble developed over a number of years and just got much worse over the last ten. We will see what comes in the next few months.

 

[Silverhair]

Russia has a long history of quiet, peaceful regime change via a bullet to the head.
Oligarchs and Generals want stability, if Putin can deliver that, he remains in power. If Putin threatens THEIR stability, then his successor will have to see how well they can do.

That is, after all, how Putin got the job, so it is not "inconceivable" that someone could replace him.

However, just to be 100% clear ... THAT IS NOT A U.S.A. ISSUE ... that is a matter for Russia and Russians to decide when and how THEY choose. The US needs to focus on Heathcare and Schools and Roads and Bridges and leave other sovereign countries to make their own decisions. We SUCK at guiding the world.

I agree but that has never stopped them from trying.

 

[Charlie24]

You give Trump way to much credit. What the world knows is that what he says can not be trusted as he changes with the wind. He is an opportunist.

Agree the trouble developed over a number of years and just got much worse over the last ten. We will see what comes in the next few months.

What I've noticed about Trump is that he changes as the situation changes.

 

[kyredneck]

What I've noticed about Trump is that he changes as the situation changes.

<adaptability>

 

[Charlie24]

<adaptability>

All the world knows Trumps agenda, America first.

If a situation changes that doesn't benefit America, then Trump changes.

He's all about fair trade, which means a loss for many countries, but so be it.

The American taxpayer wants some relief, and Trump is working on just that.

 

[Charlie24]

All the world knows Trumps agenda, America first.

If a situation changes that doesn't benefit America, then Trump changes.

He's all about fair trade, which means a loss for many countries, but so be it.

The American taxpayer wants some relief, and Trump is working on just that.

Trump is now speaking live from the WH on National Day of Prayer.

"We're bringing religion back to our country."

 

[Charlie24]

Trump is now speaking live from the WH on National Day of Prayer.

"We're bringing religion back to our country."

Trump just announced biggest tax cuts ever coming for the American taxpayer.

Made possible by cleaning up waste and enforcing fair trade.

 

[xlsdraw]

@kyredneck you seem to be under the impression that if we just give in to Putin he will play nice. When he invades a NATO country is the US going to say it is on the other side of the Atlantic so not our worry?

Trump is proving that the USA is not to be trusted.

The ONLY One to be trusted is God.

But Europe doesn't do that, now do they?

I suggest that Europe quit using the USA as their Savior.

 

[xlsdraw]

The problem with Trump is he has a mouth problem. He does not know when to keep it shut.

He is like a child that because his parents tell him he is the best then thinks he can tell everyone what to do.

I have been around long enough to see that those with a narcissistic personality when given power are an overall disaster. They think they have all the right ideas.

Just look to the north and what has happened in Canada under Trudeau.

You just described arrogant Europe perfectly.

 

[Silverhair]

What I've noticed about Trump is that he changes as the situation changes.

I agree and that is the problem. He does not hold to any position but changes as the wind blows.

 

[Silverhair]

The ONLY One to be trusted is God.

But Europe doesn't do that, now do they?

I suggest that Europe quit using the USA as their Savior.

They are not are they as they realize that the US is only interested in saving themselves. Very short sighted as if the war expands to NATO then US is drawn in well that is if Trump would actually follow through on a commitment under article 5. But with him that is doubtful.

 

[Silverhair]

You just described arrogant Europe perfectly.

Europe is not the one claiming to be the savior of the world. Trump brags but backs down when his bluff is called or when his friends {Putin} ask him to.

He is not a trustworthy man.

 

[Silverhair]

The ONLY One to be trusted is God.

But Europe doesn't do that, now do they?

I suggest that Europe quit using the USA as their Savior.

The ONLY One to be trusted is God.

But Europe doesn't do that, now do they?

But neither does the USA or for that matter does the leadership of Canada.

 

[Charlie24]

I agree and that is the problem. He does not hold to any position but changes as the wind blows.

The problem escalated when Trudeau didn't take Trump seriously on national security.

That's the way I see it. Who knows how bad this will get.

The Canadians rallying against Trump is not going to be good for them.