The All Things Political Topic

[Malcador]

7 hours ago, BruceVC said:

But many people  dont really care because they think  its about "  French Colonialism being ended "  

No they don't care because it's Africa. Surprising amount of people think the entire continent is like Congo circa 2000

[BruceVC]

The outcome  of   our national  elections and the coalition parties  that have now been created have worked  out really well,  its  exceeded  my expectations on numerous levels  

We have now a GNU (government of national  unity ) which is technically different to a coalition government but it has  some  similarities

But first important outcome was  the  ANC has been absolutely magnanimous and accepting of  its loss  from 57%  to 40%.  I  am  not anti-ANC, I am generally opposed to  there  foreign  policy decisions  and  Im  opposed  to ANC  dominance because  it  has created  a  culture of impunity  around dealing with corruption and public sector  inefficiencies 

But the ANC  supports  and respects  the Constitution and legal outcomes  and this election is another example  of this. And the concern from  some, which I didnt share,  was that the ANC being a  liberation party wouldnt accept  its  loss  of  majority like we  have seen in  other African countries  

And that didnt happen

So the GNU   that now exists is  parties that I support  and the  so  called socialist, anti-white, racist,pro-Russian  EFF not only lost  seats in Parliament but they have been shutout of the GNU and this  was  primarily because of there  populist and unrealistic  demands  and thats  the best news ever  

 

Going forward  the GNU has   lots  of  work to  do around our numerous domestic problems  but at least we  now have a  stable political  foundation after the election and thats  necessary before  you see any real  changes...the government has to be stable 

But in summary, great election results and more  important a great  outcome  around the GNU and which parties  are  in it 

 

[BruceVC]

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-passes-defense-bill-automatically-registering-men-draft

Great  idea and one I support  but its unlikely it will  pass the Senate vote

Lots of  young people in the US  nowadays are despondent, populist and entitled and this type of law should go a long way to changing that bad attitude

It doesnt mean you will be sent to war, you could do  civil   service work or something like national guard work 

 

[Gorth]

1 hour ago, BruceVC said:

The outcome  of   our national  elections and the coalition parties  that have now been created have worked  out really well,  its  exceeded  my expectations on numerous levels  

We have now a GNU (government of national  unity ) which is technically different to a coalition government but it has  some  similarities

But first important outcome was  the  ANC has been absolutely magnanimous and accepting of  its loss  from 57%  to 40%.  I  am  not anti-ANC, I am generally opposed to  there  foreign  policy decisions  and  Im  opposed  to ANC  dominance because  it  has created  a  culture of impunity  around dealing with corruption and public sector  inefficiencies 

But the ANC  supports  and respects  the Constitution and legal outcomes  and this election is another example  of this. And the concern from  some, which I didnt share,  was that the ANC being a  liberation party wouldnt accept  its  loss  of  majority like we  have seen in  other African countries  

And that didnt happen

So the GNU   that now exists is  parties that I support  and the  so  called socialist, anti-white, racist,pro-Russian  EFF not only lost  seats in Parliament but they have been shutout of the GNU and this  was  primarily because of there  populist and unrealistic  demands  and thats  the best news ever  

 

Going forward  the GNU has   lots  of  work to  do around our numerous domestic problems  but at least we  now have a  stable political  foundation after the election and thats  necessary before  you see any real  changes...the government has to be stable 

But in summary, great election results and more  important a great  outcome  around the GNU and which parties  are  in it 

 

Completely off topic, but when I see GNU, I usually associate it with one of two things... the GNU license or this animal https://www.britannica.com/animal/gnu

Yes, I know they are most likely called Wildebeest in SA

[BruceVC]

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/julian-assange-reached-plea-deal-us-allowing-go-free-rcna158695

 

Assange is a free  man, interesting that the US government that " was  going to kill him if he ended up  being extradited "  has cut a  deal with him 

Disappointing outcome but  it is  what it is 

[Malcador]

Nothing disappointing about it, saga should have ended long ago.

 

[Gorgon]

^^^agreed

[Gorth]

9 hours ago, BruceVC said:

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/julian-assange-reached-plea-deal-us-allowing-go-free-rcna158695

 

Assange is a free  man, interesting that the US government that " was  going to kill him if he ended up  being extradited "  has cut a  deal with him 

Disappointing outcome but  it is  what it is 

Those things are always "what benefits us the most" kind of things. If there is more value/less cost in getting rid of him than detaining him, it's almost a given, they will give him an economy one way ticket to some former prison colony and focus on the important stuff at hand (like current domestic scandals and campaigning). Ethics and justice has nothing to do with it.

[BruceVC]

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/geoeconomics-center/dollar-dominance-monitor/

 

Fascinating new study on the dollar dominance and the success and failures of the whole de-dollarization initiative 

Some people may dismiss Atlantic council as " Western\US"  propaganda but the article gets it data around metrics like foreign reserves from the IMF which is the global institution that currency think tanks and analysts  use 

This article really provides some relevant data from all sides of this evolving reality but if its TLDR then this link is a summary of the article that is based on the Atlantic link 

https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/us-dollars-dominance-secure-brics-see-no-progress-de-dollarization-report-2024-06-25/#:~:text=Dollar dominance — the outsized role,into other international and reserve

Particularly pertinent "It noted that China has actively supported renminbi liquidity through swap lines with its trade partners, but the share of renminbi in global foreign currency reserves dropped to 2.3% from the peak of 2.8% in 2022. "This is possibly because of reserve managers’ concern about China’s economy, Beijing’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war, and a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan contributing to the perception of the renminbi as a geopolitically risky reserve currency," the report said." 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 27 by BruceVC

[Gorth]

33 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/programs/geoeconomics-center/dollar-dominance-monitor/

 

Fascinating new study on the dollar dominance and the success and failures of the whole de-dollarization initiative 

Some people may dismiss Atlantic council as " Western\US"  propaganda but the article gets it data around metrics like foreign reserves from the IMF which is the global institution that currency think tanks and analysts  use 

This article really provides some relevant data from all sides of this evolving reality but if its TLDR then this link is a summary of the article that is based on the Atlantic link 

https://www.reuters.com/markets/currencies/us-dollars-dominance-secure-brics-see-no-progress-de-dollarization-report-2024-06-25/#:~:text=Dollar dominance — the outsized role,into other international and reserve

Particularly pertinent "It noted that China has actively supported renminbi liquidity through swap lines with its trade partners, but the share of renminbi in global foreign currency reserves dropped to 2.3% from the peak of 2.8% in 2022. "This is possibly because of reserve managers’ concern about China’s economy, Beijing’s position on the Russia-Ukraine war, and a potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan contributing to the perception of the renminbi as a geopolitically risky reserve currency," the report said." 

 

 

 

 

Not saying it's going to happen, but I think a relevant question would be, what are those countries, that rely on the US Dollar as currency reserve, going to do if (that's the big "if", but lets as a thought experiment assume it could happen) the US economy completely disintegrates due to debt?

[BruceVC]

2 hours ago, Gorth said:

Not saying it's going to happen, but I think a relevant question would be, what are those countries, that rely on the US Dollar as currency reserve, going to do if (that's the big "if", but lets as a thought experiment assume it could happen) the US economy completely disintegrates due to debt?

It would create an absolute economic  disaster for the entire world, lets say you couldnt trade in the dollar. Its almost impossible to think how serious the consequences would be because of how established the dollar is 

Central Banks and countries would adopt other currencies and international trades would continue but it would create months of chaos and global financial instability would be severely impacted 

Imagine trying to negotiate what currency a country like South Africa could use for most global transactions, I doubt most people would accept our Rand  and we dont  have massive amounts of other currencies outside of the dollar in our foreign reserves 

Edited June 27 by BruceVC

[Malcador]

This debate is torture to watch.

[BruceVC]

What a disaster for Biden, Trump focuses on the negative and how " terrible " the USA is as a way to motivate people 

But Bidens age is by far his biggest shortfall and the Dems have basically  handed Trump the presidency. Im seriously worried how anyone can want someone of his mental acumen to be president of the most powerful and influential  country in the world  

I like Biden on a personal level, I think he is honest and means well but he should never have been the Democratic candidate.  Someone like Newsom from California should have been prepared 

Undecided voters can swing elections and after that train wreck for Biden because of mental acumen I doubt he would have convinced any  of them 

 

[majestic]

50 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

Im seriously worried how anyone can want someone of his mental acumen to be president of the most powerful and influential  country in the world  

I like Biden on a personal level, I think he is honest and means well but he should never have been the Democratic candidate.

There, I answered your question.

Nevertheless, you are right, that was a disaster and the Democrats should nominate someone else, like, yesterday. What's Bernie doing these days?

[Gorth]

17 minutes ago, majestic said:

There, I answered your question.

Nevertheless, you are right, that was a disaster and the Democrats should nominate someone else, like, yesterday. What's Bernie doing these days?

Bernie would probably have steamrolled Trump in a debate, but he'll no more get the backing of the party than AOC would

[BruceVC]

33 minutes ago, majestic said:

There, I answered your question.

Nevertheless, you are right, that was a disaster and the Democrats should nominate someone else, like, yesterday. What's Bernie doing these days?

Its interesting you suggest Bernie, if I had to choose between him and Biden I would choose Bernie because even though I disagree with on several issues his mental acumen is fine 

My biggest concern now is even in the unlikely chance Biden wins will Biden  make it mentally another 4 years as president and is it fair to expect him? It just seems so irresponsible for the Dems to choose him as the best candidate and this  is only because of his age 

Trump is a terrible candidate in different ways for the GOP but his mental state is more or less okay but he is also making fumbles and getting things wrong in speeches but its not at the same level as Biden

 

 

 

 

Edited June 28 by BruceVC

[majestic]

3 minutes ago, BruceVC said:

Trump is a terrible candidate in different ways for the GOP but his mental state is more or less okay but he is also making fumbles and getting things wrong in speeches but its not as the same level as Biden

 

Yes, Trump's mental state is mostly okay. Of course. He is a stable genius after all. The most brilliant mind of the century. Ah, what am I talking about, he's the greatest thinker of the modern age. That half of the US population thinks that this moron with the intelligence of a lobotomized chimpanzee represents and embodies them is a scathing indictment of the US education system.

[BruceVC]

27 minutes ago, majestic said:

 

Yes, Trump's mental state is mostly okay. Of course. He is a stable genius after all. The most brilliant mind of the century. Ah, what am I talking about, he's the greatest thinker of the modern age. That half of the US population thinks that this moron with the intelligence of a lobotomized chimpanzee represents and embodies them is a scathing indictment of the US education system.

I have  raised  this before  but Trump is the funniest politician I have ever known and I mean funniest as in comedy and his mannerisms. Thats why SNL had such a field day with him

And this will always be my most hilarious Trump moment, it still makes me LOL 

 

 

[HoonDing]

At least with Trump there'll be peace again.

[Malcador]

4 hours ago, BruceVC said:

I have  raised  this before  but Trump is the funniest politician I have ever known and I mean funniest as in comedy and his mannerisms. Thats why SNL had such a field day with him

Being easily mocked doesn't mean you're funny though.

[BruceVC]

33 minutes ago, Malcador said:

Being easily mocked doesn't mean you're funny though.

But Trump is both, he says uninformed and inaccurate things which becomes SNL content but he also jokes and says funny things like the baby comment 

Also he says certain things just to get a reaction from liberals and the left. And these things shouldnt get the attention  they get

Im not saying you must ignore everything he says but you have to adopt a Trump filter so you dont waste time on things he says that is more about theatre and his personality than anything substantive or relevant 

For example I just heard a South Africa interview now about the debate last  night and the local  anchor said   she was so offended by what Trump said about Biden and abortion  when he said " He’s willing to, as we say, rip the baby out of the womb in the ninth month and kill the baby " and this is classic Trump hyperbole because of course the Dems dont believe in abortion after 9 months unless its health reasons 

So the news anchor was " offended" which is my point. If you want to be offended  and outraged by Trump then you can find it all time 

It just seems pointless to me because we know how Trump is and how he says certain things 

 

 

 

[majestic]

If we stop being outraged by the things Trump says we let him shift what acceptable discourse is, and that is not a good idea. We can see that with the Austrian NSDAP offshoot, the FPÖ, where Herbert Kickl has been calling himself Volkskanzler for a year now.

Their constant and unabashed Nazi-inspired discourse has pushed what is accaptable without outrage to the point where they can reuse Nazi terminology with nobody batting an eyelash.

[PK htiw klaw eriF]

I think that was the worst debate I've ever seen, and all debates are at least a little bad. There's something funny about Biden being unable to finish a sentence without crashing and then Trump going off about how "Michigan is sinking because millions and millions of Mexicans crossed our border to poke holes in the ground, when I was president we had the best soil in the history of the world, never been anything like it" in response to a question about childcare affordability, but the same bit repeating every couple of minutes for two hours was goddamn insufferable. Look I knew this would be an absolute ****show but I've got to say I'm honestly shocked at how badly this went.

There is no doubt that Trump will be largely unaffected by his performance, the people supporting him either believe his horse**** or don't care. As of now we're seeing the dems go into panic over Biden's dismal performance here, but I've got to say that I do not think putting in a younger less gaffe prone candidate is going to pull them out even if they do muster the political will. The fact is the dems are supporting at least one thing that is underwater in popularity with their base and have burned Muslim and younger voters before this debate. But not only did Joe manage to not show a drop of sympathy toward 40000 dead he just stood as Trump used Palestinian as a slur and did nothing. The dems seem like they'd rather lose "the election for democracy - part 2" than even reconsider any positions, and that is probably going to cost them the election.

We truly live in the hell timeline of the mirror universe.

[Malcador]

1 hour ago, BruceVC said:

Im not saying you must ignore everything he says but you have to adopt a Trump filter so you dont waste time on things he says that is more about theatre and his personality than anything substantive or relevant 

Isn't this near everything he says though ?

1 hour ago, BruceVC said:

this is classic Trump hyperbole because of course the Dems dont believe in abortion after 9 months unless its health reasons 

You mean abortions after birth ?

[HoonDing]

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