Ok, not football at all, but it matters, eventually.

[Ozwhites]

Thankfully all over soon, so we can return to normal TV viewing. 😊

[WTF11]

To be fair, it's going to be a total whinefest whatever the outcome.

I shudder to think how much has been spent and strongly suspect far less effort will go into actual governance than the excruciatingly drawn out election process itself.

I know there are those who refuse to accept anything the "main steam media" report (like it gets dark at might and then the sun rises, stuff like that), but the BBC reported that jointly the campaigns have spent $16 billion in total. Obscene if true. Imagine what good could come from spending that sum on just about anything but political campaigning.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Once more you ascribe things to people they neither said nor could be inferred from their word - hmmmn what a surprise - at least you are predictable.

[WTF11]

Once more you ascribe things to people they neither said nor could be inferred from their word - hmmmn what a surprise - at least you are predictable.

As in what exactly? I have really tried quite hard not to resort to personal criticisms of you or anyone else who posts (I won't deny I've probably offended the whole of Australia!), but on this thread you have seen fit to impugn what I have posted and (not for the first time) resorted to personal insults.

You sir, are not worthy of ANY further response on my part. You are a bigoted, gullible, ignorant fool who is willing to swallow anything that the likes of the Trump campaign, QAnon or any other far right zealots care to dump on an equally gullible audience.

Said it it before, be very careful what you wish for. For those who don't seek that particular outcome but who reside in the good old US of A, I'd suggest you get out ASAP.

[spaldy]

Long,long day. Record turnout. We had 2 plus hours to vote and all machines running

Your comment on 16 billion reflects a lack of understanding of your rulers. Small change when you consider the government spend 8 trillion a year. These are investments by special interests so they can feed at the government trough. They need there minions to make sure they get there cut of the budget

Ever wonder how these congress critters go into DC with no money and come out years later with millions of dollars while making a 150k a year and living in the most expensive city in the country? Not hard to figure out.

Please educate me on where exactly I should move? What country doesn’t have their rulers getting rich on other peoples money and indenting their kids and grandkids with crushing debt?

Trump is not the problem. The system is.

[WTF11]

Not disagreeing that 16bn is small change when compared to the US economy, just suggesting it's 16bn that could have been used to better effect for the US people.

Anyway, all stuff and nonesense now. God help America, God help us all.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Looks like Trump is on course for victory - let’s see if the sky falls in as our resident chicken little seems to be predicting … 🤔🤣

[Monaco_Totty]

Thoughts from me ?

Young voters are facing the unprecedented economic challenges of the information revolution, for starters.
They are entering the working market at a time when market returns are rapidly shifting toward capital via robots, artificial intelligence & smart machines generally, all a very long way from the traditional labour markets.

If Trump keeps peddling cuts in corporate taxes & estate taxes that further benefit the elderly rich at the expense of larger budget deficits then that'll further burden the young then God help America.

Young folks there need the opposite policy like higher taxes on the wealth of the older generation in order to finance post-secondary education, job training, renewable-energy infrastructure & other investments in America’s future, likewise or indeed any country on our planet.

The main issue here now is the mindset & political orientation !

For many Trump has the shortest time horizon & attention span of any President in historical political memory.
So I really hope that his gang is not utterly out of touch with the real challenges facing the younger generation as they grapple with new technologies & hopefully that core- group can help influence his parties way of thinking - if he's the chosen one, which now appears to be the case.

Nothing changes at the 'mo though - as reading today that Offices of streaming giant Netflix in Paris & Amsterdam have been raided by the French & Dutch authorities as part of an investigation into tax fraud, French judicial sources saying in French press, oh well back to work i go.

Just saying

[Tichi1]

Ohhh dear ohh dear

Gnashing of teeth...wailing and moaning, listening to the BBC this morning their whole network couldn't hide their dissapointment, nor Channel 4 for that matter.... the fat ginger mysoginist has swept back into power...by a massive majority - just shows that as usual the liberal left and the elite just cannot gauge how the average working citizen actually thinks and just what it is that gets them out to vote. In the USA as in Britain the "Woke" brigade are simply out of touch with their electorates true concerns and wishes.
Totty worrying about the "Young" in the USA where a right wing regime is now in power, plenty over here - me included - worrying about the "Old" in Britain due to our Left wing regime targeting/punishing them for voting Tory..
WTF predicting the end of the world if the Donald does get back in.. which he now has'.... be interesting to see his ongoing opinion on how Trump does in comparison to how the doddery old idiot preceding him got on over the last 4 years?

Quite interesting that the American people voted in huge numbers on the issues of Immigration and the Economy - the exact things the next UK election will be fought on.

Lets see if Trump can stop the wars in the middle east and Ukrain as he claims - if they are both over by 2028 then I think he will have achieved much more than the liberal left could EVER achieve.

just my twopenceworth.

[Monaco_Totty]

Worrying time for geo-politics & international trade with his unpredictable stance on matters closer to homes this side of the Atlantic, but of course his first task will be his own country woes to fix & delivering them his promised "Golden Age".

Nobody really knows how this will all unfold, even me hopefully with child.

For instance, Trump has promised to slap tariffs on every single European good entering the U.S, obviously the EU has pre-emptively locked & loaded some retaliatory measures. Seems logical — but that only works in a world where Trump is not erratic and impulsive.

It appears Trump’s trade policy is focused more on reducing the sizable U.S. trade deficit than on opening up new market opportunities. Trade policy will mainly be seen through the national security & geopolitical lens too.
So the most immediate stress tests for Brussels & Washington will be to find a solution to the EU’s paused retaliatory tariffs against Washington as the truce presently elapses in March 2025.

No doubt UK will be pondering very similar tasty issues particularly it's own national safety situation, let alone it's trade relations for all it's citizens future young & old. So yep, we'll have to see how it all develops won't we.

Reasons to be cheerful - Tich ? 🤔

[Billyni]

Ohhh dear ohh dear

Gnashing of teeth...wailing and moaning, listening to the BBC this morning their whole network couldn't hide their dissapointment, nor Channel 4 for that matter.... the fat ginger mysoginist has swept back into power...by a massive majority - just shows that as usual the liberal left and the elite just cannot gauge how the average working citizen actually thinks and just what it is that gets them out to vote. In the USA as in Britain the "Woke" brigade are simply out of touch with their electorates true concerns and wishes.
Totty worrying about the "Young" in the USA where a right wing regime is now in power, plenty over here - me included - worrying about the "Old" in Britain due to our Left wing regime targeting/punishing them for voting Tory..
WTF predicting the end of the world if the Donald does get back in.. which he now has'.... be interesting to see his ongoing opinion on how Trump does in comparison to how the doddery old idiot preceding him got on over the last 4 years?

Quite interesting that the American people voted in huge numbers on the issues of Immigration and the Economy - the exact things the next UK election will be fought on.

Lets see if Trump can stop the wars in the middle east and Ukrain as he claims - if they are both over by 2028 then I think he will have achieved much more than the liberal left could EVER achieve.

just my twopenceworth.

Double that twopenceworth.

[Billyni]

In 1944 young people stormed the beaches of Normandy to almost certain death.
Today young people need a safe place because some words might hurt their feelings.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Reasons to be cheerful - lots.

[spaldy]

Mtot,

A old saying that might bear your research if you have the time and inclination. "A rising tide lifts all boats". In more specific economic terms "no country ever taxed itself into prosperity". It's worth reading up on. You might be surprised what you find doing the research.

Regarding tariffs, Trumps tariff plan is not intended to tarrif the US into prosperity. It's an opening salvo on negotiations. Currently the US can't sell many goods in China, Europe, Asia etc. Great deal for those countries but not such a good deal for us. Why would those countries negotiate for different terms when they are 100% in favor of them? The end result will end up being fairer terms for the US and not the end of global trade like the economically illerate preach.

Trump is not going to eliminate immigration. Utter nonsense spouted by clowns that don't understand what's happening. We had 21,000,000 illegal aliens dumped in our country the last 3 years. The world dumped their criminals, uneducated, insane and drug gangs into our country with no screening. Even a large country like the US can't take that without collapsing civil order.

[Francewhite]

Well, at least the citizens of Russia, N. Korea, China etc. have an excuse as they don't have democratic elections. The US does and elects a man who isn't to be a janitor. Stupid, ignorant and misguided.