O/T:- Trump Presidency 2.0 [hic sunt dracones]

[Mud Pie]

I hope we don?t increase our military spending. They are so many other things require funding that are of much greater priority.

even if Canada did increase military spending, there wouldn't be much to do if Trump decided he wanted to expand the US empire. In that event, are you ok with Trump and Putin deciding what bits of Canada the US can take?

[Med Pie]

'Far less ambiguous', Med? Is it ambiguous at all?

My point is that he really has a far less robust, defence then Musk, if he's bothered to defend it at all, that is. At least with Musk's gesture, there were two arm, movements, which could genuinely be explained as 'my heart goes out to you'. Bannon's appeared to be an unapologetic FY.

[Med Pie]

The nazi salutes aren't telling us anything we didn't know already - its 21st century fascism.

Does the suppression of free speech, warnings to be careful what you post and cancellation of elections, come under fascism? The UK had ten, times more people in gaol for online posts than Russia. It would seem that we also have more police, dedicated to monitoring the internet, than we have, policing the streets.

What about the misuse of anti-terror laws which are being used to detain people who are clearly not terrorists. Bearing in mind that it is an offence under anti-terror laws, to refuse to answer questions or withold access to personal devices such as phones.

Then we have the persecution of certain people who are imprisoned, in solitary confinement, denied access to canned foods which are all that one person can safely eat and, the cancellation of prison visits. What we have now is Gulag UK.

[Mud Pie]

What we have now is Gulag UK.

it's nearly 2 years since I was last back in the UK, but this surprises and saddens me.

To all UK based Notts fans: dm me your block and cell no. and I'll send ca[file]ke but shhh

[lunaspie]

it's nearly 2 years since I was last back in the UK, but this surprises and saddens me.

To all UK based Notts fans: dm me your block and cell no. and I'll send ca[file]ke but shhh

He's a prisoner in Cell Block H.

[andy6025]

even if Canada did increase military spending, there wouldn't be much to do if Trump decided he wanted to expand the US empire. In that event, are you ok with Trump and Putin deciding what bits of Canada the US can take?

It?s about as worth discussing as the topic of aliens invading from outer space because they are upset that Jerry Seinfeld?s show got cancelled.

As for Jampie?s comment about going to war over Taiwan. The Chinese want a peaceful reunification with Taiwan and are patient enough to wait for it, with the exception of some major provocation from the west. But even then, Australia and the rest of us will wait for the US?s lead, and so far all their war gaming over the scenario has indicated a heavy US defeat when they don?t put their thumbs on the scale. It just ain?t going to happen. The military spending hoopla is all about the graft.

[Mud Pie]

It?s about as worth discussing as the topic of aliens invading from outer space because they are upset that Jerry Seinfeld?s show got cancelled.

isn't that what most Ukrainians would have said about a Russian land grab a few years ago? I'm glad that Trudeau, Polievre, Singh, Harper, Ford and Smith et al are taking it more seriously than you. And I think you're afraid to answer because the only sensible response is that Trump and Putin shouldn't get to carve up the world as per their autocratic whims, but that doesn't fit with your pro-Putin stance.

[andy6025]

isn't that what most Ukrainians would have said about a Russian land grab a few years ago? I'm glad that Trudeau, Polievre, Singh, Harper, Ford and Smith et al are taking it more seriously than you. And I think you're afraid to answer because the only sensible response is that Trump and Putin shouldn't get to carve up the world as per their autocratic whims, but that doesn't fit with your pro-Putin stance.

Alright Mud Pie, lets play your imaginary scenario out to its logical (and logistical) conclusion and see how it fares.

Presumably these evil doers are coming to steal our vast and mighty resources, because we’re oh so flush rich with them.

The good news for them is that our major population centres as mostly situation along a shoestring not too far from the American border. That should make conquering and occupying us with a garrison pretty simple, right?

Or would it?

The bad news is that our plentiful bounty isn’t all conveniently located in a big pile just on the Kanukistan side of the Detroit-Windsor border.

Nope. Far from it.

Instead it’s by far spread out across our vast hinterland that is about 4 million square miles big (almost 20 times the size of Ukraine), stretched across a border we share with our Yankee friends that is five and a half thousand miles long.

Do you think we’ve got ourselves a lovely 6 lane highway even close to the M1 running across that vast expanse? Well we sure do… for about 150 miles North out of Toronto. But after that you’re down to a single lane for about, oh, the next 2000 miles heading west (and that’s where a lot of the good stuff is). Going further North, you’ve mostly got a single lane as well. East is better as you’ve got mostly 2 lanes going all the way to the Atlantic coast, but again, this is right along the border. Try to go North again (want some lumber?) and you’re back to single lanes. Trains don’t fare much better - it’s pretty much a single track in both directions for most of the way. But again, this is only east to west… they need to go north-south.

Think the internet works along these single lane roads and rail? Nope! Most of the way you don’t get a single bar (who the feck do you think they’re servicing?). The power grid is pretty shoddy too.

Now, another interesting thing about these remote locations where all our oodles of gold is stashed, is that even though they have very sparse populations, they would still need to garrison them all… otherwise these long lonely roads would be prime targets for partisans with IEDs. Don’t want your trucks full of ore and lumber, etc., blowing up 150 miles from civilization, would you?

So they’re going to need to build lots of fancy roads (and that’s a lot of snow plows!), and rails, and set up proper telecommunications (good thing for them they’ve got Elon), almost completely revamp our energy grid… and then also build barracks all over the place for their troops (gotta be at least half a million or double… triple?) to keep 4 million square miles under wraps, because even then that’s less than 1 Oorah per 4 square miles of territory. These troops will need fed and supplied, and they’re going to want entertainment as well… so that’s a lot of construction going on and a hell of a lot of secondary industries popping up to support these primary ones. And that’s not to mention the development that will need to be required to tap the loot! Mines, oil infrastructure and pipelines, quarries, lumber camps and mills, etc. And this is all just the tip of the iceberg!

Speaking of icebergs, if it’s the Russians doing it then they’d need to massively expand our ports - not just for getting all their new wealth back to Russia (or abroad), but to keep their warships docked, etc. we don’t really have much in the way of facilities for that.

This would all require such massive and expensive investment, and such a money pit (think of all the greasy pockets along the way), that it seems like a real stupid idea… especially… and get this… especially when as things stands:

They can already just buy what they want at 60 cents on the dollar!

Or if they want the water… they can just open up the bloody tap! Our fresh water Great Lakes border the Americans as well!

Am I giddy at the thought of sky this?

Yes!

Is it because I love Vladimir Putin?

No, dimwit! I’m giddy because it’s just such a ridiculous idea!

But, pray tell. With all this investment and economic activity going on…

How soon can they get here?

[ForeignLegion]

Other than the US under trump, what are the threats Canada is facing? Here in Oz I can see a possible war with China on the horizon (hope not, but we don't want to be unprepared if it happens), but Canada? It was just Russia and Russia has destroyed its conventional military now.

There will be no war with Oz??China isn?t game to take on the likes of Albo, Wong, Bowen, Burke, Plibersek, O?Neill, the Greens and Teals, and the rest of the pathetic left running this country (into the ground.)

[Jampie]

There will be no war with Oz??China isn?t game to take on the likes of Albo, Wong, Bowen, Burke, Plibersek, O?Neill, the Greens and Teals, and the rest of the pathetic left running this country (into the ground.)

As I say, I don't see them making a move for a decade or three.

I don't know if it's worth asking... but how are the "pathetic left" running the country into the ground? What've they done that's so drastically different to what the last guys did?

[Jampie]

It?s about as worth discussing as the topic of aliens invading from outer space because they are upset that Jerry Seinfeld?s show got cancelled.

As for Jampie?s comment about going to war over Taiwan. The Chinese want a peaceful reunification with Taiwan and are patient enough to wait for it, with the exception of some major provocation from the west. But even then, Australia and the rest of us will wait for the US?s lead, and so far all their war gaming over the scenario has indicated a heavy US defeat when they don?t put their thumbs on the scale. It just ain?t going to happen. The military spending hoopla is all about the graft.

Oh thank god! The Chinese have said they want a peaceful reunification with Taiwan. That settles that. Everyone should stop worrying. The US can cut its defence budget in half. Twice. Phew!

Just like when they said they would support "One Country Two Systems" with Hong Kong. Hong Kong democracy and self governance is going strong today so we've nothing to worry about!!!1

All their military posturing in the south China sea is just show everyone how peaceful their intentions are!

They might want a "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, but it's very unlikely now. Taiwanese saw what happened to Hong Kong, which is now firmly under authoritarian rule, and they will know that any similar assurances for them are lies. Remember, China has also stated that they intend to use force to reunify if necessary. I personally think they absolutely will - when the calculus is that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Right now they don't. China is behind on a series of military technologies that are critical to an operation like seizing Taiwan. But they're catching up slowly. That's why I think 2030's, 2040s, later is the timeframe of higher risk.

[ForeignLegion]

As I say, I don't see them making a move for a decade or three.

I don't know if it's worth asking... but how are the "pathetic left" running the country into the ground? What've they done that's so drastically different to what the last guys did?

Well that's the issue...they're both as bad as each other; Dutton will probably get in but probably more so because people want Albo out. He will scramble for the Green/Teal and Independent Muslim Gaza votes and Tony Burke has just fast tracked 6000 citizenships through in Labour seats. I've been here a long time and seen some dross in Gillard, Rudd, Turnbull etc etc. Hold my beer, enter Albo; open the immigration flood gates, housing shortage crisis, homelessness through the roof, threw millions at the Voice that the people clearly didn't want, 12 plus interest rate rises, net zero blah blah; yes, we know it's happening all over the world. He's without a doubt the worst PM I've seen, and that takes some doing given the names I've listed above.

One thing I don't do one here is get into political debates, my views apparently border on the right wing. I am sick and tired of there lot of them......Vote #1 Pauline.

[ForeignLegion]

As I say, I don't see them making a move for a decade or three.

I don't know if it's worth asking... but how are the "pathetic left" running the country into the ground? What've they done that's so drastically different to what the last guys did?

Well that's the issue...they're both as bad as each other; Dutton will probably get in but probably more so because people want Albo out. He will scramble for the Green/Teal and Independent Muslim Gaza votes and Tony Burke has just fast tracked 6000 citizenships through in Labour seats. I've been here a long time and seen some dross in Gillard, Rudd, Turnbull etc etc. Hold my beer, enter Albo; open the immigration flood gates, housing shortage crisis, homelessness through the roof, threw millions at the Voice that the people clearly didn't want, 12 plus interest rate rises, net zero blah blah; yes, we know it's happening all over the world. He's without a doubt the worst PM and that take some doing given the names I've listed above.

One thing I don't do one here is get into political debates, my views apparently border on the right wing. I am sick and tired of there lot of them......Vote #1 Pauline.

[BigFatPie]

Well that's the issue...they're both as bad as each other; Dutton will probably get in but probably more so because people want Albo out. He will scramble for the Green/Teal and Independent Muslim Gaza votes and Tony Burke has just fast tracked 6000 citizenships through in Labour seats. I've been here a long time and seen some dross in Gillard, Rudd, Turnbull etc etc. Hold my beer, enter Albo; open the immigration flood gates, housing shortage crisis, homelessness through the roof, threw millions at the Voice that the people clearly didn't want, 12 plus interest rate rises, net zero blah blah; yes, we know it's happening all over the world. He's without a doubt the worst PM and that take some doing given the names I've listed above.

One thing I don't do one here is get into political debates, my views apparently border on the right wing. I am sick and tired of there lot of them......Vote #1 Pauline.

Immigrants complaining about immigrants is becoming quite the feature of this board.

[Jampie]

Well that's the issue...they're both as bad as each other; Dutton will probably get in but probably more so because people want Albo out. He will scramble for the Green/Teal and Independent Muslim Gaza votes and Tony Burke has just fast tracked 6000 citizenships through in Labour seats. I've been here a long time and seen some dross in Gillard, Rudd, Turnbull etc etc. Hold my beer, enter Albo; open the immigration flood gates, housing shortage crisis, homelessness through the roof, threw millions at the Voice that the people clearly didn't want, 12 plus interest rate rises, net zero blah blah; yes, we know it's happening all over the world. He's without a doubt the worst PM and that take some doing given the names I've listed above.

One thing I don't do one here is get into political debates, my views apparently border on the right wing. I am sick and tired of there lot of them......Vote #1 Pauline.

They basically can't cut immigration without pitching the country into recession. Of course, for ordinary citizens it's BEEN in recession for a year or three, but not according to the politican numbersTM they publish. I.e. inflation has outstripped real wage growth and housing (which they don't count) is a big reason.

I too am frustrated and annoyed with Albo and have absolutely zero faith the "coalition" will fix it. The coalition's last competent leader was Turnbull (for all his flaws). I think Albo's heart might be in the right place (but dunno for sure) but he sure has taken way too god damned long to get anything done. I won't be surprised if he loses the next election outright.

Of the other stuff you mention, the only point I might disagree on is net zero - we will need to aim for that (and hit it) in the coming decades. There's really no way around it. As usual though, action has been so slow and so poorly planned it's going to be far more painful than it should have been. Dutton's nuclear plan is idiotic; literally the soviet union's communist electricity plan, but at least it IS a plan, I suppose. If labor had started work on 3-5 new pumped hydro dams I would find myself in alignment with them. Instead, they've done [checks notes] nothing whatsoever about grid scale storage. Bravo.