America - The Official Thread

[05XR8]

That really is the question at the core of this: how did it happen? Is it simply who America is? And to what extent is this going to play out in the other western democracies over the next few years?

I used to think (and say) that however bad the situation seemed at times in the past few decades, the progress overall was to a more just, equitable and prosperous world. Now this seems much less certain. Regressive forces are on the march in a way not seen since the 1930's. I worry about the future my daughters - now in their 20's - will face in the coming years.

Trump already told Australian Prime Minister they’ll be perfect friends. Already talks about Australia getting a pass on tariffs.

 

[Biggles]

Trump already told Australian Prime Minister they’ll be perfect friends. Already talks about Australia getting a pass on tariffs.
View attachment 1428116

Is there a point to your post? Australia is a long way from the US. In 2022 its largest export to the US was sheep & goat meat, valued at $1.12B US, with total exports to the US valued at $13.7B US. In contrast, Canadian exports to the US totalled $438B US and Mexican exports to the US were $493B US. Trump doesn't care about Australia.

 

[05XR8]

Is there a point to your post? Australia is a long way from the US. In 2022 its largest export to the US was sheep & goat meat, valued at $1.12B US, with total exports to the US valued at $13.7B US. In contrast, Canadian exports to the US totalled $438B US and Mexican exports to the US were $493B US. Trump doesn't care about Australia.

The numbers aren't the point. It reminds me of John Howard acting like best mate to George W.
With Albanese popularity dropping since he been PM, Trump saying what he said, I can see more of that sucking up and leaving the Australian people out to dry.

 

[HarVee]

The world is a funny piece of ********. Mr. Orangeman wanting to get rid of the 14th amendment. You can argue all you want but the 14th is what made this country. If it wasn't for the 14th you wouldn't be here, I wouldn't be here. Our constitution is sacred and can't be ratified by an executive order. Does that all mean nothing to Orangeman?

i had Voted for Trump, yes, because I liked some of his policies, it doesn't mean I agree with everything he does... and this... I just can't agree with at all though. In any form. We, the American people, have a constitution for a reason, Trump.

 

[Scaff]

i had Voted for Trump, yes,

In 2024? If so, I have some questions.

because I liked some of his policies,

Which ones? And please ensure they were actual policies, not just vague promises that had no thought or consideration behind them.

it doesn't mean I agree with everything he does... and this... I just can't agree with at all though. In any form. We, the American people, have a constitution for a reason, Trump.

You value the constitution, but voted for someone who has long been clear in his utter contempt for it?

Those policy promises must have been amazing to make up for that. Let's be clear, Trump is doing exactly what he said he would and what people said he would do, how on earth can any of this be a surprise to you?

 

[Famine]

 

[McLaren]

He's been against the 14th Amendment even before his first term.

August 19, 2015 / 10:44 AM EDT / CBS News

"I don't think they have American citizenship and if you speak to some very, very good lawyers -- and I know some will disagree, but many of them agree with me -- and you're going to find they do not have American citizenship," Trump said Tuesday in an interview with Fox News' Bill O'Reilly. "We have to start a process where we take back our country. Our country is going to hell."

Birthright citizenship is guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads "All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the State wherein they reside."

Donald Trump: "Anchor babies" aren't American citizens

The GOP candidate wants to repeal birthright citizenship for babies born to undocumented immigrants

www.cbsnews.com

I don't know what to tell anyone who thought otherwise when he made it clear it'd be one of the more extreme agendas he'd pursue this time. The courts are already pushing back, but he & Musk are trying to act like the Judicial Branch has no power over him and to do so would be a coup....

 

[Blitz24]

He's been against the 14th Amendment even before his first term.

August 19, 2015 / 10:44 AM EDT / CBS News

Donald Trump: "Anchor babies" aren't American citizens

The GOP candidate wants to repeal birthright citizenship for babies born to undocumented immigrants

www.cbsnews.com

I don't know what to tell anyone who thought otherwise when he made it clear it'd be one of the more extreme agendas he'd pursue this time. The courts are already pushing back, but he & Musk are trying to act like the Judicial Branch has no power over him and to do so would be a coup....

So that means there were TWO non-citizens in the White House during that interview.

 

[Biggles]

The numbers aren't the point. It reminds me of John Howard acting like best mate to George W.
With Albanese popularity dropping since he been PM, Trump saying what he said, I can see more of that sucking up and leaving the Australian people out to dry.

Yes - I understand what you're saying ... just not sure why you quoted my prior post, which didn't seem relevant.

I did read this today though:

Trump's White House aide: Peter Navarro said previous exemptions from tariffs, including those given to Canada and Mexico in 2019, had not worked out, and now Trump is imposing one worldwide levy.

"The president says no more country exemptions. No more product exclusions."

It's not just Chinese and Russian overproduction hurting U.S. mills, according to Navarro. "It's all of our friends and allies we gave special treatment to. And instead of abiding by the rules of that, they abused them."

He mentioned Brazil, Japan and Australia specifically.

Good news - you're back in the loop! 👍

 

[Blitz24]

Yes - I understand what you're saying ... just not sure why you quoted my prior post, which didn't seem relevant.

I did read this today though:

Trump's White House aide: Peter Navarro said previous exemptions from tariffs, including those given to Canada and Mexico in 2019, had not worked out, and now Trump is imposing one worldwide levy.

"The president says no more country exemptions. No more product exclusions."

It's not just Chinese and Russian overproduction hurting U.S. mills, according to Navarro. "It's all of our friends and allies we gave special treatment to. And instead of abiding by the rules of that, they abused them."

He mentioned Brazil, Japan and Australia specifically.

Good news - you're back in the loop! 👍

Trump understands the global economy about as well as he understands being told "no".

 

[Danoff]

Trump understands the global economy about as well as he understands being told "no".

General xenophobia is pervasive among this group. Also manipulative and immoral people tend to be worried that others are just like them. The entire concept of trade and markets is somewhat foreign to these people, who are always convinced that the world functions on a zero-sum social Darwinism rather than mutual benefit, despite all evidence to the contrary.

It's amazing to me that people can misunderstand the current level of prosperity so profoundly. And yet, even among the opposition, we get a "how are you helping me" mentality rather than a recognition of just how prosperous we all are at the moment.

It is as though nobody realizes how far down we can fall from where we are. When we're aiming to revive polio, squash international trade, start wars (both trade and actual), rekindle discrimination of all kinds, and stop protecting consumers from fraud and other criminal behavior, we really can take the US back over a hundred years in short order.

 

[Blitz24]

Add to this the spineless Republicans somehow voted to confirm Gabbard 52-48, an individual who is extremely compromised and shouldn't be anywhere near national intelligence secrets. Might as well confirm RFK Jr. to because it is clear that no politician has any idea about health so they should let someone equally as qualified be the head of that department.

 

[UKMikey]

 

[Biggles]

General xenophobia is pervasive among this group. Also manipulative and immoral people tend to be worried that others are just like them. The entire concept of trade and markets is somewhat foreign to these people, who are always convinced that the world functions on a zero-sum social Darwinism rather than mutual benefit, despite all evidence to the contrary.

It's amazing to me that people can misunderstand the current level of prosperity so profoundly. And yet, even among the opposition, we get a "how are you helping me" mentality rather than a recognition of just how prosperous we all are at the moment.

Just as a simple example: Trump complains about a "trade deficit" with Canada. This is largely due to the US importing oil from Alberta. Importing oil from Alberta allows the US to EXPORT its surplus oil production to other parts of the world (including Canada). Many US refineries have been set up to refine the particular grade of oil that comes from Alberta. Interrupting that established supply f (which the US buys at a preferential rate) is going to cause a shortfall in US refining capacity, leading to lower production and higher prices. In the meantime, Canada is forced to look to exporting oil to other countries. Canadian oil flowing to those countries is ultimately going reduce the market for US oil exports. A lose/lose/lose scenario.