Posts by Harold Martin10

brightheron64 said:It seems our cultural institutions are jumping on the bandwagon too 😲

The Philadelphia Orchestra has pulled several Tchaikovsky pieces from their program due to the situation in Ukraine

🤦

It’s actually a good thing that South Africa—since they have such tight COVID monitoring—suffered this setback; hopefully, others will learn their lesson and stay quiet next time.

Linda Lee4 said:For the alarmists out there...

New York City (CNN on Saturday) — The Delta variant of the coronavirus results in mild disease, lacking any major symptoms, according to the chairwoman of the American Medical Association, who spoke to CNN on Saturday.
"It’s mostly just mild illness where people deal with muscle aches and feeling run down for a day or two. From what we've seen, those who catch it aren't losing their sense of taste or smell. You might get a minor cough, but nothing major. Some of those infected are just managing everything from home right now," she noted.

Actually, this makes it even more dangerous because it’ll spread way more easily this way. 😁

A globalized world has always been a step up from a non-globalized one. When you say "we know how this ends," you seem to be overlooking the fact that "how it ended" previously—essentially a state of perpetual warfare—was actually quite the norm for Europe in its "local" era. The last 70 years have been a massive outlier, and honestly, it isn't just an issue for Europe. Historians often point the finger at the USA when discussing WWI and WWII, arguing they failed to step into the role of the global policeman that naturally belonged to them as the preeminent superpower at the time.

As for the working class in developed nations—let’s be honest, they live better than the vast majority of people on this planet. Because of that, perhaps there could be a shift away from pure materialism toward finding fulfillment in other areas of life? Sadly, I don't see that happening anytime soon. And if those material desires and the constant hunger for "more" are truly that overwhelming, well—there is always more education, more effort, and more work to be done.

The reality is that growth rates fueled by cheap Chinese and Indian labor simply weren't sustainable. It was an artificial situation, and eventually, the market had to correct itself by raising labor costs. To make matters worse for the working class, we hit a second shock: the crisis caused by everyone collectively pretending nothing was wrong. We had banks handing out bad loans, governments turning a blind eye, and borrowers acting like the money was free. So, you had one unsustainable period of cheap labor followed immediately by another unrealistic period where society was essentially spending its future prosperity today. Everyone got used to a high standard of living, and now, through some strange miracle, they’re shocked and blaming globalization for it.

Just a little side note...

Here are a few things I heard from friends and family back when the crisis first hit the USA:
1. "The administration is on great terms with the Germans and Austrians; they’ll bail us out if a crisis hits here."
2. "Our big corporate leaders will pull us through this mess."
3. "There is no crisis as long as the construction sites are busy."
4. "The crisis is only happening in the USA; what does that have to do with us?"

And a few things said once the crisis actually arrived:
1. "It's the central banker's fault; he should have just printed more money to fund the budget and kickstart consumption (he's not the only one who can do that)."
2. "Employers are to blame for low wages—if every boss doubled their employees' pay, they'd see higher profits and everyone would be better off."
3. "There is no crisis, the goods are all there—the wealthy are just playing games with us."

If the working class truly wants to return to the era before 1945, they certainly possess the political power to make it happen. But then again, those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it. At the very least, historians will have plenty to write about after humanity manages to tear itself apart once again.

In my opinion, people who are constantly clamoring for radical change are just being naive.

What young people in The West are actually looking for is an improved standard of living. They seem to think globalization is the thing standing in their way, but they have it backward. The truth is, globalization was the very engine that drove up living standards over the last fifty years—largely because we could access incredibly cheap goods, which was only possible thanks to minimal regulation and dirt-cheap labor in countries that opened up to foreign capital, like China. Now, labor costs in those places are rising, yet these pampered, low-skilled workers in developed nations still expect Chinese laborers to work for pennies an hour. That is really the heart of the matter.

Low-skilled workers in The West can cry about it all they want—they can weep even harder than the ultra-leftists did after Trump won—but nothing is going to save them. At best, the growth of living standards in developed nations will be relatively slow. The real winners at the turn of the century were the people who, just 30 or 40 years ago, were struggling just to eat.

If they opt for populists, they are only going to end up hurting themselves even more. Just as a side note, I don't think Trump will deviate much from standard USA policy, so the average citizens in the USA shouldn't see any real damage there. However, Brexit is definitely going to have a negative impact on the British working class.

Sam Ruiz60 said:If they were offering it to you, you’d probably end up buying a Mercedes or a Honda.
Well, obviously a Mercedes—because with those price tags, owning one becomes a status symbol, and that's exactly what they're banking on.
People get hooked. They play on basic human impulses just to turn a profit, exploiting fears of shortages or promises of sudden prosperity. Now, everyone's chasing this idea of "the good life." They see a neighbor driving a Mercedes and think, "Why should I settle for less?" Even if it means taking out a massive loan. And thank God, banks seem to sprout up everywhere like mushrooms after a rainstorm, specifically popping up just to offer these endless auto loans.
People land jobs, start businesses, spend money they don't have, and pile up mortgages and car loans.
Then, once the banks decide to tighten the screws, they seize the real estate and the Mercedes vehicles. On top of that, you have a government that borrowed heavily just to fuel consumption, forced to take out even more loans and liquidate assets as if the group that came in specifically to fleece us hasn't already taken enough.
And then, to top it all off, they have the nerve to lecture us through the IMF.

Right, because what we really need is a powerful state deciding exactly how citizens should manage their own property. Sounds just like North Korea, doesn't it? 👏

Nicholas Ross38 said:Look, you guys have completely veered off track—you're bringing up stuff that doesn't belong in this thread. Nothing is ever really looking good, especially when it comes to the IMF.

I actually think the IMF is a solid option. It provides cheaper credit, and they insist on those structural reforms that we really need to push through anyway. If you ask me, the real problem isn't the loans—it's the corrupt political cronies and bureaucrats. They're the ones saddling future generations with massive interest rates while suffocating the healthy parts of our economy with endless red tape and high taxes.

Nicholas Ross38 said:The IMF in America—what’s their deal lately? The International Monetary Fund is apparently losing sleep over the fact that the US is still stuck in this recessionary funk. They're pointing fingers at our uncompetitive exports, corporate debt levels, and the massive mountain of public sector debt. I guess they're worried. Are you guys actually ready for whatever austerity measures and "reforms" the IMF decides to throw our way? How are you planning to stay off their radar when the crackdown hits?

Honestly, I'd take the IMF over the Republican Party, the Democratic Party, Zoran Chicago, or any of those other groups.

Gary Martinez2 said:Just a quick question here.
Why does the capitalist class seem so threatened by worker cooperatives acting as competitors, yet they don't have any real issue with competition coming from other private corporations?

Where exactly are you getting the idea that they're bothered by it? Honestly, their only issue would be if worker self-management became the standard, the only way things were done.

Patrick Thomas29 said:Personally, I’m putting all my faith in the newly elected President☕
I really think we’re on track to become the wealthiest nation in the US, maybe even the whole world at this rate☕
Plus, I believe she's actually moving the capital to Chicago just like she promised, and you can tell the Prime Minister is fully backing her move🤣

edit: obviously I'm joking. Honestly, looking at the current mess, nobody could possibly be worse than what we have now, so he’s basically the most logical choice out there🥳

For a lot of taxpayers, seeing these clowns get elected is basically the final signal to pack up and leave the country—myself included. The Republican Party and the Democratic Party have pushed us right to the edge, and now CNN would probably be the first to jump off.

Anthony Myers8 said:I'm just reading some news about entrepreneurs fleeing the US to set up shop in the United Kingdom, and it makes me wonder—is that actually only doable if you're running an online business?? Like, could I really run a physical shop in Washington, D.C. using a company registered in London? I know it sounds stupid, but I’m genuinely curious who can actually have an overseas entity while operating right here? I don't quite get it... someone please enlighten me.

Hrvoje Prpić posted about this on his Meta profile. There is already quite a bit of info over there, and he even mentioned he'd be happy to lend a hand to anyone who needs it. It honestly feels like our local bureaucracy has just decided to make life difficult for everyone lately. 🙂

Mark Lopez8 said:So you’re telling me the debt per citizen in America is only 4,140 Euros? Man, you are completely missing the mark here. Either you're digging up ancient history or you just haven't done your homework. The national debt in the US is projected to climb toward something like 250 billion dollars by the end of the year—which is over 33 billion euros. When you actually run the math and divide that by our 4.2 million people, it means every single unborn child in this country is already on the hook for somewhere between 7,000 and 8,000 euros. That’s almost double what you’re claiming, and honestly, that number is climbing every single day.

That isn't quite right—the national debt isn't a personal debt, it's the government's liability. Every citizen is free to pack up and move to another country, where they wouldn't owe a single cent toward our public debt.

Sophia Moore52 said:In America, over 90% of people own their own home. There is a tiny group—less than 10%—who were either unable to secure housing or didn't qualify for affordable loans under the previous regime.

Or perhaps it's those who didn't spend at least five years working abroad to send money back home. Honestly, half the houses in my neck of the woods were built using money sent back by expats. I guess those were the folks who weren't interested in taking out a loan or waiting for a government housing unit.😛

If I’ve got this right, we’re strictly talking about financial assets here. It seems to me that both Americans and Mexicans tend to lean more toward keeping a larger chunk of their wealth tied up in real estate. Honestly, I suspect the actual wealth gap—when you look at the real numbers—isn't nearly as massive as those 20x or 10x comparisons suggest when you're looking at Switzerland or Mexico.

Charles Lopez3 said:That's exactly how the Western media outlets spin it,
and they absolutely love their little obsession with Cuba.
Ever since Hoover was around...😁

It all stems from Cuba—just like their famously low infant mortality rate.

Charles Lopez3 said:Has there been a spike in missing persons cases around here,
or am I just seeing things?

I heard that half-baked psycho from San Francisco
was actually working on that case.
We're standing right here in front of Cuba☕

That's a tough one. Cuba's homicide rate is about five times higher than America's.

Charles Lopez3 said:😁

Cuba is actually outperforming us.
Are we all seriously okay with that?

Actually, I think we're catching up to Cuba. Back in 1990, we were trailing way behind them—but looking at the last 20 years, we've definitely been making strides.

jadeorca42 said:Honestly, these numbers are a disaster for us. I mean, it’s kind of surreal—we’re being outpaced by a country that’s been grinding under some of the most brutal and illegal sanctions on the planet for decades. Even North Korea didn't have anything quite like this until recently, I guess.
If we were hit with a ban on luxury imports like BMW or Audi, we’d probably be starving within three months. The few people left with any actual capital would just pack up, leave America for good, and burn every bridge behind them...

A little something for those who like to downplay the impact of these illegal, aggressive (according to the UN) sanctions against Cuba

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_...o_against_Cuba

Helms-Burton Act

Burton Act was condemned by the Council of Europe, the European Union, Britain, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and other U.S. allies that enjoy normal trade relations with Cuba. The governments argued that the law ran counter to the spirit of international law and sovereignty.

Following a complaint filed by the European Union with the WTO, a dispute settlement panel was set up. Eventually, they paused everything to try and hammer out a deal through negotiations. A year later, the panel basically lost its authority over the situation, and the EU just... stopped pursuing it through the WTO.

The law has also been condemned by humanitarian groups because these groups argue that sanctions against an entire country will affect only the innocent population.

The law provides for compensation of only the largest of claims for confiscated property, which mostly means big multinational corporations (we're talking roughly $6 billion). It pretty much ignores the claims of individual members of the exiled Cuban-American community who lost their own homes.

The European Union introduced a Council Regulation (No 2271/96) [9]—which is binding for all member states—declaring that the extraterritorial parts of the Helms-Burton Act aren't enforceable in the EU, while also allowing for the recovery of damages caused by it. The EU law also applied sanctions against US companies and their executives for making Title II complaints.

Read more...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_S...nhancement_Act

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuban_Democracy_Act

Sanctions against Cuba for beginners

Honestly, those "devastating" numbers seem minor compared to how much we were trailing Cuba in the Human Development Index back in the '90s—we were lagging by way more than just 0.003.

Back in 1990, our HDI was 0.689, and today it stands at 0.812. That’s a total jump of 0.123 for America.

Meanwhile, Cuba's HDI was 0.729 in 1990, and it's at 0.815 now—an increase of 0.086.

In other words, despite dealing with war and destruction on a scale Cuba never had to face, we managed to close a 0.037 gap down to just 0.003. Give it another decade or two, and we'll be flying right past them.

Sam Wright21 said:My understanding of Cuba is shaped by reading Houellebecq's platform and listening to the firsthand accounts of a friend who actually spent time there. There is a profound level of poverty 😢 As a tourist, you’re essentially barred from even stepping foot into the local dive bars where the average Cuban gathers. Cars are a luxury almost no one possesses, and the public transit system is so unreliable that people are constantly being pulled over just trying to make it to their shifts. Then again, I can't help but wonder if this misery wouldn't be so pervasive if it weren't for the decades-long blockade imposed by the USA.
Despite the deprivation, there’s a certain resilience there—they sing, they dance, they find ways to celebrate with whatever scraps they have left. Perhaps the tropical climate provides a buffer; the mere thought of them facing a brutal winter like ours makes me shudder.

It was all quite a spectacle. Whatever the fascists stole, the partisans simply reclaimed, but frankly, it’s beneath me to debate such things with Krinica.

What an absurd notion. While limiting imports might occasionally make sense, placing restrictions on exports is a recipe for disaster.🤦

Actually, the USA isn't stopping Cuba from exporting anything—there isn't some total blockade in place. It's more about limiting what comes into their market from Cuba and controlling what they send over to Cuba. It's pretty much similar to what we're seeing with Russia and the European Union right now.

Back in 1990, our Human Development Index sat at 0.689, but today we're looking at 0.812. That puts the total progress for America at 0.123

Looking at Cuba, their HDI was 0.729 back in 1990 and has climbed to 0.815 today—a jump of 0.086

On a global scale, we're definitely catching up, and honestly, it feels like just a matter of time before we pull ahead of Cuba. It’s also a bit silly to claim they don't have crime issues when their homicide rate is basically five times higher than ours.