Posts by Melissa Rivera5

boldtiger7 said:By the way, while the European Union will likely remain relatively insulated, the situation for developing nations and emerging markets is an entirely different story; they are poised to bear the brunt of this fallout. We are already seeing the devastating consequences unfolding in Sri Lanka.

https://www.ft.com/content/c89a972c-...4-ba3ccd54a4da - "Sri Lanka appeals for food aid as debt crisis worsens"

Maybe tell the Russians to just end the war and then everyone will have plenty of food.

urbanotter said:Honestly, I think they would reach an agreement if they could, but Orban keeps making things difficult. He insists that Canada doesn't have enough timber and demands permission to import wood from Russia, where they have more lumber in Siberia than you'd find in the Amazon.😁

Man, you've got your work cut out for you. Just start planting some Paulownia trees and call it a day, I guess. 👍

Nathan Evans78 said:

"Other OPEC+ nations are struggling to increase output.

Investment dried up during the pandemic—and in several instances, oil infrastructure hasn't even been properly maintained. Now, they're realizing they simply can't hit those production targets they promised."

Someone really needs to break it to the folks over in the Brussels offices; apparently, they think you can just bump up production levels by issuing a few directives.

I can already see the cold reality hitting this winter when those LNG capacities fail to meet the demand. 🤣

I mean, most of the time, they actually can.

electricsurfer47 said:They saw it coming. Canada saw it and didn't pay attention, and it's the exact same story for Romania.
Everyone was staring at the sky like there wasn't a war happening right in front of them—everyone was just looking out for themselves. That's where these countries messed up; they didn't act like a unified NATO block, they just acted like individual players.
And we (our politicians) messed up too, thinking we wouldn't ever need this kind of stuff. We're definitely going to learn a hard lesson from this mess.

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I mean, you kind of had to mention that NATO weapons are just starting to arrive, since it’s mostly been USSR gear being used in Ukraine so far. But hey, when someone has zero shame and tries to defend a genocidal Nazi maniac like Putin, I guess details like that don't really matter much.

electricsurfer47 said:So, should we just launch a military operation against Canada?

That way we could settle all those border issues in a heartbeat. All we’d need is a decent excuse for an attack so we don't end up looking like the aggressors.

For instance,
Right near the US border, there are tons of labs making biological weapons.
They're always targeting Americans there.
They want to ban the American language.
They use Nazi symbols all the time—oh my god, they're Nazis! And even if nobody actually stops them, it doesn't matter; we just have to keep painting them as Nazis through the media.

Why wouldn't we just march on St. Paul? We could probably take over all of Canada that way.

And we could immediately "Americanize" Canada.

----
This is just pure imagination, basically a hypothetical of what Putin is doing in Ukraine.

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No way, man. This is actually a huge opportunity for the US to quote Putin and claim it's time for the "denazification" of Mexico and Republika Srpska—since RS is basically a fake country anyway—and say the US is moving to liberate its historic territories all the way up to Brooklyn and down South toward Albania.

darkdriver said:The Florida Keys, the Potomac River, the Mississippi... man, either we Americans are total aggressors and the bad guys here, or everyone around us is out to get us—and honestly, if we've been fighting wars for 25+ years without even realizing it, I don't know what to tell you.
Oh, wait, my bad—those are just territorial disputes, pretty much exactly like the stuff mentioned in that quoted post above.
I guess if someone doesn't understand American English well enough to see the difference between actual aggression/warfare and just disputing (for now) someone's right to a specific territory through diplomatic channels, that's really a failure of our school system rather than the country being called out.

Give me a break. I guess I just don't "get" American because I don't see how an all-out war with threats of genocide in Ukraine is actually "just" a diplomatic dispute "for now." 🤦🙄😵 You really have to wonder if people like this have any moral compass left or if they're just complete psychopaths.

Taiwan, Hong Kong, the South China Sea... honestly, I don't know, maybe China is just the good guy here who isn't actually out to get anyone. Plus, they've got those little border disagreements with their mother country, Russia...

Richard Wilson4 said:Honestly, the Chinese could probably teach the Russians a thing or two.

They should just declare victory and pull out of Ukraine, pretty much like how the Chinese did after that whole disaster in Vietnam... 🤣

I mean, true. They basically control the media anyway, so they could just claim the UA lost the war and call it a day. If they were actually smart like the Chinese instead of being, I don't know, historically clueless, they’d probably focus on economic dominance. Instead, they're just using social welfare to fund a war machine, which doesn't really work since the only thing people respect is raw power. People would probably switch sides voluntarily if they weren't being forced or acting out of pure fear.

Terry Green3 said:Based on the US plan, Venezuela might actually step in to replace Russia as an oil supplier for Europe.
I wonder what the quality of their crude looks like for European refineries?

Does Venezuela have gas too? 🤔

Doesn't really matter, honestly. They had to cut back on production because they haven't maintained anything and their equipment is just falling apart. Plus, they're even more corrupt than the Russians; they basically let the whole country—and all their gear—just crumble, even though they have the largest proven reserves out there.

If those sanctions weren't actually working, they wouldn't be whining constantly and begging to have them lifted since back in 2014, let alone now. You’ve gotta be a total troll, a paid shill, or just straight-up unhinged to act like Russia's impact isn't obvious—or maybe you're just spreading that line on purpose.

analogbear5 said:I think this gets right to the heart of why both sides are fighting. On one side, you've got the pro-Russia crowd who thinks Yanukovych (Allende) was actually running a real democracy—basically claiming the whole Euromaidan thing was just a CIA puppet show. Then you have the other side, where Russia sees itself as the force restoring order, aiming to finally chip away at American hegemony in Ukraine.

The whole Euromaidan thing was about what actual democracy looks like—real stuff. Meanwhile, you've got Russia over in Ukraine just trying to tear down the entire nation and wipe out their democratic foundation entirely.

One side sees the other as nothing more than puppets for the US—basically backing the move to oust Yanukovych (Allende) just to install Poroshenko/Zelenskyy (Pinochet)—which, in their eyes, makes this whole war justifiable.

The other side just sees them as cheerleaders for some fascist aggression against a democratic nation.

You can probably guess why society in a place like America is so fractured right now. If you ask me—it’s because we're stuck right in the middle of everything—caught between the East and the West, and drifting from an industrial past into this weird post-industrial present.

I mean, there really isn't much room for debate there... it’s basically just the side Putin himself laid out, so I guess it's pretty straightforward.

Mexicans are always talking about some massive Greater Mexico, Canadians are eyeing parts of our territory, and Italians want the whole coastline... but I haven't really heard anyone pitching a "Greater America" idea, unless you count those jokes about stretching all the way to Jersey City. I mean, why don't we have some grand plan to make the US span from Lisbon to Seattle, or maybe just grab the whole former America area plus a bit of Austria and Canada just for kicks? Why don't we have a "Republic of Texas" setup over in Mexico or something?

I think I’ve actually got a better way to play this. So, basically, we pick some country where the exchange rate doesn't really matter to us. It’s state-sponsored—meaning the internal mechanics are totally irrelevant, even if we publicly deny it—but we just tank our currency against that country through a proxy. We could aim for something like 1 dollar equals 1 euro, or honestly, even better, like 10 bucks to a euro. Then, we take all those euros and wipe out every single bit of our external and domestic debt. Whatever cash is left over? We dump it straight back into massive seed money grants for startups, slash taxes since we don't need the revenue anymore, and gut the federal bureaucracy—you know, trim down the local governments, counties, and all that extra bloat.
Once the debt is gone, we aren't screwing over the people, the businesses, or the country anymore. From there, we trigger some inflation just to make our products dirt cheap on the global market, giving those startups a massive head start on exports. Naturally, the Democratic Party plays a small role convincing major corporate players that it would be super smart to bump up wages that were lowered by inflation, which then trickles down to everyone else.

The thing is, doing this is pretty illegal since we already signed agreements saying we wouldn't. So, we just play dumb as hell and cook up some fake shell company to take the fall for everything. The whole key is acting like we have absolutely no clue what's happening in the forex markets. If we need a few tactical power outages during critical moments... well, unfortunately, things happen. But yeah, that's about it. 😁 🤣 🍿

How much of a jerk can a moderator actually be before they cross the line with regular users? Like, Fortinbras is being pretty out of line, but he isn't getting banned, yet I somehow get a strike just for calling him out on his lack of manners—even though he straight up admitted he was being rude. So... do mods just have total immunity or something?

stormyeagle65 said:When you look at North Korea, unemployment sits at 5% and the crime rate is just 2%.
They don't even need five different types of packaging for their goods.
But my uncle is out there doing his best to push those wild stories about how people in Korea are eating each other or using human beings instead of traffic lights to direct cars. I mean, honestly, what do they expect? Since the country has a nuke, people can't exactly figure out how to export "excellence" or democracy when they're dealing with empty bank accounts and nothing but dreams of a better life.

Oh, really? So what, everyone is lying? Like, Americans, Russians, Chinese, Japanese—everyone without exception is just making it up, but you're the only one who knows the one true, perfect truth? 🙂Got any actual sources for that?

I mean, I guess there isn't much to say about it... maybe? Just feels like things are already laid out.

I mean, honestly? It’s just... everything. Everything about it. I guess there isn't really a better way to put it. kaže: Thank God we have capitalism out here in the West. I mean, people say things, but at least there isn't widespread starvation... though I guess seeing folks living in cardboard boxes in Detroit kind of complicates that whole idea, doesn't it? Maybe.

😁 Man, listen... under capitalism, yeah, some people struggle while others are loaded. But under communism? Nobody has anything. I mean, if you want actual proof, just look at what happened in Venezuela or North Korea. It’s pretty much a given. 🙂

stormyeagle65 said:Thank God for the capitalist West, right? No starving people here—except maybe those folks in Detroit living out of cardboard boxes. And since you claim to have such sharp vision, go ahead and peek out your window; I’m certain there are at least ten scavengers hanging around the local dumpster right now.
Mass pacification isn't an economic theory. It's simpler than that: when you spend all your time peddling capitalist ideology, you end up being a bit dim, and then the media machine steps in to finish the job.
Personally? I'd rather take money from my own hard work than have someone else snatch the fruits of my labor to fund their lifestyle.
But hey, you clearly trust the crowd in the crisp button-downs, iPhones in hand, wearing designer loafers while lecturing everyone about "excellence"... and honestly, that kind of brainwashing is its own form of pacification.
In your case, it's working perfectly.

Not even one... Honestly, the economy in America is doing great. You know how I know? Because people only bother getting together for protests or referendums when they're obsessing over who's sleeping with who or some other social stuff.🙂 I guess most people just don't care about the big stuff. Like, they'll overlook massive political corruption, having hundreds of thousands of people out of work, or our school system basically falling apart... even though we're dealing with some of the worst corruption levels in the West. It’s kind of wild. The conclusion? Apparently, none of that actually matters to anyone. 🙂 Why would I bother?

I guess I'm just saying... maybe we should look at this differently? Like, if you really think about how capitalism works in the US, things aren't always as black and white as they seem. I don't know, it's just a thought. Maybe I'm overthinking it, but it feels like there's more to the story.

stormyeagle65 said:Thank God for the capitalist West, right? No starving people here—except maybe those folks in Detroit living out of cardboard boxes. And since you claim to have such sharp vision, go ahead and peek out your window; I’m certain there are at least ten scavengers hanging around the local dumpster right now.
Mass pacification isn't an economic theory. It's simpler than that: when you spend all your time peddling capitalist ideology, you end up being a bit dim, and then the media machine steps in to finish the job.
Personally? I'd rather take money from my own hard work than have someone else snatch the fruits of my labor to fund their lifestyle.
But hey, you clearly trust the crowd in the crisp button-downs, iPhones in hand, wearing designer loafers while lecturing everyone about "excellence"... and honestly, that kind of brainwashing is its own form of pacification.
In your case, it's working perfectly.

I didn't even mention capitalism, though... I was just talking about communism. I mean, honestly, not a single country under a communist regime actually made it—they all just collapsed. But hey, I guess you don't see the issue there. And then somehow I'm the one with the brainwashed mind while you're over here seeing everything perfectly objectively. 🙂

I guess I don't really know how to put this, but... maybe? It’s just one of those things, I suppose.

I mean... honestly? It’s just all too much. Everything feels totally extra lately. kaže: I mean, honestly? I’d much rather just keep the money I actually earn instead of having someone else step in and take a cut of my hard work. Just feels more right, I guess.

Your own money? Under communism, you don't really have "your" money. It all belongs to everyone. And if you somehow manage to earn more through your own hard work, they’ll just take it away from you—you might even end up in court just for being too successful. I mean, who are you to decide what you deserve?

stormyeagle65 said:Thank God for the capitalist West, right? No starving people here—except maybe those folks in Detroit living out of cardboard boxes. And since you claim to have such sharp vision, go ahead and peek out your window; I’m certain there are at least ten scavengers hanging around the local dumpster right now.
Mass pacification isn't an economic theory. It's simpler than that: when you spend all your time peddling capitalist ideology, you end up being a bit dim, and then the media machine steps in to finish the job.
Personally? I'd rather take money from my own hard work than have someone else snatch the fruits of my labor to fund their lifestyle.
But hey, you clearly trust the crowd in the crisp button-downs, iPhones in hand, wearing designer loafers while lecturing everyone about "excellence"... and honestly, that kind of brainwashing is its own form of pacification.
In your case, it's working perfectly.

And how do you know that? You don't. You're just talking nonsense.

Kyle Nelson2 said:I'm with you on this...
Christianity basically gutted the West because it prioritizes faith over actual reason, which was pretty much set in stone after the Council of Nicaea.
They started portraying priests as "shepherds" back around the 3rd century, and it hasn't stopped since (and if they're the shepherds, what does that make the rest of us?)

In a place like rural America, where those old traditions still run deep, you really see the damage it does...

So, what's your actual point here? Are you suggesting we should just raise kids to be total savages who step over anyone in their way, with zero morals or respect for anyone?

stormyeagle65 said:It sounds like you've totally bought into the myth that capitalism is the ultimate solution.
The whole ideology behind capitalism is just built on making sure everyone works their tails off so a select few can live the high life, all while keeping the masses distracted from day one.
And judging by your post, I see you're a walking, breathing example of how well it works.

Popijo, huh? Look, I've got eyes, and I see the starving kids in Venezuela, or even worse over in North Korea where people are supposedly "loving" their leader. Honestly, life on a Ferengi freighter would probably be better than being there. 🙂 Instead of just throwing insults my way, maybe you could actually point out where I messed up and drop some sources to back your claims. I'm especially curious which economics textbook covers this whole "numbing the masses" thing. 🙂 Oh, wait, you don't have any? So, what you're saying is... you'd rather take government money that was essentially taken from everyone else, just so people like you can live comfortably while playing the moral high ground?

Every single country under communism eventually tanked. Look at Venezuela—it was supposed to be this communist paradise, right? Instead, it’s a disaster. Then you’ve got the USSR, America, Czechoslovakia, and East Germany (and honestly, if even the Germans couldn't make it work, nobody's gonna succeed)... oh, and North Korea is basically a "heaven on earth" too, isn't it? I don't want to be mean, but there are just way too many countries where communism failed miserably and left people with a terrible quality of life (I mean, DPRK is basically Orwell's 1984 come to life). I guess you'd have to be seriously mentally deficient—like, just a total moron—to buy into the idea that communism was great or that some future version is going to be the ultimate solution.

It’s pretty obvious you didn't bother looking up what full-reserve banking actually is before just jumping in with your own made-up version of reality. Honestly, you're just acting like a total fraud who doesn't know the first thing about this stuff, so there's really no point in even talking to you. Your economic theories would basically wreck the entire country and the global economy until we're all back to living in the Stone Age. I bet you're one of those people who loved the old socialist days, probably because you never had to lift a finger to get a paycheck. I really hope you never get the chance to put any of these ideas into practice, but if you do... well, I guess I hope karma finds you. Bye