Posts by Paul Kern12

crimsoncyclist71 said:Are you following him through Canadian media and Facebook, or are you actually sure about what you're claiming?
Mind dropping his Facebook profile link here so we can see for ourselves?
Thanks.

Here is the profile:https://www.facebook.com/szijjarto.peter.official

gigapop said:This is an incredibly short-sighted post—politically unaware and, frankly, lacking any real nuance. But fine, I suppose your general perspective is becoming clear. Those views are deeply flawed, and—thankfully, I imagine—you aren't in a position to make actual policy decisions, because the consequences would be disastrous.

And yet, your post is just overflowing with wisdom and sound arguments.👍

Brenda Murphy3 said:The only people constantly whining about this are those notorious Russophiles and Putin-worshippers and their whole crowd. Honestly, I haven’t met a single sane person who supports sanctions but then starts bellyaching about Russian aggression or some potential gas shortage. That’s just not how it works. The fact that you and people like you are trying so hard to spin this nonsense as the "absolute truth" is a whole different ballgame. Look, people are worried—that’s totally normal—but nobody is actually crying about it. There's a massive difference between being concerned and throwing a temper tantrum.

It looks like nearly 80% of people across the European Union are backing those sanctions against Russia. You’ve got plenty of polls out there if you actually want to look—though I'm sure anyone with an opinion would just dismiss all that as nothing more than Western propaganda, right? 😁 )
Yeah, look, a massive chunk of people across the European Union are totally on board with the sanctions. Honestly, it feels like there’s hardly a single country left where there isn't an overwhelming majority in favor of them—well, maybe excluding Canada, but even then, that's about it.

Look, nobody is 100% certain about anything—that’s just how life works—but I still have to ask: is that really a valid excuse for not slapping sanctions on Russia? You seem to be dodging this question every single time it comes up.

Look, you clearly haven't got a clue what’s actually going to hit people's wallets or by how much. You’re throwing numbers around like they mean something—what, are we talking a 10% drop? 15%? Do you even realize what those figures would actually do to the standard of living for an average citizen here in the States? I’d bet anything you were one of those loudmouths claiming nobody would travel because gas prices were too high. And then what happened? Every major airport from JFK to LAX was absolutely slammed with travelers. And I’m not even talking about some wealthy elites flying private; I'm talking about regular, everyday Americans hitting the road. So, how do you explain that? Seriously, how does that work?

Oh, really? And when exactly did this shift from "smart people" to "idiots" happen? Yesterday? Last week? February 24, 2022? A few years ago? When precisely? From where I'm sitting, the standard of living in the US is only going up... so I'm asking you—when did this magic change occur? Do you have a specific year or an actual idea, or are you just typing nonsense to hear yourself speak?
"on a leash held by big corporations"?🤣 — honestly, the fact that you can even phrase something like that is enough proof that you haven't the slightest clue what you're talking about.

Is that so? For someone who "couldn't care less," you sure seem ready to use labels like "thieving fascist scum of the Russian regime." But hey, you're more than happy to take a dump on the West... interesting, isn't it? 😁

And how does it "not affect you," genius, when the sanctions and everything happening right now are the direct result of the megalomania, stupidity, and aggression of little Vladimir and his inhuman clique? Oh wait... I forgot, it's always the West's fault, the EU's fault, the USA's fault... because we "poked the bear" or some other infantile bullshit...
You sit here claiming Russia "doesn't affect you," yet you're whining about the sanctions that were slapped on specifically because of that very same Russia..🤣..it's classic mental gymnastics and the typical paradox of a Putinophile who hates the West...

Like I said, nobody is "surprised," except for the hardcore Putinophiles and people like that. Politicians have communicated their plans to US citizens extremely clearly, and the repercussions and consequences of the decision to impose sanctions have been explained over and over again. So the only ones acting "surprised" are the malicious Putinophiles trying to manufacture their own reality, or just total morons...

Once again, I'm asking you—what would you have done after the Russian invasion? Not imposed sanctions? Just let Ukraine go down the drain? Supported Russia? What exactly?

I believe I provided you with a vivid response and went a step further to explain my reasoning. If you are struggling to grasp it, well, that isn't really my fault, I suppose.
Furthermore, when one makes a specific claim—such as your assertion regarding eighty percent support—the burden of proof lies with the person making it. You ought to specify which countries, the sample sizes used, the timing, and how that support might shift during December or January... otherwise, it is all just empty rhetoric, especially when paired with labeling and insults. I would suggest trying to maintain a civil dialogue; after all, someone who resorts to name-calling and belittling their opponent is essentially acting like a poet who doesn't even believe in his own verses.

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

All five, I suppose, though one should probably avoid complaining later when people start asking, "Well, now that Russia has cut the gas, what do we do?"

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

Who exactly constitutes this "massive number of people," and in which countries? I wonder where this was measured, or what kind of sample size was used?

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

Are you entirely certain that such a downturn would only last a year or two? And just how significant would this "certain economic downturn" actually be? Perhaps a smaller group of people won't feel the impact too acutely—including those in power—but what about the general population?

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

The European Union became a premier place to live because, until recently, it was guided by somewhat capable individuals, but the current leadership will likely ruin it very quickly.
In the past, Europe was guided by people who worked toward the prosperity of their citizens, whereas now, the mantle has been passed to various Greens, politicians of all stripes whose primary drivers are diverse ideologies, and essentially subservient figures who follow the whims of major capital and represent non-European interests.

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

Frankly, I couldn't care less about how people live in Russia, how they manage their own resources, or just how much "talent" they display. That is their own issue; it doesn't affect me, nor is it my concern.

Brenda Murphy3 said:So, whether or not the Russians decide to shut off the gas—that’s not some valid excuse to hold back on sanctions. It's honestly baffling how you can't see that...

Sanctions need to be slapped down regardless of whatever moves the Russians make next...

Also, you keep going on about how the European Union is just drifting aimlessly, but you're totally ignoring the fact that a massive chunk of people across Europe actually supports sanctioning Russia, and even more people are all for ramping up military aid to Ukraine.
We absolutely cannot cave to the Russians... it’s way cheaper to deal with a bit of an economic dip for a year or two than it is to let them walk all over us right now.

And look, don't lose sleep over the European Union; they haven't exactly become the best place on Earth since they're being run by idiots. On the flip side, having a country sitting on the richest natural resources on the entire planet while maintaining such a miserable, pathetic standard of living—well, you'd have to be incredibly "talented" to mess things up that badly.

Now, I'm dying to hear your brilliant solution—that we shouldn't impose sanctions on the Russians? Or what exactly are you expecting? What do you think would actually be a good move here?

It’s somewhat like when a group of kids heads out to play soccer, but they won't let the kid who actually has the ball participate, all while telling him that one of them will surely buy a ball in a few years. And then, they act surprised when he refuses to let them play with his ball right now.
To put it more simply, they really should have acquired their own ball first before trying to shut him out. But instead, they're standing there acting completely bewildered as to why he won't share the ball so they can play.

Melissa Rivera5 said:Look, nobody actually attacked North Korea because they thought they were "strong" or anything like that. Honestly? Their military is a total joke. Their economy is so shaky they probably couldn't even keep their army running for more than 48 hours if things got serious. I guess any decent nation out there could take them down if they really felt like it.

That seems clear enough to me—though, I suspect, the devil is in the details.

Brenda Murphy3 said:And honestly, what kind of crazy person would even bother attacking someone who’s basically just an isolated, mentally unstable, economic non-entity?

The logic—if you can even call it that—used by these Putin enthusiasts and anti-West types is absolutely fascinating to watch...

First, there were all these massive threats, and then, once things settled, they suddenly rationalized it by saying, "Well, why would they ever attack such an insignificant place?" It’s the exact same pattern we see with Iran.
As for your comment regarding the "thought process of Putin supporters and anti-Westerners," I think you might be barking up the wrong tree there.
Whenever someone offers a different perspective on what would be a sensible move for the European Union, people immediately jump to labeling them. Honestly, you should save those kinds of tactics for a preschool playground.

Melissa Rivera5 said:"Slightly more powerful," like North Korea? Good grief. 😁 🙏🙏🙏

And I suppose one has to wonder—did they actually launch an attack, or did they just lose their nerve?

Nathan Evans78 said:The commission is basically telling everyone not to hold their breath waiting for Russia to flip the gas switch back on.

To me, this just reinforces the idea that economic sanctions like these don't really touch countries that have completely lost their sense of reason. I mean, their GDP has already cratered by 4.3% year-over-year, and honestly, they seem perfectly willing to let it slide even further because they’ve essentially reached a point of total mental burnout. If you ask me, at this stage, nothing short of military intervention or some sort of orchestrated regime change is going to move the needle in the medium term—and hey, the US certainly has plenty of experience with those kinds of maneuvers.☕

To be honest, the US doesn't really care about what happens to Europe; if anything, it serves their interests to keep profiting from their partner—or should I say, their colony (the EU). They aren't going to risk a direct military conflict, as that would ultimately jeopardize themselves as well. Looking at historical precedent, they haven't even dared to move against significantly more powerful states—like Iran or North Korea—so I doubt they would ever take on Russia. Europe really ought to stand up for its own interests, but to actually do that, they would first need to deal with the incompetent—or perhaps even traitorous—cliques in Brussels that continue to make such irrational decisions.

Joshua Bishop3 said:

I don't know what to tell you guys, I'm just looking at the data and it's hitting me right in the gut because everything feels like it's moving way too fast! Like, seriously, how are we even supposed to keep up when the markets are swinging this hard? I’ve been sitting here staring at the charts and honestly, my head is spinning. You see someone like rowdyraven112 making points about the volatility and you just have to nod because they aren't wrong, but man, it’s exhausting trying to stay ahead of the curve when the whole landscape keeps shifting under your feet! kaže:
So, basically, the "arbitration court" just dropped its decision...

Look, buddy, just start speaking English so the whole world can actually understand what you're saying!

I honestly don't know how much more of this back-and-forth we can take before someone actually steps up and makes a call! It feels like we're just spinning our wheels while everything else shifts around us. Every time I think we've hit a turning point, another piece of news drops and we're right back at square one. It’s exhausting, man, truly. kaže:
Alright, let's get back to talking about those sanctions.
Orban was basically saying he initially thought the European Union was just shooting itself in the foot by slapping those sanctions on!

Man, just imagine if they realized right now that was actually a shot to the lungs and they can't even catch their breath anymore... seriously.

Look, what Orban says carries just as much weight around here as whatever you’re preaching on these forums. From the very second this invasion kicked off, he was labeled a dictator who’s basically riding Putin's coattails. Have you even noticed how it's always the wannabe dictators who are out there backing Putin?

Look, at the end of the day, Canada is a democracy, right? So if the current guy isn't actually looking out for the people of Canada, they’ve got every right to just vote him out and pick someone new who actually gives a damn about what the citizens need!
It’s wild when you really look at it—unlike in places like Mexico, where one single guy has had his hands on the levers of the state, the media, and the entire judicial system for twenty years straight, or even Russia, where things are just way more extreme and even worse.

I’ll give you two quick updates, since you seem a bit out of the loop... Canada held its elections this past spring, and the President of Canada is Katalin Novák. Orbán serves as the Prime Minister.
There is no need to thank me for these free lessons; there is no shame in being uninformed, though perhaps one shouldn't act like an expert on a forum when they aren't.🙂

mellowdrifter80 said:We’ve been hit by sanctions so hard that the Federal Reserve is actually forecasting our second-highest annual GDP growth rate (5.5%) in two decades.

Meanwhile, in a thriving Russia, the U.S. Department of Commerce is predicting their steepest GDP decline (-7.8%) seen in twenty-eight years.

What difference does a forecast from the Federal Reserve make to me when I'm just trying to figure out the price of a bag of potatoes? $2.75 It seems—if I am interpreting this correctly—that even a single egg has gone astray. Or perhaps, one might say, just one solitary egg has slipped through the cracks. $0.57??🤔

rowdyraven112 said:I’d usually ignore one-sided nonsense like this, but here we go.

First off, Russia used to export nearly 10 million barrels a day. Now Europe is stuck with 2 million, and sure, Saudi Arabia could theoretically fill that hole alone. But look at the reality: while some countries cut back on Russian imports (like the Netherlands), others actually ramped them up (Italy, Canada). It’s also worth noting nobody even knows where that last 1.5 million barrels of Russian oil ends up. By the way, Turkey increased its Russian oil imports too—they're basically treating European supply like their own private stash. ☕

Second thing: we keep acting like Saudi Arabia is some holy savior, yet they invaded an independent Yemen. Apparently, nobody cares. People only smell Russian oil over Ukrainian bodies, not Saudi oil over Yemeni civilian casualties. ☕
If we're talking about proportional sanctions, Saudi Arabia earned them long before Russia did. Makes you wonder: what happens if the UN decides to sanction Arab oil because of the aggression in Yemen? ☕

That probably won't happen. Not if Saudi Arabia keeps its capacity capped. I already dropped the link where the Saudi Prince said there wouldn't be an increase because of a deal with Russia. In exchange, Russia turns a blind eye to the invasion of Yemen and won't push for UN sanctions. Meanwhile, the government currently in power in Yemen is close to Iran, who is a Russian ally. It’s complicated. Beyond complicated.

You know what... maybe you should be the Secretary of Commerce. We could send you to negotiate directly with the Saudi Prince. ☕

Let's not go that far—it wouldn't be particularly ideal if a fellow forum member ended up as ground meat. That is democracy for you, I suppose.

casualtiger2 said:Current status of gas storage in Europe (July 5, 2022) - storage dati EU

EU - 60.15 % ( 668 TWh ; average consumption Nov 2021 - March 2022 ~ 6 TWh )

Consumption over the last couple of months averaged about 0.2-0.3 TWh per day—with refills adding 4-5 TWh daily.
At this rate, the EU has enough gas for roughly 111 days of fall/winter (that’s assuming zero refills and ignoring any actual conservation efforts).
For context, max capacity back in Fall 2021 was 75%, while the low point in Spring 2022 hit 25%.

UK - 97.05 %
Portugal - 98.23 %
Poland - 97.41 %
Denmark - 80.96 %
Spain - 72.72 %
Czech Republic - 70.94 %
France - 65.2 % (85.8 TWh)
Germany - 62.92 % (152.8 TWh)
Slovakia - 62.78 %
Belgium - 62.5 %
Italy - 61.62 % (119.2 TWh)
Netherlands - 54.77 % (77.5 TWh)
Austria - 46.55 %
Romania - 44.72 %
Canada - 42.04 %
Bulgaria - 35.4 %
America - 34.29 %

Wait a second—gas isn't used solely for heating... what exactly are you getting at?

George Robinson43 said:Is this what you meant?
The charge around Australia Project to test printed Solar panels with Tesla misliti ok

I mean, fine, let's assume it works perfectly. But do they honestly think people are going to drive around unrolling solar rolls by the side of the road? It would be absolute chaos!

Imagine a stretch of highway from New York to Miami lined with Teslas while tourists from Germany just scatter solar panels all over the road... I guess things would run pretty smoothly! Especially if it gets cloudy or a sudden wind picks up.😁 🤣🤣

Noah Diaz said:Who exactly are these "cheaper and more reliable" suppliers? That’s my main question here. Come on, don't be shy—spit it out.😁

Well, I suppose they must exist; there are surely plenty of them out there...

rowdytiger13 said:Well, people are already getting ready.
Gas heating has become the absolute worst way to go. You see everyone out on bikes lately, and those electric scooters seem to have vanished. Electric cars are also picking up steam; if you've got the cash, they say it pays off in a few years.
When winter hits and the snow starts falling, a car is still a necessity, but there's a clear push to cut down on gas and fuel consumption.
Solar panels are everywhere in Germany, while the US is lagging behind, which is pretty pathetic considering how much sun we get here.
Edit: A total supply cutoff will happen eventually. This whole situation feels even more intense than the Cold War.

So—if you're driving an electric car, I suppose the question becomes: how exactly do you plan on charging it? Is it going to be through the exhaust?
When it comes to what actually makes financial sense—well, people used to say the same thing about diesel engines, and then they moved that logic over to cars running on natural gas. I guess it’s always been a similar pattern.

feralhawk45 said:The planet we're all stuck on, mostly.

The Earth isn't some conscious being—it doesn't really have "interests" in the way we understand them. It existed long before us, and I suppose it will continue to exist long after humanity is gone. As for warming or cooling cycles—well, history suggests these things have happened countless times before.

Bryan Booth82 said:The bottom line is that Russia won't be our supplier in the future, which makes this incredible news.

Natural gas needs to stay expensive, just like all other fossil fuels—something that obviously goes against the interests of those who make their living from exports.

The ultimate goal is to drastically slash our dependence on fossil fuels, and frankly, Putin is inadvertently helping us get there. 👍
Democratic Party

But I have to wonder—whose interest does it serve for gas prices to stay high? Certainly not the consumers, right?

Bryan Booth82 said:Honestly, this is actually great news. The real strategy here was always waiting for Russia to pull the plug themselves. That way, when they inevitably walk away, we can just terminate our contracts without any legal headaches or massive lawsuits, since the supplier proved they weren't reliable in the first place. Isn't that just brilliant?
Democratic Party

Actually, I think this news is fantastic👍👍
The EU will finally be able to catch its breath now—it seems like the door is swinging wide open for more reliable and affordable suppliers.🎉

William Anderson5 said:Still, I suppose that's an improvement over Russia, which just decided to shoot itself in the head.

Regardless—even if Russia were to completely fall apart tomorrow, it doesn't change the reality that we are also in... well, a bit of a mess.
We don't live in Russia, after all—so how things look from their perspective is, I suppose, somewhat irrelevant to us.

Michael Ortiz68 said:LOL, since when does market viability depend solely on population size?

The European Union has one-third the population of India, yet it imports five times the value of goods from China compared to India.

Similarly, the European Union has three times the population of Russia, but its import value from China is seven times higher.

It’s a good thing the Chinese don't operate based on your logic; they wouldn't want to shoot themselves in the foot.

The Chinese are being pragmatic; they aren't going to sabotage their own interests.
Unlike Europe—which seems to have shot itself in both feet.