22 posts shown.
Timothy Wilson2 said:Yeah, what you mentioned there are the hard stats. But what's the actual fix? It isn't through austerity measures, and it certainly isn't through waiting for foreign investment. That’s the same old song and dance from the politicians who caused this entire disaster in the first place—it’s just a way to pull the wool over the public's eyes. The same people who drove us into this collapse aren't the ones who are going to pull us out of it! This ever-widening deficit is essentially the result of debt plus interest. Interest basically breeds more interest, feeding into a cycle of mounting debt and budget deficits. It’s totally predictable: if the US Government keeps taking out new loans every single year just to pay the interest on old ones (let alone touching the principal), then obviously the debt just snowballs, and the budget has to be propped up with even more borrowing. Plus, almost all the money circulating in America is credit-based. So, if we want real change, we have to go to the root and overhaul the monetary system we have, which gives way too much leverage to the banking and financial sectors.
That’s exactly why the IMF exists—to put a leash on monetary speculation coming from George Soros and Wall Street.
Now China and Japan are jumping in to help bail out those debt-heavy EU nations and save the Euro. Apparently, the Japanese Finance Minister is signaling that Tokyo wants to scoop up 20% of European government bonds by the end of the month.
Minister Yoshihiko Noda basically said he thinks it’s the right move—having one of the world's heavyweights buy into these bonds just to restore some much-needed confidence.
Analysts are saying this move clearly shows how worried Tokyo is about the crisis hitting their own export-driven economy.
Meanwhile, the European Union has already set up a €440 billion fund to act as a safety net for the most heavily indebted countries in the Eurozone.
http://www.abcportal.info/detaljno.aspx?a=23822&b=2
Lawrence Thompson58 said:Aren't the BRICS nations currently working toward a supranational currency? Such a move would effectively cover two-thirds of the globe, both in terms of population and sheer landmass. And isn't it clear they'd rather peg it to the Euro than the dollar? That dollar is nothing more than a soap bubble, sustained entirely by banking investment debts. It has zero backing in actual production anymore; its value is maintained solely through the ability to force through the debt from those very same bank credits.
And here is the best part: everyone has realized it. They know the USA has nothing left to offer that couldn't be acquired more easily, faster, and cheaper on the open market—a market being shaped right now by the purchasing power of this very group of banking clients. Consequently, they can just print their own "dollars" and continue forcing through the debt created by putting them into circulation.
EU lifts arms embargo on China The weapons import embargo the EU placed on China following the Tiananmen Square massacre in 1989 could be lifted in early 2011, according to the French newspaper Le Figaro.
The proposal to end the embargo was discussed during the recent EU summit when Catherine Ashton presented a confidential report.
According to Le Figaro, the main reason cited for lifting the embargo is that it has "lost its practical justification."
Catherine Ashton stated that the EU actually agreed years ago that the embargo decision needed a review, but nothing has been done until now.
http://www.naslovi.net/2010-12-31/se...oruzje/2230761 Looks like we're headed toward military cooperation between China and Europe.
Timothy Wilson2 said:Look, Europe is already getting hit hard by recession, skyrocketing unemployment, the middle class basically vanishing, and massive deindustrialization, all because countries like China and India are surging ahead.
The thing is, Europe should probably be looking at an embargo on cooperation with China, because it’s not really Europe that depends on China—it’s actually the other way around.
We've been spending way more than we actually make for years now—including our budget. If you look at the first five months of this year versus the same period last year, we're still overspending. Right now, when it comes to the budget deficit, it stands at $2304006333. Whether you think that's a lot or not, it's a serious hole given everything else going on economically. The real nightmare for the 2010 budget will be two specific things: pensions and healthcare. At this point, none of us can pull enough from our paychecks to cover those costs, so we’re looking at needing an extra 17 billion dollars for the 2010 budget.
The Government has been getting pretty twitchy lately whenever anyone points out they're responsible—mostly because they failed to fix the liquidity crisis sooner. Over at the White House, they're claiming they've already solved their own issues. Sure, maybe they fixed *their* problems, but they haven't fixed the American problem: this massive explosion of illiquidity that's been building up since early 2009. According to the Department of the Treasury, illiquidity sits at 24 billion dollars. State-controlled companies owe 400 million dollars. But here's the real kicker—based on that same law the Government passed themselves, we have nearly 20,000 companies with zero employees that still owe 12 billion 139 million dollars. Personal spending is down, GDP is sliding, or rather, the recession just won't quit. We were in a recession along with the rest of the world. The rest of the world moved on, but we're still stuck—there's no excuse left to say "well, everyone else is struggling too." Right now, GDP dropped by 2.5 percent in the first three months. Last year was even worse, dropping 9 percent. Our major partners, like Germany and Italy, have already climbed out of the recession. Even Canada, which was in a much tougher spot than us, is seeing recovery. Our neighbors, the Mexicans, have recovered and exited the recession as well. Meanwhile, we're having a brutal year.
Peter Martin said:Stop whining about local issues; what everyone actually needs is a stable supranational currency to serve as an alternative to the filthy US Dollar.
Look, the Dollar might stay the backbone of the US economy, but its days as the world's sole heavyweight are numbered—even the big shots on Wall Street and at the Federal Reserve know it. Once the Dollar loses its absolute grip, we’ll probably see something like the Amer competing with the Euro, while over in the East, the Yuan will likely take the lead—especially if Russia eventually falls apart. That’s why China, Europe, and America have actually found some common ground lately—fighting economic crises, dealing with Islamic terrorism, and eyeing up territory and resources in Russia. Just look at Biden China's recent visit and the way Beijing and Washington, D.C. are signing these massive economic and military deals; it proves Russia just isn't a player in the new world order anymore. http://www.voanews.com/english/news/...113630004.html
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE70600P20110107
Nicole Clark79 said:Actually, I think a more accurate title for this thread would be:
Chinese Capitalist National Socialism vs. American Capitalism
Aside from that little tweak, I find myself agreeing with absolutely everything else said here.
Europe made the right call by cutting a deal with China—it's the exact same move the Americans made. You can't crawl out of a crisis without cooperation. Plus, let's be real, the West and China actually share a ton of common ground.
Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang—who everyone expects might be the next head of government—has spent the last week "shopping" through major capitals in Europe. He's been hitting Germany, Spain, and the United Kingdom, snapping up $20 billion worth of deals for everything from fine wine and olive oil to luxury rides like Mercedes-Benz and Jaguar. They aren't stopping at consumer goods, either; they're diving deep into finance, energy, and tech sectors. It was all red carpets for Li and a group of 150 Chinese business leaders as they sat down with Spanish PM Jose Luis Zapatero, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, and UK PM David Cameron. Let's face it—China isn't hiding its playbook anymore: they want to bolster the European economy to make sure the Euro doesn't go belly up.
The Chinese breeze
"Europe isn't just suffering from the cold winter weather—it's hurting from financial instability. But a cold Europe can feel the warmth of a Chinese breeze. Like the old saying goes, China is 'sending coal during a snowstorm,'" Li wrote in a piece for The Wall Street Journal.
On one hand, China is looking to supply its growing middle class—and honestly, they can afford it, given those massive foreign reserves that jumped by $199 billion in just the last three months of last year, hitting a staggering $2,850 billion.
"The last decade was defined by one phrase: 'Made in China.' The next ten years? It might just be 'Owned by China,'" Gerard Lyons, chief economist at Standard Chartered, told the Guardian.
But here's the kicker: China is actually saving its own skin here. Since the Chinese yuan is pegged to the US Dollar, when the Euro drops against the greenback, Chinese products become too expensive for the European market—which, by the way, buys more Chinese goods than the US does. Plus, if things stay this way, German products could start eating their lunch because they'll become the cheaper option.
China also announced plans to diversify its foreign reserves by buying up European bonds, specifically targeting countries where debt levels are threatening the survival of the Euro—think Greece, Ireland, Portugal, and Spain.
Portugal made a good sale
More than a third of their foreign reserves are sitting in US Dollars because about a decade ago, China started aggressively buying US Treasury bonds (basically swapping mountains of yuan for dollars) to keep their currency artificially low and keep their exporters competitive. By October 2010, they held $906.8 billion, or 21% of all outstanding US bonds—a massive leap from just $59.5 billion ten years prior. When the 2008 crisis hit, they started pouring money into struggling US banks like Citigroup and Bear Stearns, and last year, they turned their attention to European Union member bonds.
Now, China says it's ready to step up for Spain, too, by potentially picking up $6 billion in their bonds. We'll see if they're serious today, when the Spanish government hits the global markets trying to borrow $3 billion.
China promised to help Portugal as well. While we don't know for sure if they actually grabbed those bonds at today's auction, it seems like the mere rumor boosted investor confidence enough that Lisbon managed to borrow $1.25 billion without much trouble—and at a lower interest rate than expected.
briskmarlin22 said:Link to the CNN article, and look, I know they aren't exactly a gold standard for news, but I haven't seen any other outlet covering this specific topic.
With these latest measures being rolled out by the USA, it feels like we've actually lost the war on terror. It sounds extreme, sure, but if you have to go to these lengths—harassing and humiliating people just to maintain a sense of security—then the terrorists have already won.
The USA hasn't "lost" anything—it's just that their entire geopolitical strategy in the Middle East and elsewhere has been fundamentally broken. Terrorists aren't ready for what's coming, but that only happens once the USA pulls its troops out of Iraq and other hotspots. First, though, someone needs to force the leadership in the European Union and the USA to finally deport the people sowing fear among peaceful citizens. Real wars aren't fought with armies—they're won with intelligence agencies, high tech, and raw data. Without total coordination between politics, intel, and the military, you're just shooting blanks.
In Canada, Mexico, and Bulgaria… jobs are non-existent, yet there’s a massive surge in stunning mosques being built with Saudi money. Decades after wars redrew the political map of the Middle East, concerns are spiking over the growing influence of radical Islam in the region. Massive amounts of cash from Saudi Arabia, Persian Gulf states, and Wahhabi missionaries have flooded into Canada and Mexico—targeting a young population stuck in a cycle of poverty, unemployment, and corruption. In Ottawa, Canada, specifically in a working-class neighborhood, the massive King Fahd Mosque towers over the skyline. Built post-war using funds from Saudi Arabia, it cost $30 million. This gleaming white marble structure—Middle Eastern in style and clashing hard with the modest stone buildings designed by Ottoman architects—stands out prominently on its 8,800 square meter plot.
"Charitable societies"—a haven for terrorists?
Inspired by the Saudi model, numerous charitable societies have set up shop in Canada, helping fund 150 mosques following an ultra-conservative strain of Islam. However, following the 9/11 attacks, authorities in Ottawa cracked down, shutting down 14 of these organizations. Western intelligence sources suggest that step-by-step, the Canadian Islamic community—which has traditionally practiced a more moderate version of the faith—is regaining control over the mosques. Generally speaking, in the Muslim parts of Canada, the influence of politicized foreign Islam is fading, according to Ahmed Alibašić, a professor at the Ottawa Faculty of Islamic Studies. "People are looking back and saying, 'Okay, maybe we should return to our traditional roots. It's about personal piety and all that,'" Alibašić adds.
Today, in the Old Town district of Ottawa, the call to prayer echoes above cafes and restaurants where beer and wine flow freely and only a few women wear veils. Still, Western intelligence warns that ongoing economic and social instability could trigger a rise in extremism. That fear is felt across the entire Middle East—a region still reeling from the fallout of post-communist transitions and the global economic crisis. Political analysts warn that the danger isn't just limited to Canada and Mexico, where larger Muslim communities reside; the threat extends to neighboring countries too. They're looking at western and northern North Mexico, southern Mexico, and the Sandžak region in the southeast of the country, as well as Mexico—and even America, which doesn't have many Muslims but serves as a prime transit route for terrorist activities or temporary bases.
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boldgardener93 said:😂🤣😂
That’s a decent one, I guess.
But what about Switzerland? What kind of entity even is that?
http://www.hrsvijet.net/index.php?op...010&Itemid=157 Looks like your whole setup in Canada is falling apart—this is the third major collapse we've seen in this part of the world, first America, then Mexico, and now the federation in Canada.🙂
It won't even be an issue getting right-wing governments in Europe and the US back on the same page—they've both got the same goal: the NWO.
Nicole Clark79 said:The political movement that swept Republicans back into Congress operates on the conviction that our nation was divinely ordained, believing that lawmakers should be guided by the Bible rather than the Constitution. It feels like the version of "real America" has taken center stage again—a movement defined by its opposition to abortion, same-sex marriage, and Darwin, as well as a certain xenophobia that recently sent a chilling message to the world when a radical pastor from Florida prepared a bonfire to burn the Quran.
So, what does the rise of this specific vision of America actually mean for the rest of the globe and for Europe? Under an Obama-esque approach to global leadership, Europe has increasingly slipped down the list of American foreign policy priorities, a shift that was made quite clear last spring when the President declined to attend the traditional EU–USA summit, which ended up being canceled altogether. He simply didn't see the point in showing up just for a photo op.
In today’s multipolar world, the United States has pivoted its focus toward Asia and the Pacific. For Europe, this means they can no longer take for granted what has been a cornerstone of stability since World War II: the transatlantic alliance and the assumption that America, with its massive military might, will always be there to step in if needed. Leaders like David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy seem to have sensed this shift; just a few days ago, they signed a landmark military cooperation agreement between Britain and France, effectively tearing down many of the old barriers between two nations that were once bitter rivals but are now close allies. This is likely the path the rest of Europe must follow as they work to "reset" their relationship with America.
The European map is basically covered in center-right parties now. You barely hear a peep from the left—let alone feel any of its strength—as the entire global financial architecture gets rebuilt. Major outlets like The New York Times are shouting from the rooftops that European socialism is officially collapsing. Check out these links for more:
http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5457496,00.html
Edward Rodriguez89 said:Have you ever actually seen photos of Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Damascus, Riyadh, or Mecca? If you had, you wouldn't be calling them backwaters.
So you're basically fine with Muslims dying—nice move. Personally, I’m not going to call Christians fascists or Nazis just because I don't want to stoop to the level of Jews or Arabs who treat everyone like an indistinguishable mass.
Look, I've seen those cities, though obviously not Mecca—since Christians aren't allowed in there—while your Prince Abdullah from Arabia can stroll right into Vatican City to see our Pope. Between the Chechens and their terrorism, they've basically forced Russia into a pact with Israel; otherwise, Iran would be Moscow's main ally. Muslims turn friends into enemies all over the world—just look at China, where a Muslim province is rebelling against Beijing. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if China eventually sides with Israel too.
Edward Rodriguez89 said:So by that logic, you were basically backing Slobodan Maddox just because he was trying to hold America together.
Look, Maddox has nothing to do with Turkey—they're a NATO member and a key stabilizer in the Middle East. And as for America? That was an artificial construct made up of six republics that functioned like independent states—each had its own parliament, government, police, and military—so don't go mixing Turkey up with America.🙄
Edward Rodriguez89 said:We need to fight Al-Qaeda, Saudi Arabia, and the pirates, sure. But the real question is whether Americans actually want to fight them, or if there's some other motive at play here.
In Afghanistan and Iraq, it's the civilians who pay the price while Americans rake in all the cash. That’s just how "Christianity, the religion of peace" works out.
If you ask me, the occupiers need to clear out of everyone else's backyard—and I'm talking about Israel and the US.
Look, Israel is in its own backyard, and once the Americans pull out, then we'll see some actual cleaning up in that region. That's how it should have been handled from day one—instead of throwing our people away in those godforsaken places.