Sanctions on Russia

Nathan Evans78 said:How did we go from hearing all this hype about the European Union entering a brand new industrial renaissance, to seeing companies like General Electric struggling to assemble a single damn train car without hiring entire crews from Asia just to keep the air cleaner in the States? 🙏🙏

Every civilization follows its own lifecycle, and clearly, the West hit its absolute peak back in the 90s and early 2000s; now, we’re looking at a decline (and frankly, Russia is caught up in that downward slide too). You can technically halt a cycle like this, but the real question is whether there are enough brilliant minds left to pull it off—and more importantly, will the wealthy elite actually deploy their assets toward innovation, or will they just dump everything into tax havens? Without some massive, ground-breaking technological revolution, I honestly don't see anything capable of slowing down China.

China isn't just some place where people churn out cheap, basic goods for pennies anymore. It’s evolved into a massive market with serious technical muscle.

When you factor in those skyrocketing logistics costs, the whole game changes. The goal now is to keep manufacturing as close to the end consumer—the actual market—as possible.

That's why "simpler" industrial production for intermediate goods is migrating toward Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the American Midwest.

Anthony Hill5 said:The truth is that Khodorovsky was convicted in a trial that was nothing more than a political sham because he dared to oppose Putin; as for the others, once they witnessed what happened to the wealthiest and most powerful oligarch among them, they quickly tucked their tails between their legs and began dancing to Putin's tune just to ensure they wouldn't suffer the same fate.

I can only hope that the West is merely scratching the surface regarding these seizures, and that this money will eventually be utilized to rebuild Ukraine and provide compensation to the families of those who lost their lives.

Oh sure, poor honest Khodorovsky gets hit with a sham trial, while all those other oligarchs are perfectly legitimate citizens?
🤦

He’s a crook too—he’s just lucky enough to be protected because he’s against Putin. Same deal for plenty of others over in London. It’s all about which side you're on, not whether your money is clean. Pure politics.

How much can Iran and Venezuela actually help the US and the European Union
regarding extra oil and gas supplies to replace what we lost from Russia?

From what I’m reading, they’ve started warming up to Maduro, and we’re getting pretty close
to a deal with Iran...

I’m mostly wondering about gas; as for oil, it feels like those two could probably cover it.

Timothy Kim9 said:How much can Iran and Venezuela actually help the US and the European Union
regarding extra oil and gas supplies to replace what we lost from Russia?

From what I’m reading, they’ve started warming up to Maduro, and we’re getting pretty close
to a deal with Iran...

I’m mostly wondering about gas; as for oil, it feels like those two could probably cover it.

So, I hear Iranians just hit a US consulate in Iraq—right now, of all times. It feels pretty convenient, doesn't it? Especially when both sides could actually benefit from an oil deal right about now—assuming they can get past that whole nuclear agreement mess, which some unstable fool basically trashed without a backup plan.

The European Union has approved a four-part package of measures, which are set to take effect in just a few hours.

rowdytiger13 said:The European Union has approved a four-part package of measures, which are set to take effect in just a few hours.

You can bet there's going to be a massive upside to this, if you ask me.

Given that Palladium is already trading higher than gold, we could very easily see Palladium jumping to two or three times the price of gold in short order.

The entire semiconductor industry is absolutely scrambling right now, so all you really have to do is sit back and watch the prices for consumer electronics—say, things like iPhone accessories—skyrocket. The real issue is that there simply isn't enough raw material available, whether we're talking about Palladium or any other essential chemical elements required for standard manufacturing processes.☕

Timothy Kim9 said:How much can Iran and Venezuela actually help the US and the European Union
regarding extra oil and gas supplies to replace what we lost from Russia?

From what I’m reading, they’ve started warming up to Maduro, and we’re getting pretty close
to a deal with Iran...

I’m mostly wondering about gas; as for oil, it feels like those two could probably cover it.

The largest natural gas field on the planet stretches right between Qatar and Iran! You can check out the massive scale of its reserves right here:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_...ndensate_field

On the list of natural gas fields it has almost as much recoverable reserves as all the other fields combined.

Essentially, Iran and Qatar hold as much gas as the rest of the world combined—and that's more than double the total gas found in Siberia.

Of course, that doesn't even account for shale gas, where the USA and Canada hold by far the largest reserves.

Andrew Miller102 said:You can bet there's going to be a massive upside to this, if you ask me.

Given that Palladium is already trading higher than gold, we could very easily see Palladium jumping to two or three times the price of gold in short order.

The entire semiconductor industry is absolutely scrambling right now, so all you really have to do is sit back and watch the prices for consumer electronics—say, things like iPhone accessories—skyrocket. The real issue is that there simply isn't enough raw material available, whether we're talking about Palladium or any other essential chemical elements required for standard manufacturing processes.☕

Great. So even more pressure on Russia to just get out of Ukraine☕

☕

Quote : Ukraine Crisis Shows need to Reform UN Security Council - Japan for min https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usn

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.usn...%3fcontext=amp

Dennis Price said:Great. So even more pressure on Russia to just get out of Ukraine☕

You're reading too fast—and you aren't the only one—so maybe try actually processing the links instead of just skimming them. That’s where the real issue lies.😵

If Russia controls 40% of the global supply of Palladium, where exactly do you plan on sourcing it once they decide they're done playing ball?☕

- sanctions = getting hit by a nasty boomerang effect.

Sanctions mean Russia is running low on cash, which just means they’ll start offloading palladium at a massive discount, much like how they’re dumping oil right now.

Anyway, I haven't seen anyone here actually point to the direct impact these sanctions are having on the daily lives of ordinary Americans—or rather, what we're seeing in an average grocery store over there:



Even the vodka has gotten more expensive, I suppose.

Robert Barrett6 said:China isn't just some place where people churn out cheap, basic goods for pennies anymore. It’s evolved into a massive market with serious technical muscle.

When you factor in those skyrocketing logistics costs, the whole game changes. The goal now is to keep manufacturing as close to the end consumer—the actual market—as possible.

That's why "simpler" industrial production for intermediate goods is migrating toward Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and the American Midwest.

Look, tell me how you’re supposed to open up any kind of manufacturing plant in a place like the Czech Republic when unemployment is sitting under 3%? People here get way too sentimental, dreaming up these idealistic scenarios where Europe suddenly rises from the ashes like a phoenix in just a few years. Sure, there's potential, but we're talking maybe ten or fifteen years down the road—and even then, only if everyone works their tails off and actually plays nice with China, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. If things escalate from this conflict with Russia into a direct confrontation with China, the standard of living in Europe is going to tank. At that point, there won't even be a demand for high-tech or basic manufacturing; we'll just be lucky if we can manage to put together a basic bicycle, sort of like what Limex does. ☕

Speaking of China...

https://www.reuters.com/resizer/8wyS...AVNENOI7O4.png

Andrew Miller102 said:You're reading too fast—and you aren't the only one—so maybe try actually processing the links instead of just skimming them. That’s where the real issue lies.😵

If Russia controls 40% of the global supply of Palladium, where exactly do you plan on sourcing it once they decide they're done playing ball?☕

- sanctions = getting hit by a nasty boomerang effect.

Another logical fallacy here. What does production in Ukraine have to do with sanctions against Russia?

Everything produced in Ukraine didn't go down the drain because of sanctions; it went down because of the invasion.

And regarding all those potential mineral riches held by Russia—or rather, by Russian companies in private hands—they don't really have much of a choice.

Most of it has to be sold either to the very countries imposing the sanctions or to nobody at all. Unless you honestly think a place like Miami needs rare metals for modern industry, or that gas pipelines can just magically teleport elsewhere.

It’s like saying leading 2-0 in a football match is the worst possible result.

As for Palladium specifically, it’s still being delivered. It's a logistical headache, sure, but there are no sanctions against the oligarchs (like Potanina, primarily) who control it. Though, I suppose Putin could always just ban exports and drive his own oligarchs straight into bankruptcy.

Rachel Jones8 said:It definitely is.
I honestly thought it was just a typo.

Just so I can be fair and keep you in the loop, here’s an update on what’s happening at the hospital and my rescheduled appointment.

The cardiology team performing the coronary angiograms and other heart procedures had a complete circus of a day today,
so we ended up pushing today's procedure—which is done as an outpatient at the local clinic—to tomorrow morning.
With this kind of surgery, you usually just show up in the morning, get the work done, and then head home by the next day at the latest, once they confirm everything looks steady.

This is a bit of a tangent, but I've found that Cleveland has some truly top-tier cardiac surgeons; honestly, the care there isn't any worse than what you'd find in Washington, D.C., if anything, it's better.

And please excuse me,
that was a typo.
I'm not in my 90s, I've just moved from my 70s into my 80s.

wiredseal7 said:Oh sure, poor honest Khodorovsky gets hit with a sham trial, while all those other oligarchs are perfectly legitimate citizens?
🤦

He’s a crook too—he’s just lucky enough to be protected because he’s against Putin. Same deal for plenty of others over in London. It’s all about which side you're on, not whether your money is clean. Pure politics.

One would have hoped that after everything we've witnessed over the last twenty days, you might have finally opened your eyes, yet here you are, still burying your head in the sand. It is truly pathetic.

If I may ask you a question: Is Khodorkovsky somehow the sole criminal among the oligarchs, which is why he's the only one facing justice? Are we really to believe that every other oligarch is a paragon of virtue, enjoying the fruits of their "hard work" while he alone suffers? What, precisely, is the distinction between Khodorkovsky and the rest of them?

Powerball just dropped those sanctions and joined the rest of the betting sites—so no more Russian or Belarusian matches now
PSK, DraftKings, and Germania are clearly asleep at the wheel...

Nathan Evans78 said:Look, tell me how you’re supposed to open up any kind of manufacturing plant in a place like the Czech Republic when unemployment is sitting under 3%? People here get way too sentimental, dreaming up these idealistic scenarios where Europe suddenly rises from the ashes like a phoenix in just a few years. Sure, there's potential, but we're talking maybe ten or fifteen years down the road—and even then, only if everyone works their tails off and actually plays nice with China, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. If things escalate from this conflict with Russia into a direct confrontation with China, the standard of living in Europe is going to tank. At that point, there won't even be a demand for high-tech or basic manufacturing; we'll just be lucky if we can manage to put together a basic bicycle, sort of like what Limex does. ☕

Speaking of China...

https://www.reuters.com/resizer/8wyS...AVNENOI7O4.png

You're being too emotional. This is business. Owners and shareholders don't give a damn where production happens. I’d manufacture trained Antarctic penguins if that was the most cost-effective, high-quality option available.

Besides, the owners, shareholders, top executives, and board members of any major corporation are a pretty geographically diverse group themselves.

Ever since labor costs in China started climbing—especially after Covid kicked off—every major corporation has been pivoting toward diversification, regionalization, and nearshoring.

It isn't about feelings; it's purely about the bottom line. The whole situation with Russia just proved how necessary that shift is.

1, 2, 3

If you want to see where manufacturing is actually moving, just look at the industrial growth indices for Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, and Central America over the last five years.

Nathan Evans78 said:Look, tell me how you’re supposed to open up any kind of manufacturing plant in a place like the Czech Republic when unemployment is sitting under 3%? People here get way too sentimental, dreaming up these idealistic scenarios where Europe suddenly rises from the ashes like a phoenix in just a few years. Sure, there's potential, but we're talking maybe ten or fifteen years down the road—and even then, only if everyone works their tails off and actually plays nice with China, India, Southeast Asia, and Africa. If things escalate from this conflict with Russia into a direct confrontation with China, the standard of living in Europe is going to tank. At that point, there won't even be a demand for high-tech or basic manufacturing; we'll just be lucky if we can manage to put together a basic bicycle, sort of like what Limex does. ☕

Speaking of China...

https://www.reuters.com/resizer/8wyS...AVNENOI7O4.png

It's not just Europe; it's the entire world. It's a lose-lose scenario, but there will always be those who can still afford it.

urbanotter said:Just so I can be fair and keep you in the loop, here’s an update on what’s happening at the hospital and my rescheduled appointment.

The cardiology team performing the coronary angiograms and other heart procedures had a complete circus of a day today,
so we ended up pushing today's procedure—which is done as an outpatient at the local clinic—to tomorrow morning.
With this kind of surgery, you usually just show up in the morning, get the work done, and then head home by the next day at the latest, once they confirm everything looks steady.

This is a bit of a tangent, but I've found that Cleveland has some truly top-tier cardiac surgeons; honestly, the care there isn't any worse than what you'd find in Washington, D.C., if anything, it's better.

And please excuse me,
that was a typo.
I'm not in my 90s, I've just moved from my 70s into my 80s.

sretno.
Hope everything goes smoothly. Let's catch up when you actually hit 90. 😉

The EU hits Russia with sanctions and suddenly everyone's being branded a Nazi: https://ria.ru/20220314/evropa-1777950737.html

Arthur Booth96 said:The EU hits Russia with sanctions and suddenly everyone's being branded a Nazi: https://ria.ru/20220314/evropa-1777950737.html

Man, those "tough guys" in Russia really think sanctions won't touch them. 🤦

The wildest part is this paragraph claiming the French are going to display artwork from Imperial Russia just to spite modern-day Russia. 🙏 😵

🤔

I mean, I guess looting your "wealthy" neighbor is a pretty solid strategy too. 🤣