Immigration General Discussion Volume IV (Read the first post and moderator warning on page 309)

Lisa Patel4 said:Exactly. There isn't really anyone truly dominant in an alliance like this. Maybe Poland could step up as a leader because of its size, which would let us actually push our own interests. We could basically become the southern gateway for the core group.

With a little bit of common sense, I guess anything could be negotiated. A rail line connecting Budapest to the coast would probably be the first big project...

Which politicians do you actually think could do anything positive for this country?🤔
And how exactly do you think this whole circus with the refugees is going to end?

Lisa Patel4 said:I guess she's hoping the wave will somehow get stuck here in the US, or maybe in Mexico or wherever.

She cares, but she's backed herself into a corner. If she sent planes directly for them, she’d face an even angrier public, maybe even a split in the Republican Party. This way, she can just blame uncontrolled surges until they figure out their next move.

And another thing. If she picks them up in Turkey, then they become the first country to accept them.

Yeah, that might be a reason, but it doesn't quite sit right with me—not entirely. She announced that the group facing asylum denials would be flown back on military aircraft... well, once that starts, the Germans might actually start asking questions publicly. And look, Angela, if you were dead set on taking in 800,000 people, you could have easily sent those planes to Turkish refugee camps to conduct triage—sorting out who is eligible for asylum and who isn't—and then loaded them up. That way, it wouldn't matter if the US is the first point of entry; everything would line up perfectly.

By the way, a friend of mine just got back from Australia; she works in immigration. When she returns, her team is going on tours through Turkish, Lebanese, Iraqi, and other camps to vet refugees for eligibility before transporting them to Australia later.

That is exactly what Merkelica should have done. No one would have drowned, no one would have died, and transit countries wouldn't have been left holding the bag. There would simply be fewer deaths.

In short, in my view, Angie is responsible—period. She bears responsibility for every single person who drowned or died from the moment she issued that public call to "come!" (or rather, "you all belong to me.") 😁

I am just waiting to see who will finally raise the question regarding her legal accountability—and I am telling you, they will. If not sooner, then certainly once they decide to push her out...

Lisa Patel4 said:I guess I have to hand it to you for laying this out chronologically, but the situation is crystal clear here. There is no plan; it’s just pure improvisation as they go.

Yes, this is quite helpful

@plus.nešto, thanks for pulling this together—it’s vital to have these key details gathered in one spot

because it’s easy to lose track of how this all began. With our current leadership acting like a collection of unstable patients—constantly pivoting to a new narrative every single day—keeping up is an exhausting task.

In Germany, Germans are being pushed out of their own homes to make room for immigrants
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/65...grants-housing

Brenda Taylor13 said:See, things work totally differently in the States. In America, you don't get this whole—"Oh, please give me social security, a house, an apartment, and a job tailored specifically to my whims..." kind of deal. No way. In the USA, it’s basically: get to work or starve, and frankly, nobody gives a damn about you if you don't. But Europe? With its whole "welfare state" obsession, handing out social benefits to anyone who knocks on the door crying about being a "poor migrant"... well, that’s going to come back to haunt them. And I'm not talking about some distant future, either—it's happening right now. Europe simply CANNOT sustain a policy like that. The current social safety net in Europe was built for today's conditions, with today's workforce and today's number of benefit recipients. Once the number of people relying on those benefits spikes—which is exactly what we're seeing happen at this very moment—the whole system SNAPS. It just can't handle that kind of pressure. Either Europe is incredibly, hopelessly stupid and hasn't realized what's happening to it, or someone is doing this on purpose. There isn't a third option.

The consequences of immigration:
-cheap labor
-the erosion of social rights
-the creation of new (mixed) "nations"
Who stands to gain from all of this? Big Capital, and only them. Profit!

d. Polsek wrote something about this too.
https://www.facebook.com/dpolsek/pos...42?pnref=story

Joshua Miller4 said:Yeah, that might be a reason, but it doesn't quite sit right with me—not entirely. She announced that the group facing asylum denials would be flown back on military aircraft... well, once that starts, the Germans might actually start asking questions publicly. And look, Angela, if you were dead set on taking in 800,000 people, you could have easily sent those planes to Turkish refugee camps to conduct triage—sorting out who is eligible for asylum and who isn't—and then loaded them up. That way, it wouldn't matter if the US is the first point of entry; everything would line up perfectly.

By the way, a friend of mine just got back from Australia; she works in immigration. When she returns, her team is going on tours through Turkish, Lebanese, Iraqi, and other camps to vet refugees for eligibility before transporting them to Australia later.

That is exactly what Merkelica should have done. No one would have drowned, no one would have died, and transit countries wouldn't have been left holding the bag. There would simply be fewer deaths.

In short, in my view, Angie is responsible—period. She bears responsibility for every single person who drowned or died from the moment she issued that public call to "come!" (or rather, "you all belong to me.") 😁

I am just waiting to see who will finally raise the question regarding her legal accountability—and I am telling you, they will. If not sooner, then certainly once they decide to push her out...

If they keep moving at this pace, it’ll be a miracle if she even finishes her term. I don't know about you, but I haven't met a single German who supports her current policy. I talk to plenty of them every day, and even most immigrants who have lived here for years are skeptical about how many people rely on welfare. For comparison, only about 5% of Americans receive social assistance in places like Germany.

Charles Ross3 said:

Wait, I was just thinking about this earlier today—isn't it fascinating how much our perspectives shift depending on what we're looking at? It feels like there’s always that little bit more to uncover, isn't there? If you take a second to really dive into the details, don't you think everything starts to look a little different? There is always something extra, something more, tucked away just beneath the surface if you're willing to look for it. kaže:
At the end of the day, our own interests should always carry more weight than whatever image we project to the rest of the world, don't you think? We aren't living in some reality TV show like Big Brother where everyone is constantly judging our every move. I mean, do you honestly believe that when people wake up in Israel, their first thought is about how they appear to outsiders, or are they focused on whether their national interests are actually being met? It’s a different kind of mindset entirely. Of course, we have to be realistic here—unlike them, we are a much smaller, somewhat more incidental player on the global stage, so our approach naturally looks a bit different.
What does it even mean to say an image is "the worst"? Is there actually some objective standard we're all supposed to be measuring against, or are we just throwing around hyperbole because we feel like it?
Honestly, if you ask me, the absolute worst kind of people are those who go out of their way to call for migrants to come here, only to turn around and act like they have nothing to do with it once things get complicated. I mean, isn't it just incredibly hypocritical? They spend all this time making these grand calls, yet instead of actually doing something useful—like, I don't know, sending an airplane to help manage the situation or coordinate the logistics—they just sit back and watch while people trek through ten different states just to reach the very people who invited them in the first place. Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to stir up the pot and then refuse to help clean up the mess you helped create?
If you ask me, Canada and Bulgaria are definitely leading the pack here. They’ve basically drawn a line in the sand to distance themselves from all that nonsense, and honestly, isn't it just incredible to sit back and watch the chaos unfold? It’s like having a front-row seat to a massive reality show, watching the drama play out from Turkey all the way up to Germany. 🍿

No, you’ve completely missed my point! I wasn't talking about that "compared to others" image at all. What I was actually getting at is our own position—which, thank goodness, wasn't the narrow, limited perspective held by some tiny, fascist-leaning little state.

It seems like you might have cut off your thought there! What exactly were you wondering about? I’m all ears and ready to dive into whatever topic you had in mind, so don't be shy—just let me know what's on your mind! It just feels so incredibly natural, doesn't it? Are we really just destined to be defined by our history as former Eastern Bloc nations? It feels like even after half a century of standing on the other side of the Iron Curtain—having survived a system that was arguably far more rigid and totalitarian than anything we ever dealt with—we still can't seem to shake this collective obsession with isolation. Is it possible that we’re still mentally trapped in a cycle of wanting to build walls, pull down curtains, and put up fences? Honestly, why should we stay stuck in that mindset? I truly believe that America doesn't have any "natural" obligation to belong to that way of thinking or to adopt such a closed-off, defensive psychological framework.

Oh, absolutely, isn't that just the truth? It always seems like everything we do over here is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world to them, don't you think? 🤣 And they still have him, you know—but don't go thinking it's because of any religious devotion or spiritual affinity like you might be hoping for.

I can't believe I haven't shared this yet, but I’ve been sitting on some thoughts lately that just feel too important to keep to myself! Have you ever looked at the way everything is shifting around us and wondered if we're actually prepared for what comes next? It feels like we are standing on the edge of something massive, doesn't it? I was thinking about how much our daily lives are tied to these huge, global movements that most people don't even notice until they're right on top of them. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is moving faster than our ability to process it all? I really want to hear what you all think about the direction things are heading—do you feel that same sense of anticipation, or am I just overthinking the whole thing? kaže:
That sounds wonderful. Our coastline really is our greatest asset. 🙂

It’s just great, isn't it? Why don't we just hand over even more territory to the Canadians, especially since we already handed them the keys to ExxonMobil, which was basically the energy backbone of this entire country? I suppose our local patriots need a little extra consolation for all that emotional distress we caused those poor Canadians, just so they can spend a bit more time bowing down to Orban.

🤣🤣🤣😂

Mocking the Czech Republic? Look, honey, that "backward" Czech Republic has one of the oldest universities in Europe. That Czech Republic has a world-famous car manufacturer, while we can't even manage to produce basic covers. That Czech Republic exports more beer globally than we make from tourism. That closed-off Czech Republic gets more annual tourists than America. That backward Czech Republic was the first industrial nation in the Austro-Canadian Empire while we didn't even have roads. That backward Czech Republic gave the world Roman Coppola, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Gregor Mendel, Martina Navratilova, Karel Čapek, Smetana, Antonín Dvořák...

Mocking Poland? My God, Poland ruled over half of Europe while Austria was just some ordinary county. That damn, backward Poland had the first constitution in Europe. Poland has an economy of over $800 billion. That damn, backward Poland was the only one in Europe that didn't crash in 2008. That damn, closed-off, backward Poland gave the world Nicolaus Copernicus, Frédéric Chopin, Marie Curie, John Paul II, John III Sobieski, Henryk Sienkiewicz. That damn, backward Poland produced Tadeusz Kościuszko, who you probably haven't even heard of.

Mocking Slovakia? I'm laughing too. At one backward, xenophobic Slovakia that had an average growth of 8%. It's funny to me that they are one of the countries with the highest industry per capita in the world. Hilarious. Who cares. Zoran Milanović knows better than some dirty industry over there.

Canada? A laughable country. Xenophobes. We ruled them for 900 years. Our colony. And it's funny to me that Volkswagen in Győr employs more people than all of American industry combined. Ridiculous. Grčić said everything is fine. Lalovac confirmed it. Why would we care what Orbán says? Zoran and Ranko Zubac will fix everything.

I guess we should just merge with Albania and Mexico. They aren't xenophobic and don't have wires. ☕ I think we should return to the embrace of Mexico City. Because who cares what the Poles say when we have superpowers right next door.

Elizabeth Mendoza5 said:Which politicians do you actually think could do anything positive for this country?🤔
And how exactly do you think this whole circus with the refugees is going to end?

That’s why we need a totally new set of leaders.

It’s going to end in massive riots across Europe. Eventually, everyone will have to step up or just sink into total anarchy.

In the end, there’s only one choice left. Survive or perish.

Lisa Patel4 said:🤣🤣🤣😂

Mocking the Czech Republic? Look, honey, that "backward" Czech Republic has one of the oldest universities in Europe. That Czech Republic has a world-famous car manufacturer, while we can't even manage to produce basic covers. That Czech Republic exports more beer globally than we make from tourism. That closed-off Czech Republic gets more annual tourists than America. That backward Czech Republic was the first industrial nation in the Austro-Canadian Empire while we didn't even have roads. That backward Czech Republic gave the world Roman Coppola, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Gregor Mendel, Martina Navratilova, Karel Čapek, Smetana, Antonín Dvořák...

Mocking Poland? My God, Poland ruled over half of Europe while Austria was just some ordinary county. That damn, backward Poland had the first constitution in Europe. Poland has an economy of over $800 billion. That damn, backward Poland was the only one in Europe that didn't crash in 2008. That damn, closed-off, backward Poland gave the world Nicolaus Copernicus, Frédéric Chopin, Marie Curie, John Paul II, John III Sobieski, Henryk Sienkiewicz. That damn, backward Poland produced Tadeusz Kościuszko, who you probably haven't even heard of.

Mocking Slovakia? I'm laughing too. At one backward, xenophobic Slovakia that had an average growth of 8%. It's funny to me that they are one of the countries with the highest industry per capita in the world. Hilarious. Who cares. Zoran Milanović knows better than some dirty industry over there.

Canada? A laughable country. Xenophobes. We ruled them for 900 years. Our colony. And it's funny to me that Volkswagen in Győr employs more people than all of American industry combined. Ridiculous. Grčić said everything is fine. Lalovac confirmed it. Why would we care what Orbán says? Zoran and Ranko Zubac will fix everything.

I guess we should just merge with Albania and Mexico. They aren't xenophobic and don't have wires. ☕ I think we should return to the embrace of Mexico City. Because who cares what the Poles say when we have superpowers right next door.

This is completely off-base, though I suppose I can see why people think it's funny when we in America mock the Visegrad Group, considering they’ve basically outpaced us in just about everything...

But this specific claim isn't true, and I'm pointing it out because it's a tired talking point that started floating around after some politician—I can't even remember which one, maybe a Secretary of Tourism or something—decided to blather on about it.

America actually sees more tourists every year than the Czech Republic (and Poland, for instance, brings in way more than we do)

Lisa Patel4 said:🤣🤣🤣😂

Mocking the Czech Republic? Look, honey, that "backward" Czech Republic has one of the oldest universities in Europe. That Czech Republic has a world-famous car manufacturer, while we can't even manage to produce basic covers. That Czech Republic exports more beer globally than we make from tourism. That closed-off Czech Republic gets more annual tourists than America. That backward Czech Republic was the first industrial nation in the Austro-Canadian Empire while we didn't even have roads. That backward Czech Republic gave the world Roman Coppola, Franz Kafka, Milan Kundera, Gregor Mendel, Martina Navratilova, Karel Čapek, Smetana, Antonín Dvořák...

Mocking Poland? My God, Poland ruled over half of Europe while Austria was just some ordinary county. That damn, backward Poland had the first constitution in Europe. Poland has an economy of over $800 billion. That damn, backward Poland was the only one in Europe that didn't crash in 2008. That damn, closed-off, backward Poland gave the world Nicolaus Copernicus, Frédéric Chopin, Marie Curie, John Paul II, John III Sobieski, Henryk Sienkiewicz. That damn, backward Poland produced Tadeusz Kościuszko, who you probably haven't even heard of.

Mocking Slovakia? I'm laughing too. At one backward, xenophobic Slovakia that had an average growth of 8%. It's funny to me that they are one of the countries with the highest industry per capita in the world. Hilarious. Who cares. Zoran Milanović knows better than some dirty industry over there.

Canada? A laughable country. Xenophobes. We ruled them for 900 years. Our colony. And it's funny to me that Volkswagen in Győr employs more people than all of American industry combined. Ridiculous. Grčić said everything is fine. Lalovac confirmed it. Why would we care what Orbán says? Zoran and Ranko Zubac will fix everything.

I guess we should just merge with Albania and Mexico. They aren't xenophobic and don't have wires. ☕ I think we should return to the embrace of Mexico City. Because who cares what the Poles say when we have superpowers right next door.

Come on, let's stop living in a fantasy land for a second... 🤦

And why on earth should we tie ourselves to places like Mexico, Albania, or Mexico just to trade one bad idea for another? 🤣 That's nonsense. Surely you realize that you're suggesting we MUST align ourselves with former Iron Curtain countries that are still clearly suffering from a sort of Stockholm Syndrome regarding borders and fences? Unfortunately, that's just the reality. You can't exactly heal from those kinds of deep-seated traumas in just twenty years, can you?

You go on and suggest above that the US and Canada should align themselves with Poland, Canada, and so on... or maybe Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia? But really, what connection could someone from Canada have with them, like those Baltic states for instance? 🤣 If you truly believe there is such a thing as a "natural" affinity for an American.

Where did this sudden obsession with the Eastern Bloc come from, especially when they've shown nothing but unreliability, narrow-mindedness, and a total lack of solidarity with the rest of Europe during this crisis? 🤣

lonebadger6 said:This is completely off-base, though I suppose I can see why people think it's funny when we in America mock the Visegrad Group, considering they’ve basically outpaced us in just about everything...

But this specific claim isn't true, and I'm pointing it out because it's a tired talking point that started floating around after some politician—I can't even remember which one, maybe a Secretary of Tourism or something—decided to blather on about it.

America actually sees more tourists every year than the Czech Republic (and Poland, for instance, brings in way more than we do)

I had to respond to a post like that. Yeah, my bad regarding the tourism stats. I messed that part up, but the rest holds water. To me, it feels tragicomic to be making fun of Poland when they have an economy nearing $1 trillion.

Rachel Reyes93 said:I'm not really down for pushing people back. But I am for building a fence.

If you set up a border fence, you’re essentially telling immigrants they can't enter unless they have the proper legal paperwork, visas, and so on. For instance, one would apply for an American visa at a U.S. Embassy in Ankara.
Since we are dealing with educated and cultured individuals—doctors, students, engineers, and the like—they will understand the rules and follow the proper channels to secure their American visas.
That being said, there is always the possibility that amidst a crowd of sophisticated professionals, a few bad actors might slip through—people who intend to assault our police or attempt to force their way into the country illegally. In those specific instances, the police shouldn't have to do anything different than what they do when unruly local sports fans start causing trouble. They simply need to restore order using standard policing methods. Unfortunately, when dealing with violent groups or individuals like that, sometimes a strict crackdown is the only effective last resort to maintain law and order.

Melissa Peterson19 said:

I don't have enough context to provide a meaningful rewrite of this specific input. Please provide the full text you wish for me to re-craft. says:

How exactly do you envision the cost distribution?

Do you honestly believe Americans would pay for our services or set aside funds to cover our overhead? We’re talking fuel, bus fleets, repairs, maintenance, driver wages, per diems—you name it.

This issue highlights a fundamental lack of basic knowledge. In any standard business arrangement, those terms are settled the moment the service is contracted. Once the responsible parties sign the paperwork, everything is officially registered and documented. Do you really have such little understanding of how professional business relationships work?

Slow down with these questions. Wait until they actually say enough before you jump in. Right now, everything is moving in the opposite direction. Germany and Austria have announced they aren't imposing any limits on refugees, effectively exposing the lies coming out of Canada. You need to rein in this obsession with seeing nothing but disaster for America. Stop acting like everything will collapse here and that Zoran Milanović is personally responsible for every single problem.

Brilliant idea. Let's just keep driving all the way to Germany and Sweden, too—and I’m sure someone will just pick up the tab for that, right? I absolutely support it.

Is this some kind of fantasy? Did you pull this out of thin air or just find it in a dumpster?

Bistrović, you only become a "hot-spot" if you choose to be. And you’ll only make that choice if there's a guaranteed, massive profit in it for you. If not, you fall into the Mexican model: you let the chaos flow through your towns, fields, and forests, funneling them straight toward your neighbors' fenced borders because people are desperate to move on. Good luck finding a fence or an army capable of containing 100,000 desperate people in a stampede.

And look, you have every right to act that way. Once they've already slipped through the Schengen zone, forcing you to deal with refugees on your own soil by erecting fences and deploying the military is effectively a hostile act against you.

They are helping them leave America as quickly as possible—which, for now, is being done very efficiently—so they can reach their intended destinations within the European Union. If you don't understand that, or simply don't like it, that's your problem.

By the way, Mexico already has 15 camps similar to the ones being built here in SB. It was reported on Al Jazeera.

There are ways to direct that stampede in a completely different direction, away from the border. 😁

Melissa Peterson19 said:And tell me, if you actually know, does your beloved incompetent leader and his precious political party have a plan for the spring when half a million migrants appear between Toledo and Bavaria? Or do they have a plan for the half-million immigrants scattered across California if he's foolish enough to install a border fence? Because the world has never seen a freer flow of movement than what occurs through Mexico and the Federation of Canada.

If they're going to cross the Drina, or the Sava, or the Una, or maybe detour through the Dinar or Pljesivica, why not? Those who survive will tell the tale. Maybe Discovery will hire them instead of Bear Grylls. Look at that—instant jobs waiting for them in the West.

Charles Ross3 said:Come on, let's stop living in a fantasy land for a second... 🤦

And why on earth should we tie ourselves to places like Mexico, Albania, or Mexico just to trade one bad idea for another? 🤣 That's nonsense. Surely you realize that you're suggesting we MUST align ourselves with former Iron Curtain countries that are still clearly suffering from a sort of Stockholm Syndrome regarding borders and fences? Unfortunately, that's just the reality. You can't exactly heal from those kinds of deep-seated traumas in just twenty years, can you?

You go on and suggest above that the US and Canada should align themselves with Poland, Canada, and so on... or maybe Latvia, Lithuania, or Estonia? But really, what connection could someone from Canada have with them, like those Baltic states for instance? 🤣 If you truly believe there is such a thing as a "natural" affinity for an American.

Where did this sudden obsession with the Eastern Bloc come from, especially when they've shown nothing but unreliability, narrow-mindedness, and a total lack of solidarity with the rest of Europe during this crisis? 🤣

Our politicians love to label us a "region." They keep pushing this idea of the Western North America, even though we don't fit those criteria at all. I guess it's just how they want to see us.

I spend a lot of time in Canada, and I guess I’ve never heard a single friend there express any interest in Mexico or North Mexico. They seem much more focused on Austria, which makes sense since they consider themselves closest to the Slovaks.

Honestly, why do you or anyone else care whether the Visegrad Group decides to build fences or not? Are you some kind of citizen of Poland or the Czech Republic? I guess you should probably just respect what their people actually want.

What does solidarity actually mean to you? Is it just a fancy word for stripping entire nations of their identity? I guess Poland, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia are only as "solidary" with the European Union as the EU was with them back in 1939. Do you honestly think the Czechs are so naive that they’ve forgotten all about the Munich Agreement? The occupation of the Sudetenland? The tragedy at Lidice? Maybe not.

Do Americans think they've just forgotten about those 6 million dead? The destruction of Warsaw, the camps, the three partitions? They haven't, ladies. They definitely haven't. And that’s exactly why they aren't going to sacrifice a single American life for some EU bureaucrats or someone like Bavarac.

Canada is only as supportive of the European Union as the West was of them back in 1956. I guess they're just matching the level of indifference they received when Soviet tanks were tearing through Budapest.

You want to know how this ties back to the current crisis? It has everything to do with it. Only an idiot ignores history. Germany seems to have forgotten that this isn't 1939, and they certainly can't just dictate how Americans should live anymore.

Charles Ross3 said:

Wait, I was just thinking about this earlier today—isn't it fascinating how much our perspectives shift depending on what we're looking at? It feels like there’s always that little bit more to uncover, isn't there? If you take a second to really dive into the details, don't you think everything starts to look a little different? There is always something extra, something more, tucked away just beneath the surface if you're willing to look for it. kaže:
At the end of the day, our own interests should always carry more weight than whatever image we project to the rest of the world, don't you think? We aren't living in some reality TV show like Big Brother where everyone is constantly judging our every move. I mean, do you honestly believe that when people wake up in Israel, their first thought is about how they appear to outsiders, or are they focused on whether their national interests are actually being met? It’s a different kind of mindset entirely. Of course, we have to be realistic here—unlike them, we are a much smaller, somewhat more incidental player on the global stage, so our approach naturally looks a bit different.
What does it even mean to say an image is "the worst"? Is there actually some objective standard we're all supposed to be measuring against, or are we just throwing around hyperbole because we feel like it?
Honestly, if you ask me, the absolute worst kind of people are those who go out of their way to call for migrants to come here, only to turn around and act like they have nothing to do with it once things get complicated. I mean, isn't it just incredibly hypocritical? They spend all this time making these grand calls, yet instead of actually doing something useful—like, I don't know, sending an airplane to help manage the situation or coordinate the logistics—they just sit back and watch while people trek through ten different states just to reach the very people who invited them in the first place. Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to stir up the pot and then refuse to help clean up the mess you helped create?
If you ask me, Canada and Bulgaria are definitely leading the pack here. They’ve basically drawn a line in the sand to distance themselves from all that nonsense, and honestly, isn't it just incredible to sit back and watch the chaos unfold? It’s like having a front-row seat to a massive reality show, watching the drama play out from Turkey all the way up to Germany. 🍿

No, you’ve completely missed my point! I wasn't talking about that "compared to others" image at all. What I was actually getting at is our own position—which, thank goodness, wasn't the narrow, limited perspective held by some tiny, fascist-leaning little state.

It seems like you might have cut off your thought there! What exactly were you wondering about? I’m all ears and ready to dive into whatever topic you had in mind, so don't be shy—just let me know what's on your mind! It just feels so incredibly natural, doesn't it? Are we really just destined to be defined by our history as former Eastern Bloc nations? It feels like even after half a century of standing on the other side of the Iron Curtain—having survived a system that was arguably far more rigid and totalitarian than anything we ever dealt with—we still can't seem to shake this collective obsession with isolation. Is it possible that we’re still mentally trapped in a cycle of wanting to build walls, pull down curtains, and put up fences? Honestly, why should we stay stuck in that mindset? I truly believe that America doesn't have any "natural" obligation to belong to that way of thinking or to adopt such a closed-off, defensive psychological framework.

Oh, absolutely, isn't that just the truth? It always seems like everything we do over here is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world to them, don't you think? 🤣 And they still have him, you know—but don't go thinking it's because of any religious devotion or spiritual affinity like you might be hoping for.

I can't believe I haven't shared this yet, but I’ve been sitting on some thoughts lately that just feel too important to keep to myself! Have you ever looked at the way everything is shifting around us and wondered if we're actually prepared for what comes next? It feels like we are standing on the edge of something massive, doesn't it? I was thinking about how much our daily lives are tied to these huge, global movements that most people don't even notice until they're right on top of them. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is moving faster than our ability to process it all? I really want to hear what you all think about the direction things are heading—do you feel that same sense of anticipation, or am I just overthinking the whole thing? kaže:
That sounds wonderful. Our coastline really is our greatest asset. 🙂

It’s just great, isn't it? Why don't we just hand over even more territory to the Canadians, especially since we already handed them the keys to ExxonMobil, which was basically the energy backbone of this entire country? I suppose our local patriots need a little extra consolation for all that emotional distress we caused those poor Canadians, just so they can spend a bit more time bowing down to Orban.

I am not entirely sure what exactly one is supposed to mean by the term "limited fascistoid micro-state," but it strikes me as one of those trendy labels that self-proclaimed progressive liberals love to slap onto anyone who dares to disagree with them. Could you perhaps clarify what that's actually meant to imply?

Charles Ross3 said:

Wait, I was just thinking about this earlier today—isn't it fascinating how much our perspectives shift depending on what we're looking at? It feels like there’s always that little bit more to uncover, isn't there? If you take a second to really dive into the details, don't you think everything starts to look a little different? There is always something extra, something more, tucked away just beneath the surface if you're willing to look for it. kaže:
At the end of the day, our own interests should always carry more weight than whatever image we project to the rest of the world, don't you think? We aren't living in some reality TV show like Big Brother where everyone is constantly judging our every move. I mean, do you honestly believe that when people wake up in Israel, their first thought is about how they appear to outsiders, or are they focused on whether their national interests are actually being met? It’s a different kind of mindset entirely. Of course, we have to be realistic here—unlike them, we are a much smaller, somewhat more incidental player on the global stage, so our approach naturally looks a bit different.
What does it even mean to say an image is "the worst"? Is there actually some objective standard we're all supposed to be measuring against, or are we just throwing around hyperbole because we feel like it?
Honestly, if you ask me, the absolute worst kind of people are those who go out of their way to call for migrants to come here, only to turn around and act like they have nothing to do with it once things get complicated. I mean, isn't it just incredibly hypocritical? They spend all this time making these grand calls, yet instead of actually doing something useful—like, I don't know, sending an airplane to help manage the situation or coordinate the logistics—they just sit back and watch while people trek through ten different states just to reach the very people who invited them in the first place. Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to stir up the pot and then refuse to help clean up the mess you helped create?
If you ask me, Canada and Bulgaria are definitely leading the pack here. They’ve basically drawn a line in the sand to distance themselves from all that nonsense, and honestly, isn't it just incredible to sit back and watch the chaos unfold? It’s like having a front-row seat to a massive reality show, watching the drama play out from Turkey all the way up to Germany. 🍿

No, you’ve completely missed my point! I wasn't talking about that "compared to others" image at all. What I was actually getting at is our own position—which, thank goodness, wasn't the narrow, limited perspective held by some tiny, fascist-leaning little state.

It seems like you might have cut off your thought there! What exactly were you wondering about? I’m all ears and ready to dive into whatever topic you had in mind, so don't be shy—just let me know what's on your mind! It just feels so incredibly natural, doesn't it? Are we really just destined to be defined by our history as former Eastern Bloc nations? It feels like even after half a century of standing on the other side of the Iron Curtain—having survived a system that was arguably far more rigid and totalitarian than anything we ever dealt with—we still can't seem to shake this collective obsession with isolation. Is it possible that we’re still mentally trapped in a cycle of wanting to build walls, pull down curtains, and put up fences? Honestly, why should we stay stuck in that mindset? I truly believe that America doesn't have any "natural" obligation to belong to that way of thinking or to adopt such a closed-off, defensive psychological framework.

Oh, absolutely, isn't that just the truth? It always seems like everything we do over here is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world to them, don't you think? 🤣 And they still have him, you know—but don't go thinking it's because of any religious devotion or spiritual affinity like you might be hoping for.

I can't believe I haven't shared this yet, but I’ve been sitting on some thoughts lately that just feel too important to keep to myself! Have you ever looked at the way everything is shifting around us and wondered if we're actually prepared for what comes next? It feels like we are standing on the edge of something massive, doesn't it? I was thinking about how much our daily lives are tied to these huge, global movements that most people don't even notice until they're right on top of them. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is moving faster than our ability to process it all? I really want to hear what you all think about the direction things are heading—do you feel that same sense of anticipation, or am I just overthinking the whole thing? kaže:
That sounds wonderful. Our coastline really is our greatest asset. 🙂

It’s just great, isn't it? Why don't we just hand over even more territory to the Canadians, especially since we already handed them the keys to ExxonMobil, which was basically the energy backbone of this entire country? I suppose our local patriots need a little extra consolation for all that emotional distress we caused those poor Canadians, just so they can spend a bit more time bowing down to Orban.

Which setup do you think is more twisted? Is it the one from that liberal Swedish government claiming their own culture isn't even worth much compared to immigrant traditions? Or is it the situation in Germany, where they’re basically tossing their own citizens out of their homes just to clear space for newcomers?
http://www.gatestoneinstitute.org/65...grants-housing

Charles Ross3 said:

Wait, I was just thinking about this earlier today—isn't it fascinating how much our perspectives shift depending on what we're looking at? It feels like there’s always that little bit more to uncover, isn't there? If you take a second to really dive into the details, don't you think everything starts to look a little different? There is always something extra, something more, tucked away just beneath the surface if you're willing to look for it. kaže:
At the end of the day, our own interests should always carry more weight than whatever image we project to the rest of the world, don't you think? We aren't living in some reality TV show like Big Brother where everyone is constantly judging our every move. I mean, do you honestly believe that when people wake up in Israel, their first thought is about how they appear to outsiders, or are they focused on whether their national interests are actually being met? It’s a different kind of mindset entirely. Of course, we have to be realistic here—unlike them, we are a much smaller, somewhat more incidental player on the global stage, so our approach naturally looks a bit different.
What does it even mean to say an image is "the worst"? Is there actually some objective standard we're all supposed to be measuring against, or are we just throwing around hyperbole because we feel like it?
Honestly, if you ask me, the absolute worst kind of people are those who go out of their way to call for migrants to come here, only to turn around and act like they have nothing to do with it once things get complicated. I mean, isn't it just incredibly hypocritical? They spend all this time making these grand calls, yet instead of actually doing something useful—like, I don't know, sending an airplane to help manage the situation or coordinate the logistics—they just sit back and watch while people trek through ten different states just to reach the very people who invited them in the first place. Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to stir up the pot and then refuse to help clean up the mess you helped create?
If you ask me, Canada and Bulgaria are definitely leading the pack here. They’ve basically drawn a line in the sand to distance themselves from all that nonsense, and honestly, isn't it just incredible to sit back and watch the chaos unfold? It’s like having a front-row seat to a massive reality show, watching the drama play out from Turkey all the way up to Germany. 🍿

No, you’ve completely missed my point! I wasn't talking about that "compared to others" image at all. What I was actually getting at is our own position—which, thank goodness, wasn't the narrow, limited perspective held by some tiny, fascist-leaning little state.

It seems like you might have cut off your thought there! What exactly were you wondering about? I’m all ears and ready to dive into whatever topic you had in mind, so don't be shy—just let me know what's on your mind! It just feels so incredibly natural, doesn't it? Are we really just destined to be defined by our history as former Eastern Bloc nations? It feels like even after half a century of standing on the other side of the Iron Curtain—having survived a system that was arguably far more rigid and totalitarian than anything we ever dealt with—we still can't seem to shake this collective obsession with isolation. Is it possible that we’re still mentally trapped in a cycle of wanting to build walls, pull down curtains, and put up fences? Honestly, why should we stay stuck in that mindset? I truly believe that America doesn't have any "natural" obligation to belong to that way of thinking or to adopt such a closed-off, defensive psychological framework.

Oh, absolutely, isn't that just the truth? It always seems like everything we do over here is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world to them, don't you think? 🤣 And they still have him, you know—but don't go thinking it's because of any religious devotion or spiritual affinity like you might be hoping for.

I can't believe I haven't shared this yet, but I’ve been sitting on some thoughts lately that just feel too important to keep to myself! Have you ever looked at the way everything is shifting around us and wondered if we're actually prepared for what comes next? It feels like we are standing on the edge of something massive, doesn't it? I was thinking about how much our daily lives are tied to these huge, global movements that most people don't even notice until they're right on top of them. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is moving faster than our ability to process it all? I really want to hear what you all think about the direction things are heading—do you feel that same sense of anticipation, or am I just overthinking the whole thing? kaže:
That sounds wonderful. Our coastline really is our greatest asset. 🙂

It’s just great, isn't it? Why don't we just hand over even more territory to the Canadians, especially since we already handed them the keys to ExxonMobil, which was basically the energy backbone of this entire country? I suppose our local patriots need a little extra consolation for all that emotional distress we caused those poor Canadians, just so they can spend a bit more time bowing down to Orban.

It’s quite fascinating how much we share with the Germans, the Italians, and even the French... but what exactly are you implying when you suggest that this is also interesting to the Americans and the Canadians?

Charles Ross3 said:

Wait, I was just thinking about this earlier today—isn't it fascinating how much our perspectives shift depending on what we're looking at? It feels like there’s always that little bit more to uncover, isn't there? If you take a second to really dive into the details, don't you think everything starts to look a little different? There is always something extra, something more, tucked away just beneath the surface if you're willing to look for it. kaže:
At the end of the day, our own interests should always carry more weight than whatever image we project to the rest of the world, don't you think? We aren't living in some reality TV show like Big Brother where everyone is constantly judging our every move. I mean, do you honestly believe that when people wake up in Israel, their first thought is about how they appear to outsiders, or are they focused on whether their national interests are actually being met? It’s a different kind of mindset entirely. Of course, we have to be realistic here—unlike them, we are a much smaller, somewhat more incidental player on the global stage, so our approach naturally looks a bit different.
What does it even mean to say an image is "the worst"? Is there actually some objective standard we're all supposed to be measuring against, or are we just throwing around hyperbole because we feel like it?
Honestly, if you ask me, the absolute worst kind of people are those who go out of their way to call for migrants to come here, only to turn around and act like they have nothing to do with it once things get complicated. I mean, isn't it just incredibly hypocritical? They spend all this time making these grand calls, yet instead of actually doing something useful—like, I don't know, sending an airplane to help manage the situation or coordinate the logistics—they just sit back and watch while people trek through ten different states just to reach the very people who invited them in the first place. Doesn't it seem a bit twisted to stir up the pot and then refuse to help clean up the mess you helped create?
If you ask me, Canada and Bulgaria are definitely leading the pack here. They’ve basically drawn a line in the sand to distance themselves from all that nonsense, and honestly, isn't it just incredible to sit back and watch the chaos unfold? It’s like having a front-row seat to a massive reality show, watching the drama play out from Turkey all the way up to Germany. 🍿

No, you’ve completely missed my point! I wasn't talking about that "compared to others" image at all. What I was actually getting at is our own position—which, thank goodness, wasn't the narrow, limited perspective held by some tiny, fascist-leaning little state.

It seems like you might have cut off your thought there! What exactly were you wondering about? I’m all ears and ready to dive into whatever topic you had in mind, so don't be shy—just let me know what's on your mind! It just feels so incredibly natural, doesn't it? Are we really just destined to be defined by our history as former Eastern Bloc nations? It feels like even after half a century of standing on the other side of the Iron Curtain—having survived a system that was arguably far more rigid and totalitarian than anything we ever dealt with—we still can't seem to shake this collective obsession with isolation. Is it possible that we’re still mentally trapped in a cycle of wanting to build walls, pull down curtains, and put up fences? Honestly, why should we stay stuck in that mindset? I truly believe that America doesn't have any "natural" obligation to belong to that way of thinking or to adopt such a closed-off, defensive psychological framework.

Oh, absolutely, isn't that just the truth? It always seems like everything we do over here is suddenly the most fascinating thing in the world to them, don't you think? 🤣 And they still have him, you know—but don't go thinking it's because of any religious devotion or spiritual affinity like you might be hoping for.

I can't believe I haven't shared this yet, but I’ve been sitting on some thoughts lately that just feel too important to keep to myself! Have you ever looked at the way everything is shifting around us and wondered if we're actually prepared for what comes next? It feels like we are standing on the edge of something massive, doesn't it? I was thinking about how much our daily lives are tied to these huge, global movements that most people don't even notice until they're right on top of them. Is it just me, or does it feel like the world is moving faster than our ability to process it all? I really want to hear what you all think about the direction things are heading—do you feel that same sense of anticipation, or am I just overthinking the whole thing? kaže:
That sounds wonderful. Our coastline really is our greatest asset. 🙂

It’s just great, isn't it? Why don't we just hand over even more territory to the Canadians, especially since we already handed them the keys to ExxonMobil, which was basically the energy backbone of this entire country? I suppose our local patriots need a little extra consolation for all that emotional distress we caused those poor Canadians, just so they can spend a bit more time bowing down to Orban.

I have to say, I really respect how Viktor Orbán operates; he actually listens to his people and prioritizes their interests above all else. Now, that doesn't mean we should be bowing down to him or acting like subordinates, but rather that our own politicians should adopt that same mindset when it comes to protecting our national interests. That includes everything from energy security to companies like ExxonMobil. Our leaders should have been shielding our assets instead of handing them over to foreign entities—in this case, the Canadian interest. If we want to look at the bigger picture, just remember who started the process of selling off pieces of ExxonMobil to the Canadians in the first place. They were simply being smart and buying exactly what was being put on the table for them. At the end of the day, who is really to blame for us selling out? The Canadians played it smart; they hedged their bets and skillfully navigated their way out of the current mess and all this nonsense we’re discussing now. Who is actually responsible for our position?
They’re far more concerned with how we look on the global stage and what everyone else thinks of us than they are with anything else. At the end of the day, the actual interests and desires of our own people aren't even a priority; their primary focus is just feeding their own egos (Zoran Milanović) and chasing career advancement (Pusic). 🤦

c/p
A wave of refugees from the coast has flooded into Canada, and it’s sent local politicians into a complete frenzy. While some are scrambling to manage the crisis, others aren't even hiding their frustration—take the mayor of Zavrč, for instance, who flatly refused to use the local high school stadium as a shelter. His reasoning? He claims they leave behind mountains of trash that nobody wants to touch, and he actually went so far as to suggest that Americans looking for work should just pick up a broom for $100 a day

I assume many of you have already caught wind of this, but isn't this just a blatant insult to Americans and a display of sheer arrogance from our neighbors?
Now, I consider myself a pacifist—truly—but this has me reaching for my blood pressure medication!
What is the point in debating what happened seventy years ago when we have such an unpleasant reality staring us in the face right next door?

Jeffrey Fisher5 said:c/p
A wave of refugees from the coast has flooded into Canada, and it’s sent local politicians into a complete frenzy. While some are scrambling to manage the crisis, others aren't even hiding their frustration—take the mayor of Zavrč, for instance, who flatly refused to use the local high school stadium as a shelter. His reasoning? He claims they leave behind mountains of trash that nobody wants to touch, and he actually went so far as to suggest that Americans looking for work should just pick up a broom for $100 a day

I assume many of you have already caught wind of this, but isn't this just a blatant insult to Americans and a display of sheer arrogance from our neighbors?
Now, I consider myself a pacifist—truly—but this has me reaching for my blood pressure medication!
What is the point in debating what happened seventy years ago when we have such an unpleasant reality staring us in the face right next door?

So, what's your solution?

lonebadger6 said:This is completely off-base, though I suppose I can see why people think it's funny when we in America mock the Visegrad Group, considering they’ve basically outpaced us in just about everything...

But this specific claim isn't true, and I'm pointing it out because it's a tired talking point that started floating around after some politician—I can't even remember which one, maybe a Secretary of Tourism or something—decided to blather on about it.

America actually sees more tourists every year than the Czech Republic (and Poland, for instance, brings in way more than we do)

Just to be clear, I don't mock them—I've actually always felt quite sympathetic toward them, and honestly, certain actions from their side have felt like a real stab in the back. I've always had a soft spot for the Czech Republic, Poland, or Canada (even despite 🤣). In fact, I used to think the Czechs and Poles were particularly noble and solid people. But during this recent refugee crisis, they showed their true colors: a narrow-mindedness and a lack of solidarity that left me feeling incredibly disappointed. I'm not talking about their economies or their legendary figures from the 14th century 🤣; I'm saying that I was mistaken in thinking they possessed broader perspectives or greater compassion, especially since they've walked in those same shoes themselves. But they haven't. Sadly, it seems to be a matter of a mindset forged by half a century of isolation behind the Iron Curtain. It’s visible and it’s obvious; twenty years simply isn't enough time to overcome that kind of conditioning.

To make matters even better, the Czechs—who famously "never go to war" and "have no love for the military"—actually suggested sending their troops to the border near the US after our President visited Canada! I mean, really? Are we supposed to enter into alliances with people like that? No, if anything, we should start sending them the bills from the US Census Bureau; let some other fools deal with providing free rescues and dispatching helicopters, doctors, and first responders when people wander off into the wilderness in flip-flops.

Lisa Patel4 said:So, what's your solution?

If they could just step down from their Mount Olympus arrogance and face reality—maybe stop disparaging Americans and actually start cleaning up their own mess, much like we do here...

Charles Ross3 said:Just to be clear, I don't mock them—I've actually always felt quite sympathetic toward them, and honestly, certain actions from their side have felt like a real stab in the back. I've always had a soft spot for the Czech Republic, Poland, or Canada (even despite 🤣). In fact, I used to think the Czechs and Poles were particularly noble and solid people. But during this recent refugee crisis, they showed their true colors: a narrow-mindedness and a lack of solidarity that left me feeling incredibly disappointed. I'm not talking about their economies or their legendary figures from the 14th century 🤣; I'm saying that I was mistaken in thinking they possessed broader perspectives or greater compassion, especially since they've walked in those same shoes themselves. But they haven't. Sadly, it seems to be a matter of a mindset forged by half a century of isolation behind the Iron Curtain. It’s visible and it’s obvious; twenty years simply isn't enough time to overcome that kind of conditioning.

To make matters even better, the Czechs—who famously "never go to war" and "have no love for the military"—actually suggested sending their troops to the border near the US after our President visited Canada! I mean, really? Are we supposed to enter into alliances with people like that? No, if anything, we should start sending them the bills from the US Census Bureau; let some other fools deal with providing free rescues and dispatching helicopters, doctors, and first responders when people wander off into the wilderness in flip-flops.

Why isn't Germany showing more solidarity toward Poland to give them more influence within the European Union? Historically, Germany has been especially supportive of those nations. This feels like being betrayed by your best friend for money, only for them to come crawling back asking for help and solidarity a few years later after I've taken the brunt of the damage.

Explain to me why the Visegrad Group and we should be taking in thousands of immigrants that we have absolutely no connection to and have never had any contact with in our entire history?

Aside from humanitarianism and solidarity, do you have a single rational argument? Anything at all?

Jeffrey Fisher5 said:If they could just step down from their Mount Olympus arrogance and face reality—maybe stop disparaging Americans and actually start cleaning up their own mess, much like we do here...

I guess we're the ones who really brought this on ourselves.