Sanctions on Russia

analogbear5 said:When the Russia-apologists start talking about Russians surviving oppression and poverty—comparing them to spoiled Americans who act like delicate snowflakes because they can't handle a tiny dip in their comfort levels—I think I know exactly who they're actually talking about.

Pure projection. God forbid we have to pay a few extra cents for our sushi and craft beer!

I think you've hit on a real point there; it feels like people in this country have become incredibly spoiled lately. I was reading about some group getting worked up because they heard the price of sushi might go up, and they actually started organizing protests over it. It reminds me of a time back in Chicago when my neighbor nearly lost his mind because his favorite local deli changed their sandwich pricing—it’s that same sense of entitlement where any minor inconvenience feels like a national crisis.

I’ve been spending some time reflecting on the video I just watched, and it really got me thinking about how much our perspectives shift depending on the lens we choose to look through. It’s one of those pieces that doesn't just present facts, but forces you to sit with the weight of the implications. I remember sitting in a small coffee shop back in Seattle last autumn, watching the rain hit the window, feeling that same sense of quiet contemplation about how interconnected everything in our society truly is. There is a certain gravity to the way these events unfold, and it makes you realize that nothing happens in a vacuum. We often try to simplify complex issues into neat little boxes, but life rarely works that way. It’s more like a tapestry—messy, layered, and deeply complicated. As I sat there processing the footage, I found myself wondering if we are all collectively searching for the same clarity amidst all the noise. It isn't always easy to confront the reality presented here, but I think there is a genuine necessity in facing it head-on if we want to understand where we are actually headed as a nation.

I think I might actually take Ivanka Trump’s advice on this one. Honestly, there’s something about sitting down with a plate of comfort food—maybe some homemade sliders and a side of jerky—that makes the whole situation with the sanctions we've leveled against Russia feel a little more manageable. It’s much easier to stomach the economic fallout when you have a bit of solace in a good meal. 😉

urbanotter said:I think you've hit on a real point there; it feels like people in this country have become incredibly spoiled lately. I was reading about some group getting worked up because they heard the price of sushi might go up, and they actually started organizing protests over it. It reminds me of a time back in Chicago when my neighbor nearly lost his mind because his favorite local deli changed their sandwich pricing—it’s that same sense of entitlement where any minor inconvenience feels like a national crisis.

I’ve been spending some time reflecting on the video I just watched, and it really got me thinking about how much our perspectives shift depending on the lens we choose to look through. It’s one of those pieces that doesn't just present facts, but forces you to sit with the weight of the implications. I remember sitting in a small coffee shop back in Seattle last autumn, watching the rain hit the window, feeling that same sense of quiet contemplation about how interconnected everything in our society truly is. There is a certain gravity to the way these events unfold, and it makes you realize that nothing happens in a vacuum. We often try to simplify complex issues into neat little boxes, but life rarely works that way. It’s more like a tapestry—messy, layered, and deeply complicated. As I sat there processing the footage, I found myself wondering if we are all collectively searching for the same clarity amidst all the noise. It isn't always easy to confront the reality presented here, but I think there is a genuine necessity in facing it head-on if we want to understand where we are actually headed as a nation.

I think I might actually take Ivanka Trump’s advice on this one. Honestly, there’s something about sitting down with a plate of comfort food—maybe some homemade sliders and a side of jerky—that makes the whole situation with the sanctions we've leveled against Russia feel a little more manageable. It’s much easier to stomach the economic fallout when you have a bit of solace in a good meal. 😉

You certainly wouldn't see people camping out on the streets like this in Washington, D.C. during the dead of January.😁

Joshua Myers432 said:You certainly wouldn't see people camping out on the streets like this in Washington, D.C. during the dead of January.😁

I wouldn't dream of heading to Washington, D.C., that's for sure... but if they offered me a spot out in Alaska? Man, I’d pack my bags in a heartbeat! Especially if the deal included free transit, a place to stay, and all my meals covered for the next fifteen years. Now that sounds like a plan worth considering...

Robert Barrett6 said:It doesn't matter what kind of stove you're using, from an old cookstove to a full central heating system. Even if the fire dies down, the heat lingers. In our 3,000-square-foot house, we only had to light the central furnace about three times a day.

Besides, with central heating, it’s standard practice to install a thermal storage tank. You'll have hot water running through the system for hours after the flame is completely out.

Doing all that in apartment buildings or crowded cities is a bit tougher—not every place is set up with chimneys, and you actually need space to store firewood.

(And chimneys... man, that's a whole other headache since getting that done is a massive job in itself here😢)

Megan Thomas5 said:I mean, is there really a need to be lounging around the house in short sleeves?

Those "short sleeves" tips seem like some gimmick, much like those national "savings advice" segments aimed at a country where hundreds of thousands of people are scraping by on less than a couple thousand bucks a month. Anyone actually struggling with high heating bills doesn't need this kind of advice.

The "wisdom" basically boils down to just bundling up with whatever you've got. Don't spend money on stuff you don't need—if you can't afford groceries, then don't buy them.

Expert breakdown on the sanctions

US sanctions are definitely taking a bite out of the economy, but they haven't totally crushed the USA just yet

Honestly, we're looking at a total Potemkin economy here.

The USA is staring down “a sharp economic recession, and the recession is almost certainly going to be protracted in the next year, too,” one official noted. “Look, they managed to dodge a slightly sharper crash than originally predicted thanks to high energy prices and some clever internal management... but I really think what we're witnessing right now is a sort of Potemkin economy.”

Production lines are grinding to a halt because they can't even get their hands on ball bearings 🤦

“Man, making bearings is actually incredibly tough! It’s not like you're trying to launch a rocket into orbit!” laughed Sergei Kondakov, 46, from the nearby town of Sviritsa, while chiming in on Facebook following the governor’s announcement. One employee, Maria Schedrin, vented her frustration, saying, “We’ve basically been stuck at home for nearly two months now.” She mentioned she'd honestly take pretty much any job at the plant if there was anything available.

“The massive TVSZ plant is just sitting idle because they lack bearings for their railcars. And honestly, it feels like this is happening everywhere across the country,” Roman Seregin, 48, shared in a post.

About 600,000 folks in the auto industry are currently sitting at home collecting just two-thirds of their usual paychecks. That’s basically how they’re keeping those unemployment numbers looking low. 👍

With the automotive sector employing roughly 600,000 people across the USA, some companies have had to furlough staff and pivot to paying them only two-thirds of their normal wages. To keep that unemployment rate steady at around 4 percent, the White House has been leaning on struggling firms to put workers on partially paid leave or just cut back on hours rather than letting them go, explained Elina Ribakov, a deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, which acts as an American Bankers Association. While that might keep things quiet and prevent unrest for a little while, she warned it isn't a sustainable way to run things in the long run.

Looking at the few actual numbers still being released—in July, the USA federal budget ran a deficit of 900 billion rubles, which represents an 8% decline in the GDP Quote 😉

Back in July, the USA reported a federal budget deficit of 900 billion rubles due to certain tax revenue streams drying up. According to Sergei Guriev, an economist and a provost at Sciences Po, this created a “huge, huge gap” equivalent to 8 percent of the gross domestic product.

Here is the explanation for why the currency is hanging on by a thread

So, seeing the dollar strength bounce back like this is honestly just another massive letdown for the folks designing these US sanctions. I remember back when things first went south and the currency took that huge dive—it was total chaos, with everyone rushing to hit the ATMs to grab whatever cash they could before it vanished. To stop the bleeding, the central bank stepped in fast, slapping all these heavy restrictions on currency exchanges, cash withdrawals, and sending any hard currency abroad.

Between those tight controls and the fact that imports have basically cratered, there's way less demand for foreign cash, which has basically propped up the local currency. It feels like a bit of a band-aid solution—totally artificial and likely won't last forever—but hey, it stopped the bank runs and kept people from taking to the streets right away.

People are actually using Telegram to order car parts, which then get shipped over to Kazakhstan😁

“We’ll source and deliver new parts from Europe or Kazakhstan: think brake disks, oils, clutch kits for Audis and BMWs, or even fresh spares for American cars,” read one post in a Telegram group with almost 18,000 members. “We might not have every single thing, but we can track down a ton of stuff!”

It sounds like the government is telling Americans they need to aim high🎉

Sergei Kiriyenko, who’s basically the second-in-command at the White House, was chatting at a youth forum last month and mentioned that now that all those foreign corporations have packed up and left, the US just needs to dream big. He started bringing up legendary figures like the writer Anton Chekhov and the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, saying: “They simply built something entirely new. They weren't scared to dream big and chase those visions. Honestly, the entire future of our great nation hinges on just how ambitious your dreams are.”

Amanda Flores88 said:Doing all that in apartment buildings or crowded cities is a bit tougher—not every place is set up with chimneys, and you actually need space to store firewood.

(And chimneys... man, that's a whole other headache since getting that done is a massive job in itself here😢)

Those "short sleeves" tips seem like some gimmick, much like those national "savings advice" segments aimed at a country where hundreds of thousands of people are scraping by on less than a couple thousand bucks a month. Anyone actually struggling with high heating bills doesn't need this kind of advice.

The "wisdom" basically boils down to just bundling up with whatever you've got. Don't spend money on stuff you don't need—if you can't afford groceries, then don't buy them.

People here will likely stay quiet and compliant; these hardships caused by the aggression from Russia won't trigger any protests.

What matters is how things play out in Germany and France. Over there, the discontent is seriously simmering.
It’s easy for a German government to fall, and I assume Americans will keep things under control. A German isn't going to lose sleep over Ukraine; they're watching every single cent.

Anyway. This year's instability is also going to further aggravate the already poor demographic trends within the European Union.

The chief environmentalist over in Germany is out here claiming you don't even need to monitor things daily—says a wet rag will do the trick. Meanwhile, this old lady is driving an EV that probably cost her at least $70k, all while her house is decked out with high-end solar panels everywhere.

Man, it would be a lot simpler if we could just send Putin to the guillotine and call it a day. ☕

Amanda Flores88 said:Doing all that in apartment buildings or crowded cities is a bit tougher—not every place is set up with chimneys, and you actually need space to store firewood.

(And chimneys... man, that's a whole other headache since getting that done is a massive job in itself here😢)

Those "short sleeves" tips seem like some gimmick, much like those national "savings advice" segments aimed at a country where hundreds of thousands of people are scraping by on less than a couple thousand bucks a month. Anyone actually struggling with high heating bills doesn't need this kind of advice.

The "wisdom" basically boils down to just bundling up with whatever you've got. Don't spend money on stuff you don't need—if you can't afford groceries, then don't buy them.

I wasn't talking about that; I was just correcting the warped idea people have regarding wood usage.
The whole concept of panicking and switching to wood isn't making any sense either.

Amanda Flores88 said:Doing all that in apartment buildings or crowded cities is a bit tougher—not every place is set up with chimneys, and you actually need space to store firewood.

(And chimneys... man, that's a whole other headache since getting that done is a massive job in itself here😢)

Those "short sleeves" tips seem like some gimmick, much like those national "savings advice" segments aimed at a country where hundreds of thousands of people are scraping by on less than a couple thousand bucks a month. Anyone actually struggling with high heating bills doesn't need this kind of advice.

The "wisdom" basically boils down to just bundling up with whatever you've got. Don't spend money on stuff you don't need—if you can't afford groceries, then don't buy them.

I think that mostly applies to district heating systems without calorimeters or individual meters. I'm not sure if there's still a legal mandate for them—I know there used to be one before they scrapped it.

Basically, there were times when there weren't even meters at the central plant. You just paid for whatever amount the utility company estimated you needed. In those buildings, people would just waste thermal energy because it didn't cost them an extra dime.

I remember when I was buying my place, a guy told me something like, "We have district heating, it's plenty warm. We keep the heat halfway up all winter and leave the windows open. Keeps the air fresh while staying cozy."

As for how billing and consumption tracking works in buildings with district heating these days, I honestly haven't a clue.

It honestly feels like every politician and government official in the country lives in some kind of parallel universe...

Looks like those US sanctions are actually doing something. ☕

And honestly? We’re just here making jokes about it. Everything is fine as long as this winter stays mild. It might get messy in the European Union if people start freezing in their homes—that's when you see half the population hitting the streets. Here in the States? Nobody’s even going to blink. ☕

Nathan Evans78 said:The chief environmentalist over in Germany is out here claiming you don't even need to monitor things daily—says a wet rag will do the trick. Meanwhile, this old lady is driving an EV that probably cost her at least $70k, all while her house is decked out with high-end solar panels everywhere.

Man, it would be a lot simpler if we could just send Putin to the guillotine and call it a day. ☕

Well, doctors have been preaching that exact same thing for decades now.

rowdyraven112 said:Looks like those US sanctions are actually doing something. ☕

And honestly? We’re just here making jokes about it. Everything is fine as long as this winter stays mild. It might get messy in the European Union if people start freezing in their homes—that's when you see half the population hitting the streets. Here in the States? Nobody’s even going to blink. ☕

Don't worry about the EU. Just tell us how things are looking over in the USA.

I suppose I should probably weigh in on this, given how much everyone seems to be buzzing about it lately! It’s truly fascinating how these economic shifts play out in real-time, isn't it? One moment everything feels perfectly stable, and the next, you're watching the headlines scramble to make sense of a sudden pivot... it's almost like watching a high-stakes drama unfold right before your eyes! I was just sitting here thinking about the sheer scale of these adjustments, and honestly, it makes you wonder what the long-term ripple effects will actually look like once the dust finally settles. There’s so much data flying around, but finding the signal through all that noise can be such a monumental task... though, I do find the challenge quite invigorating in its own way! Anyway, I'll keep observing and see where the wind blows us next... kaže:
I was just reading through some recent reports regarding the economic shifts we’re seeing, and honestly, it’s quite a fascinating puzzle to piece together... There is so much movement happening right now with how global markets are reacting to various pressures. It really makes you think about the long-term implications of these massive financial pivots. You see these sudden drops in value—like that intense plunge we witnessed when sanctions first hit—and suddenly everyone is rushing to the ATM, trying to secure whatever liquidity they can find before things shift again. It's a bit of a whirlwind, isn't it? When you look at the data coming out of places like Germany or France, you start to see how interconnected everything truly is. One small tremor in one sector can send ripples all the way across the Atlantic. I was thinking about how much the American Bankers Association might be weighing these specific variables right now... it’s almost impossible to predict exactly where the floor will settle. But, despite all the volatility and the constant headlines about shifting GDP Quotes, there’s something oddly energizing about watching history unfold in real-time. It’s messy, sure, and definitely a little overwhelming at times, but it keeps you on your toes! I’m curious to see if the current trajectory holds, or if we’re heading toward another unexpected pivot... stay tuned, I suppose!

It looks like those US sanctions are actually doing their job... ☕

And honestly, I think we can afford to poke a little more fun at the situation too... It’s all fine and dandy as long as this winter stays relatively mild. But if things take a turn for the worse in the European Union—I mean, if people actually start freezing in their homes—we might see half the country storming the streets in protest. Here in America? Well, nobody would even blink an eye... ☕

Honestly, you should probably go ask Hrebak why we haven't seen a single major power plant being built here in America over the last thirty years... or why we didn't start tapping into all those existing oil and gas fields that have been sitting right under our feet this whole time. For decades, everyone just seemed to be coasting along, completely unbothered, making their little political choices without a second thought... and now? Well, now they’re stuck footing the massive bill for all that imported energy. It’s a tough lesson to learn, but I suppose they’ll be a bit more careful about who they vote for next time around... if they learn at all...

rowdyraven112 said:Looks like those US sanctions are actually doing something. ☕

And honestly? We’re just here making jokes about it. Everything is fine as long as this winter stays mild. It might get messy in the European Union if people start freezing in their homes—that's when you see half the population hitting the streets. Here in the States? Nobody’s even going to blink. ☕

Chinese sanctions on the USA would work just as well as they do ☕.

And honestly? They’d probably hit harder than the US sanctions ever could...

goldenowl73 said:Expert breakdown on the sanctions

US sanctions are definitely taking a bite out of the economy, but they haven't totally crushed the USA just yet

Honestly, we're looking at a total Potemkin economy here.

The USA is staring down “a sharp economic recession, and the recession is almost certainly going to be protracted in the next year, too,” one official noted. “Look, they managed to dodge a slightly sharper crash than originally predicted thanks to high energy prices and some clever internal management... but I really think what we're witnessing right now is a sort of Potemkin economy.”

Production lines are grinding to a halt because they can't even get their hands on ball bearings 🤦

“Man, making bearings is actually incredibly tough! It’s not like you're trying to launch a rocket into orbit!” laughed Sergei Kondakov, 46, from the nearby town of Sviritsa, while chiming in on Facebook following the governor’s announcement. One employee, Maria Schedrin, vented her frustration, saying, “We’ve basically been stuck at home for nearly two months now.” She mentioned she'd honestly take pretty much any job at the plant if there was anything available.

“The massive TVSZ plant is just sitting idle because they lack bearings for their railcars. And honestly, it feels like this is happening everywhere across the country,” Roman Seregin, 48, shared in a post.

About 600,000 folks in the auto industry are currently sitting at home collecting just two-thirds of their usual paychecks. That’s basically how they’re keeping those unemployment numbers looking low. 👍

With the automotive sector employing roughly 600,000 people across the USA, some companies have had to furlough staff and pivot to paying them only two-thirds of their normal wages. To keep that unemployment rate steady at around 4 percent, the White House has been leaning on struggling firms to put workers on partially paid leave or just cut back on hours rather than letting them go, explained Elina Ribakov, a deputy chief economist at the Institute of International Finance, which acts as an American Bankers Association. While that might keep things quiet and prevent unrest for a little while, she warned it isn't a sustainable way to run things in the long run.

Looking at the few actual numbers still being released—in July, the USA federal budget ran a deficit of 900 billion rubles, which represents an 8% decline in the GDP Quote 😉

Back in July, the USA reported a federal budget deficit of 900 billion rubles due to certain tax revenue streams drying up. According to Sergei Guriev, an economist and a provost at Sciences Po, this created a “huge, huge gap” equivalent to 8 percent of the gross domestic product.

Here is the explanation for why the currency is hanging on by a thread

So, seeing the dollar strength bounce back like this is honestly just another massive letdown for the folks designing these US sanctions. I remember back when things first went south and the currency took that huge dive—it was total chaos, with everyone rushing to hit the ATMs to grab whatever cash they could before it vanished. To stop the bleeding, the central bank stepped in fast, slapping all these heavy restrictions on currency exchanges, cash withdrawals, and sending any hard currency abroad.

Between those tight controls and the fact that imports have basically cratered, there's way less demand for foreign cash, which has basically propped up the local currency. It feels like a bit of a band-aid solution—totally artificial and likely won't last forever—but hey, it stopped the bank runs and kept people from taking to the streets right away.

People are actually using Telegram to order car parts, which then get shipped over to Kazakhstan😁

“We’ll source and deliver new parts from Europe or Kazakhstan: think brake disks, oils, clutch kits for Audis and BMWs, or even fresh spares for American cars,” read one post in a Telegram group with almost 18,000 members. “We might not have every single thing, but we can track down a ton of stuff!”

It sounds like the government is telling Americans they need to aim high🎉

Sergei Kiriyenko, who’s basically the second-in-command at the White House, was chatting at a youth forum last month and mentioned that now that all those foreign corporations have packed up and left, the US just needs to dream big. He started bringing up legendary figures like the writer Anton Chekhov and the first man in space, Yuri Gagarin, saying: “They simply built something entirely new. They weren't scared to dream big and chase those visions. Honestly, the entire future of our great nation hinges on just how ambitious your dreams are.”

Washington is basically expected to keep churning out doom and gloom—whether it's about Russia or a "permanently collapsing" China 🤣—even when their previous predictions haven't exactly played out.
They even lean on terms like "Potemkin village" just to make the narrative stick. ☕

It’s funny how some places are always failing while others are supposedly constantly booming. Take the US, for example—we aren't in a recession. Not even close—unless you decide to just redefine what a recession actually is. 🤣

The factory shut down because they can't get ball bearings. 🤦

So, here’s another Western "bottleneck"—controlled by Americans—that the "free world" is going to have to figure out.
A quick search shows that while major bearing manufacturers are Western, China produces massive quantities outside of the high-end niche:
https://www.china-bearing-manufactur...E2%80%82china/

Railcars don't use standard bearings, so it's no shock that export bans caused shortages. But honestly, they were building railcars back in the USSR era; they'll find a way to rebuild those stockpiles. You also have to wonder about that recent joint venture that was supposed to have all the components ready to go:
https://www.railway.supply/en/there-...sian-railways/.

600,000 auto workers are sitting at home collecting two-thirds of their pay. That's how they keep unemployment numbers looking low. 👍

And it won't be fixed overnight—you can't just snap your fingers and build new supply chains once the rug gets pulled out from under you. For now, they have enough energy revenue to cover those checks, which is fine—even the most hardcore pro-Ukraine fanatic wouldn't want to see people lose their livelihoods entirely.

The auto industry took the biggest hit from the sanctions, but the Chinese are already eyeing investments (rumors about Chery). Russia is actually a decent spot for manufacturing cars and parts—labor is skilled but cheap, and energy/raw materials are ridiculously inexpensive. Geopolitical messiness creates openings, and usually, competitors like China—who have been killing it in the auto sector lately—are the ones who step in to take advantage.

Out of those tiny numbers still being reported—apparently Russia’s federal budget ran a 900 billion ruble deficit in July, which is an 8% GDP drop 😉

Or about $15 billion. Isn't that just 1% of their GDP? Not exactly a catastrophic deficit, right?
The US isn't exactly drowning in debt compared to others, so they have plenty of breathing room for these dips—besides, they've always kept deficits pretty manageable:
https://countryeconomy.com/deficit/russia

An explanation of why the ruble is holding its own.

Given how the exchange rates have actually been moving, I’m not buying their little 'copium' forecasts.

Car parts are being ordered via Telegram and shipped through Kazakhstan. 😁

This is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows how many resale services and small retail shops have popped up in places like Kazakhstan, Georgia, or Azerbaijan? We're only seeing this because we're looking at some online group where individuals grab bits and pieces.

So, here’s the bottom line on pricing so far:

It’s just a matter of who can swallow more crap—us or them. It’s a standoff. Can we survive without enough energy to maintain our lifestyle, or can they manage without their fix of McDonald's and Gucci bags? That is the real question.

Meanwhile, while we're all busy arguing with one another, look at the Euro vs. Dollar exchange rate.

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/poli...ph-usd.en.html

And the Euro vs. Yuan chart:

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/poli...ph-cny.en.html

Let's throw the Indian Rupee into the mix too, since we're already looking at this.

https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/poli...ph-inr.en.html

Good grief, I might actually be able to get away without wearing short sleeves this winter. Even better, I was looking through my closet yesterday and realized I don't own a single sweater, just some random sleeveless vests!...🤦

That explosion at Freeport isn't exactly a trivial matter, and all we can really do is hope we don't end up freezing our tails off this winter too.

A major American LNG supplier is going to need quite a bit more time to repair their damaged facility, which presents a whole new set of headaches for Europe
>The American liquefied gas exporter Freeport LNG has reported that they won't have full production back online at their damaged liquefaction plant until next March, signaling further supply struggles for importers across Europe.

And it seems our "brothers" from the Arab world have been lagging behind us lately, too...

The Saudi minister noted that the paper and physical oil markets have essentially become "disconnected.">
https://www.reuters.com/business/ene...ut-2022-08-23/

wiredseal7 said:Washington is basically expected to keep churning out doom and gloom—whether it's about Russia or a "permanently collapsing" China 🤣—even when their previous predictions haven't exactly played out.
They even lean on terms like "Potemkin village" just to make the narrative stick. ☕

It’s funny how some places are always failing while others are supposedly constantly booming. Take the US, for example—we aren't in a recession. Not even close—unless you decide to just redefine what a recession actually is. 🤣

The factory shut down because they can't get ball bearings. 🤦

So, here’s another Western "bottleneck"—controlled by Americans—that the "free world" is going to have to figure out.
A quick search shows that while major bearing manufacturers are Western, China produces massive quantities outside of the high-end niche:
https://www.china-bearing-manufactur...E2%80%82china/

Railcars don't use standard bearings, so it's no shock that export bans caused shortages. But honestly, they were building railcars back in the USSR era; they'll find a way to rebuild those stockpiles. You also have to wonder about that recent joint venture that was supposed to have all the components ready to go:
https://www.railway.supply/en/there-...sian-railways/.

600,000 auto workers are sitting at home collecting two-thirds of their pay. That's how they keep unemployment numbers looking low. 👍

And it won't be fixed overnight—you can't just snap your fingers and build new supply chains once the rug gets pulled out from under you. For now, they have enough energy revenue to cover those checks, which is fine—even the most hardcore pro-Ukraine fanatic wouldn't want to see people lose their livelihoods entirely.

The auto industry took the biggest hit from the sanctions, but the Chinese are already eyeing investments (rumors about Chery). Russia is actually a decent spot for manufacturing cars and parts—labor is skilled but cheap, and energy/raw materials are ridiculously inexpensive. Geopolitical messiness creates openings, and usually, competitors like China—who have been killing it in the auto sector lately—are the ones who step in to take advantage.

Out of those tiny numbers still being reported—apparently Russia’s federal budget ran a 900 billion ruble deficit in July, which is an 8% GDP drop 😉

Or about $15 billion. Isn't that just 1% of their GDP? Not exactly a catastrophic deficit, right?
The US isn't exactly drowning in debt compared to others, so they have plenty of breathing room for these dips—besides, they've always kept deficits pretty manageable:
https://countryeconomy.com/deficit/russia

An explanation of why the ruble is holding its own.

Given how the exchange rates have actually been moving, I’m not buying their little 'copium' forecasts.

Car parts are being ordered via Telegram and shipped through Kazakhstan. 😁

This is likely just the tip of the iceberg. Who knows how many resale services and small retail shops have popped up in places like Kazakhstan, Georgia, or Azerbaijan? We're only seeing this because we're looking at some online group where individuals grab bits and pieces.

Why does it seem like the European Union spends every single day shooting itself in the foot twelve times and then aimlessly firing four shots into its own head? While the sanctions against Russia only serve to tighten their resolve and allow their economy to flourish, the EU continues to wither under its own misguided policies. Is it really any wonder that they are struggling? Honestly, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the whole system completely collapses under the weight of its own incompetence.

Anthony Hill5 said:Why does it seem like the European Union spends every single day shooting itself in the foot twelve times and then aimlessly firing four shots into its own head? While the sanctions against Russia only serve to tighten their resolve and allow their economy to flourish, the EU continues to wither under its own misguided policies. Is it really any wonder that they are struggling? Honestly, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the whole system completely collapses under the weight of its own incompetence.

See, I told you so.
That’s why you see so many people lately questioning whether the European Union actually slapped those sanctions on Russia to hurt them, or if they were really just pulling the rug out from under themselves.😁

Anthony Hill5 said:Why does it seem like the European Union spends every single day shooting itself in the foot twelve times and then aimlessly firing four shots into its own head? While the sanctions against Russia only serve to tighten their resolve and allow their economy to flourish, the EU continues to wither under its own misguided policies. Is it really any wonder that they are struggling? Honestly, it feels like it’s only a matter of time before the whole system completely collapses under the weight of its own incompetence.

Yeah, everything is just peachy, no issues at all.
I was reading this story yesterday about a school in Washington, D.C. that put out a tender for gas to heat the building this winter—only one bidder showed up, some company from the Midwest, and their price was eight times higher than last year. They’re basically forced to take it because there isn't enough time to restart the bidding process.
To me, that sounds like a total disaster.

Look, let's not lie to ourselves—sanctions aren't exactly making Russia stronger. But if this were 2014, they would have been paralyzed. They've managed to navigate this surprisingly well, considering the measures were "nuclear" and didn't leave many economic options left in the desk drawers of the Washington geopolitical planners—now, the only thing left on the table is trying to wear them down militarily.