General News

[Trav Le Bleu]

44 minutes ago, leicsmac said:

Treat them the same way the UK treats the Chinese - a potentially hostile belligerent who shares few of the UKs social values but with whom some cooperation on global matters is needed.

I don't believe their cooperation is needed at all.

 

In World v USA, USA loses and USA is too stupid to realise that.

 

Unfortunately, Putin has his vassal king installed, so at least another major world power is happy with the status quo.

[leicsmac]

2 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

I don't believe their cooperation is needed at all.

 

In World v USA, USA loses and USA is too stupid to realise that.

 

Unfortunately, Putin has his vassal king installed, so at least another major world power is happy with the status quo.

And there's enough "special relationship" sentiment in the press and in the UK as a whole for cutting ties with them to really sell, as well.

 

It would be nice though, if the current UK government could not act like sycophants.

[ozleicester]

The media in Australia has been rabidly reporting an increase in antisemitism.... Today a journalist dressed a man in a star of david hat and necklace  (and hidden camera glasses) and sent him into a cafe called "Cairo Cafe".... he orders  and receives a  take away tea... he then stands around and a staff member asks...

"are you ok?"..

The plant responds..

"why, have you got a problem with me being here?"

Meanwhile the "journalist is outside with a photog waiting to get the money shot
 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/feb/14/news-corp-team-confronted-after-alleged-attempt-to-provoke-staff-at-sydney-middle-eastern-restaurant-ntwnfb

Edited 14 February by ozleicester

[Lionator]

I’m pro Ukraine but feeling a bit skeptical about this drone attack on Chernobyl this morning. I don’t really see what the Russians would gain from it, while the timing means Ukraine could potentially gain a lot. Maybe the Russian military really are that stupid. 

[bovril]

22 hours ago, urban.spaceman said:

Oh look she's growing the economy

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1jg4enkr3lo

What's the population increase in the same period? At the moment I think it's about just over 1% a year so probably for that period the population has grown more than the economy, and per capita GDP has fallen. 

[urban.spaceman]

3 hours ago, Otis said:

Must by why Labour’s approval ratings have dropped off a cliff. 

Which is fine, they're only 7 months in and are still getting the unpopular decisions done. None of their policies have really taken effect yet - it will be a couple of years before people notice a real improvement. It also doesn't help when we had racist riots incited by the likes of Farage and Oaskeshott just a few weeks after the election, or confected media 'scandals' like the donations nonsense; the mostly Tory owned media has been an utter disgrace. The next election isn't for another 4 and a half years, by which time the approval rating will swing right back up.

[kenny]

1 minute ago, urban.spaceman said:

Which is fine, they're only 7 months in and are still getting the unpopular decisions done. None of their policies have really taken effect yet - it will be a couple of years before people notice a real improvement. It also doesn't help when we had racist riots incited by the likes of Farage and Oaskeshott just a few weeks after the election, or confected media 'scandals' like the donations nonsense; the mostly Tory owned media has been an utter disgrace. The next election isn't for another 4 and a half years, by which time the approval rating will swing right back up.

The riots helped Labour no end. SKS jumped on them quickly and squashed them which went well for him.

 

There have been some mumblings about 2 tier policing afterwards, but otherwise it was helpful timing for them.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

13 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

If America wants to be isolationist, let them.

 

They hit your country with 25% tariffs, hit them with 50% tariffs and engage "privateer" smugglers.

 

See… I ponder if the best reaction is to do nothing.

 

Don’t react, don’t slap on reciprocal tariffs, stand up to Trump by grand standing.

 

As a side - it looks to me that Trump & Co are actively building the perfect economic storm.

 

Mass government lays off, huge indiscriminate cuts to government spending and welfare, tariffs -  these are all measures that have the potential to further drag an economy suffering from inflation.

 

Indeed I think the haste and absolutism that is being shown across each government department feels like a sure fire recipe for disaster.

[leicsmac]

11 minutes ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

See… I ponder if the best reaction is to do nothing.

 

Don’t react, don’t slap on reciprocal tariffs, stand up to Trump by grand standing.

 

As a side - it looks to me that Trump & Co are actively building the perfect economic storm.

 

Mass government lays off, huge indiscriminate cuts to government spending and welfare, tariffs -  these are all measures that have the potential to further drag an economy suffering from inflation.

 

Indeed I think the haste and absolutism that is being shown across each government department feels like a sure fire recipe for disaster.

That may well be the point.

 

These people desire power over other people at any cost, and perhaps they've decided that burning the world and ruling the ashes is the easiest way.

[Dunge]

I think the best thing that could happen to America right now is the economy going down in flames, while the American people still have the power to change course longer term.

 

As for Ukraine, it’s problematic how inactive and reactive Europe is being about it. The UK and the EU are constantly letting someone else control the narrative, and now the EU’s getting pissy because they don’t like it. (Correctly so, but pissy nonetheless.)

 

There are no more excuses; European NATO countries need to stop just looking on in horror and act: Raise their defence spending, probably to around 4% and including investment in nukes.

[kenny]

20 minutes ago, Dunge said:

I think the best thing that could happen to America right now is the economy going down in flames, while the American people still have the power to change course longer term.

 

As for Ukraine, it’s problematic how inactive and reactive Europe is being about it. The UK and the EU are constantly letting someone else control the narrative, and now the EU’s getting pissy because they don’t like it. (Correctly so, but pissy nonetheless.)

 

There are no more excuses; European NATO countries need to stop just looking on in horror and act: Raise their defence spending, probably to around 4% and including investment in nukes.

It would help if the EU was cut out of it and the nation states formed a co-operative like NATO.

 

If the EU is involved it becomes a tortuous round of Vetos and posturing, the UK can't assist anymore. We probably need an ETO? setting up for the organised defence of the European states that doesn't include the rest of the world.

[Dunge]

5 minutes ago, kenny said:

It would help if the EU was cut out of it and the nation states formed a co-operative like NATO.

 

If the EU is involved it becomes a tortuous round of Vetos and posturing, the UK can't assist anymore. We probably need an ETO? setting up for the organised defence of the European states that doesn't include the rest of the world.

Yeah, I say EU, I was being lazy in that paragraph. Without an America committed to NATO, there probably needs to be a European defence treaty and serious consideration given to who should be part of it. For instance, I’m not sure there’s any great value in Hungary being there given how they’re basically just Putin apologists at this point. But geographically it’s difficult to work out.

[Robo61]

2 hours ago, kenny said:

It would help if the EU was cut out of it and the nation states formed a co-operative like NATO.

 

If the EU is involved it becomes a tortuous round of Vetos and posturing, the UK can't assist anymore. We probably need an ETO? setting up for the organised defence of the European states that doesn't include the rest of the world.

Not sure how that would be any different to the nation states getting together as it is they within the EU that have a veto,  the EU as a body does not. .  Though do agree any defence co-operative would have to include nations outside of the EU. 

[kenny]

53 minutes ago, Robo61 said:

Not sure how that would be any different to the nation states getting together as it is they within the EU that have a veto,  the EU as a body does not. .  Though do agree any defence co-operative would have to include nations outside of the EU. 

Away from the EU structure it removes the layers of decision making bought in by the MEPs. In truth it just needs the heads of states to agree an action going forward.

[Robo61]

35 minutes ago, kenny said:

Away from the EU structure it removes the layers of decision making bought in by the MEPs. In truth it just needs the heads of states to agree an action going forward.

Right,  so nothing to do with the veto then.

[kenny]

7 minutes ago, Robo61 said:

Right,  so nothing to do with the veto then.

Its a part of the decision making process within the EU so it would be. Particularly if Hungary or Slovakia which are part of the EU are able to block or delay actions but may not wish to join a European defence pact.

[DJ Barry Hammond]

I see J D Vance has been stirring the pot in Munich.

[leicsmac]

7 minutes ago, DJ Barry Hammond said:

I see J D Vance has been stirring the pot in Munich.

Ethnonationalist in pushing ethnonationalism and massive hypocrisy (exactly what is his administration doing to any kind of opposition right now? It isn't offering them freedom of expression) shocker.

 

The cherry on top, of course, being the disparaging of an individual who has more empathy and concern for the future of our species in her little finger than his entire administration has in their entire bodies.

Edited 14 February by leicsmac

[bovril]

Vance is an absolute weapon who sold out a lot of what he believes for power, but much of what he said was true. Particularly on the paranoia over "misinformation" which increasingly looks like an attempt to deflect from the fact that many Europeans are losing faith in their political systems to deliver what they want.

 

Still, death to America, as always. 

[bovril]

Vance is a Northern English / Scottish name, no?  The ones who were settled in Northern Ireland. Awful people.

[Jattdogg]

**** the states! (Sorry to those who are yanks but despise him as well).

 

I am so done with America. I would slap the shit out of that tw@t if he stepped foot in my country and his security detail weren't around. 

 

I may not like trudeau much but insulting him over and over again by calling him governor and not reading the room when he says Canada should be the 51st state. The overwhelming majority of Canadians would never, ever want to become yanks.  There are always some knobs out there who will but I will die for my country before becoming one of them.

 

Today as I shopped for groceries, I made sure everything I bought was as much Canadian (or Non-US) as possible. I have been doing this for awhile but more militant about it now. Most of my family, friends, colleagues are also doing the same. Trump has lit a fire in us over here. We might not have the biggest, baddest weapons and military but we will hockey stick your orange face in if given the chance.

 

Stick a maga dildo right up your orange arse Trump!

 

Being Canadian, I feel bad saying that and want to apologize to the "not Trump lovers" but don't care. Feel free to join us instead and fight back against your shit head president in some way(if you want lol).

 

On a side note, Trudeau has handled this well enough given the political situation here however, we really do need a new leader in to drive the future path of our country.

 

[Jattdogg]

1 minute ago, bovril said:

Vance is a cvnt.

Fixed it.

[Foxdiamond]

10 minutes ago, bovril said:

Vance is an absolute weapon who sold out a lot of what he believes for power, but much of what he said was true. Particularly on the paranoia over "misinformation" which increasingly looks like an attempt to deflect from the fact that many Europeans are losing faith in their political systems to deliver what they want.

 

Still, death to America, as always. 

European countries need to increase defence spending but we need the US at the heart of it 

[bovril]

1 minute ago, Jattdogg said:

Fixed it.

Agreed, he is truly awful and worse than Trump. 

[leicsmac]

20 minutes ago, bovril said:

Vance is an absolute weapon who sold out a lot of what he believes for power, but much of what he said was true. Particularly on the paranoia over "misinformation" which increasingly looks like an attempt to deflect from the fact that many Europeans are losing faith in their political systems to deliver what they want.

 

Still, death to America, as always. 

I guess it comes down to the definitions of "misinformation" and "what they want" then. As well as how sovereign a human mind really is.

 

Because, IMO, the kind of "misinformation" (or not) Vance and his brand of nationalists pour out will pretty obviously lead to ethnic cleansing, warfare (in the cause of diminished resources or not), and widespread death and destruction.

 

I've said it since these sentiments started getting traction again in the mid 2010s, and everything that has happened since has only made that more and more obvious.

 

8 minutes ago, Foxdiamond said:

European countries need to increase defence spending but we need the US at the heart of it 

Unless nations are willing to kneel and kiss Trump's ring, I don't foresee that being likely for now.