TLDR:

We may be entering a new economic paradigm where markets become a little less free -- but only as a means to an end in which we can ultimately all be free again. (This differentiates us from those we are competing with, whose objective we believe is authoritarianism as an ends in itself.)

I dont understand what you mean by only as a means to an end in which we can ultimately all be free again.
I have contested previously that with the US reversing its global policy of globalisation, it is only natural for China to double down (or even if they dont) on globalisation, and therefore this multi polar world will hasten to the stage of 2 competing blocks, but that in the mean time (5+ years) we are going to see some shit interest rake hikes and cost of living ever increasing (up to and during the taiwan conflict).

therefore for a lot of people the ultimately part may very well be a decade away, which for alot of ppl might not be in their lifetime.

This post was edited by ferdia on Apr 17 2023 01:37pm

You didnt answer my questions, ill bold them:

But why invade? Why not just add Ukraine into Russia through a peaceful referendum to prevent it from rolling into the hands NATO? NATO didnt invade Finland like Russia invaded Ukraine. It was decided by the Finnish parliament after the public opinion shifted in favour of NATO. If you want to be a hard equivalence guy, you could compare Finland joining NATO with the "referendum" in Crimea, too.

Of course NATO wants Ukraine as its member. However, its up for Ukraine to decide: Doesn't Ukraine have the same right to join NATO to it just like Crimea, and later Donbas, joined Russia via referenda? (allegedly)

yes, he "feels strongly" that pootin did nothing wrong, and NATO is at fault for russia invading ukraine and killing its people - and you keep supporting that delusion because it isn't too far from what you think, lol. get a room, you two...

here's a little help in case you have trouble identifying the bad guys:

- accepting countries who ask for your protection into your alliance: NOT BAD
- invading your neighbour to conquer their territory, killing thousands of innocent people in the process: VERY BAD

maybe show a little less sympathy for people who constantly make excuses for the latter. they are not good people. it's really sad i have to explain that...

I think Russia was incapable of assassinating the Ukrainian Government and incapable of installing its own pro-russian government by this point (2014-2022), noting Nato aspirations had reached a very advanced stage (2021). I think thats why they opted to invade instead. As we see in Georgia it can takes decades for the US to install a pro western government. even the 2014 one in Ukraine took the US years to do.

This post was edited by ferdia on Apr 17 2023 01:48pm

Will China be the new Macedonia or India is the new Macedonia . If China or Russia equates to ( Sparta ) and USA / allies equates to ( Athens ) or however you are going to place them.

i love how the kremlin narrative about an "US-installed" government in ukraine, suggesting that their ambitions to ally with the west are just the result of a coup, and not supported by the people, has to completely ignore the cold hard FACTS of the current conflict, and also the entire HISTORY of former warsaw pact nations that couldn't wait to escape moscow's clutches and become part of the western alliance.

meanwhile in reality, the ukrainians are proving every single day just how stupid that notion is. they would rather flee the country or die than join pootin's empire. if it was just a hostile coup by the US, the ukrainian people would welcome pootin as a liberator, and not fight back with all they have...
but hey, don't let those inconvenient facts get into the way of your moronic narrative, lol...

Imho Putin completely lose it and offered on a silver plate a credible path to The End for himself, his mafia, and maybe for and even bigger hostile entity, enemy of the free world.
The process will be confirmed if they start to get below 2014 invasion areas.

, ,

Here.

I think I mentioned to you before Ferdia in regards to the Ukraine war. It is just the start. It will slowly culminate up to this.
Conflict is not unavoidable at least that is what she says and that is also what Graham Allison said, however it will take extremely painful steps for both countries to come in the middle.
For reasons , the United States have been planning this for a long time and I couldn't expect less. To weaken Russia and get rid of Russia and finally to weaken and get rid of China.

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/choosing-between-us-china-would-result-less-prosperity-more-poverty-eu-central-bank-president

This post was edited by Hamsterbaby on Apr 17 2023 02:12pm

Using your analogy, I would have the USA as Sparta. They were per-eminent before the rise of Athens. Athens rose and Sparta fell into obscurity. I do not believe the same thing will happen to the US. While the US has serious domestic problems (cultural identity), there is nothing to suggest that they will stop being, forgive me now, the worlds policeman. Provided no other US politician emerges to replace Mitch McConnell (who set american vs american), the US should be able to get out of this Us vs Them mentality (Democrats vs Republicans).

Whatever way you frame it, Russia lost vs the US. They then became isolationist. While the US might lose vs China, that is not going to happen in my lifetime, and with nuclear weapons the concept of "lost" is a relative term. I would say that the Russian model of government and their (broadly now) withdrawal from the international stage made them weak and irrelevant. China will be the new Athens, provided their form of government does not self implode. The problem with China is that you run the risk of a dictator stepping in and wrecking their country (or the world). There are more checks and balances to my mind in more democratic countries. The US has alot of smart people, they just dont seem to be using them properly. reversing globalisation is a tactical mistake to my mind, as was pushing for Ukraine in Nato. Pushing Russia to China was an own goal as regardless of views of Russia, they were more European then Asian.



This seems to suggest that once Putin is replaced a pro democratic or pro western leader will take his place. I would contend the opposite will happen. We are more likely to get someone far worse. You would need a people's revolution in Russia and i frankly dont see that happening. i dont know what you mean re: below 2014 invasion areas. else i would reply.

(everyone by now knows not to respond to fender).



I had already outlined that the cost of living is going to ever increase for the forseeable future (for now, say the next 5 years), and i explained why - the US reversal of globalisation (and wars). not sure why i have wars in brackets as reverse globalisation, weaponising the dollar etc, is a form of war. Anyway, my views are just being echoed now in this article, or if people disagree with my sentiment, the outputs of the issues i have outlined, are now being echoed in this article. it should not be news to anyone that has studied the situation.

This post was edited by ferdia on Apr 17 2023 02:24pm