Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
20 trillion debt is
Reginald Barrington likes this
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Captain Haddock- Location: Marlinspike Hall
- Registered: 8 Oct 2012
- Posts: 7,423
I doubt if Japanese were exactly flavour of the month after Pearl Harbour either.
'If no one went no faster than what I do there'd be a sight less trouble in this world'
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
Trump has been saying for a long time he will rebuild the military, mostly about job creation at home.
The Russians could only respond to this the same realist likely.
I think overall it will be a safer world as the big powers pull back and respect each other more.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
In the days of the cold war the US and Soviet Union didn't have volatile leaders like Trump and Putin who appear to be autonomous. All members of the Politburo at the Kremlin had to ratify any nuclear action by which time everything would have calmed down.
Guest 1881- Registered: 16 Oct 2016
- Posts: 1,071
The modern day Catch 22.
If you fire a nuclear weapon, you are clearly a mad-man/mad-woman. You've caused armageddon.
if you retaliate by firing a nuclear weapon, you are clearly a mad-man/mad-woman. You've just hastened armageddon.
Just because you don't take an interest in politics doesn't mean that politics won't take an interest in you. PERICLES.
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
The big names are refusing to appear at the inauguration so they have invited a young English singer. Sorry to say I have never heard of her but listened to a couple of tracks of her on You Tube and she is an astonishing talent in my view.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/38491238/rebecca-ferguson-asked-to-perform-at-donald-trumps-inauguration-ceremonyhoward mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Ford can spin this how they like but Trump has put the wind up them, no pun intended.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38497898howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
Trump still thinks he can put the security services in their place but history says differently.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/worldRoss Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,680
Surely it is about time the rest of the world reminded the US that we perhaps need them a lot less than they need us...
Let them isolate themselves
Let them close their borders to trade
Let them push out foreign businesses
Let them refuse entry to anyone who is not a WASP
It wont be long before the consequence of Trump-onomics starts to hurt...
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
I think we probably need them more than they need us.
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,680
I am less convinced of that than you are Paul
They are currently not our most important trade partner - that is the EU (no matter what we might think of them)
The UKs top 5 trade partners in Oct 2016 were
Exports
USA - £4.1 bn (+7%), Germany £2.8bn (-7%), France £1.7bn, Netherlands £1.7bn (+4%), Ireland £1.6bn (+7%)
Total exports were £26.8bn (+5.4%)
Imports
Germany £5.3bn (-12%), China £3.9bn (-6%), USA £3.3bn (-8%), Netherlands £3.1bn (-3.5%), France £2bn (-3%)
Total imports £39.6bn (+5.8%) [note this was £5.9 down on Sept 16]
(note percent movements are compared to Oct 15)
We have numerous lopsided treaties with the USA most notably the current extradition treaty that treats US citizens better than ours and provides the US authorities with greater rights than we have.
There has been no reality to the "special relationship" since the late 40's - the relationship since then has been very much in their favour not ours.
The US brand of rapacious capitalism has destroyed more of our businesses than our own inept governments and bloody minded union barons ever managed.
US banks were responsible for the 2008 crash and subsequent global travails (though the US Treasury at least held them more responsible than ours did...).
US Foreign Policy has lead to numerous armed conflicts around the globe, exacerbated many local situations and played a lead role (along with their client states Israel & Saudi Arabia) in the rise of Militant salafist Islam
From where I stand the world could do with them taking a back seat, perhaps even shutting themselves in their bedroom and not coming out for a while
howard mcsweeney1 and Jan Higgins like this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
Ross, the USA are our largest export market and third largest import market yet you really believe if they isolate themselves then we would not be in real serious trouble? Especially with so much uncertainty with our soon to be ex EU friends then I'd say we need USA on our side more than ever.
Guest 1849 likes this
Ross Miller- Location: London Road, Dover
- Registered: 17 Sep 2008
- Posts: 3,680
Each to their own view
I think we would be a lot better off without the US and their one sided "special relationship"
As for trade partners we should be looking at Europe and Commonwealth and developing those markets rather than relying on the USA especially given the loose lipped maverick who will be in charge from 20th Jan for 4 years
Paul M likes this
"Dream as if you'll live forever. Live as if you'll die today." - James Dean
"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength,
While loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Laozi
Guest 745- Registered: 27 Mar 2012
- Posts: 3,370
I don’t see why people are so afraid of some of Trump's ideas?
China has been using slave labour and dirty production to undercut workers in the west .
And most people require controlled borders .
better relationship with the Russians not a bad thing either ?
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
We could never accuse Trump of being dignified, I think he has brought the Presidency into disrepute even before he is inaugurated. He makes the President of the Philippines seem sane.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/donald-trump-tweet-maryl-streep-hillary-flunky-golden-globes-criticism-disabled-reporter-mocked-a7517101.htmlKeith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,497
Running the country by Twitter
bit worrying
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Paul M- Registered: 1 Feb 2016
- Posts: 393
That's the future Keith!
I've just been reminded that Meryl Streep recently showed her support for the child rapist Roman Polanski. Pot, kettle and black springs to mind.