War in Ukraine soon?
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No Husker, I'm not in favor of any of that (and have no clue what your talking about in regards to Cheney and Biden). I just thought it was a powerful interview and shows the desperation of the Ukranian people. A no fly zone appears to be a bad idea for the US, but I can appreciate her point of view. It's easy for us to sit here and wax philosophical about military policy when were not about to be bombed any minute. The Ukranians are putting up a noble resistance but are effectively sitting ducks at this point. Like she said "Putin is a psycho" and doesn't need any reason to be provoked.
Question for anyone. Is their no way to get humanitarian aid into Ukraine at this point? Can we not air drop food, medicine etc into the country? When I say we, I don't necessarily mean US flagged aircraft, but what about the international Red Cross via air or ground?
Ukraine is now asking for a no fly zone.
Opinion | I’m Writing From a Bunker With President Zelensky Beside Me. We Will Fight to the Last Breath. (Published 2022)
Nothing less than our freedom — and yours — is at stake.
We should also send weapons and ammo.
Capitalism is good. It is the first step towards socialism.
As for freedom, the most important freedom is not political freedom. It is financial freedom. I know textbooks do not emphasize this, always going after some utopia freedom from outdated 18th century enlightenment ideas but financial freedom is what matters to the average person. What is the point of living in a free country where you have to slave away at a job. Then there is freedom to think but that is at the individual level.
Even taking the example of the US, which we are all brainwashed into believing it stands for freedom, it is overrated. There is actually a whole lot of restrictions on what you can do. They come in the form of state laws, codes, and even home owner association rules. All these combine and no surprise that I actually think I have less freedom in the US. An an example, I cannot paint my house purple unless my HOA approves it and they will not approve purple. Freedom. In Mexico, I can paint my house purple or whatever. Recently, San Diego passed a law that forbids you from opening a food stand in some area (I do not live there so I did not take note). Then you cannot drink beer on some beaches due to local codes etc. etc.. Many more examples. Lots of rules in the USA that restricts what you can or cannot do.
One issue I see with democracy that is practised in many countries is it leads to instability. The USA does not have this issue because the democracy practised here is quite unique. It is actually better characterized as a 2 party system (vs multi party system). 3rd parties stand no chance of winning the presidency, so there is a high degree of predictability, the outcome of the winner is either a Republican or a Democrat. There is no surprise dark horse from a 3rd party. Then the president becomes a dictator for the next 4 years. There is no vote of confidence which would cause him to lose his position which would lead to instability.
So financial freedom is the most important because it is tangible and meaningful to the average person. There is no need to rush for political freedom. Even in the USA, political freedom did not come in 1776. In 1776, only those with land could vote. It took many decades of struggle, supreme court decisions to reach the state it is in. Mankind has survived for thousands of years without political freedom and there is no harm waiting another hundred years for the whole world to enjoy political freedom. Financial freedom is more important. We need to get the whole world out of poverty quickly so that the standard of living of the average human can improve.
Want to help people in Ukraine? Here are ways to donate
As the fighting intensifies, groups helping injured and needy civilians in Ukraine are appealing for help.
www.cbsnews.com
thirteenknots
SILVER ELITE
Hüsker Dü
DA
I too wish we could do something both militarily and in relief. I am watching video of Russian soldiers pilfering banks and scouring the area for food. So air drops might be fought over more intensely than anything else.
My thought was unmarked drones bombing Russian supply lines and their unfurled convoy? I am admittedly naive in the ways of modern warfare (and it’s been decades since I read The Art of War, lol!) so . . .
Wherever this goes I know one thing, Putin must be 100% persona non grata on the world stage. A Ghaddafi ending would be ideal.
Hüsker Dü
DA
Won’t that escalate the situation?Ukraine is now asking for a no fly zone.
Opinion | I’m Writing From a Bunker With President Zelensky Beside Me. We Will Fight to the Last Breath. (Published 2022)
Nothing less than our freedom — and yours — is at stake.www.nytimes.com
We should also send weapons and ammo.
Desert Hound
DA
Speaking of nuanced...listen to how our VP lays it out.
And related to the above...I think this may be another clip of our VP some time ago.
The Russian convoy would seem to be sitting ducks if Ukraine had any sort of air attack resources. I don't really want to see young Russian soldiers slaughtered either. It's hard to know what to believe, but the soldiers are likely also victims of Putin delusions.
Hüsker Dü
DA
There’s a lot to unpack there. Some things you got wrong, some you seem to misunderstand and the last part was very true.
From first hand knowledge in Baja there are the same type HOA restrictions in certain communities.
Here in San Diego huge parties that turned into riots on the beach and bay helped put an end to drinking on the beach. Like always civilizations need to protect the majority from the idiots. When your freedom encroaches on mine is that freedom?
I do live where unlicensed vendors were setting up shop on the sidewalks and all over the Veteran’s Plaza. Selling food, trinkets, edibles and some openly selling cannabis. Who’s freedom is that?
Not a lot of “instability” in the democracies I know of, any examples of where it isn’t working?
I remember getting into an argument with my sophomore history teacher who instead of teaching us world history went down a rabbit hole the first month to teach about the occupation of various countries by the US (looking back on it, I'm not sure how she got away with that...today it just wouldn't happen without parents coming to blows in front of the admin). One day she started monologuing about how one day we would all have socialism and how the Soviet model was imperfect but one day true socialism would happen. I was as much of a snit back then as I am now, so I raised my hand and started by quite innocently asking a bunch of questions leading her down the socratic method. I wondered whether the Soviet Union had any people slaving away at jobs they didn't like, how it assigned these jobs, and if people didn't like their jobs maybe that's why things weren't efficient and they had shortages. She responded in the future we could all pick our jobs. So everyone can be a doctor...even those that aren't qualified or smart enough (oh I wish we had seen Idiocracy back then)? No, but the state would find another job that we would like and would be suitable for. Everyone would have a job they'd like and be good at. So the state could manage things so there would be the exact number of teachers needed even if not everyone wanted to teach? Yes, from each according to their gift, to each according to their needs. While you might not have the perfect job, you'd have one you'd like, be good at, and want to do and be equally compensated for. I smiled then...the class knew I had her....so who picks up the garbage, who's the janitor, who scrubs the toilets? She stopped to think and then answered "robots". The class roared out laughing at the obvious absurdity of it.
Even in the communist utopia of the United Federation of Planets, people are forced to labor at a job.
Hüsker Dü
DA
The West is going after Russian oligarchs' luxury yachts. A Ukrainian yacht mechanic got there first.
The latest Speed Read,/speed-reads,,speed-reads, breaking news, comment, reviews and features from the experts at The Week
theweek.com
Hüsker Dü
DA
Yeah but in some other countries people get far better benefits . . . much more vacation time for one.
But then again when you are a member of the leisure squad what would you care about working stiffs, eh Anastasia?
It's a far cry from more vacation time to socialism, but you know that.
If Russia wins in Ukraine, that pretty much guarantees he goes after Georgia, then Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia. And seriously raises the risk thar China invades Taiwan.
A no fly zone now is lower risk than a formal declaration of war when Taiwan or Estonia are attacked.
Read Looking Backward some time. Edward Bellamy.
Old socialist sci fi about a future utopia. But he eventually mentions the prison camps for those who don’t feel like working.
China is unlikely to invade Taiwan now that they've seen the west's resolve in sanctions. As you yourself pointed out, the business of China is business and the addition of Taiwan simply won't add much to the bottom line given the costs.
Georgia? Maybe.
Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia mean Article five and nuclear war. The Chinese and Indians even won't go there so Russia would be truly alone and it will take a bit for them to rebuild (a half decade at least) their military stores, particularly given the crippled economy and being cut off from certain supplies that the Chinese will now need to make up. And that's assuming they force a capitulation that doesn't require them being in occupation of the Ukraine and facing rebel forces for years to come.
It's really crazy to hear from you of all people that you'd be willing to trade a risk now with a high chance of escalation (US and Russian planes shooting it out in an airwar which necessarily would escalate to the attacking of airbases on NATO and Russian territory and the firing or cruise missiles in order to gain air supremacy, which is what a no fly zone entails) over a hypothetical risk later which may or may not happen. Given you were so afraid of a virus which for your age group had a higher than 99.5% survival rating, I can only conclude you just don't do risk assessment very well for some reason, despite that fabulous mathematical brain of yours. An insurance actuary you are not.
Putin is having a hard time with Ukraine, seems like he'd have a struggle moving on to other countries. I guess he could bomb the other countries into submission, but I don't see how he occupies the countries. He's also likely going to have to find some source to fund all his expansion activities. Sounds like he is already getting squeezed financially. I guess he could resort to nuclear extortion.
Hüsker Dü
DA
Or brings it to reality quicker. How do you know Putin will keep going? Your gut?
My gut says if this goes on much longer you will get what you want soon, not in a month.
Hüsker Dü
DA
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Is the United States a Market Economy or a Mixed Economy?
The United States has a mixed economy, which combines elements of capitalism and socialism. It functions as a free market economy with governmental economic controls.