The only nation in Europe wanting war is the country that has openly invaded another sovereign nation. Russia invaded Ukraine. Russia wants war - it more than wants war, it is actively invading another democratic nation (Ukraine). No one else is Europe wants war--- Yet somehow the attempted narrative is that Russia didn't start the war and that the rest of Europe wants war. It is simple - Russia wants war and Ukraine and the rest of Europe wants Putin and the Russians to go back home.
Right - having Russia hopscotch through Western Europe isn't a threat to the USA... it wouldn't upset the world economy or stability that would have wide felt consequences domestically. This is an incredibly naive opinion - especially when there have been two world wars in the last 110 years to drive home the point.
That is great. I have lived in some of those countries and have also lived in the USA. Upward mobility is far easier in the USA than anywhere else in the world I have lived and done business in. The USA has problems, and the USA can make upward mobility better for sure - but compared to the rest of the world, it is better.
Some people have quite the active imagination. Russian can't advance 200km into Ukraine but yea, sure, they are going to be rolling their T-72's down the Champs-Elysees shortly.
You can't have it both ways. Either it isn't inevitable that Ukraine will fall to Russia or it isn't. The reason I have heard for the US to not send weapons to the Ukraine is because they cannot win. However now it is an active imagination to believe that Russia couldn't cut through Ukraine without US weapons and attack Finland?
The analysis is only as good as the information used and measured. If you want to believe in the index, that is fine - I disagree.
I'm not "believing in" anything...you're believing that the little thoughts in your head are more valid than demonstrable reality.
If Russia tries to shortcut through Ukraine to get to Finland they're even dumber and more decrepit than I had imagined.
Speaking of stupid, try to follow the conversation. Sam was making a light hearted (i assume) point in response to Nook that Ukraine isn't between Russia and Finland.
1.I'm not trying to have anything both ways. You're trying to attribute claims to me I haven't made. 2. Finland isn't in Western Europe. 3. Yes, It's an extremely active imagination to believe Russia is going to be invading "Western Europe."
You just make up whatever **** comes into your head, huh? Reality is for losers, amirite? I TOTALLY spend all day following Sam around white knighting him. You've really figured me out.
I think we all make up whatever we want. Nobody here is living in reality. But no, I don't figure you out. Sometimes you are rational. Sometimes you're off in the deepend. We all are
Right now it’s reciprocal. You have a big tariff, we have a big tariff. You have a little or no tariff, we have a little or no tariff. That’s how we get to free trade. As an American, why would you want a trade policy that disproportionately favors your trade partners? Unless there are kickbacks involved somewhere, someone’s pocket book is winning. We should be trading from a position of strength. And certainly not from a position that puts us in a deficit.
If it’s pure speculation, why are we funding anything in what has been one of if not the most corrupt countries since the 90’s? That minor expense could spent in much better ways as aid here at home. Or better yet, lessen my tax expense. It should have been a loan from the beginning.
Nope. An organization has decided to take a group of measurements and factors to be the be all-end all measure of social advancement. You do you - I’m sure you rely on misery indexes and other subjective measures to determine demonstrable reality.
It's possible for you both to be right. The US leans heavy on higher reward for higher risk taking. If you're middle or upper middle income, there's plenty of ceiling for your kids to do better compared to other countries. Inequality is still there, which drops them in that ranking of averages when compared to welfare state countries. Nordic States and Canada are still arguably better in general for raising kids of all classes. It sucks to be (poor) poor in the US, but we're all chatting Ukraine on a basketball board, so I doubt many are posting on here at the library with librarians and Asian kids giving you the occasional stink eye.
