North Korea and US politics

[slotplayer]

In the UK we have no term limit; Tony blair divided opinion to say the least, but because of die hard labour voters the country had to put up with him for 10 years, at least from your point of view Trump will be gone for good in 2-6 years at most. The next decade will be interesting and worrying to see where politics goes, we've got a lot of upheaval in the UK to go through.

Get Nigel Farage back.

 

[Steviedoo]

Tony Blair. He was popular wasn't he!

We had the mass protest marches back then too, of course it made no difference

Even with Social Media around it wouldn't have caused any alternative outcome. Bush and pals were determined to do as they please, how's that for democracy

So I'm afraid America's stuck with Trumpo for the foreseeable, barring failing health in his latter presidency it's not like Hillary's just going to take the reins,, she's in terrible shape herself.

But as they're stuck with him, surely better to rally behind him for the next 2-6 years, than critique how many Pepsis he consumes or his orange complexion. Counter- productivity or what

There is a rumour that she’s gonna run in 2020.
Which is a HUGE mistake.

 

[mack341]

Get Nigel Farage back.

Nigel is a fascinating character, whenever I watch him interviewed he talks a lot of sense, I think in my lifetime only 2 people have managed to get elected to parliament as independents, martin bell and george galloway, so its not impossible but the press would ridicule him at every opportunity. I think he's got his own radio show now so probably has more influence and chance to air his opinions than a lot of backbench mp's.

Whatever he decides to do, I think he will be remembered as a notable figure in british social and political history.

 

[slotplayer]

Nigel is a fascinating character, whenever I watch him interviewed he talks a lot of sense, I think in my lifetime only 2 people have managed to get elected to parliament as independents, martin bell and george galloway, so its not impossible but the press would ridicule him at every opportunity. I think he's got his own radio show now so probably has more influence and chance to air his opinions than a lot of backbench mp's.

Whatever he decides to do, I think he will be remembered as a notable figure in british social and political history.

plus he's a fox news contributor, I guess that means he gets paid.

 

[Steviedoo]

And mr trump sides with Russia.
Shocker.
He believes putin over American intelligence.

Well done mr president.

 

[goatwack]

Farage is probably having a field day in the U.S, given that he's allowed to actually exercise proper free speech and not the semi- free speech we have over here.

He shoots from the hip but that's why he's such a pariah in British politics

 

[slotplayer]

To Russia with love.

 

[vorcirion]

1) pee-pee tape
2) US can't be trusted as long as Trump and republicans are in control. Trump has been the same all the time and republicans lack a spine. They do condemn things...but they never do anything. Pathetic people.

 

[goatwack]

Sacha Baron Cohen doing his best to rip the piss out of the NRA, Gender Politics in America, with 'Who is America'

Small highlights include Congressmen approving and endorsing that 3-4 year olds carry guns, amongst others

Wow!

 

[Steviedoo]

1) pee-pee tape
2) US can't be trusted as long as Trump and republicans are in control. Trump has been the same all the time and republicans lack a spine. They do condemn things...but they never do anything. Pathetic people.

I think Russia has nothing on him.
He has the knowledge that his presidency might not be legit if Russia helped him win.
I think that’s the biggest fear..

 

[Steviedoo]

Sacha Baron Cohen doing his best to rip the piss out of the NRA, Gender Politics in America, with 'Who is America'

Small highlights include Congressmen approving and endorsing that 3-4 year olds carry guns, amongst others

Wow!

This is America.

 

[goatwack]

This is America.

It's just more of the same, he's been doing this shtick for 20 years now, so it's not quite as shocking as back then.

But boy, your politicians are something else

 

[vorcirion]

I think Russia has nothing on him.
He has the knowledge that his presidency might not be legit if Russia helped him win.
I think that’s the biggest fear..

I don't much care why he does what he does. What he does is damaging US and all its allies. He only thinks of himself. He belongs in the jail for good.

 

[slotplayer]

take 15 minutes and watch these videos.

 

[Harry_BKK]

No words needed!

 

[Steviedoo]

No words needed!

View attachment 93038

The gop doesn’t care. They got their big tax breaks. Dismantling Obamacare. And they’re going to get their 2nd seat on the Supreme Court all but assuring them decisions that align with their thinking. So they will keep him there and stay quiet.

And The people who voted for him think it’s the left making a big deal and being unhinged about it. And like him, they want the witch hunt to be over. Cuz they don’t believe there was collusion. However, collusion or not the Russians interfered in the process. Which makes that whole election 2016 process kinda not legitimate. And that is his biggest fear. He will have that asterix next to his name for the end of time.

The dems are so fractured with no clear leadership that this will be just a footnote come election time.

All very depressing.

 

[mack341]

I can't understand why the USA don't just copy the french healthcare system root and branch, sure it would cost money but you are getting something in return [unlike the wars in afghanistan/iraq whose cost can be measured between 4-6 trillions $] I think it works better than the NHS, which although good wastes far too much on bureaucratic management.

You do not have permission to view link Log in or register now.

 

[Harry_BKK]

The gop doesn’t care. They got their big tax breaks. Dismantling Obamacare. And they’re going to get their 2nd seat on the Supreme Court all but assuring them decisions that align with their thinking. So they will keep him there and stay quiet.

And The people who voted for him think it’s the left making a big deal and being unhinged about it. And like him, they want the witch hunt to be over. Cuz they don’t believe there was collusion. However, collusion or not the Russians interfered in the process. Which makes that whole election 2016 process kinda not legitimate. And that is his biggest fear. He will have that asterix next to his name for the end of time.

The dems are so fractured with no clear leadership that this will be just a footnote come election time.

All very depressing.

This was by far the most embarrassing press conference of any president of any country on this planet I have ever seen.

Oh, just give Mr. T another 2 years and he will light up dozens more fires. Currently the biggest fires are:

- pouring gasoline to the tune of $1.5 Trillion in tax cuts and extra government spending on a growing economy (inflation will rise, interest rates will rise, debt will rise etc etc., wait for middle/end 2019 to see the first results)
- dismantling Obamacare without putting something else in place - will leave a lot of people uninsured, especially those with pre-existing conditions
- trade disputes with China, Canada, Mexiko, EU, Turkey and a few others - US people will soon feel the effects
- rolling back environmental protections - who needs nature reserves and clean water?
- Iran - where is that beautiful new deal after ripping apart the apparently "worst" deal?
- Middle East peace - where is sunny boy Jared. (Mr. T blatantly siding with Israel)
- North Korea - playing him and Pompano like a fiddle
- Russia - Mr. T sure loves Vlad
- NATO - ooops, forgot that it is now in tip-top shape after Mr. T's just as embarrassing appearance at the summit
.....list by far not complete

IMO, he will do as he has done all his life. Promise the biggest things ever and light up fires everywhere, only to let then others come in to extinguish them and pick up the pieces. All the while, Mr. T is peddling his properties, businesses and products to finally make him a billionaire, and that to a large part on the dime of tax payers, plus after he leaves office American banks will finally loan him money again for his next "disaster project". Not to forget, the tax reform that will bring his kids a few billion $ once he says his final goodbye.

But hey, he is a stable genius!

P.S. Did you listen to Putin when he was asked whether they have "kompromat" on Mr. T. He did not flatly deny it and answered rather around it.

 

[slotplayer]

I have the Obamacare, its horrible, much rather see something else.
Its great for wealthy and the low income and poor but as usual those of us in the middle are getting hosed.

 

[Harry_BKK]

I have the Obamacare, its horrible, much rather see something else.
Its great for wealthy and the low income and poor but as usual those of us in the middle are getting hosed.

I am sure Obamacare is not perfect but it could have been a starting point which with further improvements over the years could have led to a very good healthcare program.

However, taking Mr. T usual "low road" by basically dismantling it bit by bit without bringing up even just a scintilla of an alternative program is plain irresponsible, but very typical of Mr. T.

 

[Harry_BKK]

Wow, what an explanation for his statement after the meeting with Vlad, probably the worst possible

"In a key sentence in my remarks I said the word would instead of wouldn’t. The sentence should have been: 'I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia'. Sort of a double negative. I think that probably clarifies things pretty good on itself."

Only that just minutes earlier he said:

"Could be other people also. There's a lot of people out there."

So which is it?

BTW, reading from a written transcript this time, nicely put together by his press team so it can sound at least somewhat credible, which it isn't as his statement in the Helsinki presser had more than just the one sentence where he claims to have misspoken.

 

[goatwack]

Wow, what an explanation for his statement after the meeting with Vlad, probably the worst possible

"In a key sentence in my remarks I said the word would instead of wouldn’t. The sentence should have been: 'I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia'. Sort of a double negative. I think that probably clarifies things pretty good on itself."

Only that just hours earlier he said:

"Could be other people also. There's a lot of people out there."

So which is it?

He didn't say nothing

 

[slotplayer]

The problem with Obamacare was it relied on the young to buy health insurance to help lower premiums, however, instead they opted to pay the penalty instead of buying the insurance.

I went two months without insurance, any longer and I would have paid both the Federal (For 2016 and 2017, the penalty is either: 2.5% of your household income or $695 per adult ($347.50 per child), whichever is higher.) and State penalty (health insurance is required by law in my state) when I did my taxes. If I recall I think the state gives you 63 days before the penalty kicks in.

However, the biggest problem I encountered is when you go to the exchange to buy the insurance, you punch in your doctor's name or hospital to see what plans they accept, well it turns not many of the doctors/hospital update the plans database so you really have to call the doctors/hospital but most times they don't even know if the accept it because they use a third party billing company.

I just went the other day to one of my doctors that was clearly listed under my plan and they don't take it. (that's the second doctor now) The visit starts at $150 but my doctor was cool and only charged me $100, she offered to help me find a doctor that takes the insurance I have. The two girls at the front desks didn't know anything about the plan database.

The country needs a single payer plan.

 

[Harry_BKK]

The problem with Obamacare was it relied on the young to buy health insurance to help lower premiums, however, instead they opted to pay the penalty instead of buying the insurance.

I went two months without insurance, any longer and I would have paid both the Federal (For 2016 and 2017, the penalty is either: 2.5% of your household income or $695 per adult ($347.50 per child), whichever is higher.) and State penalty (health insurance is required by law in my state) when I did my taxes. If I recall I think the state gives you 63 days before the penalty kicks in.

However, the biggest problem I encountered is when you go to the exchange to buy the insurance, you punch in your doctor's name or hospital to see what plans they accept, well it turns not many of the doctors/hospital update the plans database so you really have to call the doctors/hospital but most times they don't even know if the accept it because they use a third party billing company.

I just went the other day to one of my doctors that was clearly listed under my plan and they don't take it. (that's the second doctor now) The visit starts at $150 but my doctor was cool and only charged me $100, she offered to help me find a doctor that takes the insurance I have. The two girls at the front desks didn't know anything about the plan database.

The country needs a single payer plan.

I can see the problems, thanks for posting it as I do not know all specifics of the ACA. I agree, single payer is absolutely the way to go.

However, IMO, all insurances are big Ponzi schemes, they wouldn't work any other way. The basic rule for all types of insurance is - as many as possible pay in, as few as possible take out. This means car insurance is not much different to healthcare.

You need a broad spectrum of people paying to make it affordable for all.

 

[mack341]

The thing is how much does an american primary care physician or a specialist earn and how much do the same professionals earn in germany, france, holland etc.. are drugs or treatments more expensive in the US etc. I think it could be a good idea for a comparative study to be undertaken. What is the healthcare system in malaysia like Harry?

 

[slotplayer]

I can see the problems, thanks for posting it as I do not know all specifics of the ACA. I agree, single payer is absolutely the way to go.

However, IMO, all insurances are big Ponzi schemes, they wouldn't work any other way. The basic rule for all types of insurance is - as many as possible pay in, as few as possible take out. This means car insurance is not much different to healthcare.

You need a broad spectrum of people paying to make it affordable for all.

something happened to the Healthcare system, not really sure what unless its just aging baby boomer population.

I had employer based insurance up until 2004 when I decided not to go back to high tech. In the late 1990's for the family plan back then it was inexpensive, I'm not 100% sure but I think it was something like $16 for 3 people each bi-weekly pay period.

Auto insurance used to go down a little every year as the car aged. I'm about $850 a year for 2011 SUV, in the past few years its been going up about $30/yr. I brought it up with the agent and we both laughed.

Auto glass is cover 100% here though, the lawn people broke my passenger window last year, called a glass company, the next day they came and popped in a new window, all I did was go out and sign.

 

[Harry_BKK]

The thing is how much does an american primary care physician or a specialist earn and how much do the same professionals earn in germany, france, holland etc.. are drugs or treatments more expensive in the US etc. I think it could be a good idea for a comparative study to be undertaken. What is the healthcare system in malaysia like Harry?

No clue, to be honest.

I know the Singapore system very well which I think is pretty good, if not the best in Asia. Everyone has an individual CPF account which covers Medisave, retirement and other things. A fixed percentage is locked for Medisave and retirement, the reminder can be used to pay for education of the kids, buying a house, unemployment (limited) etc....basically stuff that the government supports and sees as beneficial for its citizens. Once you retire you can opt to have the entire unblocked amount + retirement funds paid out in a lump sum or you go for monthly partial payments.

20% (split 50/50 with the employer) from your salary goes every month into the account. Everyone is free to deposit extra money into it at any time. Plus the government dumps some money on top, e.g. for each child they match $1 : $1 up to a certain amount going in.

However, it is not perfect. If you're never seriously ill and had high contributions all your life, then you're absolutely fine. The problem starts when e.g. you depleted your Medisave part, because then you have to pay the entire medical bills. You can buy additional private insurance to cover that but that doesn't work easily when you have a family of 4 or 5 and just a normal salary.

Thailand introduced a few years ago a basic healthcare program for everyone. I think they contribute like THB500 from the salary every month. It only covers though basic stuff.

As for myself, I left the general healthcare system decades ago and went without insurance for a long time. Later then, because of my son, I signed up for a private insurance plan which currently takes appr. US$400 every month from my pockets. Nothing fancy, but sufficient should I ran into health issues. I don't need a single room or other such perks when I am sick

 

[Harry_BKK]

something happened to the Healthcare system, not really sure what unless its just aging baby boomer population.

I had employer based insurance up until 2004 when I decided not to go back to high tech. In the late 1990's for the family plan back then it was inexpensive, I'm not 100% sure but I think it was something like $16 for 3 people each bi-weekly pay period.

Auto insurance used to go down a little every year as the car aged. I'm about $850 a year for 2011 SUV, in the past few years its been going up about $30/yr. I brought it up with the agent and we both laughed.

Auto glass is cover 100% here though, the lawn people broke my passenger window last year, called a glass company, the next day they came and popped in a new window, all I did was go out and sign.

The aging population is the biggest problem for all government welfare programs as they all rely on a pyramid system, the wide bottom representing the young generation. That has changed dramatically throughout the developed nations. US, Germany, UK etc, all have far too low birth rates to sustain the programs properly. Plus, we live longer, leading to higher per-capita costs for health care programs at the top of the pyramid.

The problem in the US is amplified by the much higher cost for drugs, medical treatments etc. Don't know exactly why that is the case.

 

[mack341]

No clue, to be honest.

I know the Singapore system very well which I think is pretty good, if not the best in Asia. Everyone has an individual CPF account which covers Medisave, retirement and other things. A fixed percentage is locked for Medisave and retirement, the reminder can be used to pay for education of the kids, buying a house, unemployment (limited) etc....basically stuff that the government supports and sees as beneficial for its citizens. Once you retire you can opt to have the entire unblocked amount + retirement funds paid out in a lump sum or you go for monthly partial payments.

20% (split 50/50 with the employer) from your salary goes every month into the account. Everyone is free to deposit extra money into it at any time. Plus the government dumps some money on top, e.g. for each child they match $1 : $1 up to a certain amount going in.

However, it is not perfect. If you're never seriously ill and had high contributions all your life, then you're absolutely fine. The problem starts when e.g. you depleted your Medisave part, because then you have to pay the entire medical bills. You can buy additional private insurance to cover that but that doesn't work easily when you have a family of 4 or 5 and just a normal salary.

Thailand introduced a few years ago a basic healthcare program for everyone. I think they contribute like THB500 from the salary every month. It only covers though basic stuff.

As for myself, I left the general healthcare system decades ago and went without insurance for a long time. Later then, because of my son, I signed up for a private insurance plan which currently takes appr. US$400 every month from my pockets. Nothing fancy, but sufficient should I ran into health issues. I don't need a single room or other such perks when I am sick

By the sounds of it, if you have a chronic condition which needs a lot of treatment, tests etc.. you could be in difficulty and need extra money for when your medisave runs out. Makes me think perhaps the NHS is a better system but it does needs a real good looking at and overhaul. we spend 640 million a year on outside management consultants on top of the nhs bureaucracy. how many nurses or doctors could be trained or hired instead of the unnecessary waste. I wonder how china copes, with its big population and also high pollution and large number of smokers.

 

[Harry_BKK]

By the sounds of it, if you have a chronic condition which needs a lot of treatment, tests etc.. you could be in difficulty and need extra money for when your medisave runs out. Makes me think perhaps the NHS is a better system but it does needs a real good looking at and overhaul. we spend 640 million a year on outside management consultants on top of the nhs bureaucracy. how many nurses or doctors could be trained or hired instead of the unnecessary waste. I wonder how china copes, with its big population and also high pollution and large number of smokers.

There are some supplemental programs from the government to alleviate costs of chronically ill people but yeah, you still take most of the brunt with the bills. Good reason to try and stay healthy as long as possible or you better have some private insurance back-u to fill the gap.

China is simple: you are sick, you pay...you can't pay, you die.

 

[slotplayer]

The aging population is the biggest problem for all government welfare programs as they all rely on a pyramid system, the wide bottom representing the young generation. That has changed dramatically throughout the developed nations. US, Germany, UK etc, all have far too low birth rates to sustain the programs properly. Plus, we live longer, leading to higher per-capita costs for health care programs at the top of the pyramid.


The problem in the US is amplified by the much higher cost for drugs, medical treatments etc. Don't know exactly why that is the case.

yes, all of it is a pyramid scheme, but the cycle will start to reverse once the generation using the most benefits starts to die off.

The reason I hear is US big pharma uses the US market to recoop the billions invested to develop a medicine. Then they offer it overseas as "an additional revenue/market place stream", basically gravy, thus other countries like Switzerland (the example country mentioned) are able to negotiate excellent pricing.

 

[Harry_BKK]

yes, all of it is a pyramid scheme, but the cycle will start to reverse once the generation using the most benefits starts to die off.

The reason I hear is US big pharma uses the US market to recoop the billions invested to develop a medicine. Then they offer it overseas as "an additional revenue/market place stream", basically gravy, thus other countries like Switzerland (the example country mentioned) are able to negotiate excellent pricing.

Not really sure that applies as pharmaceuticals are huge global corporations where R&D is done in multiple locations across the world. That argumentation has been brought up / amplified by Mr. T, however, I haven't read enough about the pricing issue to make a qualified answer. But we know, that Mr. T tries to pin all US problems on outside "powers". Hence, highly doubtful that it is actually true.

Personally, I think they just charge in every country as much as they can get away with.

 

[Steviedoo]

Wow, what an explanation for his statement after the meeting with Vlad, probably the worst possible

"In a key sentence in my remarks I said the word would instead of wouldn’t. The sentence should have been: 'I don’t see any reason why it wouldn’t be Russia'. Sort of a double negative. I think that probably clarifies things pretty good on itself."

Only that just minutes earlier he said:

"Could be other people also. There's a lot of people out there."

So which is it?

BTW, reading from a written transcript this time, nicely put together by his press team so it can sound at least somewhat credible, which it isn't as his statement in the Helsinki presser had more than just the one sentence where he claims to have misspoken.

Trump is helping the Russians dismantle the USA.

 

[slotplayer]

Not really sure that applies as pharmaceuticals are huge global corporations where R&D is done in multiple locations across the world. That argumentation has been brought up / amplified by Mr. T, however, I haven't read enough about the pricing issue to make a qualified answer. But we know, that Mr. T tries to pin all US problems on outside "powers". Hence, highly doubtful that it is actually true.

Personally, I think they just charge in every country as much as they can get away with.

I heard it on the business news way before T came on the scene.

 

[Harry_BKK]

I heard it on the business news way before T came on the scene.

I still don't think that to be 100% true because I can't imagine a global pharmaceutical would go through the trouble to have 100's of different prices for every country.

Some 33 years ago, I worked the night shift for a pharmaceutical reseller for three weeks during school holidays. I was putting drugs order together for shipping and most had the prices on the collection sheets. Deliveries were to all possible countries and I hardly ever saw big price differences.

I just looked at Aspirin prices (the Bayer original) and found that they are lower in the US. 300 tablets for $16.99 at Walgreens, in Germany you get 100 tablets for appr. $12.00.

Only one example, but I am pretty sure just like with the selective highlighting of tariffs, there are outliers in pharmaceuticals and all other industries.

If you take the tariffs Mr. T keeps bringing up, especially the 10% on cars the EU is charging, you will see that overall they are on average around 2 - 3%. On some products the US is charging higher tariffs and on others the EU. Taking all 99 tariff chapters together, it balances out.

 

[slotplayer]

 

[slotplayer]

I still don't think that to be 100% true because I can't imagine a global pharmaceutical would go through the trouble to have 100's of different prices for every country.

Some 33 years ago, I worked the night shift for a pharmaceutical reseller for three weeks during school holidays. I was putting drugs orders together for shipping and most had the prices on the collection sheets. Deliveries were to all possible countries and I hardly ever saw big price differences.

I just looked at Aspirin prices (the Bayer original) and found that they are lower in the US. 300 tablets for $16.99 at Walgreens, in Germany you get 100 tablets for appr. $12.00.

Only one example, but I am pretty sure just like with the selective highlighting of tariffs, there are outliers in pharmaceuticals and all other industries.

If you take the tariffs Mr. T keeps bringing up, especially the 10% on cars the EU is charging, you will see that overall they are on average around 2 - 3%. On some products the US is charging higher tariffs and on others the EU. Taking all 99 tariff chapters together, it balances out.

I was Googling around reading some articles but they offer different reasons.
Some said the National Healthcare Systems had greater bargaining power.

 

[Harry_BKK]

I was Googling around reading some articles but they offer different reasons.
Some said the National Healthcare Systems had greater bargaining power.

That is true indeed for one part of the pricing. However, the big pharmaceuticals are working wit a maze-like system of rebates/discounts etc that makes it virtually impossible to know what price would be fair for a particular drug.

 

[goatwack]

Pharmas are legalized scammers, a large part of why the NHS is ailing, and why healthcare will never be allowed to get truly reformed in the U.S.

Look at the cost of cancer treatment pills alone, no amount of R&D justifies £/$100,000s per supply

 

[Steviedoo]

And the reason for posting this video was to show what exactly?

That Putin wants better relations with the usa?
That we should believe that putin had nothing to do with election meddling?
And so this makes trump’s performance at Helsinki correct and ok. And let’s not forget trump corrected himself so we should all be ok with it.

 

[slotplayer]

And the reason for posting this video was to show what exactly?

That Putin wants better relations with the usa?
That we should believe that putin had nothing to do with election meddling?
And so this makes trump’s performance at Helsinki correct and ok. And let’s not forget trump corrected himself so we should all be ok with it.

Why not post it?

 

[weesie]

Auto insurance used to go down a little every year as the car aged. I'm about $850 a year for 2011 SUV, in the past few years its been going up about $30/yr. I brought it up with the agent and we both laughed.

Auto glass is cover 100% here though, the lawn people broke my passenger window last year, called a glass company, the next day they came and popped in a new window, all I did was go out and sign.

Car insurance is a big rip-off any more. Several years ago before I quit driving, I had an older car, it was paid off, so I opted for liability only. It was $30 to $35 a month. Then out of no where it jumped by 50%. I thought "What fresh hell is this?"".

I called my agent and was informed that they currently had started including a persons credit rating on their rates. Lower credit rating, higher insurance premium. Bullshit if you ask me. I think at the time I was having some financial issues but I never ever had a claim (in years) and I never ever missed a payment. The fact that car insurance is legally required in my state means they can hose you every way from Sunday and get away with it if you have the least little financial issue on the books. Crooks, the lot of them!

 

[Harry_BKK]

What hilarious days in the WH trying to clean up the Helsinki mess.

Shows they are not just pretty bad in telling the truth but also hopeless at cleaning up a mess they themselves created.

One aide doesn't know what the other says, then Mr. T having a "both sides 2.0" moment regarding Russian meddling, later walking back from the previous walking back argument and even worse, proving yet again that he is really clueless. His interview with Tucker clearly showed it, when they talked about why Tucker should send his son to defend Montenegro because of the NATO Article 5.

Mr. T had this gem up his sleeve: "Montenegro people are very aggressive people, they may get aggressive...and congratulations, you are in WWIII" --> mindblowing that a US president does not even know the simple basics of NATO.

--> First, implying, that a nation with some 600,000 people and an army of less than 2,000 soldiers would attack Russia, is just hilarious
--> Second, Article 5 is only referring that other NATO allies have to come to the defense if a country is attacked but not when that country is attacking another country.
--> Third, Montenegro did not ask for any assistance when their Prime Minister was nearly assassinated by Russians when they were negotiating to join NATO.
--> Fourth, the only country that activated Article 5 in over 70 years is the US

But hey, the NATO is now in tip-top shape since the last summit and the relationship with Russia better than ever before. Of course, none of that has a scintilla of truth.

Mr. T regarding Putin and Russian meddling: "I let him know we can't have this. We're not going to have it. And that's the way it's going to be".

Is he that naive or just plain stupid? As if a decade-long KGB agent will just do as he is told by a foreign president.

P.S. And changing his attitude towards North Korea. There is suddenly now "no hurry" in all the brimborium with NK. IMO, Mr. T preparing the public slowly for a failure to denuclearize NK.

 

[slotplayer]

Car insurance is a big rip-off any more. Several years ago before I quit driving, I had an older car, it was paid off, so I opted for liability only. It was $30 to $35 a month. Then out of no where it jumped by 50%. I thought "What fresh hell is this?"".

I called my agent and was informed that they currently had started including a persons credit rating on their rates. Lower credit rating, higher insurance premium. Bullshit if you ask me. I think at the time I was having some financial issues but I never ever had a claim (in years) and I never ever missed a payment. The fact that car insurance is legally required in my state means they can hose you every way from Sunday and get away with it if you have the least little financial issue on the books. Crooks, the lot of them!

They haven't done that here yet, there is a merit rating though.

 

[Steviedoo]

And mr trump,according to several news stories today knew that Russia was responsible for meddling in the election almost immediately after he was elected. And he’s been saying that Russia had nothing to do with it...In Helsinki was the biggest betrayal,then he took it back and added it could be other people, lots of people...so even in correcting his misspeak...he denies it.

 

[Steviedoo]

What hilarious days in the WH trying to clean up the Helsinki mess.

Shows they are not just pretty bad in telling the truth but also hopeless at cleaning up a mess they themselves created.

One aide doesn't know what the other says, then Mr. T having a "both sides 2.0" moment regarding Russian meddling, later walking back from the previous walking back argument and even worse, proving yet again that he is really clueless. His interview with Tucker clearly showed it, when they talked about why Tucker should send his son to defend Montenegro because of the NATO Article 5.

Mr. T had this gem up his sleeve: "Montenegro people are very aggressive people, they may get aggressive...and congratulations, you are in WWIII" --> mindblowing that a US president does not even know the simple basics of NATO.

--> First, implying, that a nation with some 600,000 people and an army of less than 2,000 soldiers would attack Russia, is just hilarious
--> Second, Article 5 is only referring that other NATO allies have to come to the defense if a country is attacked but not when that country is attacking another country.
--> Third, Montenegro did not ask for any assistance when their Prime Minister was nearly assassinated by Russians when they were negotiating to join NATO.
--> Fourth, the only country that activated Article 5 in over 70 years is the US

But hey, the NATO is now in tip-top shape since the last summit and the relationship with Russia better than ever before. Of course, none of that has a scintilla of truth.

Mr. T regarding Putin and Russian meddling: "I let him know we can't have this. We're not going to have it. And that's the way it's going to be".

Is he that naive or just plain stupid? As if a decade-long KGB agent will just do as he is told by a foreign president.

P.S. And changing his attitude towards North Korea. There is suddenly now "no hurry" in all the brimborium with NK. IMO, Mr. T preparing the public slowly for a failure to denuclearize NK.

I think the montenegro comment just didn’t come out of nowhere...he’s helping Russia.

 

[Harry_BKK]

I think the Montenegro comment just didn’t come out of nowhere...he’s helping Russia.

Russia was totally against Montenegro joining NATO. The reason is that Russia is friendly with Serbia which has no access to the Mediterranean Sea and now with Montenegro the entire coast is running through NATO countries.

 

[Steviedoo]

Yesterday the White House quietly released a budget report estimating the 2019 deficit will exceed $1 trillion.
Gee wonder why.

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They will blame obama ....

 

[mack341]

This is also an interesting background article on america's deficit:

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Overall the debt is 21 trillion, so if it goes up every year by another trillion I can't see how its sustainable, I think the annual interest paid in 2017 is about 470 billion dollars but this includes billions paid to us government trust funds as they're creditors as well. The world is so debted up its madness, where will it all end?

Also it says in the article that non mortgage consumer debt is 4 trillion and the student debt is 1.4 trillion, given this I would say its difficult to understand predictions of growth but maybe its down to demographics and there are a lot of teenagers about to become adults in a couple of years who will spend and borrow lots more money...

Edit: apparently the uk's debt is 1.78 trillion and the annual interest is 48 billion, I think our overall debt is still going up each year.

 

[slotplayer]

This is also an interesting background article on america's deficit:

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Overall the debt is 21 trillion, so if it goes up every year by another trillion I can't see how its sustainable, I think the annual interest paid in 2017 is about 470 billion dollars but this includes billions paid to us government trust funds as they're creditors as well. The world is so debted up its madness, where will it all end?

Also it says in the article that non mortgage consumer debt is 4 trillion and the student debt is 1.4 trillion, given this I would say its difficult to understand predictions of growth but maybe its down to demographics and there are a lot of teenagers about to become adults in a couple of years who will spend and borrow lots more money...

Edit: apparently the uk's debt is 1.78 trillion and the annual interest is 48 billion, I think our overall debt is still going up each year.

I believe Clinton balanced the budget and actually had a small surplus. Of course every year I used to get a small refund up until Clinton, that was the first year I had to send in additional $$. I didn't follow politics back in the 1990's so really never knew why until I did some research.

Then Bush and Obama, now Trump

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