2009-02-04, 00:24 | Link #241 |
思想工作
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vereinigte Staaten
Age: 31
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Obama probably isn't going to be that awesome or anything like lots of people childishly expect, but at least I can have a little bit of hope for my home nation. Bush was just a retard. Obama is still tied down by the corrupt system we have, but at least he actually knows what he's doing compared to anyone in the GOP.
I'm just pissed that he's sill propping up the shitty system by keeping it on the 800-billion dollar life-support. If I were him I'd just let the old rotten structure collapse, teach all the people a lesson for letting America get into this mess, and start anew. It's not that anyone will starve to death or anything since we have all the food we could need. |
2009-02-04, 00:33 | Link #242 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
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In recent news, President Obama seeks Russia deal to slash nuclear weapons.
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2009-02-04, 00:38 | Link #243 | |
Observer/Bookman wannabe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 38
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@james0246: I think Obama and his team would accept a Russian sphere of influence over some parts of Europe. Here's hoping that a deal could be concluded.
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2009-02-04, 00:46 | Link #244 | |
思想工作
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Vereinigte Staaten
Age: 31
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The USA is too dependent on corporations and foreign investments (China basically owns us now lol), which is very embarrassing considering that we could be totally self-reliant (we have food and good land) and free from attack (we have a great military and two oceans to protect us), if only we didn't want to all live decadent, worthless lives and use cheap foreign products and resources procured from those in poverty. But now our greed has trapped us and we will have to learn a painful lesson for it. |
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2009-02-04, 02:30 | Link #245 | ||
Good-Natured Asshole.
Join Date: May 2007
Age: 34
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1) Everyone will trash Obama, since the people are dumb and will never realize that pumping in money doesn't help much. 2) If you want to renew, you better take out the entire system. Otherwise, we'll end up with even more dominance of the elite that survive. 3) Among the only industries left standing if this were to happen are those serving the military. We don't need more of their dominance. In fact, it'd creep me out if any of the companies that survive gain dominance, because those are mostly government-related. 4) A good deal of the world economy leans on America. If the US economy is allowed to die, even for the shortest time, the international market will suffer, and then immediately recenter itself around Europe and China (if not Russia and the Middle East, which don't like us). The US will take decades to get that focus back again, if ever. 5) People *will* starve to death, because in dire times nobody will share. Getting people to share is a social dilemma that will never prevail over personal greed. I'd expect massive street fighting over "all the food we could need." What Obama really needs to get across is that America is seriously threatened as the most powerful nation on Earth and the American people need to stop assuming that they're undoubtedly the best. Quote:
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2009-02-04, 03:07 | Link #246 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PMB Headquarters
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Obama places national security ahead of the economy, which is a good thing because there is no point to have a stable economy if Americans are living in danger and fear. Just this recent 2-3 days, both Iran and North Korea has taken a rather aggressive stance unexpectedly.
North Korea had abolished all political and military agreements with South Korea which has possibly removed the few decades old ceasefire agreement. At the same time, South Korea had also showed signs of anger by burning North Korean flags, as well as signs featuring their leader Kim Jong Il along with the flags. North Korea has become a regional threat to both the national security of South Korea and Japan in which both are allies of the US, not mentioning that North Korea also has the long-ranged missile capability of harming American citizens living on the mainland of the United States. Iran on the other hand has just announced an all-out support to the Hamas a day earlier and has the very intention of wiping Israel off the world map. On top of that, Iran has finally succeeded their very first satelight that enables the capability of long-ranged missiles carrying nuclear warheads with quite a radius of attack which deems to be a grave concern to the United States. Most of all, both North Korea and Iran are currently considered as non-peace seeking nations by the United Nations, even though only Iran is sanctioned at the moment. Depending on what actions will North Korea take within the next few weeks, they might get sanctioned as well. Having these two serious national security issues in mind, Obama probably won't be able to come up with effective economy-saving strategies for the time being. He is not God. |
2009-02-04, 03:09 | Link #247 | ||
Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
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Without derailing into a lengthy explanation: if you owe the bank $100 that is your problem, if you owe the bank $10,000,000,000,000 it is the bank's problem. That being said, things are still going to suck and the..."stimulus"...won't be helping. MULT below 1, alt-a downgrades, etc. here it comes. Probably a war somewhere on the horizon. |
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2009-02-04, 06:08 | Link #248 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Detroit, MI
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2009-02-04, 13:20 | Link #249 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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It seems to be pretty much standard operations for the North Korean govt. to "see what it can try" when a new administration comes in. Almost as far back as I can remember....
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2009-02-05, 00:12 | Link #250 |
Μ ε r c ü r υ
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Iran's new aggressive moves may make things more difficult for the Obama administration. Iran is an important piece for his foreign politics, well, to show that he will bring change, and a failure in that may trigger other failures as well. Iran being a player in the Middle East, and its effect on other radical Islamists, is a big reason for that too.
And unlike the Bush administration, a change of pace with Russia may also cause some problems ahead (China too). If too many things appear at once, while the current administration needs to give its most focus on the ongoing problems, Obama's first few years may be full of a lot of "I am sorry" headlines. And at some point openly admitting those mistakes may start to trigger negative responses too. |
2009-02-05, 00:19 | Link #251 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: East Cupcake
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^Actually better relations with China and Russia (and Europe in general) would relieve some stress concerning Iran and N. Korea. Specifically, China can help to influence N. Korea, and Russia can help to control Iran (this is a very simplistic account of what a more positive relationship with either/both Russia and China can do to help prevent future foreign wars).
To put it another way, if all it takes to ensure peace and prosperity (even if only for a few years) is to apologies for indiscretions or negative boasting, then it might be in the best interest for America to offer some form of apology. |
2009-02-05, 00:27 | Link #252 |
Μ ε r c ü r υ
Join Date: Jun 2004
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By apologies, I was actually referring to Obama's recent statements about his mistakes. In other words, taking wrong steps. Those ended well, but, it may not always be that way (especially in the future, when his decisions are for more important matters). Those may have more impact on the public, and if they repeat a lot, and if things are still looking bad, people may get bored of those statements, and start to feel negative.
About Russia and China. It depends on their intentions. I doubt that Obama will want to sit quiet, if those countries start to become more aggressive. If you try to look as if you won't really take a step to stop them even if it is needed, these are the countries that may exploit that at the highest level. Especially Russia. The more economical strength it gains, and the more US looks to not care about it, they may start doing things their way. Which may kinda look Bush's way. In such case, we all know Europe will not do anything other than talking, so, it may depend on how US will act. A difficult position. You need to be very careful to not make a mistake and if Obama decides to act too peaceful (like waiting a lot more than needed), mistakes are bound to happen. Right now, Obama is exactly opposite of Bush, regarding being passive. This is a good thing in a peaceful world, but, when things got heated, it may be a weakness. |
2009-02-05, 01:04 | Link #253 |
Observer/Bookman wannabe
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Singapore
Age: 38
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Well, for being in office for 2 weeks, Obama is trying to get many things moving. I think we need to sit tight and wait until at least the first 100 days are over before we can even begin to do any sort of evaluation.
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2009-02-05, 01:22 | Link #254 |
Μ ε r c ü r υ
Join Date: Jun 2004
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Well some say, if he needs to make some radical changes, his first few days may offer the best chance to take such steps. When everyone is positive about a change. Later on, it may become more difficult, especially if the public support does not stay at a high level, for some reason.
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2009-02-05, 01:32 | Link #255 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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Meh.. .I think setting an example this early on "staying clean" will work out for the best. I imagine a lot of "public servants" are scrambling to make sure their finances and taxes are in order now....
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2009-02-05, 01:47 | Link #256 |
Μ ε r c ü r υ
Join Date: Jun 2004
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And I am guessing some are trying to make sure that they won't be found out, assuming they have already gone beyond an acceptable point. In such case, Obama needs to use his administration to find out such people as early as possible. Cause, if I were a Republican that is aware of such corruptions, I would hold my tongue and stall the process as long as I can, until the right time comes to make it public.
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2009-02-05, 03:03 | Link #257 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: PMB Headquarters
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If Obama actually consider this idea as a good thing, I am certain that 8 years from now.. Obama would become a second Bush in which Americans are unhappy about. |
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2009-02-05, 03:24 | Link #258 | |
Μ ε r c ü r υ
Join Date: Jun 2004
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On the other hand, if US can make sure that Russia stays away from Iran, and does not block any kind of semi-offensive decisions at the security council, then, US can have the ability to control Iran's direction. Since Europe is mostly in the middle, US can gain the upperhand it desires. And since that result would be achieved indirectly, with help borrowed from Russia, there won't be significant worry about the reputation going downwards. As long as US can guarantee they won't suffer the consequences of giving something in return to Russia, then Obama's policy may succeed. Of course, at the end, it will depend on what Russia is planning. US needs to find some common ground. |
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2009-02-05, 03:43 | Link #259 |
Obey the Darkly Cute ...
Author
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: On the whole, I'd rather be in Kyoto ...
Age: 66
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I don't know that Iran is "supported" by Russia so much as Iran is just a good customer for arms-dealing Russia (and many other construction projects). Russia doesn't control Iran so much as it simply finds Iran useful in forcing the Europe and the US to waste resources and capital there that might be applied elsewhere.
China is also a major arms dealer with a number of customers we'd rather they not sell to. And of course, the US is a huge arms dealer.... except we frequently find ourselves giving our customers the money and then having them buy stuff from our companies. :P Pattern here is that the world's arms dealers are basically propping up situations that might otherwise dissipate if everyone hadn't structured so much of their "big" economic engines in the arms dealing sector. So... basically it sucks.
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2009-02-05, 03:51 | Link #260 | |
Pretentious moe scholar
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Vancouver, Canada
Age: 37
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Well, technically there are certain weapons that are considered primarily defensive and therefore might actually decrease the chance of war by giving the defender the advantage, but given that these weapons don't make up all sales, I would tend to agree. |
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