Jerry_Atrick

Oh, I think you can.. after all, he admits he is a dick, but the problem is he can't remember it was him acting like a dick:

How do we treat the US? From my understanding: We allow them t have their bases here. We historically have a large trade deficit with them (in other words, they have a large trade surplus). That has only changed this year because their ultra wealthy see the writing ont he wall with Chump's policies and are going to a safe asset - gold - and are importing it from all over the world like crazy. We sell them aliminium that they did ot impose tariffs on previously.. but it was not dumped - it was sold at wither prevailing spot price or in accordance with futures or forward contracts (Vance lied when he said we sold subsidised goods); Unti Abbot clamped down on the car industry, we allowed the US car mnanufacturers to claim the 150% R&D tax deduction through transfer pricing R&D and not carrying out anywhere near as much as they claimed they did. Oracle, a large software company still claim their R&D centre in Aus, yet they don't do that much development there. AUKUS. Australia has signed up to $380Bn purchase of something like 8 subs, but have committed soemthing like 8bn just to prop up their ship building industry and we can't get anything back even if the US decide they don't want to supply us.. Most of our defence procurement is spent on the US We have sent troops to fight US wars that have no impact on Australia, and little in local geopolitics We have far more people move to the US for work - called the brain drain - we pay to educate them and the US gets the benefit of that education. And with all of this, we have lost our self-sufficiency in many ways. What does Australia get out of it? A promise (and increasingly unlikely to be honoured) promise that should Australia be invaded, the US may come to our rescue... So, tell me what else do we get from the US and what else do we do to treat the US so badly? So, I would argue we treat them very, very well.. using Chump's vernacular, we treat the US beautifully.. don't we? And they stick it up our arse.

On the Morning tonight Peninsula? Geez, they'll be ripping up those grape vines if they find out

I thought this, too because compared to others who have since been constrained, he has taken the cake. But, to be fair, this is now educational...

Wow.. I am all for this... But, what is a Super Medical Troubleshooting team - and to make sure they're doing their job properly, wouldn't we need a Super Super Medical Troubleshooting Review team.. and so on, and so on. and so on? Yes,.a celebrity but, Nah, given they could fire anyone at will, without due process, and maybe for administering vaccines, .. I think it's Rob F Kennedy Jr... I think GON is an aberration of the Trump administration - they use us as a sounding board. If we don't like it, they will implement it.

Guess you can no longer say Chump avoids fireworks and war https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/donald-trump-air-strikes-sanaa-houthi-rebels-red-sea-shipping/105057492?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=other

Rather than groups this into the what has Chump done now thread, I thought it would be pertinent to create a thread of what others are doing in response to President Chump. I am not talking about direct responses, such as the EU and Canada putting up its tariffs in response to el Chumpo, but more far reaching consequences. And, this is the first one: I actually think this is as an advantage, however, like almost all things humanity, we either don't foresee issues, or we are too lazy to act on them until they are in our face. Not, two months in, Portugal has decided not to go with its decision to purchase F-35s on the basis that the US can no longer be seen to be dependable, and the real risk they may curtail a country being able to use US built equipment to defend itself. Canada may well follow suit. especially given SAAB's offer for full technology transfer to and manufacturing in Canada. Marles has come out recently as saying the US us a dependable ally, but is Australia really not reviewing its AUKUS contract and thinking, maybe there is a more reliable partner out there? The geopolitical sands are shifting very quickly... strap yourselves in, its going to be a hell of a ride.

There, there

Another source: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-administration-weighs-travel-ban-dozens-countries-memo-says-2025-03-15/ There are three groups of bans- one total, one partial, and one partial unless they address "deficiencies" (not sure what they are) within 60 days. According to the article, it is being planned - not yet formalised, and they quoted 41 countries.

Except for the footy, Nev Still working and will be for a bit tonight; also have the man cold plus, but have the fire going and a glass of Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardy... All is good!

This is an interesting synopsis:

II was living overseas when Howard overhauled health insurance.. and of course, I hadn't picked up on the surcharge pe year when you're over 30, I think it is.. When I do return I will be paying 60% more than I need to.. I guess in some ways it's fair as the premiums don't appear to take into account anything but pre-existing, but that was a bit of a gulp moment when I found out.

And probably higher acuity of those senses

No, but it has to be said... Here is a claimed real consequence of his actions: https://time.com/7265679/satellites-front-failing-hundreds-dead-fallout-trump-ukraine-aid-pause/?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-gb

O I had no idea

I have an ideological aversion to Chromium based browsers..

If you're a Firefox user, like me, you may want to take a look at this: Yep, I will be coming off Firefox. The spell checker has never worked for me, anyway - at least on Windows. Start form the 2:20 point of the vid.. this first bit is intro and sponsor ad. I wil be trying the floorp.

I had it as well.. only the once.. maybe they have some dodgy advertisers..

Do I detect an opportunity for Aussie wine and other drinks:

First, did Musk insinuate that Carlos Slim had links to a crominal gang. Secondly, billionaires wil not upend their supply contacts on emotion - that is why they are billionaires - unless it was grossly offensive. Billionaires are also people of vast resources, and may use them to get personally even, in that situation. He would unlikely use Chinese providers, as they are distrusted with the whole comms thing. Secondly, if he can't get a better deal and save money, which his team will always be looking at anyway, he won't move. Why would he want to pay more, or have the upheaval, or lesser service for the same? I have met one billionaire not too long ago.. they are a very different breed to you and me.

I normally follow federal and state elections, but this one for some reason went to the keeper. I didn't even see it on teh ABC News website.. so maybe it does need to rethink its revamp. That is quite a rejection for the LNP. At time of writing, Labour have 42 seats, with 55.5% of the votes counted. Libs 5 and NP, 4. No others: https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/wa/2025/results?filter=all&sort=all&party=all The vote count will change obviously. Very different to the QLD election, that was a convincing win to the LNP, but still Labor had a good look in. I wonder if Chump had an bearing on the election. With the climate crap hitting Australia, and the abeyance of good government that comes with Chumopism, and further right parties these days, maybe it is sending a clear signal to the Libs and Nats - bit more towards the centre please, and policies for the good of all Aussies, not a select group?

Bingo.. That is why you weren't a loser nor a sucker - how could anyone young and naive in the conext be either? You were explouted - that is something very different.

You were neither.. It was a legal requirement or your would go to prison and be pilloried by society.. The Vietnam conscripts couldn't win either way. Though, admittedly, the pilloryong did in the end help shift the public perception of the war and notably how our boys were being treated. But an swful lot to ask a young man to take such responsibility to rearguard the action, given life in prison wasn't the best for anyone who objected.