Politics

[mdwest]

So the issue essentially comes down to competency whether or not Biden was in control of his faculties while the action was taking place? Wouldn’t that be very hard to prove after the fact. Short of a medical doctor testifying he examined Biden during the period in question and found him lacking I don’t know how it could be proven in court.

I dont think its a matter of control of his faculties (although that certainly adds another facet to consider) so much as its a matter of actual physical control of the document..

For example, I tell you "review this 10 page document.. let me know if you approve it.. and if so, I'll sign it for you...."

You review the document... you approve it.. and then I sign..

but.. I either intentionally or accidentally sign a different version of the document that either has something missing from what you reviewed or something added...

 

[MauserM03Blog]

"Climate change is not a hoax. It's bizarre to see a large number of people deciding that it is, because it suits them. It doesn't work this way. We don't get to decide that something isn't happening, when clearly it is."

Actually what I have read in many responses - and I agree - is that whether you believe it or not, many of us feel it's a lost cause. Way too many people and countries do not care, do not have the capacity to care, or (most likely) both. Talk about and its dangers all you want if it suits you. It ain't getting turned around.

Would your solution to being obese and unhealthy be to eat more junk food, or clean up your act? It’s that simple.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

I bet the Chinese manufacturers are actually making quite a bit of money..

Is China really taking steps? I find that laughable. Any evidence?

I think the space race is ramping back up..

Go and look. What’s laughable is to express a strong opinion without being informed. Get some data, then work out what you think. China is still producing a lot of pollution but it has policies that are moving it in the right direction. It hasn’t thrown in the towel.

 

[Nyati]

Does it matter?

If the MAGA supporters believe it was out of generosity, it’s easy for them to make the leap that the generosity is unappreciated, therefore it should end..

If the belief is it’s out of self interest.. the argument becomes that interests change.. and they no longer believe Germanys defense (for example) is of interest… especially if Germany demonstrates no interest of its own in its own defense..

The point remains, until you convince the right in this country that it’s in its interest to do X (whether out of human kindness or strategic value, or anything else), what is currently going on isn’t going to change..

And silly saber rattling from the like of Freeland, Ford, Trudeau, etc isn’t helping convince anyone..

All it’s doing is further validating their beliefs…

Fully agree with your analysis.

But now the MAGA crowd should understand that now the EU has lost any trust with the USA, (a sad situation for many of us), and that we will reconsider buying US military equipment, as we cannot rely on a supply of spare parts, software updates...

That will hurt the US balance of payments and also mean job losses.

Not good for either side

 

[Hunter4752001]

Not just Europe. There wouldn't be a country left in the world that now considers the US as a reliable ally or even trustable to any degree whether in trade or defence matters. Our politicians may still be cautious about what they say, but the people are in no doubt. Bloody sad that its come to this.

 

[deewayne2003]

The cool seasons are the dry seasons. The grass fires can be beneficial or catastrophic depending upon who started them, why they started them, and where they were started.

Correct, I was able to control brush and raise the PH of my pasture soil from 5.4 to 6.4 over several years of prescribed burning.

Take south Texas - when the Spanish landed they wrote about how the grasses were taller than their horses; this was because of both natural fire but also natives burning to both drive and attract game.

Now south Texas is covered in mesquite, juniper and other brush that sucks up massive amounts of ground water.

One mature Cedar tree takes 400 liters of water from the soil everyday, and I fight cedar every year on my farm.

 

[YancyW]

Go and look. What’s laughable is to express a strong opinion without being informed. Get some data, then work out what you think. China is still producing a lot of pollution but it has policies that are moving it in the right direction. It hasn’t thrown in the towel.

How many coal plants did they build last year, 2024? How many coal plants do they have currently in production? 13 billion metric tons of CO2 just from the plants they had in production in 2023, then add in what they added into production in 2024, which is roughly half the coal production the US has in total.

What % of total world coal consumption does China use?

 

[TTundra]

Go and look. What’s laughable is to express a strong opinion without being informed. Get some data, then work out what you think. China is still producing a lot of pollution but it has policies that are moving it in the right direction. It hasn’t thrown in the towel.

I work in China periodically pre and post Covid for some 15 years now in the factory cities....not the "show the westerners these pretty sites" cities.

There is some truth to this statement, but "policies moving in the right direction" in China is actually laughable.

The Chinese government picks cities to "enforce" their newer environmental appeasement laws. What then happens is the famous "red envelopes" come out when the government inspectors come thru (yes, I've seen it first hand) or the environmental systems put in place (water or air filtration) are purchased thru the inspectors "recommended sources" or otherwise known as their business partner.

Of course, most government inspectors don't stay too long as they get wealthy quick and retire and many actually emigrate to western Canada.

I've told more stories and shown more photos of Chinese factories and seeing every pollutant possible go right into the sewer, river, and air.

If more saw what conditions most of your jeans, shirts, bags, fishing terminal, tools, coolers, you name it, are made in and subject to across China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Phillipines, Cambodia, Thailand, Pakistan, etc....you would absolutely spend more on US made. I also know few in the US are willing to make what it would take to keep commodity prices attainable for most.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Go and look. What’s laughable is to express a strong opinion without being informed. Get some data, then work out what you think. China is still producing a lot of pollution but it has policies that are moving it in the right direction. It hasn’t thrown in the towel.

I did indeed find that they have improved on some things. That said, they’re still one of the worst perpetrators. Especially offshore and abroad.

Also, I said I find that laughable and then asked you for evidence. YOU are the one who used them as an example yet did not provide any data to support your claim. So part of that is on you as well as me.

“Throwing in the towel” is a dumb analogy in this case as well. It implies they’re doing everything that can possibly be done. 100% effort. We know they’re not. Most of what I found was similar to Russia keeping Moscow clean and safe, relatively speaking. Or North Korea doing the same with Pyongyang.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

You do realize that you are talking about the most stupid woman in politics, right?

Hi Brent. If you look again, you'll see I was talking about Trump. I wrote a list of things Trump has done, that Harris wouldn't do.

I realise you don't like Harris. I don't think she was a great candidate either. It's Biden's fault; he shouldn't have run. But let's be honest about it. As President of the Senate, Harris behaved graciously, honourably and lawfully during the transition of power. It is not possible to say the same about Trump.

Some of Trumps policies have merit. Unfortunately, his character is so damaged that the prospect of his meritorious policies coming to fruition is distinctly reduced. He creates a trail of destruction everywhere he goes. This is unnecessary. People need to choose better leaders.

 

[mdwest]

Fully agree with your analysis.

But now the MAGA crowd should understand that now the EU has lost any trust with the USA, (a sad situation for many of us), and that we will reconsider buying US military equipment, as we cannot rely on a supply of spare parts, software updates...

That will hurt the US balance of payments and also mean job losses.

Not good for either side

I think the defense sales argument is a pretty weak one..

in 2024 the US sold $117B in military equipment across the entirety of Europe (both NATO and non NATO nations)... Globally the US sold $318B.. so the European purchases arent a small amount.. they're over 1/3 at the moment..

That said, the majority of defense sales in 2024 were tied to Ukraine related demand (European countries purchasing items to backstock after selling/donating/lending/etc their goods to Ukraine)..

Prior to the war in Ukraine, the entirety of Europe only amounted to about 11% of global military sales annually.. which is still a pretty large number.. but not really that significant so that it would do irrepairable harm to the US defense industry... even if every penny went away, which wont happen..

Its expected that once the war in Ukraine is over, that European purchases would reduce back to pre-war values.. Europe as previously has been mentioned produces its own aircraft, tanks, ships, etc for the most part... so a reduction is already being planned for I am sure by US defense providers (whether there is a good relationship or a poor one, the purchase of materials and supplies would be reducing anyway.. a poor relationship just means it will reduce by a larger value)..

That said, much of what Europe was purchasing prior to the war, Europe will have to continue to purchase whether it likes it or not until they can figure out how to produce certain items for themselves..

For example, the UK owns 250+ nuclear warheads...

Those warheads are worthless however without a delivery system..

100% of the UK's delivery systems are leased from the US (trident missiles) to include all of their targeting, control, and other systems as well as all maintenance, which is conducted by the US..

So unless the UK wants to go non-nuclear, their only option at the moment is to continue to buy from the US.. It would take many years for the UK not only to procure a different system, but to also field it, train on it, and have it fully capable... Trump will have been gone from office long before the UK could manage to accomplish this..

And there will be some European countries that will continue to purchase US military systems whether they believe the relationship is good or bad, simply because it is in that countries strategic interest to do so (which could be driven by a variety of reasons)... There is a reason Germany and other European countries are still buying billions of dollars in oil from Russia every year, despite labeling Russia an enemy and acknowledging Russia is a physical threat to them.. They believe its in their strategic interest to do so.. despite having a bad relationship with the Russians..

There is a reason for example that Egypt just agreed to purchase $5B in US military equipment in December, Pakistan made a $450M purchase in 2022, etc.. even though those countries have had difficult relationships with the US for decades..

Most countries purposefully purchase from several sources for a number of reasons.. for example Brazil buys from the US, France, Germany, and Russia (among others)... Kuwait buys from all members of the UN Security Council for a very specific reason, etc..etc..

 

[Tundra Tiger]

Would your solution to being obese and unhealthy be to eat more junk food, or clean up your act? It’s that simple.

Not even apples and oranges... no, it's not that simple, and if you think that you're damned naive.

So I am obese and choose to clean up my act... or not. Me, an individual.

Speaking of me and my little corner of the world, there isn't any sort of unified front with regards to climate change or fixing it in my community of 2500 in Alaska. If anything I'd say we're probably moving the needle in the wrong direction, overall. There is less than zero chance for even minimal buy-in from most countries globally, IMHO. As others have pointed out, if a country can't provide for the very basics to simply live day to day, how do you expect the people in such places to give so much as a rat's fart of thought or concern to something as esoteric as global warming or climate change? The future of the planet? They're just worried about seeing next month.

A solution that applies to a single individual is pretty freaking meaningless when you attempt to apply it to the global population, IMHO. No sir, as much as an optimist as I am, you folks are pissing into a hurricane level wind on this. If this is Thermopylae, you don't have even 300 and they ain't Spartans either. You can be butt hurt about it but it doesn't change reality. Feel free to cling to your own opinion. This happens to be mine.

 

[deewayne2003]

Texas corn is totally dependent upon fertilizer. I lease fifteen acres to a farmer and he, like everyone else in this area, "rotates" corn on it year after year.

Unfortunately these are the practices that are destroying our topsoil by trading soil health for short term profit.

Often these are the same farmers that ignore the much needed soil tests that @WAB mentioned, and simply throw out hundreds of pounds of 20-20-20 per acre; while complaining about fertilizer cost.

We do have problems with improper fertilizer use in the USA and runoff from it is a major factor in why so many of our lakes and streams are choked with vegetation.

Example: Nitrogen in granular form is a volatile element, if you spread hundreds of pounds per acre at one time your probably losing 50% of it to runoff and evaporation and if your soil PH is to low your only getting 50% of the fertilizer value being applied.

I’ve seen soil tests for Bermuda grass & corn requiring 800lbs + per acre of nitrogen alone.

 

[OxfordTheCat]

I dont think its a matter of control of his faculties (although that certainly adds another facet to consider) so much as its a matter of actual physical control of the document..

For example, I tell you "review this 10 page document.. let me know if you approve it.. and if so, I'll sign it for you...."

You review the document... you approve it.. and then I sign..

but.. I either intentionally or accidentally sign a different version of the document that either has something missing from what you reviewed or something added...

The question would be how is this any different than the multitude of documents signed by Trump via auto pen during his presidency?

... or the more recent examples where Trump was on video and fairly obviously unaware of what EOs he was even putting Sharpie-to-paper on?

 

[mdwest]

Reading is fundamental...

Autopens are legal in most states and create binding documents.. Trump can auto pen the hell out of just about anything he wants and there is nothing wrong with it..

the exception is LAW.. which constitutionally must be penned by the actual person (at least according to many constitutional scholars and legal authorities)..

 

[DillonG]

You do realize that the overwhelming majority of Trumps cabinet picks are exhorborantly wealthy, and very few of them have ever spent a day in the middle class, much less have a clue what "working class" life is like don't you?

Bessent is a pauper by comparison to most... his net worth is just a skosh over $500M..

Lutnick could buy Bessent with his pocket change.. he's worth north of $2B

McMahon is worth a cool $3.4B

Trump himself is worth just under $5B..

Stephen Feinberg is worth a little more than Trump with a $5B net worth..

Elon could buy all of them with the money he'll make between now and next Tuesday..

Yet you trust their positions and their intentions.. but assert others that have some measure financial freedom opinions arent of value because they're not hurting for money?

You know your situation better than anyone as a self described "peon".. but you think Robert Kennedy Jr (a mere peasant by comparison to most of Trumps cabinet with a net worth of a mere $15M) or Chris Wright ($150M net worth) best understand the "working man"... and not someone who was raised in the middle class in Louisiana, that spent a career in the military (I can assure you that even those who attain senior rank in the military live at or below the middle of middle class for the majority of their career)?

Something of a preposterous assumption on your part don't you think?

It may well be that you and @Red Leg disagree on a multitude of things.. Red Leg and I don't agree on everything..

but your belief that money has anything to do with it is pretty far fetched..

I will say that I don’t mind politicians being inherently wealthy before entering office. Money in politics seems to be a powerful influence for politicians with less wealth.

 

[HerbJohnson]

We, on AH.com, are so blessed as an informed community, to be able to discuss almost anything. Digest it, hash it out, and give both pros and cons without verbal violence. Just the facts with some balanced opinion. Thank you, moderator, for your invitation at no financial cost on us. Although insightful donations are appreciated.

 

[MauserM03Blog]

This is the most ridiculous statement I have read in a long time.

If you want to know why people don't trust the science, because you say you are a scientist and use scientific theory and then say something ridiculous as this.

People trust science, you included. You enjoy using rifle propellants with various burning rates. You appreciate the consistency from batch to batch. You appreciate the shelf-life and the how safe it is to use, while still being incredibly effective when ignited in just the right way. All of this comes to you from science. Hodgdon H4350, one of the best and most useful propellants around, is Australian AR2209. I worked on the project that made this happen, early in my career.

People trust science. Think of all the other examples of how you trust science. The metallurgy in your barrels and actions, the coatings on your riflescope lenses, the laser rangefinders and thermal sensors you might be using. The GPS that guides the drone you use to find game. The fact that you never got polio and can walk when you go hunting. The masks you insist your surgeons use when operating on you. The mask you wear to avoid breathing in asbestos fibres. Go on, take it off if you don't trust science.

People trust science. They just don't realise all the ways. Then they get silly and decide not to trust science when they don't like what it reports, to their own detriment.

 

[mdwest]

People trust science, you included. You enjoy using rifle propellants with various burning rates. You appreciate the consistency from batch to batch. You appreciate the shelf-life and the how safe it is to use, while still being incredibly effective when ignited in just the right way. All of this comes to you from science. Hodgdon H4350, one of the best and most useful propellants around, is Australian AR2209. I worked on the project that made this happen, early in my career.

People trust science. Think of all the other examples of how you trust science. The metallurgy in your barrels and actions, the coatings on your riflescope lenses, the laser rangefinders and thermal sensors you might be using. The GPS that guides the drone you use to find game. The fact that you never got polio and can walk when you go hunting. The masks you insist your surgeons use when operating on you. The mask you wear to avoid breathing in asbestos fibres. Go on, take it off if you don't trust science.

People trust science. They just don't realise all the ways. Then they get silly and decide not to trust science when they don't like what it reports, to their own detriment.

The problem with your post is you are generalizing..

Most people trust MOST science.. They certainly don't trust all of it..

People are also becoming less and less trusting of academia and its resident academics as a rule... which are responsible for much of the "science" presented that has been questioned of late..

At one point the finest "scientists" in the world thought the world was flat.. at other times "science" told us that the use of leeches removed toxins from the body...

"Science" is often improved upon, and sometimes outright dispelled.. that is the nature of scientific theory.. FWIW the overwhelming majority of scientists will tell you that climate change is still a THEORY.. some believe that theory can be proven.. others, not so much..

a smart scientist questions science.. without questioning, doubting, and re-questioning science, nothing ever improves..

 

[DillonG]

@Wyatt Smith when do farmers local to you start to source their fertilizer for the season.

I’m not an expert. My family farms about 3,000 acres and they would have a more nuanced argument. We contract for multiple years at fixed rate. Potash isn’t used every year. It is in rotation based on soil tests. Just guessing that this negotiation lasts less than 1 growing season. Maybe I am an optimist, but I can see both allies agreeing to a fair trade deal within the calendar year.