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Costin84

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The economy, and the debt is not as much of a problem as the growing inequalities in wealth and opportunities. Biden has two years to set his policies in motion before the citizens vote in the midterms to strengthen or deny him a majority in the upper and/or lower chambers. If anyone can tread a good compromising path in the middle, it is Biden. 2024 will be a hugely important election.
Biden won't live until 2022,lol
 

Nilgiri

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The economy, and the debt is not as much of a problem as the growing inequalities in wealth and opportunities. Biden has two years to set his policies in motion before the citizens vote in the midterms to strengthen or deny him a majority in the upper and/or lower chambers. If anyone can tread a good compromising path in the middle, it is Biden. 2024 will be a hugely important election.

To be perfectly brutal and frank...the growing inequalities you state are largely driven by the debt...as this debt is funneled by financial sector and big corporate investments into China (providing the very easy T-bond provision given their sustained increase in productivity at the lower tiers of economy especially...things that people on welfare in US sorely lack now)...the profits and savings (of PNTR) are basically coming in that way to support the extra spending without raising taxes too much. It is not being injected from the bottom of the pyramid as it ought to be, and as it was during the largest expansion of US economy in the 20th century.

Its a gravy train thats built largely on this earlier period of 1950 - 2000....it will take quite some time to sink that boat, but it is sinkable if its not attended to this decade.

Simply throwing more money at things (like big govt does on cue from its donors) does not solve them.

Creating large lags between commited (and thus projected) liabilities and revenue is even worse as you are being raw-populist but pretending not to be (its someone elses debt after you are retired from politics). Easy to pass bills with legalese for short term vote tranches, easy to sell T-bonds to China but its hard deal for the country in long run doing this without some mid course correction.

Raw populism = debt = inequality (given proven govt gross inefficiency).

On top of that the US govt has been running a ridiculous charade of budget CR's for as long as I can remember (I think it started under Bush 2)...that allows for all kind of ridiculous spending programs. It got exacerbated by the 08/09 recession on top of all the war spending.

There is too much spending on external security (by debt) and not enough on internal security. Then there is now this rising undercurrent where the inner security provision is being blamed excessively...and its a democrat identity politics thing too. Bad combo, those things only grow with time.

It is only with internal security (good law and order), that inner cities can start and nurture good businesses (this is actually a proven phenomenon and why very few inner city black folks are actually for defunding the police).

I don't see Biden changing this (at least at the top), he's hired all the same policy wonks in his cabinet that drove this mess in first place (under both Bush 2 and Obama and even Trump).

A lot of it isnt even federal govt purview, but state govt (and that needs democrat states to take control of their cities security, infra and basic welfare past the posh areas). Control is hard work...and again cannot be achieved by simply throwing more money (at the same corrupt folks running those city areas).

Just like you cant raise money (beneficially for the economy) by simply taxing liquidity more and more...given after a fairly early point there is vast diminishing returns behind how a govt uses liquidity compared to the free market. This is what the far-left really doesnt understand for example, if you tax the rich + corporates more and more, they run out of liquidity and you enter into nationalisation of fixed assets (how can they after all sell such assets to raise liquidity for taxes?...if you have starved the market for such assets of such liquidity in first place). This is the basic route to why socialism fails when you apply way too much.

The govt (well past Biden) has to define what its scope actually is rather than seeking to enter into everything on offer which just lends sustenance to certain groups to push their culture war even further, which aggrieves traditionalists even more.

This all needs the volume setting on wedge issues dialed down at least 5 times for starters...but that hits mainstream media and social media profits....and all the best buddy (of political class) donor groups.

If Biden/Harris actually push a scrapping-filibuster vote and court-packing vote (like dems have been threatening/promising) given they now have tie-breaker control of the senate, I will know for sure they are far more interested in the wedge issues and culture war rather than any semblance of centrism and fiscal prudence. At that point it will just come down to Joe Manchin siding with GOP on those radical agenda stuff I guess. God save the republic if it comes to that....a west virginian moderate democrat that knows he is representing republican heavy state.
 

Xenon54

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That the world's most powerful man tried and failed to disrupt the US system is a testament to its everlasting strength. Considering what the country has endured in 2020, it has been a stress test that has shown its strengths and weaknesses, and the process of improving the system will carry on unabated. Let there be no doubt that due process will always win in this country.
To me as an outsider the US socieity generally seems to be resistant to changes and reforms and for that reason the US lacks behind in many fields today.
 

Merzifonlu

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Apparently, Facebook and Google has already depose Trump. :)
 

Saithan

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According to danish news DT has agreed to peaceful transition after todays confirmation on JB.
 

Kaptaan

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Might sound insensible but play stupid games, win stupid prizes.
Three or four are dead. The only reason a full scale civil war has not erupted is as you said earlier most people are living a prosperous life. There is deep inequality with US society and no number of guns will paper over that. My worry is the incoming Biden administration might use "wag the dog" to unite and divert the attention on some external enemy. Mmmmm let me think "Muslims" might just do the trick. Another 9/11 type incident would be exactly what the doctor orderd ....
 

VCheng

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To be perfectly brutal and frank...the growing inequalities you state are largely driven by the debt...as this debt is funneled by financial sector and big corporate investments into China (providing the very easy T-bond provision given their sustained increase in productivity at the lower tiers of economy especially...things that people on welfare in US sorely lack now)...the profits and savings (of PNTR) are basically coming in that way to support the extra spending without raising taxes too much. It is not being injected from the bottom of the pyramid as it ought to be, and as it was during the largest expansion of US economy in the 20th century.

Its a gravy train thats built largely on this earlier period of 1950 - 2000....it will take quite some time to sink that boat, but it is sinkable if its not attended to this decade.

Simply throwing more money at things (like big govt does on cue from its donors) does not solve them.

Creating large lags between commited (and thus projected) liabilities and revenue is even worse as you are being raw-populist but pretending not to be (its someone elses debt after you are retired from politics). Easy to pass bills with legalese for short term vote tranches, easy to sell T-bonds to China but its hard deal for the country in long run doing this without some mid course correction.

Raw populism = debt = inequality (given proven govt gross inefficiency).

On top of that the US govt has been running a ridiculous charade of budget CR's for as long as I can remember (I think it started under Bush 2)...that allows for all kind of ridiculous spending programs. It got exacerbated by the 08/09 recession on top of all the war spending.

There is too much spending on external security (by debt) and not enough on internal security. Then there is now this rising undercurrent where the inner security provision is being blamed excessively...and its a democrat identity politics thing too. Bad combo, those things only grow with time.

It is only with internal security (good law and order), that inner cities can start and nurture good businesses (this is actually a proven phenomenon and why very few inner city black folks are actually for defunding the police).

I don't see Biden changing this (at least at the top), he's hired all the same policy wonks in his cabinet that drove this mess in first place (under both Bush 2 and Obama and even Trump).

A lot of it isnt even federal govt purview, but state govt (and that needs democrat states to take control of their cities security, infra and basic welfare past the posh areas). Control is hard work...and again cannot be achieved by simply throwing more money (at the same corrupt folks running those city areas).

Just like you cant raise money (beneficially for the economy) by simply taxing liquidity more and more...given after a fairly early point there is vast diminishing returns behind how a govt uses liquidity compared to the free market. This is what the far-left really doesnt understand for example, if you tax the rich + corporates more and more, they run out of liquidity and you enter into nationalisation of fixed assets (how can they after all sell such assets to raise liquidity for taxes?...if you have starved the market for such assets of such liquidity in first place). This is the basic route to why socialism fails when you apply way too much.

The govt (well past Biden) has to define what its scope actually is rather than seeking to enter into everything on offer which just lends sustenance to certain groups to push their culture war even further, which aggrieves traditionalists even more.

This all needs the volume setting on wedge issues dialed down at least 5 times for starters...but that hits mainstream media and social media profits....and all the best buddy (of political class) donor groups.

If Biden/Harris actually push a scrapping-filibuster vote and court-packing vote (like dems have been threatening/promising) given they now have tie-breaker control of the senate, I will know for sure they are far more interested in the wedge issues and culture war rather than any semblance of centrism and fiscal prudence. At that point it will just come down to Joe Manchin siding with GOP on those radical agenda stuff I guess. God save the republic if it comes to that....a west virginian moderate democrat that knows he is representing republican heavy state.

You raise a couple of interesting points, to be sure. Let us get through the next two weeks first and then see how the new admistration starts off to implement its policies.
 
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I absolutety agree with you. Wealth is a amazing dopamine . If you look at the oil rich kingdoms in Middle East the underlying stability is provided by wealth. Democracy contrary to coomon refrain is not as a strong a calling as wealth. If the tensions you see in USA for instance were replicatd in poorer countries like Pakistan there would be civil war. But to be sure this event has exposed deep divisions in US society. these faultlines run along ethnic, economic, ideaological lay of the country. This is a dangerous time for the world because like it or not the modern order pivots on US power.


Very true. It is escapes logic. USA did the same thing with Pakistan. A close ally that helped it in the war against USSR. Then kicked it in the shin.


There is irony in all what we are seeing. Having spent lot of time on forums dominated by Americans I noticed lot of them hated Muslims. They had never met one in their life but had been brainwashed to hate Muslims. When they found out I was British-Pakistani they did not hide their hatred and talked of "threat to Europe from Muslims". They were living in New York but were more concerned about the Muslim threat to "Western civilization" from Muslims and talked of the fall of London to Muslims after Sadiq Khan became mayor. They talked of Germany and France falling to the "muslim invaders".

The irony? There is no Muslim threat to Western civilization. No threat to USA from Muslims. 2020 saw Trumps right wing hilly billy mobs invade the Capitol Building and earlier in the year Black mobs burning US cities. I did not see a single Muslim.

Oh just want to add one other thing. These same Americans screaming at Muslims held up one particular 'Muslims' as koshur. Yep you got it the Kurds. They touted them as freedom loving spartans that needed Western support.

Three or four are dead. The only reason a full scale civil war has not erupted is as you said earlier most people are living a prosperous life. There is deep inequality with US society and no number of guns will paper over that. My worry is the incoming Biden administration might use "wag the dog" to unite and divert the attention on some external enemy. Mmmmm let me think "Muslims" might just do the trick. Another 9/11 type incident would be exactly what the doctor orderd ....
Hmm or it could be the Chinese Biden isnt as pro PRC as most Republicans think he is countering China is popular bi-partisian support but who knows wag the dog and old Muslim trope might work out again
 

VCheng

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To me as an outsider the US socieity generally seems to be resistant to changes and reforms and for that reason the US lacks behind in many fields today.

And yet it remains one of the most creative and productive societies on the planet.
 

mulj

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And yet it remains one of the most creative and productive societies on the planet.
Yes, but goalposts are going down, it used to be the most one, not one of the most..., xenon has the point system that has not changed for 250 years by the nature become stagnant and regressive.
 
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VCheng

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Yes, but goalposts are going down, it used to be the most one, not one of the most..., xenon has the point system that has not changed for 250 years by the nature become stagnant and regressive.

Actually, if you look at history, the last thing you can say is that the US system has stagnated. It remains dynamic, with constant updates as needed.
 
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Yes, but goalposts are going down, it used to be the most one, not one of the most..., xenon has the point system that has not changed for 250 years by the nature become stagnant and regressive.


Rome lasted a while about 1000 years where is it now can happen to the US
 

Kaptaan

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Actually, if you look at history, the last thing you can say is that the US system has stagnated. It remains dynamic, with constant updates as needed.
You and I know the system is corrupt to the core with inequality writ in it's very DNA. All systems are dynamic. Even Saudia Arabia is changing. Selling it as "vibrant, dynamic, responsible" is just bollocks used by PR people.

When I look at Saudia and USA I see many similiarities - maybe which is why both seem to have a relationship made in heaven. Many of us laugh at KSA for just being a huge oil field. Meaning most of the country survives on natural resources.

But lot of that applies to USA as well. With more arable land, with more climate zones, with more oil, with more coal, with more forest, with more natural minerals than most of the world put together it is blessed. Top that with European scientific culture acts as a multiplier to the natural resources making USA incredible prosperous which attracts talent from across the globe. Nobody migrates to USA for the system. They go there for the dollars anymore then the South Asians migrants to GCC go for petro-dollars.

Talking of the system it sucks big time. Civilized societies are measured by how they look after the poor, the weak. And we know how USA does on that front. The fact is USA only became a so called democracy by about 1970. Prior to that it was a racist oligarchy. Since then it has become plain oligarchy.

Real power in USA rests with the military-industrial complex which is structure that binds together the big corporations with the generals of US military. It is this that puts front men who go around as "Presidents" to lead the country.
 
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