Jerry_Atrick

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.

Oh yeah, and dog forbid it be found your granddaughters speak up against Chump. Headlines in reputable papers are reporting that critics are self-muzzling..

I would be wary of the above 2.. musks father is known to have had a mine, and invested in his companies. The other about Carlos Slim has legs but a story like that would make it into the FT, and I haven't seen it yet

Surely you're not serious? Just look at the latest headlines; threat of nuclear war with Iran; still wanting to take Greenland which way he can; harassing allies and cosying to the enemy that, wait, bombed the shit out of Ukraine when just given the opportunity and had for the first time since the war started, caused a coordinated Eurpean counties planes to scrambl, and a China becoming even more emboldened and their navy lapping Australia.. Need I mention him firing experience military leaders and replacing them with conspiracy theorists? I recall you saying the safety and security of your grandchildren is of paramount importance. A month in, how is their future safety and security looking? I have made it clear that Albo is no leader, but he is also no destroyer, and given his ability and runs on the board for a more balanced role wresting back China's growing reach in our region making it safer for your grandchildren, while steering the economy well through choppy waters, I'd take him over Chump any day... for the sake of the safety and security of your grandchildren

Very clever... from a Musk perspective, of course.. Do you work for DOGE? 😉

Yes.. (sort of more like 33%, but that's splitting hairs).. but that alone can't be used to say the election results would have been changed had those who hadn't vote were required to vote (or at least get their name marked off a voters' roll). It would be interesting to see the stats of which party they have (if any) registered with to get a guage... Of course, just being registered with a party (or whatever the process is in the US) does not mean one will vote for them, either. What are the reasons why people don't vote in an optional system? According to this, https://post.parliament.uk/election-turnout-why-do-some-people-not-vote/, here are the main reasons: Demographic factors: Younger people, lower socio-economic class (but I would lump this in piolitical disengagement - they are the ones least looked after by pollies, so why bother?), health, ethnicity Logistics - accessibility, voter id (newly introduced by the conservatives to dissuade younger voters - getting a licence or passport isn't important for these folks) With the probably exception of younger people, it would be hard to generalise which way they would vote. Ihave rarely voted in UK elections since the conservatives got in because all sides were populated with chaff, not wheat; and I didn't want my vote to endorse anyone. It was probably under the political disengagement heading, which is not accurate - it was an intentional decision not to endorse anyone. I long for the day when the whole electorate reject the lot of the pollies to send a signla they need to do better on all sides. Given the reasons though, let's assume many are disengaged; i.e. they don't care enought to cast their vote (without numbers, it is only a hypothesis). But lets face it, if people were engaged, they would do their best to overcome the other barriers. Then let's assume, in order to improve voter turnout in the US, they introduced compulsory voting.. How would those that didn't vote, vote? Well, it's hard to say of course, but intuitively, the evidence would suggest it would probably make no difference to their normal voting behaviour. For example, evidence suggests that when an election is contentious in optional voting jurisdictions, voter turnout is higher because there is effectively a call to arms. For example, the Brexit referendum turnout was 72.2%, the last election turnout was 69.7%, but the average since 2001 is about 65%, Given Trump has already had a term and the damage done in that term was known, one would expect if the non-voters were enegrised enough not to have a repeat, they would have come out in force. However, the turnout appears to be 63.9%, which is below the 2020 turnout of 66.6%, Therefore,despite Harris, not as many could be bothered to vote as last time. I would contend if forced to vote, they would vote along their normal lines, or with their hip pocket, which probbaly means the voter results would probably more or less align with the vote of the 63.9% who voted in the absence of specific demographics. Note, that younger people today are veering right, and ethnic groups who are humaitarian or economic refugees are unlikely to vote for a "socialst" government, because they often flee countries purporting to be socialist countries, but are nothing more than autocratic communist countries (remind me what the USSR stands for?). All that to say, it was still the brainless voters we have to thank for instilling the brainless republicans.

I have been meaning to write.. suely there is some waste in the $22bn annual contracts to SpaceX?