The Labour government is essentially a hostile, Marxist coalition with more in common with the ChiComs than the USA. It’s not unreasonable to assume the government has betrayed our technology sharing under the agreement.
I agree. Based on its current government, its Officials, and the public statements they have made, we should consider England as an adversary. Not trustworthy. We must take the Labour Party at its word, and as evidenced by its actions.
They're STILL pissed we showed them the importance of civilians owning military firepower. And if certain trends continue, we'll HAVE to make the place Airstrip One.
I like the comment someone made that the following data meant that too many Americans do not have a backup piece.
"The Small Arms Survey estimates that there are 393 million firearms in the United States. This includes both legal and illegal firearms." There are ~330 million Americans.
I'm pretty sure US numbers are low, but as the data is from 2017, maybe it's reasonable. Though I note that they do say that there can be under reporting on surveys, and while less likely in 2017 than 2024, I can see that making a major difference. Further, they noted that when no data was available for multiple firearms per owner 1.5 was used. I'm pretty sure that would be low in the US (and while not said, they may have assigned a higher factor). Also of note is that as data was from 2017, it doesn't capture the buying frenzy of '20 through ~'22 (and probably still robust sales).
I think the discrepancy in the numbers you present is because the population consists of a significant number of children who don’t, and shouldn’t possess a rifle or pistol. Children are much better suited to crew served weapons. The semi-stationary characteristics of a mortar or heavy machine gun relies less on the child's physical strength and stamina and also builds teamwork.
The very minute its in their best interest. Europe was made dependent on the US military because it was planned that way. We knew that someday they will turn against us. Europe has never been real friends but were pushed by mutual concerns. France has been quite open about this resentment. Its likely NATO fades away because the infrastructure will not be there, ever. They want a EU Army. Wonder why?
CDR Sal, spot on with the UK. It does predate Trump, and they show very ominous signs of violent political unrest, that will likely go the government's way (no 2nd Amendment)...so whoever is in control when the populace can't take it anymore will likely break the populace. I'm half Scottish, and that is utterly depressing. I had a week of recent contact with a group from the UK, they were fascinated to hear my opinions on the world, Trump, the elections, as they had been completely unexposed to such views (thanks USAID, BBC, and the rest of the information control Mafia). They were literally starved of alternative views from the government approved messaging out of Whitehall.
Your second to last chart regarding China's ascendency over the U.S. is a real turd in the punchbowl. Here's hoping it is trailing data based upon the last four years of U.S. foreign policy asshattery on the global stage. Here's also hoping the same survey (if valid data, who knows?) in six months will reflect a different global viewpoint.
"Statistics suggest that China's total fertility rate, which has steadily declined from 1.5 births per woman in the late 1990s to 1.15 in 2021, is now approaching 1.0—far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would maintain current population levels.Jan 26, 2024" Japan's is only 1.20, ours is 1.6. Israel is an anomaly and a bright spot at 2.9.
Most Western nations are in demographic trouble regarding replacement rate. The statistics vary depending upon the source used, but the general trend is valid. I wish all sources would use the x.x metric vs x births per 1,000 women.
As the data is perceptions, I suspect there's a lot of wishful thinking in the data that is informed by local propaganda...'scuse me...media influencers.
The data really only has validity in as much as the respondents are well informed and thoughtful enough to have insight or foresight on the question.
It does, however, very likely give good insight as to the man on the street opinions. Or academic eggheads, depending on how the survey sample was selected. The big issue with surveys is that folks like us rarely get a glimpse of the demographics of the respondents.
I'll be visiting the UK this Spring for the first time in 10yrs. Back then, veganism and all sorts of special accommodations seemed to be rampant all about London. As for news and information, the many news outlets and services that are available, all seemed to spout the same nonsense, large doses of sensationalistic headlines, hyper cynical editorials and articles that were poignantly skewed. There seems to be an accepted naïveté amongst the public, a trust in gov that shouldn't exist, particularly in light of the 20yr saga of UK Grooming Gangs and the information that has been willfully suppressed by the government with a large assist by the news services.
South Africa does well to recognize the force of the USA on the world scene. Trump seems to have that country in his laser beam. When we have a proper ambassador appointed there I think we're going to see the USA dismantle that wreckage for good. We could use their farmers too. Let them sink into their own morass of famine and poverty as they deserve. As for the UK, well, too bad these graphs didn't have Pakistan on them. But maybe they do it's just labelled UK. Same difference. Their interference in our last election, or attempts thereof, show what a poor friend they have turned out to be. It's time for us to stop footing the bill for EU countries that secretly despise us.
Well, to be fair, it's not like the US hasn't been interfering in other ostensible allies elections itself. It shouldn't be a surprise when they do the same to us.
The passivity of the English people surprises me. The same thing could be said of us under the four years of Biden (or whoever was pulling the strings).
I think that's been forever. I was shocked watching COPS some 40 years ago at the passivity the common man showed in the face of authority. To point a bobby got a confession out of a car thief who meekly surrendered. All with a couple of rather mild questions, with no profanity whatsoever. In the US, even at that time, it likely would have at least involved a foot chase, if not ended in a shootout.
As is often said, they have the mentality of subjects, not citizens.
I was in London the week of the election and to sit in the lounge of a hotel in Mayfair watching BBC coverage the morning after was glorious. To them a funeral…I sat there with a stone face wondering if anyone else there felt as I did.
If your president could just shut the f**k up about annexing Canada it would be much appreciated. Although his ranting has galvanized support for Canadian patriotism we now realizing that being ignored is a lot better than being targeted.
Naah, we enjoy listening to him poke you all. If you'd get rid of Castreau and put adults in charge he wouldn't have to troll you so much. Try not being a feckless "ally" and border sieve and then we can talk about whether to make you our 51st state or not. LOL. (Can we have Alberta? They're cool!)
Stop your bloody guns from coming up north. Then we’ll talk.
Albertans are mostly displaced Newfies and eastern Prairie folk. They and us don’t want to be you. We’ll trade with you, we’ll defend the continent with you, but we don’t want to be you.
Borders are not one-way streets. We have a shared border problem. You say you don't want guns to travel north; we don't want drugs and hostile immigrants to travel south. So both countries should improve border security. <shrug>
Take responsibility for sealing your own border...
Which, until the other day, was wide open.
Also.. as this is a Navy/Martime blog, it should be worth mentioning that you are making a big mistake outsourcing your ship building to the Communist Chinese..
Leapin' Gebbus! All those times I travelled on I-75 for 4-H field trips, livestock shows and to visit my daughter at UF in Gainesville...and all those chain-smoking petal-to-the-metal Arcadians bumper-to-bumper trying to do 90 mph in their Quebec tagged Winnebago's, tailgating, honking their horns, rage on their pasty faces. 'Twer purt' near a causus belli for many of us Floridians. Canada should be thankful for some residual American politeness that Progressive Modernity has not yet destroyed. And a caution to you, Monsuer Musing F.I.C., aboot trash-mouthing guns. Tread litely, friend. ☺
Have been to Canada several times, Vancouver, Halifax and Victoria. Mostly populated by polite, nice people. I'd heard the same about Australians, that they are nice people. They are. When I went there in1984 several shipmates and I had dinner at an Aussie's house. Many of his friends were there too. They were all warm and friendly. I made a comment to the host, "It's true. You guys are the friendliest, nicest people in the world...and I've travel much of the world." He immediately responded, "No. You Americans are the nicest, friendliest people in the world. It's true. I have been to America." I was only stunned for a few seconds and said, "Uh-h, where-in-Hell-in-America did you go?" He was puzzled and rattled off several cities and states.
I apologized and explained myself. He laughed it off and said Australia has their fair share of assholes too. He said his dad fought in WWII and that Aussies were still grateful to Americans for fighting for them . I found the same thing in Norway, Denmark, Great Britain and Holland in 1967. They remembered WWII. I suspect that bonding in that war made them predisposed to liking us, warts and all. Who knows? Birds of the feather, homogeneity...that feeling, that realization of "Hey! They're just like us" even goes beyond skin deep sometimes. Maybe people with good manners are just drawn by some magnetism to others with good manners. And good manners can corral the worst in anybody. Thanks, Tim, for making me think about this. I know my mom said I was "supposed to be" nice, implying I damn well better be. God bless good parenting.
I went on a Caribbean cruise this past October, and an older Canadian man in the swimming pool started lecturing me about the upcoming American Presidential election and his wishes that we elect the candidate of his choice, when he found out I am from a U.S. swing state.
In a swimming pool. On the lido deck of a beautiful cruise ship. On a warm sunny day in the middle of the effing Caribbean Sea with the sea breeze blowing by.
I smiled, nodded, and escaped to the deep end of the pool as soon as I charitably could.
I’ve been snowbirding in SW Florida for the past several years and the Canadian guests here in Del Boca Vista are delightful. They despise Trudeau and all he’s done to make Canada a colony of China or India.
You do realize that tune was a slur towards the traitors of the 13 colonies. So ya, we’ll be humming that tune as your 4th attempt to conquer us ends in tears once again!
You do realize the same spirit that happily calls ourselves deplorables who voted for the garbageman whistles Yankee Doodle merrily. Stick a feather in that!
The UK and the US were fairly comparable economically at the start of the century, but have been diverging since the 2008 crash. Their policies, while always more socialist, have become increasingly so across multiple fronts and I think that might be contributing to their perspective on the US. It doesn't help that their media is very biased against the US either.
Everything about them is biased. They've been meddling in our elections since 2016. Some "special partnership." Don't they have rape gangs to attend to or something? Better things to do than interfere on our side of the ocean?
I was looking at GDP per capita. And I was wrong, in that they had caught up to us by 2008. UK - $28,280.9 (2000), $47,396.1 (2008), $49,463.9 (2023). US - $36,330.0 (2000), $48,570.1 (2008), $82,769.4 (2023). Using data from Worldbank dot org and US dollars.
Was an exchange officer in South Korea. I think the South Koreans want the status quo to continue above all else. Most South Koreans don't think about North Korea day to day and just wish they would go away. They don't want reunification because they think it will negatively impact their standard of living paying for it. They also like that the North Koreans are kept at bay by the US so that they don't have to spend more on their defense. Any time I'd ask a South Korean officer what he thought of U.S. pulling its forces out of the ROK, I was always met with some variation of "It will cost us too much to replace you.", not anything about the alliance or friendship, etc. Well, except for the North Korean defector who became a ROKAF officer; he was all for the alliance. Since Trump has been making noises about us leaving, them having to pay more for our forces stationed there (and they already pay quite a lot), and the trade imbalance that favors them, it's not surprising they have one of the most negative views in the survey, since it upsets the status quo.
My associates during my military career (1989-2012) always joked that we Americans were on the Peninsula to keep the ROKs from going north, not to keep the Norks from coming south. Besides, with the massive starvation in the North over the past couple decades, their troops are now a lot smaller than the ROKs (as in six inches shorter and 40 lb lighter).
ROK officers may want a status quo at a minimum, unfortunately the current events within the National Assembly has shown the Democratic Party to be much more friendly to Beijing and Pyongyang than originally thought.
So sad about the Economist. It used to be a great magazine for people who want to know something about what was going on in the world. Now it is just a shill for the New World Order.
If Farage becomes PM, I hope President Trump sends him the West Virginia National Guard to use as shock troops to inculcate and reinforce olde English values and get those grooming gangs under control. I don't think that England is so far gone that they cannot claw their way back. That admixture of genes of the Picts, Celts and the Roman soldiers who built Hadrian's Wall's might just bubble up with a little leadership. Maybe the Alabama NG too.
Just recruit the Irish and Scots with the idea they can arrest and detain and maybe even beat Pakis and errant Englishmen. The line will be out the door.
Ewok chiming in from Poland. General mood is that US is our strongest ally, and only one we can rely on in case of shooting war with Russia. UK and France have about enough armor to form one heavy division each. Germany would be hard pressed to not exit NATO and declare neutrality, with both hard right and all left including greens playing on pacifism fiddles.
And the US is the only one with enough nukes to mis-quote Dirty Harry
Germany is a mess, and the rest of the European powers can't figure out what they want to do; UK is a shell of themselves and France seems to be caught up in Africa. Hang-in there and stay strong.
Pawel: Poland and the US should be good allies. Some of us Americans know the contributions of Tadeusz Kościuszko, builder of military fortifications at West Point, and Casimir Pulaski, who reformed and rebuilt the Continental Army's cavalry and died from wounds suffered during a cavalry charge against the British in Savannah, Georgia, during the American Revolutionary War.
Charts notwithstanding? Labour sending election workers to work a domestic election and the choice of Ambassador to the US send a rather unfriendly message.
I mentioned that the Jordanians are not likely to embrace the reintroduction of thousands of 'Palestinians' anytime soon below...
But I just realized that our Universities have likely sanitized the history of the Palestinians wrecking the country...and before they subsequently did the same to Lebanon.
The damaging results of that latter chapter are ongoing today.
We should pause the Polaris Sales Agreement, and reassess our relationship. We supply the missiles and subsystems, they supply the warheads.
We built a common missile compartment for our next generation SSBN…and if the schedule holds, their boat will be ready before COLUMBIA.
Continuing this relationship could have major consequences.
under what circumstances would you think that UK nukes are a threat to us?
When the Muslims take control of England.
ok. point taken
Possibly we should start planning to take control of England's nukes if or when Islam takes over.
Ha, we seem incapable of removing the nukes we have in Turkey, so unlikely we can take control of English nukes.
The Labour government is essentially a hostile, Marxist coalition with more in common with the ChiComs than the USA. It’s not unreasonable to assume the government has betrayed our technology sharing under the agreement.
I agree. Based on its current government, its Officials, and the public statements they have made, we should consider England as an adversary. Not trustworthy. We must take the Labour Party at its word, and as evidenced by its actions.
bingo
They're STILL pissed we showed them the importance of civilians owning military firepower. And if certain trends continue, we'll HAVE to make the place Airstrip One.
I like the comment someone made that the following data meant that too many Americans do not have a backup piece.
"The Small Arms Survey estimates that there are 393 million firearms in the United States. This includes both legal and illegal firearms." There are ~330 million Americans.
https://www.smallarmssurvey.org/resource/estimating-global-civilian-held-firearms-numbers
A very interesting read.
I'm pretty sure US numbers are low, but as the data is from 2017, maybe it's reasonable. Though I note that they do say that there can be under reporting on surveys, and while less likely in 2017 than 2024, I can see that making a major difference. Further, they noted that when no data was available for multiple firearms per owner 1.5 was used. I'm pretty sure that would be low in the US (and while not said, they may have assigned a higher factor). Also of note is that as data was from 2017, it doesn't capture the buying frenzy of '20 through ~'22 (and probably still robust sales).
Looking at several references:
https://americangunfacts.com/gun-ownership-statistics/
https://www.thetrace.org/2023/03/guns-america-data-atf-total/
https://www.legalreader.com/how-many-guns-in-the-u-s-all-about-americas-firearms-in-2024/
They all support 400M+ guns in circulation in the US. Exactly how many though is hard to calculate. Best estimate seems to be closer to 450M.
Thanks for the information. I was part of that frenzy, though more on ammo than firearms. 1.5 would seriously underreport my numbers.
My Brother has probably over 12 guns and under twenty LOL.
I have everything from Black powder rifle to various .22 lrs up to high power .38 spl. .357 mag. .45 but no 9 x 19 mm though which is strange.
Probably everyone who owns guns has at least three, Rifle, Shotgun and Handgun.
I think the discrepancy in the numbers you present is because the population consists of a significant number of children who don’t, and shouldn’t possess a rifle or pistol. Children are much better suited to crew served weapons. The semi-stationary characteristics of a mortar or heavy machine gun relies less on the child's physical strength and stamina and also builds teamwork.
The very minute its in their best interest. Europe was made dependent on the US military because it was planned that way. We knew that someday they will turn against us. Europe has never been real friends but were pushed by mutual concerns. France has been quite open about this resentment. Its likely NATO fades away because the infrastructure will not be there, ever. They want a EU Army. Wonder why?
CDR Sal, spot on with the UK. It does predate Trump, and they show very ominous signs of violent political unrest, that will likely go the government's way (no 2nd Amendment)...so whoever is in control when the populace can't take it anymore will likely break the populace. I'm half Scottish, and that is utterly depressing. I had a week of recent contact with a group from the UK, they were fascinated to hear my opinions on the world, Trump, the elections, as they had been completely unexposed to such views (thanks USAID, BBC, and the rest of the information control Mafia). They were literally starved of alternative views from the government approved messaging out of Whitehall.
Your second to last chart regarding China's ascendency over the U.S. is a real turd in the punchbowl. Here's hoping it is trailing data based upon the last four years of U.S. foreign policy asshattery on the global stage. Here's also hoping the same survey (if valid data, who knows?) in six months will reflect a different global viewpoint.
Very interesting!
Also any commentary on China cannot ignore its coming demographic upheavels. The elephant in the room there....
"Statistics suggest that China's total fertility rate, which has steadily declined from 1.5 births per woman in the late 1990s to 1.15 in 2021, is now approaching 1.0—far below the replacement level of 2.1 that would maintain current population levels.Jan 26, 2024" Japan's is only 1.20, ours is 1.6. Israel is an anomaly and a bright spot at 2.9.
Most Western nations are in demographic trouble regarding replacement rate. The statistics vary depending upon the source used, but the general trend is valid. I wish all sources would use the x.x metric vs x births per 1,000 women.
Bumbled across a stat that showed US slight higher than 1.6 (1.8). But what really fuels US strength is immigration.
Well it was. If they aren't assimilating like they did in the first 3 or 4 centuries
there's going to be problems of another sort.
"there's going to be problems"
There already are. Most people prefer not to notice.
Until it cannot be ignored.
As the data is perceptions, I suspect there's a lot of wishful thinking in the data that is informed by local propaganda...'scuse me...media influencers.
The data really only has validity in as much as the respondents are well informed and thoughtful enough to have insight or foresight on the question.
It does, however, very likely give good insight as to the man on the street opinions. Or academic eggheads, depending on how the survey sample was selected. The big issue with surveys is that folks like us rarely get a glimpse of the demographics of the respondents.
I'll be visiting the UK this Spring for the first time in 10yrs. Back then, veganism and all sorts of special accommodations seemed to be rampant all about London. As for news and information, the many news outlets and services that are available, all seemed to spout the same nonsense, large doses of sensationalistic headlines, hyper cynical editorials and articles that were poignantly skewed. There seems to be an accepted naïveté amongst the public, a trust in gov that shouldn't exist, particularly in light of the 20yr saga of UK Grooming Gangs and the information that has been willfully suppressed by the government with a large assist by the news services.
It would have been interesting to see Israel included in this polling.
Both to see where Israeli views on these questions place it in relation to all other countries.
As well as to include questions related to global opinions on Israel and the current Gaza conflict.
Although that probably would have panned out as expected with a strong anti-Israel trend in most countries and an even spread of opinion in the US.
South Africa does well to recognize the force of the USA on the world scene. Trump seems to have that country in his laser beam. When we have a proper ambassador appointed there I think we're going to see the USA dismantle that wreckage for good. We could use their farmers too. Let them sink into their own morass of famine and poverty as they deserve. As for the UK, well, too bad these graphs didn't have Pakistan on them. But maybe they do it's just labelled UK. Same difference. Their interference in our last election, or attempts thereof, show what a poor friend they have turned out to be. It's time for us to stop footing the bill for EU countries that secretly despise us.
Well, to be fair, it's not like the US hasn't been interfering in other ostensible allies elections itself. It shouldn't be a surprise when they do the same to us.
Doesn't mean we have to like or approve of it though.
The passivity of the English people surprises me. The same thing could be said of us under the four years of Biden (or whoever was pulling the strings).
The Brits can be pushed but only so far as King Charles I discovered.
That was when Britain was full of Brits.
Excellent point. Another consideration is that history implacably shows that no nation remains free forever.
"The population of England & Wales stands at 59.60 million; the Muslim
population is 3.87 million, or 6.5% of the total." 2021 Census https://mcb.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/MCB-Census-2021-%E2%80%93-First-Look.pdf
I think that's been forever. I was shocked watching COPS some 40 years ago at the passivity the common man showed in the face of authority. To point a bobby got a confession out of a car thief who meekly surrendered. All with a couple of rather mild questions, with no profanity whatsoever. In the US, even at that time, it likely would have at least involved a foot chase, if not ended in a shootout.
As is often said, they have the mentality of subjects, not citizens.
Interesting mental shift there. I guess growing up as a NOT subject, we don't know how deep that goes.
Unfortunately South Africa is the world's largest producer of chromium. That will probably cause some difficulty.
South Africa and Ireland respect Hamas and despise Israel. I hope DJT make both countries pay for their racism and misguided priorities.
I was in London the week of the election and to sit in the lounge of a hotel in Mayfair watching BBC coverage the morning after was glorious. To them a funeral…I sat there with a stone face wondering if anyone else there felt as I did.
To be fair the coronation was more impressive than the inauguration.
They have had more practice.
I'm sure everyone here noticed it but DEM blue = Good and GOP red = Bad makes it very difficult to take this data seriously.
fairly standard military iconography
If your president could just shut the f**k up about annexing Canada it would be much appreciated. Although his ranting has galvanized support for Canadian patriotism we now realizing that being ignored is a lot better than being targeted.
Thanks.
Naah, we enjoy listening to him poke you all. If you'd get rid of Castreau and put adults in charge he wouldn't have to troll you so much. Try not being a feckless "ally" and border sieve and then we can talk about whether to make you our 51st state or not. LOL. (Can we have Alberta? They're cool!)
Stop your bloody guns from coming up north. Then we’ll talk.
Albertans are mostly displaced Newfies and eastern Prairie folk. They and us don’t want to be you. We’ll trade with you, we’ll defend the continent with you, but we don’t want to be you.
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie,
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Vimy Ridge will forever remain a glorious chapter in Canadian history be she a part of the UK or USA.
Borders are not one-way streets. We have a shared border problem. You say you don't want guns to travel north; we don't want drugs and hostile immigrants to travel south. So both countries should improve border security. <shrug>
Have you seen the stats of drugs and people heading south? It’s minuscule compared to the drugs and guns heading north.
When we are on nation from the Gulf of America to the North Pole we will take on the drug cartels together.
Take responsibility for sealing your own border...
Which, until the other day, was wide open.
Also.. as this is a Navy/Martime blog, it should be worth mentioning that you are making a big mistake outsourcing your ship building to the Communist Chinese..
https://theloadstar.com/seaspan-orders-six-more-dual-fuel-box-ships-and-will-pay-in-chinese-yuan/
Why do y'all discriminate against the Newfies so much?
They make really good seal flipper soup!
Good.
Quit coming down to South Florida and making semi autonomous mobile home compounds with the Canadian flag flying proudly at the gates...
And going to the local diner and imperiously lecturing the natives how we do our politics wrong, which y'all have been doing since the Bush Jr. days.
Leapin' Gebbus! All those times I travelled on I-75 for 4-H field trips, livestock shows and to visit my daughter at UF in Gainesville...and all those chain-smoking petal-to-the-metal Arcadians bumper-to-bumper trying to do 90 mph in their Quebec tagged Winnebago's, tailgating, honking their horns, rage on their pasty faces. 'Twer purt' near a causus belli for many of us Floridians. Canada should be thankful for some residual American politeness that Progressive Modernity has not yet destroyed. And a caution to you, Monsuer Musing F.I.C., aboot trash-mouthing guns. Tread litely, friend. ☺
But I thought Canadians were supposed to be so "nice"?
Have been to Canada several times, Vancouver, Halifax and Victoria. Mostly populated by polite, nice people. I'd heard the same about Australians, that they are nice people. They are. When I went there in1984 several shipmates and I had dinner at an Aussie's house. Many of his friends were there too. They were all warm and friendly. I made a comment to the host, "It's true. You guys are the friendliest, nicest people in the world...and I've travel much of the world." He immediately responded, "No. You Americans are the nicest, friendliest people in the world. It's true. I have been to America." I was only stunned for a few seconds and said, "Uh-h, where-in-Hell-in-America did you go?" He was puzzled and rattled off several cities and states.
I apologized and explained myself. He laughed it off and said Australia has their fair share of assholes too. He said his dad fought in WWII and that Aussies were still grateful to Americans for fighting for them . I found the same thing in Norway, Denmark, Great Britain and Holland in 1967. They remembered WWII. I suspect that bonding in that war made them predisposed to liking us, warts and all. Who knows? Birds of the feather, homogeneity...that feeling, that realization of "Hey! They're just like us" even goes beyond skin deep sometimes. Maybe people with good manners are just drawn by some magnetism to others with good manners. And good manners can corral the worst in anybody. Thanks, Tim, for making me think about this. I know my mom said I was "supposed to be" nice, implying I damn well better be. God bless good parenting.
I went on a Caribbean cruise this past October, and an older Canadian man in the swimming pool started lecturing me about the upcoming American Presidential election and his wishes that we elect the candidate of his choice, when he found out I am from a U.S. swing state.
In a swimming pool. On the lido deck of a beautiful cruise ship. On a warm sunny day in the middle of the effing Caribbean Sea with the sea breeze blowing by.
I smiled, nodded, and escaped to the deep end of the pool as soon as I charitably could.
That's how they roll...
A bit of a bossy streak.
Ay?
I’ve been snowbirding in SW Florida for the past several years and the Canadian guests here in Del Boca Vista are delightful. They despise Trudeau and all he’s done to make Canada a colony of China or India.
But we want you.
Unfortunately Quebec would probably be included. That's a deal breaker.
You will soon be whistling Yankee Doodle.
You do realize that tune was a slur towards the traitors of the 13 colonies. So ya, we’ll be humming that tune as your 4th attempt to conquer us ends in tears once again!
You do realize the same spirit that happily calls ourselves deplorables who voted for the garbageman whistles Yankee Doodle merrily. Stick a feather in that!
And call it macaroni!!
Ain't we the fancy ones! LOL!
The UK and the US were fairly comparable economically at the start of the century, but have been diverging since the 2008 crash. Their policies, while always more socialist, have become increasingly so across multiple fronts and I think that might be contributing to their perspective on the US. It doesn't help that their media is very biased against the US either.
Everything about them is biased. They've been meddling in our elections since 2016. Some "special partnership." Don't they have rape gangs to attend to or something? Better things to do than interfere on our side of the ocean?
Hardly comparable. In 2000, UK $GDP was 1.666 trillion USD, America's GDP was $10.25 trillion USD. Only a six fold difference.
I was looking at GDP per capita. And I was wrong, in that they had caught up to us by 2008. UK - $28,280.9 (2000), $47,396.1 (2008), $49,463.9 (2023). US - $36,330.0 (2000), $48,570.1 (2008), $82,769.4 (2023). Using data from Worldbank dot org and US dollars.
The strength of a country is in the macro, not the micro. The GDP per capita of Monaco is $256,580 (2023). All hail Monaco. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GDP.PCAP.CD?locations=MC
Was an exchange officer in South Korea. I think the South Koreans want the status quo to continue above all else. Most South Koreans don't think about North Korea day to day and just wish they would go away. They don't want reunification because they think it will negatively impact their standard of living paying for it. They also like that the North Koreans are kept at bay by the US so that they don't have to spend more on their defense. Any time I'd ask a South Korean officer what he thought of U.S. pulling its forces out of the ROK, I was always met with some variation of "It will cost us too much to replace you.", not anything about the alliance or friendship, etc. Well, except for the North Korean defector who became a ROKAF officer; he was all for the alliance. Since Trump has been making noises about us leaving, them having to pay more for our forces stationed there (and they already pay quite a lot), and the trade imbalance that favors them, it's not surprising they have one of the most negative views in the survey, since it upsets the status quo.
The ROK should be able to handle the Norks without our help.
As the Iraqis could create a version of Sesame Street without us if they wanted.
But here we are.
I think the Iraqi Sesame Street has now entered the common language :) Funny how fast some things change.
My associates during my military career (1989-2012) always joked that we Americans were on the Peninsula to keep the ROKs from going north, not to keep the Norks from coming south. Besides, with the massive starvation in the North over the past couple decades, their troops are now a lot smaller than the ROKs (as in six inches shorter and 40 lb lighter).
ROK officers may want a status quo at a minimum, unfortunately the current events within the National Assembly has shown the Democratic Party to be much more friendly to Beijing and Pyongyang than originally thought.
I can't imagine the Gaza plan is digesting well in the Mideast.
Especially in Jordan, where the scars of the last 'Palestinian' infestation are still a bit scarlet...
https://youtu.be/6jbZvyU4plk?si=mAWKX6wlX9xN4_jQ
As Jordan serves as the geopolitical anchor for our Forever, Stupid, (not very) Secret War in Syria and Iraq, they are an ally we cannot alienate.
So sad about the Economist. It used to be a great magazine for people who want to know something about what was going on in the world. Now it is just a shill for the New World Order.
How many super extra premium subscriptions to the Economist we have been budgeting for career bureaucrats?
Trump should cancel every subscription except the Epoch Times.
Pete: Epoch Times has its own issues :)
Sir Keir Starmer is just an English version of Justin Trudeau and Joe Biden.
Globalists who will use the power of the state to crush anyone who puts their country first or thinks they have some sort of individual rights.
Hopefully Neil Farage can make Britain Great Britain.
If Farage becomes PM, I hope President Trump sends him the West Virginia National Guard to use as shock troops to inculcate and reinforce olde English values and get those grooming gangs under control. I don't think that England is so far gone that they cannot claw their way back. That admixture of genes of the Picts, Celts and the Roman soldiers who built Hadrian's Wall's might just bubble up with a little leadership. Maybe the Alabama NG too.
Just recruit the Irish and Scots with the idea they can arrest and detain and maybe even beat Pakis and errant Englishmen. The line will be out the door.
Ewok chiming in from Poland. General mood is that US is our strongest ally, and only one we can rely on in case of shooting war with Russia. UK and France have about enough armor to form one heavy division each. Germany would be hard pressed to not exit NATO and declare neutrality, with both hard right and all left including greens playing on pacifism fiddles.
And the US is the only one with enough nukes to mis-quote Dirty Harry
"Come on, make my day Putin" .
Hey, Pawel, long time no see! If Trump has his way no one has to worry about a shooting war with anyone. Peace!
Germany is a mess, and the rest of the European powers can't figure out what they want to do; UK is a shell of themselves and France seems to be caught up in Africa. Hang-in there and stay strong.
Pawel: Poland and the US should be good allies. Some of us Americans know the contributions of Tadeusz Kościuszko, builder of military fortifications at West Point, and Casimir Pulaski, who reformed and rebuilt the Continental Army's cavalry and died from wounds suffered during a cavalry charge against the British in Savannah, Georgia, during the American Revolutionary War.
Charts notwithstanding? Labour sending election workers to work a domestic election and the choice of Ambassador to the US send a rather unfriendly message.
I mentioned that the Jordanians are not likely to embrace the reintroduction of thousands of 'Palestinians' anytime soon below...
But I just realized that our Universities have likely sanitized the history of the Palestinians wrecking the country...and before they subsequently did the same to Lebanon.
The damaging results of that latter chapter are ongoing today.
So, here are some references:
https://www.cia.gov/resources/csi/static/Black-September-Jordan.pdf
https://adst.org/2015/07/jordans-black-september-1970/
There's no way Jordan is taking in any more Palestinians, especially what happened in past history.
Jordan is already majority "Palestinian"...and Queen Rania claims that ancestry.
Oh my, nice graphs. Sorry from Switzerland!