War in Ukraine

[Rocky_Top_Vol13]

 

[hog88]

Of course, it is, but they are also the people who write the tax laws and set the budget spend the extorted money. It doesn't matter where the money goes; it's not coming back to the taxpayer. And if they don't spend the money on one thing they will spend it on another ... and it still won't be to the benefit of the taxpayer. At this point knocking Russia down a few pegs is probably as good for us as it's going to get.

I see no benefit in it.

 

[Velo Vol]

And unless Russia gets Balkanized after this, unlikely, you will just have a stronger Russia in a decade than we otherwise would have.

Stronger how? By losing half its military, tens of thousands of prime-age men, and trade relations with half the world?

 

[hog88]

Stronger how? By losing half its military, tens of thousands of prime-age men, and trade relations with half the world?

A change in leadership could reverse that within a decade.

 

[LouderVol]

Rebuilding Ukraine will be nothing like trying to establish a government in Afghanistan. Anyways, that’s just Zelenskyy’s wish list. He will certainly aim high.

And I think the EU would also be far happier to help fund that part. It’s the war with Russia which has made the Germans and French’s hesitant to give aid.

I doubt it. They have trouble enough in the EU already. And the money wont be efficiently used, and it will scope creep to include a lot more than rebuilding.

 

[JuicyBrucey]

You may be able to get rid of some of the crime, but cannot legislate the poor into prosperity, nor can you feed them dollars and expect them to better themselves.

There's actually a lot of working poor in the USA, in factories and other low-paying jobs, who would have a higher standard of living if they weren't taxed so much to finance foreign boondoggles that don't affect them. Their standard of living is also driven down by money printing that reduces their purchasing power in the few dollars per hour that they earn. On top of that, the sanctions have caused supply shocks and price increases on items irrespective of monetary inflation.

It's a big reason I prefer to live outside of the USA. Americans don't like to spend money on things that build up our country or benefit us or the next generations of Americans, so we end up with poor roads, poor healthcare, poor border control, poor education, high crime, etc. While I enjoy seeing the rest of the world develop and achieve an improving standard of living, since it gives me more options, I don't like the fact that it often comes at the expense of my parents and other relatives still living in the USA. Of course, Americans are like frogs in boiling water, oblivious to their problem because of how gradual it's occurring.

 

[Velo Vol]

 

[Velo Vol]

A change in leadership could reverse that within a decade.

Will this fiasco usher in a better government? Maybe, maybe not.

 

[Velo Vol]

It's a big reason I prefer to live outside of the USA.

Where do you live?

 

[LouderVol]

Stronger how? By losing half its military, tens of thousands of prime-age men, and trade relations with half the world?

It's a wake up call. Putin has been sleep walking, now he has to face the music. Or the next guy does if you believe Putin is done. Their military was very unprepared with a lot of the mikitary money going to guys pockets, that would likely change after a loss. People get introspective after a loss, a win wouldnt require any major changes.

10 years, 20 years, 30 years. The length of time doesnt matter unless we are planning on attacking them. They will rebuild in peace and could learn from what they did wrong in Ukraine. These same guys probably wouldnt be the guys doing the actual fighting in the next conflict, especially if it's more than 10 years out.

I am betting the military wasnt this incompetent from 1949 on. It got this way over time. This war is an opprotunity for correction. Just like we are testing out our equipment they cant test their own equipment, logistics, leadership, etc, find what is wrong and have a chance to fix it.

 

[norrislakevol]

There's actually a lot of working poor in the USA, in factories and other low-paying jobs, who would have a higher standard of living if they weren't taxed so much to finance foreign boondoggles that don't affect them. Their standard of living is also driven down by money printing that reduces their purchasing power in the few dollars per hour that they earn. On top of that, the sanctions have caused supply shocks and price increases on items irrespective of monetary inflation.

It's a big reason I prefer to live outside of the USA. Americans don't like to spend money on things that build up our country or benefit us or the next generations of Americans, so we end up with poor roads, poor healthcare, poor border control, poor education, high crime, etc. While I enjoy seeing the rest of the world develop and achieve an improving standard of living, since it gives me more options, I don't like the fact that it often comes at the expense of my parents and other relatives still living in the USA. Of course, Americans are like frogs in boiling water, oblivious to their problem because of how gradual it's occurring.

I agree with much of what you said. Where do you live now?

 

[norrislakevol]

It's a wake up call. Putin has been sleep walking, now he has to face the music. Or the next guy does if you believe Putin is done. Their military was very unprepared with a lot of the mikitary money going to guys pockets, that would likely change after a loss. People get introspective after a loss, a win wouldnt require any major changes.

10 years, 20 years, 30 years. The length of time doesnt matter unless we are planning on attacking them. They will rebuild in peace and could learn from what they did wrong in Ukraine. These same guys probably wouldnt be the guys doing the actual fighting in the next conflict, especially if it's more than 10 years out.

I am betting the military wasnt this incompetent from 1949 on. It got this way over time. This war is an opprotunity for correction. Just like we are testing out our equipment they cant test their own equipment, logistics, leadership, etc, find what is wrong and have a chance to fix it.

Maybe, but history shows us that Russia just isn't ever good on the battlefield. They never change.

 

[LouderVol]

Maybe, but history shows us that Russia just isn't ever good on the battlefield. They never change.

Its not a winning strategy to assume incompetence in your opponent. That's more likely to highlight your own.

 

[Velo Vol]

It's a wake up call. Putin has been sleep walking, now he has to face the music. Or the next guy does if you believe Putin is done.

Like I said above, maybe they'll get a better government, maybe they won't. There's certainly no guarantee they will.

Russia had demographic/economic issues before the war. That's probably a reason they started it. Those are only getting worse now.

 

[hog88]

Will this fiasco usher in a better government? Maybe, maybe not.

Doubtful

 

[PKT_VOL]

There's actually a lot of working poor in the USA, in factories and other low-paying jobs, who would have a higher standard of living if they weren't taxed so much to finance foreign boondoggles that don't affect them. Their standard of living is also driven down by money printing that reduces their purchasing power in the few dollars per hour that they earn. On top of that, the sanctions have caused supply shocks and price increases on items irrespective of monetary inflation.

It's a big reason I prefer to live outside of the USA. Americans don't like to spend money on things that build up our country or benefit us or the next generations of Americans, so we end up with poor roads, poor healthcare, poor border control, poor education, high crime, etc. While I enjoy seeing the rest of the world develop and achieve an improving standard of living, since it gives me more options, I don't like the fact that it often comes at the expense of my parents and other relatives still living in the USA. Of course, Americans are like frogs in boiling water, oblivious to their problem because of how gradual it's occurring.

For as much I dislike Trump, we was absolutely correct to hold the rest of the Western/free world accountable for their own security.

One of the main reasons other countries are free to invest their capital into various domestic projects is because they have pawned their security costs to Uncle Sam.

 

[Burhead]

That would only be reasonable if we were planning on fighting Russia in that next decade. Otherwise we arent gaining anything. And unless Russia gets Balkanized after this, unlikely, you will just have a stronger Russia in a decade than we otherwise would have.

Yeah they are getting embarrased now, but those are lessons they can learn from and put forward for the next time.

The reason Russia got to this point is because they havent fought a western style military, or anything that challenged them.

Not necessarily, when China launches its invasion of Taiwan I don't want an unbeaten Russia standing in Europe thinking they can take advantage of the chaos.

 

[NorthDallas40]

Time to drop that damn Crimea Bridge and isolate Crimea and what’s left of Kherson Oblast.

 

[JuicyBrucey]

I agree with much of what you said. Where do you live now?

I bounce around a lot. I've lived in a lot of different countries, but I'm currently in South Korea and it's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I pay 3% in federal taxes and 0.3% in local taxes and see so many benefits from my 3.3% in taxes that I never get as an American taxpayer in the USA when I pay 10x that amount. The fact that my parents are paying 10x my tax rate to Washington DC and fund the protection of South Korea's border while the US border is wiiiiiiiiiiiide open is one reason the Korean government can stretch my taxes so far. It was the same way when I was in Israel. The border wall there is much taller and robust than what Trump was proposing. Americans won't invest in their own border security that will benefit us or protect the future of America's kids. But we'll pay for South Korea's and Israel's.

But back to Korea. The roads are always perfect. There's almost no crime because the people are very well-educated and have opportunities. People leave their laptops, cell phones, purses, et cetera on tables unattended in crowded cafes and restaurants to reserve a table while they go to the restroom or order food. A recent video of a guy stealing a smartphone under such circumstances was a national scandal because it's so rare for such a theft to occur. The buses and subways are first-rate. My electric and gas bills last month were a total of $18 and while my apartment isn't big, it isn't small either for someone living alone. There are even low-key improvements. Last winter, most of the benches at bus stops were heated which feels damn good during Korean winters. We can't have something like that in Knoxville because our homeless war veterans and local drug junkies sleep on the benches and piss all over them. You can't sit on the benches in the Gay Street/Market Square area of Knoxville for that reason. There aren't many homeless or drug addicts in Korea and there definitely aren't tent cities. There seem to always be around a dozen homeless at Seoul Station, but that's about all.

I like the Koreans, but they're extremely proud and will never ever give the USA or anyone else credit for liberating Korea from Japan and they take sole credit for the meteoric rise of the South Korean economy. Americans can dump all the money we want here, but there will never be any gratitude, just boasting from the Koreans. To their credit, at least they invested the money wisely and didn't piss it away on stupid **** the way we do.

While I'm very disappointed with how much my siblings and parents are going to have to pay for the reconstruction of Ukraine, I'm already studying the opportunities that might present itself in the rebuild. I hate that the USA always dumps its money all over the world while Americans do without, but it's going to happen whether I like it or not, so I always like to crash the party and enjoy as many benefits and amenities that I can. I think a lot of Ukrainians are going to resent the destruction of their country and will blame and hate Russians and Americans alike, which will cause some dangerous situations for Americans traveling there. It won't be as safe for Americans as most people think and it won't be a good idea to wear a Joe Biden cap and boast to everyone, "We saved yer ass!!!" Americans going around saying that are going to be picking their teeth up off the sidewalk. That being said, it's still going to be the perfect mix of American welfare and Ukrainian widows for quite a while in the areas that remain under control of the Ukrainian government.

Edit: My emergency appendectomy in Gangnam with three nights in the hospital was $300. Without insurance, it would've been around $1200. American incomes are higher, but Koreans build wealth much faster than Americans because when people in Korea pay taxes, there are tangible benefits. Nobody is left wondering where all the money went like I wonder when I'm in the USA.

 

[DonjoVol]

There's actually a lot of working poor in the USA, in factories and other low-paying jobs, who would have a higher standard of living if they weren't taxed so much to finance foreign boondoggles that don't affect them. Their standard of living is also driven down by money printing that reduces their purchasing power in the few dollars per hour that they earn. On top of that, the sanctions have caused supply shocks and price increases on items irrespective of monetary inflation.

It's a big reason I prefer to live outside of the USA. Americans don't like to spend money on things that build up our country or benefit us or the next generations of Americans, so we end up with poor roads, poor healthcare, poor border control, poor education, high crime, etc. While I enjoy seeing the rest of the world develop and achieve an improving standard of living, since it gives me more options, I don't like the fact that it often comes at the expense of my parents and other relatives still living in the USA. Of course, Americans are like frogs in boiling water, oblivious to their problem because of how gradual it's occurring.

I sometimes wish I could live outside the United States again but likely will not happen. Would love to go back to Japan and live or maybe live in Thailand or Laos.

 

[Velo Vol]

How it started

According to the figures released by the Kherson regional section of the Russian Central Election Commission, 87.05% (497,051) supported the annexation to the Russian Federation, with 12.05% (68,832) against and 0.9% of ballots invalid, on a turnout of 76.86%.[62][45] They claim 571,001 voters took part.[46]

Going

 

[JuicyBrucey]

I sometimes wish I could live outside the United States again but likely will not happen. Would love to go back to Japan and live or maybe live in Thailand or Laos.

Where did you live in Japan? The only place I've been in Japan is Fukuoka, but it was NICE!

 

[utvolpj]

Not necessarily, when China launches its invasion of Taiwan I don't want an unbeaten Russia standing in Europe thinking they can take advantage of the chaos.

Instead we now have a Russia that is fully aware of its faults and shortcomings. Those can be addressed instead of exposed. Have to believe US intelligence knew this way in advance

 

[DonjoVol]

Where did you live in Japan? The only place I've been in Japan is Fukuoka, but it was NICE!

Okinawa. I was actually stationed there for over 3 years. I spent as much as my time off base as I possibly could. I honestly had the opportunity to stay and work there but decided to come back to Tennessee after I got out.

 

[Velo Vol]

I bounce around a lot. I've lived in a lot of different countries, but I'm currently in South Korea and it's a perfect example of what I'm talking about. I pay 3% in federal taxes and 0.3% in local taxes and see so many benefits from my 3.3% in taxes that I never get as an American taxpayer in the USA when I pay 10x that amount.

Come on. 88 million KRM is about $67,000.