US Politics

The Mooch doesn't like it. https://twitter.com/Scaramucci/status/1013581956972412928

... a mea culpa for Trump?

Actually, no I don't think Trump is their fault. My point was rather that promising economic growth trough trade protectionism is a shitty idea regardless of who suggests it. Moreover, it is one of those concepts that can never be easily placed on a left - right axis. (I think that is also what Oliver suggests in his post above?)
And now that an absolute shit stain won the US presidency promising protectionism, it seems clearer (at least to me) that was always just a way to channel frustration, whether it is on the right or the left, and not a workable and coherent long term strategy.

promising economic growth trough trade protectionism is a shitty idea regardless of who suggests it.

It's been a while but I don't think that was ever the argument from an already incredibly diverse group of people. I think in almost every case it was an argument for more equitable and/or sustainable benefits at the cost of "promising economic growth".

There was certainly an economic argument from the trade unions, but even they recognised their interests were in conflict with the raw growth numbers, as well as being related to a concern for worker's rights elsewhere.

I'm happy to hold my hand up as one of those people; it was never about growth through protectionism. It was about not letting capital ride roughshod over everything and using regulation to maintain standards as opposed to growth at any cost- and if a global system would not facilitate that, or was too beholden to regulatory capture then other methods would have to be utilised.

I would (I mean, obviously I would) argue that this current crisis is exactly the chickens coming home to roost that people were worried about in the 00s

Has Cohen turned or is it just another ploy?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/02/michael-cohen-trump-interview-good-morning-america

Nice to see we'll be footing a £5m bill for Donald to play golf at his club in Scotland. Cunt.

I really hope someone is shitting in the hole on each green as I type this

Gelncore being investigated for money laundering by DOJ you say? What a coincidence.

this current crisis is exactly the chickens coming home to roost that people were worried about in the 00s

Yup, that places you in the target demographic of my rant. I am aware that I am placing words in your mouth here, but it seems you are saying the current crisis is proof that the system was rotten anyway? And possibly; that is sucks that we've got a demented racist spearheading its demise, but this just proves that had the very real concerns of the anti-WTO crowd should have been listened to earlier, i.e. if one had then one could have created a smooth transition without/before things turning acrimonious?

Since you're so happy to put words in my mouth I'm not really sure what you expect from a reply.

The argument in the 00s was that deregulation leads to inequality. This is a crisis of amongst other things inequality, which has only gotten worse since then (and really ratched up since Thatcher/Regan).

All the WTO cares about is enabling (primarily American) capital to exploit other markets, to increase profits.

But the idea that Trump should be applauded for dismantling it is pretty foolish, he's not going to replace it with something better

Who reckons that Trump is going to "put NATO on notice" of America leaving in the upcoming summit, then give Syria to Putin in exchange for Assad going after Iran?

t(rump)-7 and counting

Do you mean Assad expelling Iranian forces from Syria,
and, potentially, removing Hezbollah from Lebanon,
or,
an all-out assault on Iran?

I'd imagine that they'd stop short of an all out assault, initially anyway.

However, expelling Iranian forces would be the minimum I'd expect.

Trump would give Putin Crimea during his upcoming visit in exchange for Putin (both directly and via Assad) taking on Iran.

Protestors should perhaps be careful, I saw a couple of these exercising over central London last week

i know theresa may is the devil incarnate but surely even she won't go full israel and have them shoot unarmed protesters

would she ?

Trump will be surrounded by armed US agents, whom I imagine would get a stern telling off if they did so.

Don't forget the mini gun in the convoy either

Is that the Donald's personal presidential firearm?

More like this (FF to 00:54)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvHMbN_epe4

https://twitter.com/magicmagid/status/1014494400532148225?s=21