I think Trump is saying we will insert ourselves financially into Ukraine to provide a buffer. Europe will need to figure out how they make the money work. Their access to US markets is changing, for better or for worse. There is no appetite in the US to lead anything in Europe, at least not that I can see as a political emphasis. We are…
I think Trump is saying we will insert ourselves financially into Ukraine to provide a buffer. Europe will need to figure out how they make the money work. Their access to US markets is changing, for better or for worse. There is no appetite in the US to lead anything in Europe, at least not that I can see as a political emphasis. We are going to look inward for a while. The world hasn't seen that for over 80 years.
“No appetite”. Politics in the US are bundles of positions, not isolated positions. Nobody voted for isolationism fully and Ukraine wasn’t all that big on the radar. We voted for lower inflation/better economy and against immigration, with a dash of culture war.
Trump messes up on economic issues and the Dems take the White House in 2028 and then suddenly there’s “no appetite” back the other direction.
In Chicago people voted in Brandon Johnson because they felt that Lightfoot wasn't doing a good job on crime, when he was more progressive and was obviously going to be worse on that score. Just not obviously to voters. The point of saying that is people often vote for change, they don't always eagerly vote for the incoming candidate they often vote against the incumbent. If Trump screws up badly it won't matter what the Dems will be bringing to the table.
I agree that would be a nightmare as the Democrats have truly lost the plot overall.
Umm, no. Ukraine and Israel getting billions in aid while hurricane and fire victims in NC and Hawaii got a measly $750 check was a huge issue during the election season.
Nobody — A huge *fake* issue. The $750 was just a grant for immediate expenses, so you weren’t left hanging while FEMA calculated what you were actually supposed to get.
Nobody — Exactly: the upfront $750 was provided precisely because they knew FEMA, like any other large government bureaucracy, would take a while to grind through the paperwork and give you the aid you were supposed to get.
I can't tell if you're being deliberately obtuse or are are some sort of shameless partisan trying to whitewash the past. Either way, I'll type extra slowly to let this sink in:
There were people living in tents in the dead of winter with snow on the ground 6 months after the hurricane hit. FEMA utterly failed them. This is a fact.
Meanwhile, it was announced in September that Ukraine would get an extra $5.55 billion in aid, bringing the total amount spent on that war to somewhere between $200 billion and $300 billion depending on who you ask. Israel got a $20 billion package announced in August 2024. But six months after the fact, our own citizens were literally freezing. And you're trying to say this is okay because they got $750 to tide them over? I don't say this very often, but fuck you whoever you are.
Nobody — Who says it’s OK that FEMA is not doing a good job? The point is, there’s no shortage of money, in a $7 trillion budget. It’s just not getting out to the people that need it very quickly.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. has granted or loaned Ukraine $128 billion over three years. Compare that to Federal budgets totaling about $20 trillion (= $20 ,000 billion) for those years; it comes to 0.64%. Close to half went to keeping defense assembly lines open in the U.S.
The whole reason this exchange started is because you said that Ukraine and Israel getting billions in cash while our own citizens get a measly $750 is a fake issue. So you for one think it is okay.
Nobody — The $750 is merely the *beginning* of what disaster survivors get from FEMA:
“[T]he $750 is an ‘upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items’ while waiting for other forms of assistance. This initial payment may be approved as soon as an application is made while the agency assesses an applicant’s eligibility to receive further aid.”—Reuters
“[A] $750 payment that goes to disaster survivors in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, tornado, or other major storm … has been falsely painted as a loan or the only assistance FEMA is providing. In fact, that is the first payment FEMA will make to disaster survivors – who are eligible for other forms of assistance to help with temporary shelter and funding to start rebuilding once the storm passes.”—CNN
“The $750 payments are the initial support provided under a new FEMA program, not the sole financial assistance available. Applications can be made for multiple additional forms of financial support for those affected by the hurricane.”—USA Today
“One type of assistance that is often approved quickly after you apply is Serious Needs Assistance, which is $750 to help pay for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies … As your application continues to be reviewed, you may still receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as support for temporary housing and home repair costs.”—FEMA
If you’re still unable to grasp the true situation, never mind.
You're a sad, miserable person. Let them eat cake-- that $750 should supply them with a winters worth, no? Trying to shift the argument away from misplaced government priorities onto the purpose of a $750 check isn't going to work. I'll take it that since you don't have anything better to respond with, you now agree that the federal government should have prioritized its own citizens needs over that of Ukraine and Israel. I'm glad we now agree.
I think Trump is saying we will insert ourselves financially into Ukraine to provide a buffer. Europe will need to figure out how they make the money work. Their access to US markets is changing, for better or for worse. There is no appetite in the US to lead anything in Europe, at least not that I can see as a political emphasis. We are going to look inward for a while. The world hasn't seen that for over 80 years.
“No appetite”. Politics in the US are bundles of positions, not isolated positions. Nobody voted for isolationism fully and Ukraine wasn’t all that big on the radar. We voted for lower inflation/better economy and against immigration, with a dash of culture war.
Trump messes up on economic issues and the Dems take the White House in 2028 and then suddenly there’s “no appetite” back the other direction.
So you are thinking the Dems can go from insanity to sanity on economic issues in 3 years?
It is more likely Elon will put a man on Mars by then.
The Dems are so lost now they appear to be in favor of waste and fraud. I suspect it will take them a decade to recover some economic sanity.
In Chicago people voted in Brandon Johnson because they felt that Lightfoot wasn't doing a good job on crime, when he was more progressive and was obviously going to be worse on that score. Just not obviously to voters. The point of saying that is people often vote for change, they don't always eagerly vote for the incoming candidate they often vote against the incumbent. If Trump screws up badly it won't matter what the Dems will be bringing to the table.
I agree that would be a nightmare as the Democrats have truly lost the plot overall.
Elon said 2029 is earliest for man on Mars, 2031 is more likely.
Umm, no. Ukraine and Israel getting billions in aid while hurricane and fire victims in NC and Hawaii got a measly $750 check was a huge issue during the election season.
Nobody — A huge *fake* issue. The $750 was just a grant for immediate expenses, so you weren’t left hanging while FEMA calculated what you were actually supposed to get.
Fake my ass. There were people in NC who were living in tents when Trump took office.
Nobody — Exactly: the upfront $750 was provided precisely because they knew FEMA, like any other large government bureaucracy, would take a while to grind through the paperwork and give you the aid you were supposed to get.
I can't tell if you're being deliberately obtuse or are are some sort of shameless partisan trying to whitewash the past. Either way, I'll type extra slowly to let this sink in:
There were people living in tents in the dead of winter with snow on the ground 6 months after the hurricane hit. FEMA utterly failed them. This is a fact.
Meanwhile, it was announced in September that Ukraine would get an extra $5.55 billion in aid, bringing the total amount spent on that war to somewhere between $200 billion and $300 billion depending on who you ask. Israel got a $20 billion package announced in August 2024. But six months after the fact, our own citizens were literally freezing. And you're trying to say this is okay because they got $750 to tide them over? I don't say this very often, but fuck you whoever you are.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14271267/winter-storm-states-americans-living-tents-hurricane-season.html
Nobody — Who says it’s OK that FEMA is not doing a good job? The point is, there’s no shortage of money, in a $7 trillion budget. It’s just not getting out to the people that need it very quickly.
According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. has granted or loaned Ukraine $128 billion over three years. Compare that to Federal budgets totaling about $20 trillion (= $20 ,000 billion) for those years; it comes to 0.64%. Close to half went to keeping defense assembly lines open in the U.S.
The whole reason this exchange started is because you said that Ukraine and Israel getting billions in cash while our own citizens get a measly $750 is a fake issue. So you for one think it is okay.
Nobody — The $750 is merely the *beginning* of what disaster survivors get from FEMA:
“[T]he $750 is an ‘upfront, flexible payment to help cover essential items’ while waiting for other forms of assistance. This initial payment may be approved as soon as an application is made while the agency assesses an applicant’s eligibility to receive further aid.”—Reuters
“[A] $750 payment that goes to disaster survivors in the immediate aftermath of a hurricane, tornado, or other major storm … has been falsely painted as a loan or the only assistance FEMA is providing. In fact, that is the first payment FEMA will make to disaster survivors – who are eligible for other forms of assistance to help with temporary shelter and funding to start rebuilding once the storm passes.”—CNN
“The $750 payments are the initial support provided under a new FEMA program, not the sole financial assistance available. Applications can be made for multiple additional forms of financial support for those affected by the hurricane.”—USA Today
“One type of assistance that is often approved quickly after you apply is Serious Needs Assistance, which is $750 to help pay for essential items like food, water, baby formula, breastfeeding supplies, medication and other emergency supplies … As your application continues to be reviewed, you may still receive additional forms of assistance for other needs such as support for temporary housing and home repair costs.”—FEMA
If you’re still unable to grasp the true situation, never mind.
You're a sad, miserable person. Let them eat cake-- that $750 should supply them with a winters worth, no? Trying to shift the argument away from misplaced government priorities onto the purpose of a $750 check isn't going to work. I'll take it that since you don't have anything better to respond with, you now agree that the federal government should have prioritized its own citizens needs over that of Ukraine and Israel. I'm glad we now agree.
As a non-interventionist, I pretty much did for that.