SpankyMcFarland

Those two do seem to be working on their relationship of late and a full-on war between them looks less likely than it has for decades. China will be an ever bigger factor in their calculations. https://www.mei.edu/blog/monday-briefing-saudi-iran-rapprochement-amid-regional-and-global-shifts

They’re a diverse set of countries that have had their run-ins with the US over the years - more substance in their enmities than in their love, to paraphrase Mr. Yeats. If they were able to sink their many differences they would be a serious force in geopolitics. For the ME nations, keeping in with two of their major customers and neighbours seems like a prudent move, albeit a worrying one for the West. What will the new acronym be?

Certainly there are parallels - with the benefit of hindsight I perhaps should have mentioned them - but also differences. At the time of its defeat, Russia was a developing nation and the war occurred at the very edge of its empire where it had serious logistical challenges. As a result of these failures, Russia reformed the army and by the time WWI happened its speed of mobilization surprised the Germans. Imperial China was in no position to defend itself against an industrializing power like Japan so defeating it was not a great achievement. Japan in the Thirties was an aggressively expansionist dictatorship but one which lacked the manufacturing base and sheer scale to seriously challenge the US as the subsequent war showed. America was even able to keep Russia supplied while defeating Japan. China today should be more frightening to us, posing a bigger threat to the existing order than Japan ever did. I think it’s correct to say that Japan has never had close to 20% of the world’s population?

Yes, one of the closer peers but a smaller country with a longer history of progress. I can recall when China’s GDP per capita was similar to that of many African states.

This time last year in NL, I met a couple from Joshua Tree, California who were escaping the heat of their hometown. Expect to see more of that in our very interesting global future.

Show me a serious pundit who believes that. Kennedy talks dangerous nonsense about vaccines, nonsense that could kill children, and has no record in the major leagues of politics, management or anywhere else. The presidency shouldn’t be a job just anybody considers themselves eligible for. A political apprenticeship in Congress, a governor’s mansion or as a mayor of a major city should be the minimum political experience necessary.

These are short-term events. China led the world in many areas for centuries. We would be foolish to think this couldn’t happen again, especially given its extraordinary rise in the last few decades, an event for which one struggles to find parallels in human history. The big question really is what will China’s influence on the rest of us look like in the future? If that country continues on its dreadful totalitarian path, we should expect the cold hand of the Central Committee on many collars in many countries. The immediate worry, of course, is Taiwan. Let’s hope Putin’s current difficulties will cause hesitation there.

But who caused that flood of refugees? Let’s be crystal clear on that question before we start blaming victims.

Should have put money on Spain! They were always going to dominate possession, the only question being whether they would remember to score as well. Which they did. https://www.eurosport.com/football/women-s-world-cup/2023/live-spain-england_mtc1403033/live-stats.shtml Women’s soccer may be transitioning to the serious soccer countries now.

Well, I did use the word ‘should’ there.

Let me say once again: those most negatively affected by immigration, in our country the poorer inhabitants of large cities, should have the biggest say on the numbers involved. Across the Western world, we have seen what happens when this isn’t the case.

Is this some sort of avant-garde art piece satirizing trolling? You’re getting yourself all excited and that’s not good for anybody. Of course, any proper socialist would not regard me as a kindred spirit at all and in no European country would I be considered left-wing either. Only in the ‘redder’ parts of the US and few battier corners up here, e.g. the Toronto Sun readership, could I seen as relatively left-wing. And on density, it is one well-recognized factor to be considered in the mix that will help us ease our problems. Its mention shouldn’t cause hysteria. This is a challenge all Canadians are involved in one way or the other, whether they live in large urban centres themselves or not. The more we take politics out of the discussion, the quicker the progress we will make. I’m happy to wait until this thread has cooled down and we can discuss these matters in a useful fashion.

Hey, this is your thread. It’s up to you to keep it going and provide resilient data for it. I’m happy to emphasize I’ve no expertise here. Thus I’d be grateful for some references for what you are saying there, first to show what Canada is doing on housing units (which shouldn’t be hard), but secondly to demonstrate this ‘uniqueness’ angle. Let’s first talk about the number of housing units built in Canada by year since 2000 as a percentage of total housing stock. Do you think Canada is the only country with a recent problem housing people in the face of immigration and a rising total population? And on density of units in large cities, what are you claiming exactly?

What is unique about Canada’s housing problem? And if there are unusual factors, there are also surely many that are seen elsewhere? I have no particular expertise in this area but I know what we’re doing isn’t working.

Quite an animated response. Does no other country have similar problems at the moment? Would a Conservative government have completely avoided this problem? 100%? Greater density is part of the solution along with proper mass transit systems etc.etc.. Toronto’s rail and subway system is rudimentary. And look at Calgary. The LRT started well and then expansion ground to a halt.

Buzzin’ - how English players describe their feelings tonight. What a game against Oz. Spain aren’t as impressive at heading or running but they excel at passing. The final should be quite the contrast in styles - possession football versus a more direct approach.

In fairness, these headlines are transferable to many countries at the moment. We need greater population density in Canadian cities. The ranch-style house and large garden are no longer fit for purpose in our suburbs. The nimby geezers will have to be taken on and that calls for rare political bravery.

Of course, even if that were true it would be irrelevant if actual wrongdoing is discovered. Lobbyists, their backers and politicians are all well aware of lobbying legislation and how to get round it. Unless we are constantly vigilant bad things will happen behind closed doors. That is just human nature.

Wait a second. It becomes my business if something illegal is being discussed.

I think it should be his call. He has earned that right but he really should go as he has become a lightning rod for dissatisfaction about the state of the nation. Even in democracies our leaders get such delusions about themselves.

JT has had quite the innings. It’s remarkable how far energy, good looks, a famous name and a brass neck can get one in life. I couldn’t see anything in him at all when he was a humble MP and hoped the astronaut would win but he learned in the top job and greatly exceeded my expectations, such as they were. However, the time has come to disembark from the ship of state as a grim moment looms ahead. Better to leave all that to somebody else. PP looks in good shape for now - he has yet to break his promises.

Is this non-greenbelt land explicitly described in the report and is it in large pieces suitable for similar development right now?

Another big thing is increasing the density of our existing developments. There’s way too much sprawl in Toronto and surrounding areas. It is difficult to explain to foreigners how a basically empty subcontinent is unable to do a better job at this.

Any govt or administration at any level in this country, from federal to municipal, should have been able to avoid such blindingly obvious pitfalls. I agree we need lots more houses.

The Republican Classic crowd, like Romney and the Sununus, had something to contribute. Turns out spending is a problem and Putin can’t be trusted. Their successors don’t seem to have the same ambition to manage America efficiently and lead the world. It’s all reactive clickbait.