John Stone

“I would have won Vietnam very quickly if I were president,” Trump boasted while calling into the financial show. “I would have won Iraq in the same amount of time" This isn't strength, it's even beyond boasting ................... it's senility.

Chinese officials have long worried that the U.S. and its allies could hamstring the nation's economy by choking off the supply of foreign oil. (U.S. oil embargo on Japan, 1941). China has poured hundreds of billions of dollars into weaning itself off the imported stuff by reviving domestic production and swiftly building the WORLD's leading electric-vehicle industry

................. almost as ridiculous as Libya being elected by secret ballot to head the top United Nations human rights panel in 2003 At the time Libya was under the tenure of Muammar al-Gaddafi, in terms of human rights, , far to the right of Attila-the-hun

'a nation rising like a lioness and roaring like a lion' / Netanyahu 'a nation of lions led by political donkeys' / Europe's description of the US

Experts estimate that between now and 2050, the increasing number of EVs on the road will require an additional 1% annually in electricity production. That's much less than the 3.2% average annual growth rate in electricity production that the U.S. has experienced over the past 70 years. Efficiency drives demand.......... it is an inverse relationship. Those figures indicate that the grid can handle the challenge of increased EV adoption. Political rhetoric is powerful ................ and the Kool-aide is tasty ......... more the pity.

re: Europe is not prepared for any sort of real war with anyone. Trump’s rhetoric is alienating the US from the West, he alienates friends and foes alike under the guise of a dealmaker and no longer regards Europe as an ally, but primarily as an adversary. “even without the US there is NO question Europe can secure it defence independently in the future.” / Karl-Heinz Kamp, director of research at the NATO Defence College Moscow’s military capabilities for offensive operations and Europe’s capacity for deterrence and defence are not static but are developing dynamically in opposite directions Europe realizes the trust in the US is gone. While Russia’s economy showed unexpected resilience in the first two years of the Ukraine war, despite sanctions and the oil boycott, since 2024 all indicators have been trending downward for Russia. Economic growth, which was already largely driven by the arms industry, is approaching zero. In 2025, revenue from oil and gas sales fell by 24%, and a further 46% decline is projected for 2026. That said, Trump’s ridiculous ‘excursion’ with Iran has been a windfall, but likely short-term This does not mean that a total economic collapse is imminent though, nor that Russia cannot continue the war in Ukraine. Propaganda is running at full speed. LOL The stockpile of stored (older – Cold War) armoured vehicles, which had been modernised and returned to the battlefield, is now nearly exhausted. Russia’s air force and satellite capabilities are particularly affected by long-standing sanctions and are correspondingly outdated. The GDP of the European NATO countries is roughly $25 trillion, more than 10 times that of Russia. Those that speak with authority re: Europe’s inability to defends itself have obviously not witnessed the power of NATO (specifically) or understand the leverage that is inherent in NATO” s ability to intimidate to prevent ……..WWIII. Could Europe defend itself without NATO ………. OMG, easily! Could the U.S. remain the ‘big dog’ without NATO? Doubtful. Trump’s rhetoric re: NATO is just that……… the rhetoric comes from an 80 y/o, anachronistic, 4x (Vietnam era) draft dodger. Ya want the real gen ………. talk to serving military that have witnessed and been part of NATO exercises on land, at sea or in the air.

The previous administration made broad proposals that would have been implemented ……… The proposals included, but not limited to, the so-called, (bipartisan) Infrastructure Law – which provided 8 billion $$ in federal funding to develop the country’s EV charging structure. The goal was 500,000 public chargers nationwide within 5 years. Through EO, (got to love those), Trump put an immediate pause on billions of dollars in funding allocated for EV charging stations appropriated through the bipartisan infrastructure law approved in 2021. FWIW? IF YOU BUILD IT THEY WILL COME.

Yeah, that was widely propagated thru the use of graffiti on shit-house walls lol However, the claim that Obama admitted under oath that he traded gay sex for cocaine when entering politics is not supported by the available reporting: the allegation traces to a single accuser, Larry Sinclair, whose public claims and self-published book have been widely reported but never corroborated, and there is no record in the supplied sources of Obama ever admitting such conduct under oath. Sinclair lived some time in Colorado and has a long history of run-ins with the law, especially crimes involving fraud.

The concern for the US strategically is that it is a global power? Arguably it would like to remain so. Difficult to imagine Europe as a global power. lol The truth is that the US needs Europe in so many ways; defense, commerce, geo-political, intel, etc. The pundits are speculating that if the U.S. dropped out of NATO if would be wanting back within several years - and then the negotiations would really begin. Europe certainly does not need the U.S. for defense. The US does need Europe in terms of commerce, defense and ideology. The speedbump for Europe is the diversity ...... but NATO and Putin have smoothed those out a bit and forced the continent to deal with reality................ it is def capable in terms of military strength, technology, science and for the most part ideology. (fk Putin in particular and Russia in general). It's revealing to do a comparison of Russian (sans Warsaw Pact) vs NATO (or akin) without the US. Cutting to the chase, a European NATO(?) would have generally a 2x or more advantage in conventional weapons.

Indigenous? appointed by Justin? ..... where's the confusion?

I believe in Kanada the focus is on the Nation’s major population centers / provinces. (Ontario / Quebec) Montreal is funding the construction of 12,000 EV charging stations across the island – completion is to be within 4 years – huge increase over what is available now. Not sure EV could be implemented on a national scale within the same timeline – the country is too ………. empty (?)………the distance too vast between major centers - EV charging stns. The U.S. is exactly the opposite - the population of NY (NY) alone is over 20 million. Huge potential for EV ............. population density makes EV very attractive.

.............. arguably the cure is to open Hormuz?

In a quickly evolving emergency the gov. likely made the prudent move, warts and all – supposedly whole communities were aflame and the there wasn’t the infrastructure to combat the raging and dispersed fires. The gov likely considered it a crisis. Reports of arson added to the emergency. With the benefit of hindsight legislation less vague (woods??) and not contravening Charter Rights will be forthcoming. Arguably laws like this are required and going forward will be more so. Kanada has a constitution, do tell?? I thought the final arbiter wasn’t the courts but the political hacks (notwithstanding clause). Lol

I believe that EV should be part of the competitive market in ALL calculus; I don't believe in offering an unfair advantage to either the EV or the Dino-car in terms of purchase. Absurd to expect the guy fixing the Dino and the industry supporting same to be helping to finance the undercutting of their livelihood. On the other hand, a society doesn't want to get into the rut of good King Cnut the Great😄 in their opposition to science / technology.

It's likely a mistake to simply think of it as a 'car'? It's more about the evolution of technology. I'd describe Trudeau as an idealist - on EV's, the door hit him on the a$$!

.............. incentives increase sales......... visibility leads to more sales ................. snowballs? EV on the scale we're discussing are (is) new. I'm sure u know what sold the Model T? Globally the Chines keep driving the cost of production down based on volume sold globally

Why? The best I can offer is that he thought it would be a lot easier? But, yeah ............... WHY???

Objective, perhaps. Definitely not blind drunk on partisan politics. ........... strange that is exactly what the founding fathers predicted would destroy the great experiment. I don't hate Trump ............. he is just an 80 y/o ....... anachronism . If I detested anyone it would be his head shop - they know better, but they're drunk on power and their perception that they can control it from behind the throne. (they might be correct)

.............. jobs? Transition to the future? Progress? Next generation?

The US can't exit - it would be politically disastrous, the WORLD might start to suspect the US can't be trusted to keep their word? Regime Change Recover Dust' Open Hormuz. Trump's rhetoric has painted himself into a corner.

pot meet kettle? 😄

Anachronistic? Investing heavily in buggy whips? An increasing share of a shrinking market? In 2023, 96% of new solar and wind capacity globally had lower generation costs than using coal

.................. I always find it helpful to read between the lines. 14147 is a complete contradiction of the norm understanding that the DOJ acts INDEPENDANTLY of the Executive. What it does is empower (not a wink or a nod) but empowers the DOJ / FBI free reign to prosecute, harass, intimidate legally, Trump's political opponents. 14147 is a broad threat ................. to any opponent , institution, business to STFU or we'll come for you. Trump is not hiding it ............ he is broadcasting it.............. it is intimidation at the highest level.

Traditionally, Israel has always fought with the Arabs and Persians - they're good at it. 😁 Trump HAS made peace with Russia ......... Putin talks and Trump listens. 😁 Please don't condemn Bibi for selling Trump, truth be told Iran has been on Trump's bucket list for some time. I'd hazard to guess that Iran HAS been an education for Trump tho

............. fossil fuel is an anachronism. The pitfall is moving too fast towards a developing technology.............. I get that, the push back, but lets begin to move towards a developing technology and not crush it in the embryonic stage. I don't want to scare u and I don't want to spend too much time repeating boring figures ......... but at ur convenience peruse what China IS doing to meet the future. Examine how they're weaning themselves off an anachronism. China has a plan, a strategy. They're moving forward at light speed, globally ....soon it will be too late to catch up in the science/tech/ development area. The slants are even providing funding to developing countries to enable them to progress EV / solar, etc - self serving of course with 80 percent of EV produced by China - but hugely strategic. But hey, who wants to be China?