• plyth@feddit.org
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    1 month ago

    I’m talking about using our elbows against the US and China

    Those ellbows are controlled by politicians who are in favor of the US. Of course, if you don’t see how the democratic uprising in Syria was influenced, you cannot imagine that similar things happen in the EU.

    From 2017 onwards, we had our highest trade surplus with the US…

    Sorry, I meant that. Like China, we have produced goods for money that we didn’t spend. Germany always accepted to support the US. Now the EU is forced to do the same.

    All that matters to us is that we are at the receiving end of his antics.

    Then try to escape on your own.

    We don’t want a charismatic, manipulating leader to be directly electable by the people ever again.

    Who was that? Hitler was chosen by the president, not by majority. A direct election would have prevented the third reich.

    That change can happen at a multitude of levels

    Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.

    • Quittenbrot@feddit.org
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      1 month ago

      Those ellbows are controlled by politicians who are in favor of the US.

      How does that change anything in my point that we have to learn to use our elbows against the US and China? So far, we haven’t used them against either as much as we should.

      Germany always accepted to support the US.

      Having a trade surplus with a country is hardly “supporting” it. See how mad Trump is about it?

      A direct election would have prevented the third reich.

      Bold claims!

      So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.

      The pressure from the US is already so big. Right now, we are highly dependent on both the US (digital services for example) and China (outsourced key manufacturing for example). The more aggressive and selfish these players are becoming, as they do, the more we’ll face the truth that we have to exit these dependencies as fast as possible.

      • plyth@feddit.org
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        1 month ago

        How does that change anything in my point

        Is it a point if it is not achievable? The small countries show that we know how to use them. Who is going to use the ellbows on the big ones?

        Having a trade surplus with a country is hardly “supporting” it.

        It is. That’s colonialism.

        See how mad Trump is about it?

        Because the US switched strategy. Before it allowed them to specialize in weapon manufacturing but they realized that that is not enough. It’s also bad to rely on Europe if that is flattened in ww3.

        The tariffs, oil imports and digital services will keep Europe paying.

        Bold claims!

        Wrong claims?

        we have to exit these dependencies as fast as possible.

        Sure. So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.

        • Quittenbrot@feddit.org
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          1 month ago

          Who is going to use the ellbows on the big ones?

          Us, also a big one. Second largest economy, you remember?

          Because the US switched strategy.

          Because the surplus is bad for them. Ockham’s Razor. No need to fall into some rabbit holes of conspiracies again. He doesn’t like that we sell them more than they us, that our products are valued on their market, but not the other way around.

          Wrong claims?

          Who knows? You didn’t care to substantiate them yet.

          So your plan for a free Europe is that the pressure from the US will be so big that people at various levels will do something against it.

          My plan for a free Europe is to react accordingly to the already existing and growing pressure from the outside.

          • plyth@feddit.org
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            1 month ago

            Second largest economy, you remember?

            With politicians who are in favor of the US, you remember?

            No need to fall into some rabbit holes of conspiracies again.

            Until the switch, that was the explanation. We have the surplus and the US use it to have their big army.

            You didn’t care to substantiate them yet.

            Are the free election results not enough?

            My plan for a free Europe is to react accordingly to the already existing and growing pressure from the outside.

            See how that plan works out for the Democrats in the US. You can also have another look at Syria. And I want to bring back to mind that our leading politicians are in favor of the US.

            • Quittenbrot@feddit.org
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              1 month ago

              With politicians who are in favor of the US, you remember?

              Up until now, many maybe were. But that changes since Trump is in office again and even long-standing partners of the US are no longer safe.

              We have the surplus and the US use it to have their big army.

              How does that make sense? We have a trade surplus with them, aka more money goes our way, more products go their way. And they use that (us getting their money) to have a big army (which costs money)??

              A direct election would have prevented the third reich.

              I’d like to see anything substantial to back this claim up in the absoluteness you put it out here.

              See how that plan works out for the Democrats in the US. You can also have another look at Syria.

              I neither care about the Democrats nor Syria and don’t see how they matter here. This is about Europe and if you don’t want to do that, we’re done here.

              • plyth@feddit.org
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                1 month ago

                long-standing partners of the US are no longer safe.

                Germany is as safe as before. It’s just mask off for the rest of Europe.

                How does that make sense?

                Like China, Germany kept the money. The US got products for some numbers on a computer. That allowed them to spend the money again on arms.

                I’d like to see anything substantial

                Like election results? You should know or look it up yourself.

                I neither care about the Democrats nor Syria

                Too bad. If you only feel entitled for Europeans you will draw the wrong conclusions.

                don’t see how they matter here.

                Take your time. It could help to wonder if the US will treat Europeans fundamentally different.

                This is about Europe and if you don’t want to do that, we’re done here.

                It is. If you want to understand the European situation by dwellung on the injustice of US pressure alone, you will feel victimized but you will never understand how it can continue.

                I hope you keep going. Otherwise thanks for the conversation.

                • Quittenbrot@feddit.org
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                  1 month ago

                  Germany is as safe as before.

                  Germany is being targeted by Trump just like anyone else around is.

                  Germany kept the money. The US got products for some numbers on a computer. That allowed them to spend the money again on arms.

                  What? Germany kept the money, therefore the US could spend it on arms??

                  You should know or look it up yourself.

                  Classic. Make a bold statement, outsource the actual fact-gathering to the other side. No thanks.

                  Too bad. If you only feel entitled for Europeans you will draw the wrong conclusions.

                  I am only entitled for Europeans, just like any other European. Syria, Democrats, they all have to take care of their own problems, I can only influence what happens here.

                  Take your time.

                  Just did, still no.

                  If you want to understand the European situation by dwellung on the injustice of US pressure alone

                  Wrong assumption. I care about how Europe should react to pressure by the US. Just as I care about how Europe should react to other pressures on us such as by China.

                  • plyth@feddit.org
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                    1 month ago

                    What? Germany kept the money, therefore the US could spend it on arms??

                    If Germany stores it, it’s the same as if they would burn it, which would remove the obligation from the US to create something for it.

                    outsource the actual fact-gathering

                    That you should already know

                    all have to take care of their own problems,

                    divide and conquer