If the shoe was on the other foot and the US were the manufacturing powerhouse running a large budget surplus they'd squeeze every country until their pips squeaked, paraphrasing John Bolton. Similarly if they had the hypersonic missile systems and production lines then Russia wouldn't see a day's peace.
As it stands they'll have to grin and bear it as China did for several centuries and Russia in the 90's through the early 21st century.
If it wasn't for that exceptionalism cross they have to bear America could learn from the Chinese on how to behave with grace with no-cards to play at the table.
Thus began Trump's long march but so far he has not gathered too many allies as he has far to travel and many roads to go back on. From what I read here the China team has a pretty good understanding of his needs and desires and the dialogue essential to keep his attention and simultaneously stay the hand of the vampire squid in the shadows. If Trump truly has set out to tame the decades of Republican foaming savages then he has cast the right spell. Time will tell but I have no trust in the weasel words or sincerity of a Mississippi River Boat gambler that is busy selling genocide in Palestine and Ukraine.
Your comment comrade Uncle Tungsten (not the gold-plated tungsten in Fort Knox that even Trump was too embarrassed to audit) reminds me of getting my feet wet in the heady political climate 10 years on from the collapse of the Soviet Union when the western vulture class were looking to Asset-Strip Russia.
In 2001 Mikhail Khodorkovsky turned up with the archetypal American non-compromising vulture , my way or the highway Lee Raymond (EXXON) and sidekick Rex Tillerson to a meeting with Putin expecting to secure a controlling interest, initially 51% but as much as 70% in (from memory) Yukos Oil which Khodorkovsky and a few oligarchs owned. I believe Yukos accounted for almost 20% of Russia's proven reserves at that time.
Putin was livid feeling he'd been set up leading eventually, albeit down the road to a long stretch in prison for Khodorkovsky.
A few years later Putin was guest of honour at PM War-Criminal Tony Blair's Chequers residence, being courted by Big-Oil, Exxon, Chevron, BP, even Bush was asked to court VVP.
Man of the Year in 2004, I wonder why Putin/Russia have become Public Enemy No.1 since.
With the shoe on the other foot here China has wiggle room if Trump plays nice but Bessent's lack of diplomacy makes him totally unsuitable as lead negotiator much like Kellogg on Russia.
IMO the hatred stems from Putin using the dread weapon of nationalising resource industries. Once a commie always a commie in the minds of Lee Raymond, Rex Tillerson et al. I guess they never expected that a successful apparatchik of the USSR years could possibly consider nationalising industry in 'modern neo liberal economic times'. How wrong they were and how ignorant they were of the respect for nationhood that underpins a patriot president.
Capitalists detest all things socialist or communist to the extent they carried out progroms in the usa to destroy the collective left. They still maintain their blockade on Cuba - such is the measure of their hatred of any nation that dares to own and develop its own resources or people. That is why they hate China, a nation that has lifted itself from post war dereliction and post colonial poverty to a global exemplar of the magnificence of Communist ideology and government as if people mattered.
As for Bessent he has to please the boss and it appears the boss has a knack of playing his team well to deliver ego burnishing results. Perhaps the died in the wool ideologues in Trumps employ just have to perform according to the organ grinders tune lest they be destroyed. Right now Trump seems to be reaping rewards from people that neither you nor I would trust in a fit. Time will tell but I do remind myself that a decade ago he was hell bent on turning the Republican Party to his will and today he seems to be achieving that to some extent. He certainly is holding his enemies close.
I'm in agreement with Dr Hudson, these debts are odious and should not be paid. This isn't just about the US, IMF, World Bank, but the panoply of western (pirate) banks. I find it somewhat hilarious as another point I've been keen on is cutting off the ships of goodies west bound, but it looks like the brains trust in the US has done it to itself, what a pack of numbskulls. Every US admin is composed of retreads, Larry, Curly, and Moe.
IMO, it will continue to morph as Hudson explained back in 2012. As a means of production, I don’t think it will ever completely die, although it can be humanized—tamed so it’s not destructive.
wolfgang streeck has a book out the past year that i am presently reading - out of control? - you and many others here would enjoy the book for all it says..
One could also describe capitalism as undead, like an ancient financial vampire sucking the vitality out of what remains of its own economy, and out of still robust economies elsewhere.
Regarding the 'odious debt' mentioned by Michael Hudson, if developing nations banded together and refused to pay it, that would be a good thing in my opinion. But first an alternative global financial system must arise or they would be cutting their own throats. Assuming we get an alternative system, which seems likely, then they'd be in a position to give the US/IMF/WB an ultimatum: either renegotiate the terms of the debt or we repudiate it. I'd love to see that.
All politicians lie. They are allowed to lie because they must deal with a wide range of contradictory issues. Diplomats are needed to work out contentious issues.
Along with the primary focus on finance, the intellectual level and political level of the of the US has declined so much the US elected an uninformed showman that has accelerated the decline of the US empire.
There is a chance that there will be a swift collapse of Trump's effort to make America great again through trade. There was a recent article on a 100 person Kentucky company who made specialty electronic capacitors. They buy special materials from around the world and their market is world wide. The trade policy will harm this very company which is what Trump says the US needs.
There are two basic issues about land: what land do you live on vs what land do you live from.
The US, along with all major countries, live from the entire earth.
Looks like the White House economic team found some of its misplaced brain cells, and walked back most of the tariffs on China, just as they did with the rest of the world...
If the shoe was on the other foot and the US were the manufacturing powerhouse running a large budget surplus they'd squeeze every country until their pips squeaked, paraphrasing John Bolton. Similarly if they had the hypersonic missile systems and production lines then Russia wouldn't see a day's peace.
As it stands they'll have to grin and bear it as China did for several centuries and Russia in the 90's through the early 21st century.
If it wasn't for that exceptionalism cross they have to bear America could learn from the Chinese on how to behave with grace with no-cards to play at the table.
Thus began Trump's long march but so far he has not gathered too many allies as he has far to travel and many roads to go back on. From what I read here the China team has a pretty good understanding of his needs and desires and the dialogue essential to keep his attention and simultaneously stay the hand of the vampire squid in the shadows. If Trump truly has set out to tame the decades of Republican foaming savages then he has cast the right spell. Time will tell but I have no trust in the weasel words or sincerity of a Mississippi River Boat gambler that is busy selling genocide in Palestine and Ukraine.
Your comment comrade Uncle Tungsten (not the gold-plated tungsten in Fort Knox that even Trump was too embarrassed to audit) reminds me of getting my feet wet in the heady political climate 10 years on from the collapse of the Soviet Union when the western vulture class were looking to Asset-Strip Russia.
In 2001 Mikhail Khodorkovsky turned up with the archetypal American non-compromising vulture , my way or the highway Lee Raymond (EXXON) and sidekick Rex Tillerson to a meeting with Putin expecting to secure a controlling interest, initially 51% but as much as 70% in (from memory) Yukos Oil which Khodorkovsky and a few oligarchs owned. I believe Yukos accounted for almost 20% of Russia's proven reserves at that time.
Putin was livid feeling he'd been set up leading eventually, albeit down the road to a long stretch in prison for Khodorkovsky.
A few years later Putin was guest of honour at PM War-Criminal Tony Blair's Chequers residence, being courted by Big-Oil, Exxon, Chevron, BP, even Bush was asked to court VVP.
Man of the Year in 2004, I wonder why Putin/Russia have become Public Enemy No.1 since.
With the shoe on the other foot here China has wiggle room if Trump plays nice but Bessent's lack of diplomacy makes him totally unsuitable as lead negotiator much like Kellogg on Russia.
IMO the hatred stems from Putin using the dread weapon of nationalising resource industries. Once a commie always a commie in the minds of Lee Raymond, Rex Tillerson et al. I guess they never expected that a successful apparatchik of the USSR years could possibly consider nationalising industry in 'modern neo liberal economic times'. How wrong they were and how ignorant they were of the respect for nationhood that underpins a patriot president.
Capitalists detest all things socialist or communist to the extent they carried out progroms in the usa to destroy the collective left. They still maintain their blockade on Cuba - such is the measure of their hatred of any nation that dares to own and develop its own resources or people. That is why they hate China, a nation that has lifted itself from post war dereliction and post colonial poverty to a global exemplar of the magnificence of Communist ideology and government as if people mattered.
As for Bessent he has to please the boss and it appears the boss has a knack of playing his team well to deliver ego burnishing results. Perhaps the died in the wool ideologues in Trumps employ just have to perform according to the organ grinders tune lest they be destroyed. Right now Trump seems to be reaping rewards from people that neither you nor I would trust in a fit. Time will tell but I do remind myself that a decade ago he was hell bent on turning the Republican Party to his will and today he seems to be achieving that to some extent. He certainly is holding his enemies close.
I'm in agreement with Dr Hudson, these debts are odious and should not be paid. This isn't just about the US, IMF, World Bank, but the panoply of western (pirate) banks. I find it somewhat hilarious as another point I've been keen on is cutting off the ships of goodies west bound, but it looks like the brains trust in the US has done it to itself, what a pack of numbskulls. Every US admin is composed of retreads, Larry, Curly, and Moe.
Humpty Dumpty Trump
Sat on a China Wall
Humpty Dumpty
Had a Great Fall
All the Kings Jokers
And all the Kings Clowns
Couldn't Put Humpty Dumpty
Trump Back Together Again.
it begs the question 'how will capitalism end'? perhaps this is it!
thanks karl..
IMO, it will continue to morph as Hudson explained back in 2012. As a means of production, I don’t think it will ever completely die, although it can be humanized—tamed so it’s not destructive.
wolfgang streeck has a book out the past year that i am presently reading - out of control? - you and many others here would enjoy the book for all it says..
Capitalism died in 2008 with the Great Bank Bailout, the coffin of capitalism has been collecting nails ever since
One could also describe capitalism as undead, like an ancient financial vampire sucking the vitality out of what remains of its own economy, and out of still robust economies elsewhere.
Like I said, it’s still collecting nails, there aren’t many more needed to get to that final nail but until then your description applies as well
very true, however it isn't completely dead yet, lol..
Regarding the 'odious debt' mentioned by Michael Hudson, if developing nations banded together and refused to pay it, that would be a good thing in my opinion. But first an alternative global financial system must arise or they would be cutting their own throats. Assuming we get an alternative system, which seems likely, then they'd be in a position to give the US/IMF/WB an ultimatum: either renegotiate the terms of the debt or we repudiate it. I'd love to see that.
All politicians lie. They are allowed to lie because they must deal with a wide range of contradictory issues. Diplomats are needed to work out contentious issues.
Along with the primary focus on finance, the intellectual level and political level of the of the US has declined so much the US elected an uninformed showman that has accelerated the decline of the US empire.
There is a chance that there will be a swift collapse of Trump's effort to make America great again through trade. There was a recent article on a 100 person Kentucky company who made specialty electronic capacitors. They buy special materials from around the world and their market is world wide. The trade policy will harm this very company which is what Trump says the US needs.
There are two basic issues about land: what land do you live on vs what land do you live from.
The US, along with all major countries, live from the entire earth.
Trump lives in a sand box.
Looks like the White House economic team found some of its misplaced brain cells, and walked back most of the tariffs on China, just as they did with the rest of the world...
In other words, Trump and Bessent blinked, the next step is capitulation