[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Quote

Remember how Elon Musk destroyed Twitter by ripping apart its infrastructure without understanding it? Now imagine that same playbook applied to the federal government. It's happening, and the stakes are exponentially higher[...] threatening the federal government's basic functions.

[...] A private citizen with zero Constitutional authority is effectively seizing control of critical government functions. The Constitution explicitly requires Senate confirmation for anyone wielding significant federal power — a requirement Musk has simply ignored as he installs his loyalists throughout the government while demanding access to basically all of the levers of power, and pushing out anyone who stands in his way.

[...] Musk's approach to institutions resembles a toddler "fixing" a grandfather clock by removing its pendulum. [...] what we're seeing isn't reform — it's vandalism dressed up as innovation.

https://www.techdirt...more-dangerous/

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 01 February 2025 - 01:36 PM

[Primateus]

Garak, on 01 February 2025 - 08:51 AM, said:

What the hell is the Senate or Congress or whatever doing? Are they all with their head in the sand? Or are they all insane?

If I was a cynical man, I would say the republicans in Congress agree with what's happening and the Democrats are giving the people what they voted for, by letting it happen. Is that not really their only move, seeing as how they don't have any power to stop it?

[Garak]

I guess but I'm annoyed because if it was the Dems allowing them then the Reps would be howling and screeching.

[Whisperzzzzzzz]

They're on track with their plan so far:

[Cause]

Well he actually did it.

He has started or escalated a trade war with all 3 of Americas largest trade partner’s simultaneously.

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Cause, on 01 February 2025 - 10:58 PM, said:

Well he actually did it.

He has started or escalated a trade war with all 3 of Americas largest trade partner's simultaneously.

But instead of going into effect immediately today, as previously announced, apparently what he ended up actually signing won't go into effect until Tuesday (if ever):

New Trump tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China set to start Tuesday

This post has been edited by Azath Vitr (D'ivers: 01 February 2025 - 11:57 PM

[HoosierDaddy]

I’m so excited to see the even more inflated prices on everything as this is a perfect excuse to just raise your fucking prices no matter what.

[QuickTidal]

I'm really curious how long it is before these tariffs start to cause political upheaval (high prices, lack of supply, inflation ect.) in the US and what you lot will do about it.

Like it will take time for Canada and Mexico to diversify our relationships elsewhere, but in the meantime this is going to hurt everyone...ideally if Trump goes after the EU as he's claimed they are next...then he's essentially uniting all his allies against himself in a trade war that I guarantee his people don't want (those that voted for him are just too stupid to know they don't want it)...which feels extra dumb if we are allowed the time to diversify.

Like our levels of govt have begun talking about this being the last straw for our relationship with the US being as cozy as it once was, that putting so many of our eggs into the US/Can trade basket was a mistake if a single madman can bring it all crashing down cause he's a dickhead...and so I feel like even if the tariffs are lifted our relationship will NEVER go back to what it was. That in the time these tariffs are in place, Canada is going to seek deals with other countries and solidly them for the long haul.

Like the is not just a "right now" mistake, it sounds like this is going to have repercussions for the US in the long run that may never right themselves.


I am fond of the fact that we are deliberately targeting Red states that voted for this warmed over cheese toast of a man...so that's funny.

And our PM's LOVE ACTUALLY-vibed "A friend that bullies us is not a friend" speech was badass.

Anyways, American's....whats up? Y'all headed to the streets?

EDIT: Tangentially to the other thread....what are the odds this just sends countries like mine into deeper and better relations with China and trade with them gets better than it is (we already have a FISA deal with them for a few more years yet). When Huawei phones show back up in Canada, I'll know that is on the horizon.

EDIT 2: Also how the fuck is Musk having access to the Treasury now? This unelected slob oligarch is in charge of your money? You guys are on the express elevator to hell aren't you? Fuck me. Where's the 18th Century French when you need them?

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 03 February 2025 - 01:05 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Two possibilities:

Trump is bluffing. Tariffs this steep are ridiculous, and the world would be throwing away massive amounts of money. That's the reason why they're not going into effect until Tuesday.

Trump isn't bluffing, and Musk &co have convinced him that steep tariffs will encourage investment in robotics and other automation, so that the United States will be better off in the longer term. Despite going through a period that will be very difficult for many people. But perhaps Trump thinks that by the time the masses finally catch on and start protesting en masse he'll have already purged the military and law enforcement, refilled them with his loyal minions, and effectively ended democracy? Right now it seems premature.

I'll probably sell a bit of some of my Trumpflation hedges today and buy the dip in BBVA (Spanish bank expanding into Mexico)... but only a tiny bit. Still, in scenario #2 my investments will hopefully do well in the long term---perhaps unless Trump crushes all Musk's competition in robotics and automation...

[QuickTidal]

Azath Vitr (D, on 03 February 2025 - 01:44 PM, said:

Two possibilities:

Trump is bluffing. Tariffs this steep are ridiculous, and the world would be throwing away massive amounts of money. That's the reason why they're not going into effect until Tuesday.

Considering he held off the Tariffs til Tuesday and said he will talk to Canada and Mexico Monday makes me think it leans in that direction. He DOES appear to be freaking out on Truth social more than normal so I think he's sweating. He's essentially guaranteeing the US populous everything being more expensive and that inflation will rise again on everything....I don't know how you make such an unpopular thing happen and not worry about it.

Also, it could be that this was all a bluff distraction to avoid people finding out that Musk gained access to the US treasury.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2025 - 01:50 PM, said:

....I don't know how you make such an unpopular thing happen and not worry about it....

Easy. You lie to your idiot constituents that everything wrong w their lives is because these other countries have been freeloading off you and shockingly still don't want to give you all their money, and you deeply believe in your own infallible godhood.

[QuickTidal]

Abyss, on 03 February 2025 - 03:09 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2025 - 01:50 PM, said:

....I don't know how you make such an unpopular thing happen and not worry about it....

Easy. You lie to your idiot constituents that everything wrong w their lives is because these other countries have been freeloading off you and shockingly still don't want to give you all their money, and you deeply believe in your own infallible godhood.

It's wild to me....everyone here feels so stabbed in the back by the US on this. ESPECIALLY because the last time he was in power he ditched NAFTA, replaced it with his own shit for Can and Mex...and is now saying "Nah, that shit is no longer good enough, tariffs until you behave"....I'm glad Canada is not having it.

[Abyss]

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2025 - 03:12 PM, said:

Abyss, on 03 February 2025 - 03:09 PM, said:

QuickTidal, on 03 February 2025 - 01:50 PM, said:

....I don't know how you make such an unpopular thing happen and not worry about it....

Easy. You lie to your idiot constituents that everything wrong w their lives is because these other countries have been freeloading off you and shockingly still don't want to give you all their money, and you deeply believe in your own infallible godhood.

It's wild to me....everyone here feels so stabbed in the back by the US on this. ESPECIALLY because the last time he was in power he ditched NAFTA, replaced it with his own shit for Can and Mex...and is now saying "Nah, that shit is no longer good enough, tariffs until you behave"....I'm glad Canada is not having it.

If Doug cuts off power sales I may actually (consider, briefly, in a humorous inner monologue sort of way, a ) vote for him, and if Quebec cuts off hydro i may consider moving back (but never will but will up my poutine intake out of respect).

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

Quote

Breaking news: Trump’s tariffs on Mexico are put on hold

https://www.nytimes....s/trump-tariffs

lol

***Happy victory dance***

But Canada tariffs are still on... for now. Which makes fentanyl / border crossings even more ridiculous as a justification.

Trump may still be mad that Trudeau didn't let him win at competitive handshaking. Says he might not unleash tariffs on the UK because Starmer has been being very nice to him.

[QuickTidal]

The Coup is on overdrive.

It's now not "How can they do this?" and it's become "Why is NO one stopping this?"

Feckless Congress just letting the Executive branch run ragged with their foreign-born, unelected contractor oligarch just walking past the guards at the building and dipping his hands into the treasury.

Like is this NOT the thing that the 2nd amendment was designed for? Like the tyrannical govt they've always feared is here now, and it's crickets? This is literally what they said George Soros was doing for the dems writ large...and crickets.

Watching the USA fail as a state under a slow coup and nothing whatsoever is happening to stop it or even slow it....is wild y'all. You all need to be in the streets...

[QuickTidal]

I spoke too soon, looks like Sen. Van Hollen and others busted into USAID HQ.

If I had money, I'd put it on martial law being declared sooner rather than later. Pushback on Trump and Musk is going to make things untenable, and they will absolutely get police-y about it.

Which...good...this can't stand if you guys want to have a functioning democracy, so someone had to push back....It's not much, but at least it's SOMETHING.

This post has been edited by QuickTidal: 03 February 2025 - 07:47 PM

[Azath Vitr (D'ivers]

And there go the absurd Canada tariffs too... it's a miracle, lol!

10% on China might stay---for now. Maybe it'll go away after China buys a bit more Trumpcoin....

[Cause]

What a shit show.

Craziest thing is I can already see how this will go.

Trump, his voters, fox, republicans will say that he won important concessions by threatening tarrifs. They will celebrate it as a win.

Everyone else: he threatened a nuclear option, panicked stocks, panicked Americans and saw how unpopular they were. Found a fig leaf to hide behind and paused the Tarifs.

I’ll wait for reports that every concession he won was already in the works

[Macros]

As if them already being agreed will stop the trumpians claiming them as his win.
I have a family birthday this weekend, my crazy rep uncle will be there, dreading being cornered for 'conversation'

Give me a few simple irrefutable Trump is a fucking muppet talking points I can fire at him on repeat

[Maark Abbott]

Macros, on 04 February 2025 - 05:45 AM, said:

As if them already being agreed will stop the trumpians claiming them as his win.
I have a family birthday this weekend, my crazy rep uncle will be there, dreading being cornered for 'conversation'

Give me a few simple irrefutable Trump is a fucking muppet talking points I can fire at him on repeat

Well you're uncle, see your uncle he's a guy, tremendous. He does tariffs, and you know who pays for those tariffs? We don't need to rely on the Mexicans for tariffs. But we have to the Mexican tariffs. And borders, big borders. We're gonna do so many borders, really great.