Stupid Shit in Kyiv

[Jmsuttr]

An other thing to which the Potemkin label applies: the USA Economy.

As I noted in my other post, I'm neither an indiscriminate supporter or basher of US economic and monetary policy. But I would note that, with all the demographic challenges around the world (declining birth rates, aging populations, etc.), the US still tends to attract more immigrants than many countries, which should have a generally positive effect on growth going forward. Obviously there are many countries in Africa and Asia with robust birth rates, but they tend to be poorer and less developed. That's not a defense of any specific US policy but rather a broad observation that the tide is still moving in a growth-positive direction.

[Jmsuttr]

It's too soon to tell how this will play out. The Russians have pegged the ruble to gold. They will accept only rubles for their oil and gas -- so far. Whether they extend this to accept only rubles for all their exports and move to make their ruble an asset backed currency remains to be seen. When Quaddafi made a similar move, the USA Had no answer in response except to take him out. Libya, of course, had no nuclear arsenal.

The USA Meanwhile has been shorting gold for years, and has a currency backed by -- nothing. Well, backed by its military and its ability to control the oil market via the petro dollar. For how much longer is this strategy sustainable? Remains to be seen, however it is pure hubris to think artificially propping up the dollar is an act of strength. For all holding dollars, the people running USA Policy seem to realize this which is why they're willing to keep increasing the stakes -- from Iran, Iraq / Syria, Venezuela, Libya, and now finally it has come to Russia. Should we hope the USA Succeeds and realizes the Hitlerian dream to control Russia's resources? Well, as long as you have the USA Passport and USA Currency and like to spend it like a little king lording it over poor, foreign girls you have to hope the American policy of brinksmanship pays off.

https://hungarytoday.hu/dispute-betw...sia-in-rubles/

Not sure how China and India are paying, but it doesn't seem like it's happening anywhere in Europe. That could certainly change but it's premature to assume it's already a done deal or will definitely happen on a broad scale. Putin can demand rubles but he also needs income, so it might come down to who blinks first. And it's worth noting that, as the weather warms, Europe's energy needs should be less. Not sure how much impact that has on total demand, but the depths of winter have passed.

About the ruble being pegged to gold, I agree that it's too soon to tell as it's a new development that only happened after Putin invaded Ukraine. When the value of the ruble plummeted it was one of the measures Russia adopted to try to stabilize the currency. Whether it will be effective over the medium to long term remains to be seen. Here's one article that discusses some of the issues, including potential downsides:

https://theconversation.com/why-russ...to-last-180632

About the dollar, I'm certainly not a general defender of US monetary or economic policies (although I'm not an indiscriminate basher of same), but the relevant question with respect to dollar dominance is what currency (ies) are realistic candidates to replace it? Any such currency would need to be backed by a country willing to endure the Reserve Currency Paradox (aka Triffin's Dilemma).

https://www.investopedia.com/financi...urrencies.aspx

According to that concept, a reserve currency's issuing country needs to accept a permanent trade deficit condition. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm not aware of any sizeable world economy, other than the US, that perennially runs a trade deficit. So, while it's always in fashion to bash the dollar, it's hard to see what will move the needle in any substantial way.

[Golfinho]

In futile partnership with a Potemkin economy that's been hollowed out by systemic kleptocracy. And the armed forces are in the same leaky boat.

As time goes on, and stresses increase, we'll see to how many other things the Potemkin label applies.

An other thing to which the Potemkin label applies: the USA Economy.

[Golfinho]

That's all it is. A propaganda strategy.
It's hubris to think artificially propping up the Ruble is an act of strength. Historically, countries with weak currencies that attempted to prop it up by limiting free exchange and implementing monetary controls have harmed the economy beyond what fragility already existed.

It's too soon to tell how this will play out. The Russians have pegged the ruble to gold. They will accept only rubles for their oil and gas -- so far. Whether they extend this to accept only rubles for all their exports and move to make their ruble an asset backed currency remains to be seen. When Quaddafi made a similar move, the USA Had no answer in response except to take him out. Libya, of course, had no nuclear arsenal.

The USA Meanwhile has been shorting gold for years, and has a currency backed by -- nothing. Well, backed by its military and its ability to control the oil market via the petro dollar. For how much longer is this strategy sustainable? Remains to be seen, however it is pure hubris to think artificially propping up the dollar is an act of strength. For all holding dollars, the people running USA Policy seem to realize this which is why they're willing to keep increasing the stakes -- from Iran, Iraq / Syria, Venezuela, Libya, and now finally it has come to Russia. Should we hope the USA Succeeds and realizes the Hitlerian dream to control Russia's resources? Well, as long as you have the USA Passport and USA Currency and like to spend it like a little king lording it over poor, foreign girls you have to hope the American policy of brinksmanship pays off.

[Jmsuttr]

That's all it is. A propaganda strategy It will only harm the Russian economy even more.

It's hubris to think artificially propping up the Ruble is an act of strength. Historically, countries with weak currencies that attempted to prop it up by limiting free exchange and implementing monetary controls have harmed the economy beyond what fragility already existed.

In futile partnership with a Potemkin economy that's been hollowed out by systemic kleptocracy. And the armed forces are in the same leaky boat.

As time goes on, and stresses increase, we'll see to how many other things the Potemkin label applies.

[Jmsuttr]

You are using Reuters, a US echo chamber.

Russians use roubles. The forex rate on the street does not matter. Use $, pay a premium. The rouble is tied to gold, not to the $, which will hopefully collapse as it free lunches end.

Russians have no savings? Quite like the Americans so.

Baby food, which I accidentally deleted, is a problem and it is one I am marginally involved in. However, that is precisely who Americans murder with their sanctions.

Putin has the highest approval rating of any Russian leader. Many, I am sure, would like him to step up the special operation in Ukraine where they arguably should have gone in like the Yanks, blowing up water, sewage, electric and then doing mopping up operations.

The main reason I linked to the Reuters article was because they specifically referenced a Russian source for the point about savings. If you don't like Reuters, I'm guessing there are other outlets that might quote the same source. It's noteworthy that you can't refute the data itself, so you once again rely on ad hominem.

If Forex doesn't matter, then any comments you make about the supposed strength of the ruble also don't matter. Forex only matters to Russians trying to buy foreign goods or otherwise transact in foreign currencies.

For Russians who exclusively use the ruble domestically, the biggest problem is the rampant inflation and the fact that some goods aren't available at any price. Putin could end most or all of the sanctions tomorrow by ending his war on Ukraine and withdrawing to the pre-Feb 24th positions.

Of course there's no way he'd do that, because a strongman leader can't ever show weakness or admit defeat. So, while it's clear he has lost when it comes to the primary objective of taking Kyiv and removing Zelensky, it wouldn't surprise me if he escalated by taking some aggressive action against Poland, the Baltics, Moldova, etc. And I wouldn't put it past him to use a false-flag attack on Russia as a pretext.

I have no idea how the next few weeks or months of the war will go. But it's clear that Russia's position weakens with every passing day. There is no independent metric you can cite that shows things getting better for Putin. And, as I've posted several times, there are no good outcomes for Russia. If they lose, it's a catastrophic result for the Russian psyche and Putin will be blamed. If they achieve some level of territorial gain in Ukraine, they'll struggle to hold it and Russia will remain a pariah-state. They already had a demographic problem which will only be exacerbated by a continued outflow of young people who recognize they have no future in Russia.

How did things get to this point? Putin, Putin, Putin!

[WyattEarp]

*"defending the rouble, never mind the real economy, makes sense as a propaganda strategy".

That's all it is. A propaganda strategy It will only harm the Russian economy even more.

It's hubris to think artificially propping up the Ruble is an act of strength. Historically, countries with weak currencies that attempted to prop it up by limiting free exchange and implementing monetary controls have harmed the economy beyond what fragility already existed.

[Jmsuttr]

You are much too illuminating with your intellectual rigor mortis. Don't let your sad little internal sphincter hold you back.

And the only dysfunctional sphincter in this forum is the one between your ears. Speaking of illuminating, you and Pedro M should get together IRL. Think about it, pro-Russia shill meets anti-Semite troll. With the bias-meter redlined, it would most likely result in spontaneous combustion. If you livestreamed it I think people would definitely pay money to watch. In dollars, rubles, or shekels, take your pick.

[Golfinho]

I don't give a
What I care about are empirically verifiable facts. And one empirically verifiable fact, which your biases render you incapable of recognizing, or hat's and every other country on the face of the planet. It's quite observable, and verifiable, fact that Prokhorov was not an Israeli citizen when he arrived there. All your
It's quite an illuminating study I wonder what will your sad little internal spinner will command you to do next?

You are much too illuminating with your intellectual rigor mortis. Don't let your sad little internal sphincter hold you back.

[PedroMorales]

*"A survey by state polling agency VTsIOM from February showed that 64% of people in Russia had no savings".

As I said, the ruble is rubble and Russia is flushing itself down the toilet. Follow so far?

You are using Reuters, a US echo chamber.

Russians use roubles. The forex rate on the street does not matter. Use $, pay a premium. The rouble is tied to gold, not to the $, which will hopefully collapse as it free lunches end.

Russians have no savings? Quite like the Americans so.

Baby food, which I accidentally deleted, is a problem and it is one I am marginally involved in. However, that is precisely who Americans murder with their sanctions.

Putin has the highest approval rating of any Russian leader. Many, I am sure, would like him to step up the special operation in Ukraine where they arguably should have gone in like the Yanks, blowing up water, sewage, electric and then doing mopping up operations.

[Tumeric1]

I put my money where my mouth is, you American moron. People who know me know I am no coward, quite the opposite. You, on the other hand, are an American, and a guy on a hookers; forum proffering financial advice.

Guess what. I give away 100% of what I earn, all of it.

You are the type of fat, ugly American who threatens America you will leave if your side loses one of your fake elections.

I see The Russians blew up another couple of hundred million dollars of your weapons that cxame v ia the posatage stamp country of Slovenia.

Americans, fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian. With your regime change be s in Pakistan, you have started bombing Afghanistan again, but it might not work as million s of Pakistanis are out on the streets.

Solomon Islands: China advances. Take your McDonalds, your Coca Cola and your KFC and fuck off back to America. I would say Hollywood too only that is gone down the tube. Two wankers slapping each other. Two comedians who have nowhere near the wealth Zelensky has..

Pedro, can you disclose a little bit about yourself? Like approximate age, citizenship. I am just trying to get an idea where ideas like yours are popular.

[Jmsuttr]

I put my money where my mouth is, you American moron. People who know me know I am no coward, quite the opposite. You, on the other hand, are an American, and a guy on a hookers; forum proffering financial advice.

Guess what. I give away 100% of what I earn, all of it.

You are the type of fat, ugly American who threatens America you will leave if your side loses one of your fake elections.

I see The Russians blew up another couple of hundred million dollars of your weapons that cxame v ia the posatage stamp country of Slovenia.

Americans, fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian. With your regime change be s in Pakistan, you have started bombing Afghanistan again, but it might not work as million s of Pakistanis are out on the streets..

How do you eat? And who pays for the phone or computer on which you write your hysterical posts? Even if you're surviving on McDonald's, KFC, and Coca Cola in the Solomon Islands, that shit ain't free. Of course, if you're living in locked down Shanghai that would explain some of it. I see that people there are saying they're starving. Not sure how such a thing could happen in "advanced" China.

https://mobile.twitter.com/DrEricDin...74880463114241

Does Comrade Putin send you regular shipments of military rations for your sustenance in exchange for your support? And do those shipments also include military uniforms? Or maybe KGB-style poorly-made and ill-fitting suits?

You really should start a blog on the topic of how to live while giving away 100% of your earnings. I'm sure it'd be very popular, and then you'd have even more earnings you could 100% give away. It's really a win-win when you think of it.

[Jmsuttr]

But, of course. The man who could have chosen to "buy citizenship" anywhere, chooses a little ethno-apartheid settler colonial state that is always crying it is in such mortal peril and needs billions of American taxpayer money to survive. Clearly the logical choice for an oligarchic billionaire seeking expedited service, and wealth-sheltering, especially if he wants a place from where he can't get extradited.

Glad to help you understand how things really work.

I don't give a rat's ass about how you think things work. Subjective opinions and biases are tiresome and nearly always lacking in intellectual rigor.

What I care about are empirically verifiable facts. And one empirically verifiable fact, which your biases render you incapable of recognizing, or drive you toward incoherent obfuscation of, is that a non-citizen is categorically not a citizen until they are granted that legal status by the authority empowered to do so.

That's true in Israel and every other country on the face of the planet. It's quite ludicrous to watch your gyrations as you try to ignore or deny the simple, observable, and verifiable, fact that Prokhorov was not an Israeli citizen when he arrived there. All your BS is nothing more than your own projections looking for any nook and cranny into which you can jam your anti-Semitic screeds. And all the pseudo-points you try to make have one thing in common: they're completely tangential and irrelevant to the simple facts I've laid out.

It's quite an illuminating study into the mental contortions someone's biases can cause them to have. I'm happy to have been the instrument of drawing them out for others to witness. Please feel free to continue your mental masturbatory exercises, I'm sure you won't let something as basic as evidence and facts dissuade you. It'll be fun to see what you come up with next. It's rather like an anti-Jew game of Twister, don't you think? I wonder what will your sad little internal spinner will command you to do next? Right hand, Yellow! Left foot, Blue!

[Golfinho]

You appear to have a very strained relationship with actual ound the world who
of those pertain exclusively to g citizens and those who are prospectively eligible for citizenship, are completely are a number of countries that allow citizenship by virtue of heritage, so that's not unique to Israel. Israel chooses to define heritage along religious lines, which is understandable in that they see there are plenty of countries for which you can buy .

But, of course. The man who could have chosen to "buy citizenship" anywhere, chooses a little ethno-apartheid settler colonial state that is always crying it is in such mortal peril and needs billions of American taxpayer money to survive. Clearly the logical choice for an oligarchic billionaire seeking expedited service, and wealth-sheltering, especially if he wants a place from where he can't get extradited.

Glad to help you understand how things really work.

[PedroMorales]

So you won't put your money where your mouth is. I guess we know who the real coward is.

I have no plans on moving from my abode, so yes I will be a man of principle. Perhaps you should also convert all your liquidity to RUB and show us that you can stand for what you believe in, or are you as cowardly as Medro?

I put my money where my mouth is, you American moron. People who know me know I am no coward, quite the opposite. You, on the other hand, are an American, and a guy on a hookers; forum proffering financial advice.

Guess what. I give away 100% of what I earn, all of it.

You are the type of fat, ugly American who threatens America you will leave if your side loses one of your fake elections.

I see The Russians blew up another couple of hundred million dollars of your weapons that cxame v ia the posatage stamp country of Slovenia.

Americans, fighting Russia to the last Ukrainian. With your regime change be s in Pakistan, you have started bombing Afghanistan again, but it might not work as million s of Pakistanis are out on the streets.

Solomon Islands: China advances. Take your McDonalds, your Coca Cola and your KFC and fuck off back to America. I would say Hollywood too only that is gone down the tube. Two wankers slapping each other. Two comedians who have nowhere near the wealth Zelensky has.

Zelensky will win a Nobel Peace Prize, like that mas murderer Zelensky got.

You want cowards? Here are American cowardly scum walking through Hanoi. They deserved to be skinned alive for their crimes. These animals included John McCain who cried like a dog when captured and never even thanking the Vietnamese farmer who saved his life.