I joined a boycott for an international conference that is planned for San Francisco at the end of October. The organizer started the movement in January, knowing what was to come. Things have only gotten worse since then… the organizers are determined to see it through… ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Europe wins by doing nothing
China and Russia win even more by staying silent and letting Trump disband the old world order that hugely favored the US and Europe. All they have to do is watch, it’s astonishing how incredibly stupid the US is acting on the world stage.
Does it though? The Euro is the second strongest currency in the world and Europe has a strong banking system. There is very much a chance it takes over the role of the USD. Also Europe is much richer on a per capita bases then Russia or China and much more open to migration. It is for example impossible for most everybody to become a Chinese citizen. So there is a strong chance that Europe starts brain draining the rest of the world even more. This is actually an example of that in a way. This might well end up especially bad for Russia, if they loose the war against Ukraine. That most certainly will end up crashing the economy and lead to mass emigration. That somewhat already started.
The EU does not have a strong enough central government to take this role. Not as long as any country the union can veto any action they want. They can’t even give aid to Ukraine despite like 90% of the EU agreeing to do so.
It’s taken them thirty years of work to even get the ability to do electronic credit transactions and they MIGHT get it done in the next couple years.
For most issues the EU uses qualified majority, which does not allow vetos. The main excpetions are taxation and foreign policy.
So, you know, the two most critical elements to becoming a global financial and economic hub.
And yet, the Eu has given the largest aud of all to Ukraine so far. Hungary makes a fuss and things complicated but the EU can always fudge around it, it just causes a slight delay.
Yeah, majority rule would be democratic, veto is not.
is for example impossible for most everybody to become a Chinese citizen.
Whereas fortress Europe welcomes basically anybody?
There are only about 10,000 permanent residents in China. Compared to say Germany, where that figure is at 2.6million.
So compared to China, Europe is basically welcoming everybody.
As long as Europe remains the democratic center of the world, the world order will favour them.
Ever been the only nice guy - surrounded by bullies - on a schoolyard?
If you bully Germanball or EUball enough, you’ll get Reichtangle though.
Yeah, bad neighbours do make us build tall fences. Europe is going to need some very tall fences to keep Russia and China out.
I’m not too worried about those two for the moment, really.
Russia fucked itself in a hole it won’t be able to come out of for a long time. It’s economy is fucked, they went through all their reserves, and they lost some 1.5 million able bodied men. It will take decades to get back from that
China is about to be hit by the demographics freight train. It moves slow, but when you hear it, it’s too late. It’s population is shrinking and they’re at the point where it matters little if they, starting today, start having babies like crazy. Doon they’ll have an aging population that won’t work and be a burden on the economy whilst the next generation is too small in comparison. That next generation will be busy enough with work to not let the country slide off a cliff to be thinking about wars with Europe. It’s one of the reasons why China is pushing for a Taiwan invasion NOW because in ten years they won’t be able to do it anymore. If they couldn’t take Taiwan, I’m less worried about Europe
The US is the big problem, or more like was, because it’s working hard to fuck itself into an early grave.
I guess that is the thing: democracies thrive, because everyone benefits and everything is open enough to deter corruption, while dictatorships benefit the few and corruption thrives in the darkness they require
I’m not too worried about those two for the moment, really.
You’re not worried about the people trying to destabilize every democracy on earth?
The US is the big problem
Yes, in part, thanks to the helpful efforts of these guys:
Does “not being shitty” count as active doing?
According to the valve meme, no. If you’re not shitty, just don’t do anything
Absolutely.