1. #33406
    Invincible Member Kirby101's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CaptainEurope View Post
    A lot of the things he already has done did not happen in Europe, and weren't even discussed, like the child credit and the temporary moratorium on evictions. I don't think ANY European country even considered telling landlords that they could not kick people out for falling behind on their rent.

    As for the rest: it's still fairly early in his presidency. Having the conversation now seems like a necessary first step, one that his not being taken by the European left.
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  2. #33407
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    Quote Originally Posted by Xheight View Post
    Tell that to the Haitians waiting at the border. In fact ask any number of immigrants who are "POC" like my own family and opportunity has been here
    Could it be that where they are coming from things are much worse, so the racism they experience seems like a minor imposition?

    Quote Originally Posted by Xheight View Post
    ........and the current gen is making out just fine (except for the quotas keeping us out of Ivy Leagues, Thanks SCOTUS)
    New Survey Finds That 83 Percent of Teens Acknowledge That Systemic Racism is an Issue and They Want to be Included in the National Conversation Around Social Justice

    Key findings from the survey include:

    • Black and Hispanic teens are much more likely to have experienced mistreatment because of their race, with Blacks being especially likely to fear for their safety.
    • Teens are rallying around the issue, with 86% saying they are “proud that people are taking a stand protecting against racism” and two-thirds saying they “need people to hear their voice about racism.” This is particularly true for Black (82%) and Hispanic (76%) teens who are looking to be heard.
    • 3 in 4 teens have taken action against racism, either via conversation or demonstration.
    • Teens are calling for racism education in school and government reform to create more equal access as avenues for long-term change.
    • 82% of teens acknowledge “there is still so much work to be done in the fight against racism, this is just the start.”
    • 70% of teens (81% Black) feel encouraged that the current movement and protests will lead to less racism in the U.S.
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  3. #33408
    Invincible Jersey Ninja Tami's Avatar
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    This is why France is so upset

    France says Australia made 'huge mistake' with U.S. submarine deal

    CANBERRA, Australia — Australia has made a "huge" diplomatic error, the French ambassador said on Saturday having been recalled to Paris after Canberra ditched a multibillion dollar order for French submarines in favor of an alternative deal with the United States and Britain.

    "I think this has been a huge mistake, a very, very bad handling of the partnership — because it wasn't a contract, it was a partnership that was supposed to be based on trust, mutual understanding and sincerity," Ambassador Jean-Pierre Thebault told journalists in Canberra.

    Australia said on Thursday it would scrap the deal signed in 2016 for France's Naval Group to build a fleet of conventional submarines and would instead build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology after striking a trilateral security partnership.

    The pact comes as the U.S. steps up its efforts to counter China in the Indo-Pacific.
    Why should Australia settle for boring old French conventional subs when they could have brand new, high tech, nuclear subs from the US and the UK?
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  4. #33409
    Astonishing Member JackDaw's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by CaptainEurope View Post
    A lot of the things he already has done did not happen in Europe, and weren't even discussed, like the child credit and the temporary moratorium on evictions. I don't think ANY European country even considered telling landlords that they could not kick people out for falling behind on their rent.

    As for the rest: it's still fairly early in his presidency. Having the conversation now seems like a necessary first step, one that his not being taken by the European left.
    The rules on evictions were changed substantially in UK to afford better protection for tenants. For example, 6 months notice had to be given before tenants with rent arrears could be evicted. The special arrangements are coming to an end at the end of this month. (Wouldn’t be surprised if they get extended…infections still running at high rates, of course.)

    Similarly core welfare benefit (“Universal credit”) has been increased, albeit by a modest amount. Again scheduled to end soon.

    Both measures taken by a fairly right wing government…I had assumed more would be done in other European countries.
    Last edited by JackDaw; 09-18-2021 at 08:24 AM.

  5. #33410
    Ultimate Member Mister Mets's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reviresco View Post

    Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger threatened to remove Fulton County's entire elections board after a new leader was appointed in spite of his opposition, the Associated Press reported.

    The Fulton County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday voted to make Cathy Woolard, a former Atlanta City Council president, chair for the county's Board of Registration and Elections.

    Raffensperger called Woolard's instatement a "blatantly political appointment" since she had enrolled as a lobbyist for the Fair Fight Action group started by Democrat Stacey Abrams, who narrowly lost a race for governor against Republican Brian Kemp in 2018. He said in a press release that he would attempt to remove the elections board by invoking a provision in a new Georgia election law.

    "Fulton County needs to think again before appointing someone who is bought and paid for by Stacey Abrams to run elections in Fulton County," Raffensperger said in the release, adding that it would "do incredible damage to the already terrible reputation Fulton has for running





    And why wasn't this guy screaming about "incredible damage" when Secretary of State Brian Kemp was running the Governor's election, while running as a candidate for Governor???

    So much blatant hypocrisy.
    There has been a history of Secretaries of State running for office. Before Kemp, Karen Handel lost a primary for Governor. Before Handel, Democrat Cathy Cox lost a primary for Governor. Before Cox, Democrat Lewis Massey lost a gubernatorial primary. Before Massey, Democrat Max Cleland was elected to the US Senate, trusted enough to be made Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission in the Obama administration.

    In those cases, the decision was left up to the voters.

    There is also an element of hypocrisy in that the same people outraged that a Secretary of State would run for Governor now support a standard politician (former city council President/ candidate for mayor) who is working for a presumptive gubernatorial nominee to be the new leader of an elections committee.
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  6. #33411
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tami View Post
    This is why France is so upset

    France says Australia made 'huge mistake' with U.S. submarine deal



    Why should Australia settle for boring old French conventional subs when they could have brand new, high tech, nuclear subs from the US and the UK?
    Have the French even delivered any subs yet? My understanding is that they were dragging their heels with the whole thing

  7. #33412
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    Quote Originally Posted by The Cool Thatguy View Post
    Have the French even delivered any subs yet? My understanding is that they were dragging their heels with the whole thing
    Feels like France is throwing a massive hissy fit over losing a contract to build subs.

  8. #33413
    Invincible Jersey Ninja Tami's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AnakinFlair View Post
    Feels like France is throwing a massive hissy fit over losing a contract to build subs.
    Here are more details

    Why France is angry about the US and UK giving Australia nuclear-powered submarines

    Why is France so angry about the trilateral deal?

    France stands to lose the equivalent of $65 billion US dollars from an existing deal to provide Australia with conventional, diesel-powered submarines.

    The canceled deal with France, a major global weapons exporter, is expected to make a significant economic impact on the French defense sector. France also stands to lose out strategically in the Indo-Pacific, where the country holds significant interests.

    On Thursday, after the nuclear-powered submarine deal with the US and the UK was announced, Australia formally announced it would be withdrawing from its previous contract for conventional submarines with France.

    The deal with Paris had been in the works for years.

    Australia previously planned to acquire 12 conventional attack-class submarines from the French shipbuilder Naval Group, which successfully beat out competing German and Japanese bids in 2016.
    The Americans and the Australians have indicated that the French government wasn't blindsided by the reneging of the original contract, saying high-ranking French officials were made aware of the decision by the Australian government.

    "This was relayed directly to the president, relayed directly to the minister for Foreign Affairs and the minister for Defence," Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Friday.

    Morrison said that when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in late June, "I made it very clear -- we had a lengthy dinner there in Paris -- about our very significant concerns about the capabilities of conventional submarines to deal with the new strategic environment we're faced with. And I made it very clear that this was a matter that Australia would need to make a decision on in our national interest."

    Australia's Defense Minister Peter Dutton said in a news conference on Thursday that the decision to choose the American nuclear-powered submarine over France's conventional diesel submarine "is based on what is in the best interests of our national security."

    Dutton argued that "the French have a version which was not superior to that operated by the United States, the United Kingdom. And in the end, the decision that we have made is based on what is in the best interest of our national security."
    Secretary of State Antony Blinken also sought to downplay the rift between the US and France, stressing the importance of Paris as "a vital partner" in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.

    "I want to emphasize that there is no regional divide separating the interests of our Atlantic and our Pacific partners," Blinken said in remarks at the State Department on Thursday.

    Blinken said the US welcomes "European countries playing an important role in the Indo-Pacific," adding that "France, in particular, is a vital partner on this and so many other issues stretching back generations, and we want to find every opportunity to deepen our trans-Atlantic cooperation in the Indo-Pacific and around the world."
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  9. #33414
    Invincible Jersey Ninja Tami's Avatar
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    Australia in Talks With France Over Troubled Submarine Contract - June 16, 2021

    Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has had “candid” discussions with President Emmanuel Macron over delays and cost overruns in his government’s deal with France’s Naval Group SA to build a new fleet of submarines.

    Macron has had a direct role “in ensuring that we’ve seen a much-improved position come forward from Naval over the last six months,” Morrison told reporters in Paris. “We are coming up to important gates in that contract and there have been issues that we have had to address,” he said, adding that the master schedule and total costs of the project were some of the next steps to be determined.
    While Australia’s deal with Naval in 2016 to build 12 Attack-class submarines was initially estimated to be worth A$50 billion ($38 billion), Sydney-based think tank Lowy Institute said in November the cost to the government is now at least A$89 billion. With the first of the new submarines not expected to be delivered until about 2035, and the last in 2050, there’s concern among defense strategists there will be a years-long dearth in Australia’s naval capability at a time when tensions in the Indo-Pacific region are expected to increase.
    Australia’s Defense Minister Peter Dutton said last week that more than half of the world’s 470 in-service submarines were already operating in Indo-Pacific waters, while allies including the U.S. have flagged concerns over China’s role in the region. Australia’s ties with China have already soured dramatically and the tensions have spilled over into trade reprisals.
    I don't think Australia can wait 10 or 15 years for a new submarine.
    Last edited by Tami; 09-18-2021 at 09:45 AM.
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  10. #33415
    Invincible Jersey Ninja Tami's Avatar
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    Inside the creation of the US-Australia submarine deal

    (CNN)American and Australian officials have been in highly secret talks for months over a plan to share technology for nuclear-powered submarines, a process that was hatched more than a year ago and accelerated after President Biden took office in January.

    Officials familiar with the matter said the discussions were kept exceedingly quiet, even within their own governments, given the sensitive nature of the technology, the prospect for angering China and the belief that any word leaking out could potentially scuttle the entire thing.The process "was undertaken with a high degree of discretion," a senior administration official said.

    Talks proceeded at the staff-level over the course of the spring before the issue was raised in a meeting between Biden, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on the sidelines of the G7, held in June on the Cornish coast. There was no public disclosure of the submarine deal at the time, though a White House description of the talks said the leaders "agreed that the strategic context in the Indo-Pacific was changing and that there was a strong rationale for deepening strategic cooperation between the three governments."
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  11. #33416
    Ultimate Member Malvolio's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mister Mets View Post
    There has been a history of Secretaries of State running for office. Before Kemp, Karen Handel lost a primary for Governor. Before Handel, Democrat Cathy Cox lost a primary for Governor. Before Cox, Democrat Lewis Massey lost a gubernatorial primary. Before Massey, Democrat Max Cleland was elected to the US Senate, trusted enough to be made Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission in the Obama administration.

    In those cases, the decision was left up to the voters.

    There is also an element of hypocrisy in that the same people outraged that a Secretary of State would run for Governor now support a standard politician (former city council President/ candidate for mayor) who is working for a presumptive gubernatorial nominee to be the new leader of an elections committee.
    There's nothing wrong with a Secretary of State running for Governor, as long as they recuse themselves from any position of authority in the overseeing of that election. Otherwise, it's a huge conflict of interest.
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  12. #33417
    Ultimate Member Gray Lensman's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tami View Post
    Australia in Talks With France Over Troubled Submarine Contract - June 16, 2021







    I don't think Australia can wait 10 or 15 years for a new submarine.
    What I have been reading is that Australia was VERY unhappy with the deal they had with France, for reasons both large and small.

    90% of the work was to be done in Australia, until France changed the terms to 60% and warned it could get revised again.

    Estimated costs were already projected to be double the initial deal beforea single unit had been delivered.

    Culture clashes such as the Aussies believing meeting should start at the specified time and the French thinking they have a 15 minute window before they are considered late.

    French workers taking an entire month off, every summer.

    The Australia/France deal was already doomed even before the strategic outlook changed Down Under.
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  13. #33418
    Ultimate Member babyblob's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Malvolio View Post
    There's nothing wrong with a Secretary of State running for Governor, as long as they recuse themselves from any position of authority in the overseeing of that election. Otherwise, it's a huge conflict of interest.
    A legit question. How many in any state have done this?
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  14. #33419
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    Quote Originally Posted by Gray Lensman View Post
    What I have been reading is that Australia was VERY unhappy with the deal they had with France, for reasons both large and small.

    90% of the work was to be done in Australia, until France changed the terms to 60% and warned it could get revised again.

    Estimated costs were already projected to be double the initial deal beforea single unit had been delivered.

    Culture clashes such as the Aussies believing meeting should start at the specified time and the French thinking they have a 15 minute window before they are considered late.

    French workers taking an entire month off, every summer.

    The Australia/France deal was already doomed even before the strategic outlook changed Down Under.
    Seems like France overplayed their hand and are now angry it blew up in their face.

  15. #33420
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    This whole submarine debacle just goes to show that, as far as the military industrial complex is concerned, war is just a silly game and the REAL battle is scheming and backstabbing your allies to make sure that the dough keeps rolling in. If poor widdle Australia was really under such dire threat from Chinese expansionism, then you would think that the "free world" would have no problem making sure they had what they needed to defend themselves, and sort out who owes who what later. Of course, if Australia was in any kind of real danger they probably wouldn't have the luxury to set off a public spat between their supposed allies all over some submarines that won't even be completed for another 25 years. It goes without saying that all of this noise about an imminent Chinese takeover is just white colonists' existential fear that somebody will do to them what they did to the aboriginals, which has manifested through the years with such wonderful ideas such as the "White Australia policy" and the "offshore processing" of prospective migrants, which amounts to basically dumping refugees onto some poor island nation that has far fewer resources to care for them than Australia does.

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