It happens here as well, just in the US it is way more prolific. Honestly, if the government banned a lot of this grey corruption you would see a significant improvement in policy.
Just on this point, what Musk did was legal. In Australia (cant speak for the US), actual corruption and bribery arent common simply because the law/systems/processes are so stringent and anti-corruption authorities are very proactive (I imagine the US is similar, especially with the FBI etc)...
Democrat logic:
Put young, high potential politician in as VP
Work out that she really isnt that competent/popular, do nothing to help her/prop her up etc
Decide that she is so bad, you'd rather run a clearly over the hill dude in his 80s instead
The over the hill dude flops hard at the debate...
I dont think you really understand government. Public Servants dont block reform, we cant. We can be "frank and fearless", but ultimately we do what the government says provided it is legal and actually possible. To me this whole narrative of "unelected bureaucrats" and "deep state" is...
This x 1000. So many people out there do not understand the significant differences between running a business and a government/department. I hear people rattle on about how government departments need to be run by people with "real world experience", because running your family's onion farm...
Sorry, Im struggling to understand, in your view when was the US actually great? I thought the MAGA movement defined that period as being the mid-20th century. Or was it the 19th century? Im a little confused.
That 90% of stuff is non-partisan and is a product of understanding efficiencies...
Since you mentioned it, I have to bring it up, maybe to lighten the mood, but did you know the NSW Government has an agency called "Cemeteries and Crematoria NSW". It's role, as the name implies is to have oversight of those who provide post-death services in NSW and ensure the state has enough...
Im saying China can fill the space as a trading partner, as a military partner no, but if the US is backing out from its commitment to Allies then most countries will back their own military. If China sees the US imposing tariffs and being "unreliable", China can move in an offer more...
The status quo might not be perfect, but blowing it up by being crass towards Allies and levying tariffs against Allies isn't going to make America Great Again. It's the wrong solution to the right problem (story of Donald Trump tbh). The US has mishandled foreign policy traditionally when it...
I don’t think the U.S.’s global leadership is just transactional. It's the worlds biggest economy, its soft power attracts foreign investment and gives it a major edge in trade negotiations. Countries want to do business with the U.S. because of its stability, influence, and reliability...
Im not saying Trump is wrong, Europe absolutely needs to do more for its security especially on Ukraine. The way he has gone about it though is completely wrong. Getting into a drag down argument with Zelensky in the Oval Office and sending Vance to Europe to insult their leaders and countries...
It wont happen overnight like a "piss off US we are doing business in Chinese currency". It will be gradual, at first it will be Indian and China starting doing business in Chinese currency. Then in 4 years time, maybe China does a deal with a more, Western Sympathetic country (maybe Turkey...
All good points, it will be interesting to see what Russia comes back with in response to the calls for peace. I dont think the US or Trump will play a major role - Ive noticed with Trump he goes for easy wins or shock and awe but anything requiring deep, long term or complex thinking generally...
I mean look, Zelensky is very much a pain in the ass with his hand out but he is doing what he has to for his country to survive. I think Zelensky and his handlers botched it and he should never have gone to that meeting. He had made it clear that he wanted security guarantees and Trump...
It sucks for Ukraine, but the fighting cant go on forever and with Ukraine dependent on foreign help, it makes their situation difficult. They will not get that territory back they lost...for now. By signing a peace deal with proper security guarantees, they get safety for the near future...