quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or
"1. China is emerging and pushing against American influence in the Pacific, while both economies need each other. Can America make some room for Chinese influence in the Pacific before war ensues?
"

Those problems all seem to stem from actions in the South China Sea. And that island they are building. What I wonder is if then their internationally recognized territorial waters extend because of that, and how far. The subject has not been addressed in international law. Maybe the US should make some islands. They could be quite strategic, put military bases and RADAR stations on them. And of course some F-35s if they can get of those fucking Edsels working right. But the south China sea is what, 10,000 miles away ? Ain't none of our business really.

T^T

quote:

ORIGINAL: ByMyWill

Let me briefly address domestic issue number 1 as issue #2 varies with those in office and as for issue #3 they are going to need to adjust. Now the situation is undeniable as our technology base expands and manufacturing improves our demand for labor is decreasing regardless of the skills of the work force this will remain to be true. Now of course there are stull some feilds that are under staffed but this would only handle a small percentage of the potential work force. The solution therefore lays in our entire view of work. For example if the work week was 20 hours instead of 40 the amount of people needed to fill those jobs would double. Now of course it isn't an immediate fix because if that was all you did income would half as well and that wouldn't be sustainable. However as people also had no reason leisure time more industry would appear to cater to that need. My phone is about to die and the power is out so I need to cut this short I'll see if I can pop back on here later and to share my views on the international issue.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Termyn8or

The point of contention here appears to be who has rights to the sea - in what area.

And we get what, 200 miles around Hawaii ? You might not know but it was taken by force. So how does this differ ? China is building something, tell me why they are not entitled to those 200 miles. Tell me how the US is somehow special and can break all the rules but can enforce any arbitrary rule on any country in the world.

How would you like it if Russian subs were creeping around NYC ? Well this is what the US is doing to Russia and China ad sooner or later they will have had enough of it.Alot of shit gets ignored because of commerce, that is for sure, but that commerce is waning. The US as well as its people are running out of money.

What's more if you know anything, the schools here cannot produce people who can actually do anything useful.

And so to bed, hope to wake up dead.

T^T

quote:

ORIGINAL: freedomdwarf1
And I have no idea what "a fifth" of whiskey looks like.

quote:

ORIGINAL: vincentML

Watched an interview with a recently former CIA Deputy Director last night. He made the following points of distress in our politics:

Domestically:

1. The speed of new technology has outpaced the creation of new jobs; low skills manufacturing jobs have been outsourced. The result is an historically wide wage gap and an age disparity between winners and losers. New tech (like internet, cloud, robotics, and artificial intelligence) will begin to encroach on higher level jobs in law, financial services, etc. For the first time in our history technology and productivity are increasing rapidly but new jobs and income remain basically flat.

2. There is a heightened skepticism that government can get anything done.

3. A good number of whites fear the colorization of our population.

Foreign Policy:

1. China is emerging and pushing against American influence in the Pacific, while both economies need each other. Can America make some room for Chinese influence in the Pacific before war ensues?

2. The end game in Syria is to depose the current regime preferably by diplomatic means. Russia and Iran should have a seat at the table. Diplomacy can be effective only from threatened strength. We should target Assad's palaces and war planes, tanks, etc. But we must also make Russia and Iran pay a price for their seat at the table by covertly killing off some of their assets in the area.

3. We need to reassure our 'friends' in the area that we will not sell them out to Iran.

Those were his thoughts as well as I can recall them.

What do you think?

quote:

The US isn't something 'special'.
If anyone conquers an island nation, they can claim the 200 miles of territorial waters and all that goes with it under international laws.
The reason why Hawaii is different is because there is noone else claiming ownership of those islands.
I don't know why you are having problems understanding these facts.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kdsub

I agree Vince... I am just pointing out that the US does not need China to survive economically. But China would have a much harder time of it without the US as a trading partner.

Butch

quote:

Horseshit. The biggest problem with jobs is a political climate that offers little incentive for businesses to invest or expand.

quote:

We promised the Kurds we would protect them from sadam. We pulled out and left them high and dry. We have a habit of fucking people over by withdrawing our support. It's always politics. So even though we mean the promises we make when we make them, we still tend not to keep them.

quote:

If those little coral reefs that they 'own' are left as reefs, that's about the size of it - they own the reefs and by international law, there is no territorial 'area' that goes with it, including any fishing rights.
But... and here's the major crux of it, if they make them into a recognised land mass that can be classified as 'inhabited', they gain 200 miles of territorial waters, with the fishing rights, and also the air space above them.

In essence, they would have legal rights to stop any and all international traffic through the area and that would put a stop to any global trade routes that are currently using it.
It also means they have complete and autonomous fishing and underwater mining rights within those 200 miles of territory.
Imagine what that would do to international trade and all the air traffic that passes over it??
It is a potential disaster both economically and legally.

quote:

The solution therefore lays in our entire view of work. For example if the work week was 20 hours instead of 40 the amount of people needed to fill those jobs would double. Now of course it isn't an immediate fix because if that was all you did income would half as well and that wouldn't be sustainable. However as people also had no reason leisure time more industry would appear to cater to that need.