Situation in Europe at present

[Trenchcoat]

Just the thought I would create this thread to keep track of developments in Europe as they happen as a lot of them can be related to or include FSU countries. Add interesting articles as you find them.

[Trenchcoat]

Here is a recent development in Poland, they have just finished a steel border wall with Belarus, a bit like the US border wall but a lot shorter:

http://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2022/6/30/poland-belarus-border-completed-wall-to-keep-asylum-seekers-out

Should help keep a lot of those illegal asylum seekers out that Belarus was pushing into Poland, the EU and the UK. Now most of those asylum seekers will have to use the Mediterranean route instead into Greece, Italy & Spain.

[Trenchcoat]

As we all Finland & Sweden more or less NATO Allies now:

http://www.cnn.com/2022/06/29/europe/nato-sweden-finland-summit-explainer-intl/index.html

Noises recently of NATO increasing its armed forces along the border with Russia and new UK army chiefs comments make me wonder if WWIII is on the horizon. If so and conscription begins I'm off to Rep. of Ireland which isn't a NATO member

[Trenchcoat]

Looks like problems in Italy, the government has collapsed so new Elections in Italy:

http://www.newstatesman.com/world/europe/2022/07/giorgia-meloni-prime-minister-mean-for-italy

Front runners at the moment are the 'Brothers of Italy' party a successor to Mussolini's Black Shirt Fascists apparently. Looks like I was right when I said Mussolini's Fascists would rise in Italy again as the result of the virus BC

Italy has a lot of debt and with the economy not being great a lot could go down their soon, hope you're feeling nice & comfy there BC

Other countries in the EU could be in trouble soon also, inflation in 20 percent in Estonia so that will be having a bad effect, Greece could become vulnerable again and a lot of Eastern Europe potentially as well. Odds are this current news on the state of EU nations bounding around is just the start of it all. The sanctions against Putler will be having some effect also so the next few months could throw up a lot of issues for the EU and given their past record I'm not sure they're up for dealing with it if they are even able.

[2tallbill]

If so and conscription begins I'm off to Rep. of Ireland which isn't a NATO member

The dire straits that the UK would have to be in for them to want
broken down old men such as yourself in a conflict for conscription
would be similar to what Hitler had to do at the end of WWII when
the allies were marching towards Berlin.

NO military conscripts men in their mid to late 40's.

[krimster2]

I don't know what the age limits are for the USA
but in Israel, 1/4 of all IDF soldiers, will after they serve their mandatory conscription, join the reserves, which will last until age 35
if you have special linguistic, technical, or military "skillz"
then you can go 40+ easily....
doesn't matter if you're an immigrant or not
a LOT of Ukrainian/Russian Jews are in this system
they even dominate it in the Tel Aviv Area

however, it sucks to be an "oldster" in this system
cuz it's meant to manage 19-23 yr olds
VERY restrictive...

but now I'm a geezer
and my time is my own

reserves are sometimes "activated" like during Rocket Intifadas
you have 24 hrs to report to your "center"

Unit 8200 Rules
everybody else Drools!

[Trenchcoat]

The dire straits that the UK would have to be in for them to want
broken down old men such as yourself in a conflict for conscription
would be similar to what Hitler had to do at the end of WWII when
the allies were marching towards Berlin.

NO military conscripts men in their mid to late 40's.

That's very reassuring for me Bill, thank you!

Well I'm in my mid forties and in fine health probably way ahead of many of the young fatties we see around today

Seriously in some recent report from about a couple of years back in the US, the military analysis of the nation's youth there was I believe only about a third of the nation's youth over 18 would be capable of military service, the rest were either too obese or just mental wreaks, other bad drug problems, etc.

The UK is likely not a lot different, they would likely be grabbing anyone halfway sane and used to a regular diet.

In Ukraine they have stopped anyone between the ages of 18-65 from leaving the country and any of them could be eligible for military service. Odds are if course they will just have the old boys guarding the military stored like a fair amount of the young girl volunteers.

All would depend when and where they draw the line, I'm 44 at the moment so if WWIII broke out next week, next month or so would they draw the line at 18-45, 18-35, 21-50, etc, etc.

In theory sending some guy in, in his thirties, forties or fifties is less if a loss than those in their late teens or twenties. Loosing guys in their late teens or twenties particularly en-masse wrecks the nation for decades to come. Loosing guys in their 30s, 40s, 50s means after a decade or so it's pretty much a limited impact as then you're not having to pay out people in retirement but have a big younger workforce. Loosing a big young workforce and having old boys knocking around past their prime isn't going to be as gradt for the workplace or the women.

So it kind of surprises me that Ukraine puts many young guys in the front line, Russia know doubt does similar when they can. It means the local girls will have less choice in future years of guys, that's where I come in

[2tallbill]

There is a solution to the US Border crisis, but it wouldn't help the DNC
which doesn't like solutions especially if they work.

Spain is losing it's tax base and soon will not be able to pay for their
own retirement system. Send them two million illegals per year and
it would fix their population decline and buck up their workforce. They
share a common language and for the most part religion. They won't
have to import Muslims who want to put their heads on a spike.


Aging Spain Issues Rallying Call for Workers From Latin America
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-08-11/aging-spain-issues-rallying-call-for-workers-from-latin-america#xj4y7vzkg

[BC]

2tall,

Provide a path of lesser resistance and make it easier to come to the US and work.  It might help the economy and reduce what you call illegal immigration.

Like Italy, Spain's population is aging with a very high life expectancy, over 83 in both countries.  USA 78 years.

Guess you would call it a downside of socialist states.  Damned healthcare and such.

History shows such programs can work well in the long run.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastarbeiter

[ML]

Like Italy, Spain's population is aging with a very high life expectancy, over 83 in both countries.  USA 78 years.

Guess you would call it a downside of socialist states.  Damned healthcare and such.

I would say it has more to do with the racial make up mix.

[2tallbill]

I would say it has more to do with the racial make up mix.

It has little to do with free healthcare.

They have "free" healthcare for males in Ukraine and Russia as well. Average life expectancy is 73 years for Russia and 71.8 for Ukraine. The life expectancy is
going to go down for Ukrainian men by wars end.

There is also considerable difference in weight between Americans and Italians
for example. The CDC report noted that the average weight for American men
over the age of 20 is 88.7 kilograms vs 80.9 for Italian men.

[2tallbill]

2tall,

Provide a path of lesser resistance and make it easier to come to the US and work.  It might help the economy and reduce what you call illegal immigration.

I agree basically that we should be increasing legal immigration, but the left
is totally against doing ANYTHING to stop or even reduce illegal immigration.

[BC]

I would say it has more to do with the racial make up mix.

Disagree.  I would say it has more to do with an ailing society that is still very much segregated by race, economics, and education, with a predominately white, anglo-Saxon population carrying a limited subset of religious beliefs claiming they are the cultural basis for America while attempting to instill some perverted form of nationalistic pride.

Guess what, the US has little if any historical culture, and the only place one finds a true cultural mix is at Walmart.

What we see today is the United States of America showing her true colors, and it ain't a pretty sight.

[BC]

I agree basically that we should be increasing legal immigration, but the left
is totally against doing ANYTHING to stop or even reduce illegal immigration.

As long as the GOP path is one of imposing the most resistance, nothing will happen.

You want to keep the cart in front of the horse.

[krimster2]

the reason you have illegal immigration to the USA through the southern border, is partly because the people who profit from it, want it that way so they keep making $$$ from it... primarily in agriculture and construction
during WWII, there was a huge labor shortage in agriculture
The USA responded with the "Bracero program" which opened the labor market in a controlled way
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bracero_program

during the 1950s, Mexico even wanted the US Gov to impose fines on US enterprises that employed "illegal immigrants" instead of legal Braceros!!    WOW!!

you want illegal immigration to end?
simple, make it legal once again with a new Bracero Program...

but ya'll are afraid the Joos and/or Mexicans are gonna replace you Anglos
BTW, did ya'll know that 25% of the American soldiers who died in the Bataan Death March were Hispanic?
were they takin jobs from Anglo-Americans?

republicans would love to turn the clock back to the "Leave It To Beaver" period of white-only America
where racial/sexual minorities were neither seen nor heard
so they could pretend they didn't exist
out of sight, out of mind...
sorry about the changes since then Mrs Cleaver, but gee, I really DO like the dress you have on

[Boethius]

It has little to do with free healthcare.

They have "free" healthcare for males in Ukraine and Russia as well. Average life expectancy is 73 years for Russia and 71.8 for Ukraine. The life expectancy is
going to go down for Ukrainian men by wars end.

That’s misleading. Life expectancy in Russia and Ukraine is very much tied to alcoholism.

My husband’s uncles all lived into their eighties. One uncle is turning 90 late this year. But none of them drank.

[krimster2]

All the geezers I used to know in Russia are dead now, they didn’t die from alcoholism, they died from sub-standard medical care

all the pharmaceutical interventions and medical specialists we have here in the West, are largely absent in Russia, so people die instead, even from simple treatable things like high blood pressure

I’ve been in operating hospitals in Russia that look like they should be condemned, paint peeling off the walls, no heat in the winter, people wearing heavy coats inside

years ago, I helped troubleshoot and fix the broken power supply of a 60 year old x-ray machine, that was the only one in the area

whenever Putin has a budget crisis, medical care will be reduced, and there’s a HUGE shortage of specialists of ALL kinds even in Moscow

total lack of concern about this by the “higher-ups” who instead want to focus on threatening the West
with nuclear annihilation as a measure of their political success

I have never, ever, seen the Russian government do ANYTHING out of concern for the welfare of its citizens, they just don’t care…

[BC]

It has little to do with free healthcare.

They have "free" healthcare for males in Ukraine and Russia as well. Average life expectancy is 73 years for Russia and 71.8 for Ukraine. The life expectancy is
going to go down for Ukrainian men by wars end.

There is also considerable difference in weight between Americans and Italians
for example. The CDC report noted that the average weight for American men
over the age of 20 is 88.7 kilograms vs 80.9 for Italian men.

"Free" healthcare is also deceiving. In most countries, everyone contributes to their healthcare system through direct or indirect taxation.  The bottom line is that everyone pays in somehow.  If someone is unemployed, the unemployment fund pays the healthcare premium.

Weight is only one part of the equation.  I think people living in areas with a universal type of healthcare system are less hesitant to visit their primary doctor. Medical bankruptcy is unheard of.  Some tout the Mediterranean Diet that many Americans might find unaffordable as daily fare or don't have the time to prepare it.  I believe the difference is attributable to a more varied diet that includes less processed food. Addiction and substance abuse are other issues that are far more prevalent in the US and often linked to social issues and ailing society.  Psychologists are part of the healthcare system at family counseling offices in almost every town. Overall, life is a lot less stressful over here as well.

[2tallbill]

As long as the GOP path is one of imposing the most resistance, nothing will happen.

You want to keep the cart in front of the horse.

I was presenting a solution to several problems. Spain needs immigrants and
can't get anyone as good as the ones that come here illegally. Most illegal immigrants
from the South have a working knowledge of Spanish, share a religion and are not
interested in establishing Sharia law anywhere. It would take a tiny bit of Statesmanship
to work out a deal with the various Latin language countries in Europe to take them.

Currently the USA is spending thousands relocating illegals across the USA. Sending
those illegals to Spain or Portugal would solve several problems. You are too closed
minded to acknowledge that.

 

[Boethius]

You're assuming those illegals would be willing to relocate to Spain.  You're also assuming that they can fill the jobs Spain needs filled.


The reason most countries have immigration laws is because they want to control who comes into the country.  In Canada, for example, if you are a barely literate labourer, you will not get a path to Canada.  If you are an engineer, you will.

[krimster2]

if it weren't for the weather, I'd already be there...
and ya'll talk funny to
about = a boot, what does a boot have to do with anything, eh?
plus they really want to dump the immigrants in Saskatchawan, sounds like BigFoot lives there
I'd prefer Quebec!!! merci beau coup!

[Boethius]

About=abowt.


Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is a very pretty city, with a great arts scene.


Most immigrants live in and around Toronto.  Second, Vancouver.  That's why their housing is crazy expensive.

[ML]

In Canada, for example, if you are a barely literate labourer, you will not get a path to Canada.

Then who will fill the barely literate jobs ?

[Boethius]

They usually come here on temporary work visas. That can be a path to citizenship. But a small minority commit minor crimes (theft), and are sent back.

[Trenchcoat]

Elections in Italy next month, could be interesting, what do you reckon BC?

http://www.aljazeera.com/features/2022/8/12/can-italy-find-stability-with-its-upcoming-election