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Now that we have a new thread, in order to ensure that this thread continues to meet TL standards and follows the proper guidelines, we will be enforcing the rules in the OP more strictly. Be sure to give them a complete and thorough read before posting! NOTE: When providing a source, please provide a very brief summary on what it's about and what purpose it adds to the discussion. The supporting statement should clearly explain why the subject is relevant and needs to be discussed. Please follow this rule especially for tweets.
Your supporting statement should always come BEFORE you provide the source.If you have any questions, comments, concern, or feedback regarding the USPMT, then please use this thread: http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/website-feedback/510156-us-politics-thread |
On September 03 2025 10:53 Shinokuki wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 10:43 Vivax wrote:On September 03 2025 10:42 Shinokuki wrote:
Genuinely curious but is fascism good for billionares? Sure is. It insures their property against the violence of impoverished mobs. It doesn‘t insure the aliens property, whatever they may declare the alien to be. I'm curious as to what the set up looks like in Russia and China and if the oligarchs/billionares are also secured there? It seems like they may get axed asap if they piss of the dictator. I could be wrong but do they not want a dictator though but rather extremely dumb population
I‘d guess they‘re heavy on surveillance by state security and of course loyalty to Putin.
A good thing the EU did was freeze assets of Russian billionaires and not Russians in general and use those to sponsor Ukraine.
I don‘t think the common Russian has much say in how the regime operates and Trump wants that privilege at home.
If the news that they send US warships to shoot down what are essentially Venezuelan civilians (narcs or not) is true though, that‘s really a new level of fucked up you got going there. Shouldn‘t be an issue to just blockade them.
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Of all the things america has done in its interactions with central and southern america blowing up a boat suspected of having drugs is a really really low level. Americans have done horrific things for its access to the banana.
Taking it out is apart of a blockade tho, idk what else the military vessels would be for in the area.
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On September 03 2025 11:24 Sermokala wrote:
Of all the things america has done in its interactions with central and southern america blowing up a boat suspected of having drugs is a really really low level. Americans have done horrific things for its access to the banana.
Taking it out is apart of a blockade tho, idk what else the military vessels would be for in the area.
Most drugs come out of South America, a lot of different countries.
Venezuela has thicc oil reserves though…
Probably a coincidence.
I was under the impression that the country was under Russian protection of sorts.
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Remember, you cant vote for Democrats because they would start a war...
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The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN
by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year.
well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement.
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On September 03 2025 10:42 Shinokuki wrote:
Genuinely curious but is fascism good for billionares?
Depends. The model has shifted from ownership of one or a handful of companies, often confined to one or a few countries, to massive conglomerates controlling the vast majority of the market while being present in virtually all countries. In short, few umbrella companies own just about everything there is. This was not the case a hundred years ago.
Fascism and modern billionaires have a strange relationship. It can be clearly seen how easy it is for someone like Elon Musk to fall into the cult and to fall right out of it again. This is not a coincidence, because fascism operates on the same fundamental thing that modern superwealthy billionaires operate on: lies, threats and deceit. This is the common variable. The billionaires lie, threaten and deceive for money. Fascists lie, threaten and deceive for power. That can make them very good buddies, but can also make them fierce enemies.
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On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN Show nested quote +by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement.
Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship.
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On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship.
Where this really matters is with India turning away from the US and toward China while buying Russian oil.
Since India has struggled to develop compared to China over the last 75 or so years, there's a lot of potential for mutually beneficial relationships that are superior to anything Western interests would or often even could offer. This is also true for much of Africa.
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Nice analysis by the resident "US/West BAD"-Expert. Stay tuned for more thrilling and not at all expected top level analysis from deep within the tankie complex.
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Why would anyone visit the U.S. knowing they could win a free trip to El Salvador if you forget to say "Sir" to the TSA agent rummaging through your underwear?
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On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship.
International tourists should have to pay thousands of dollars to enter state and national parks.
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I tought Trump tried to defund these anyway? So they will be gone soon if stuff goes according to plan anyway.
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On September 03 2025 22:37 oBlade wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship. International tourists should have to pay thousands of dollars to enter state and national parks.
A thousand dollars for a ticket to visit a state park? I guess that's one way to eliminate all tourism.
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Northern Ireland26225 Posts
On September 03 2025 21:20 Velr wrote:
Nice analysis by the resident "US/West BAD"-Expert. Stay tuned for more thrilling and not at all expected top level analysis from deep within the tankie complex.
I mean he’s not entirely off-base here no?
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On September 03 2025 22:37 oBlade wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship. International tourists should have to pay thousands of dollars to enter state and national parks.
Make it mutual, we got a lot more money to make off of you.
Can't tell if you're serious or just trolling atp
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On September 03 2025 22:40 Velr wrote:
I tought Trump tried to defund these anyway? So they will be gone soon if stuff goes according to plan anyway.
Yep, National Parks comprise over 50 million acres of federal land that are set to disappear from the face of the Earth within 4 years if Trump doesn't make payments on them.
Luckily the National Guard is already funded and can protect the land from... whoever would make it "gone soon."
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On September 03 2025 22:43 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 22:37 oBlade wrote:On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship. International tourists should have to pay thousands of dollars to enter state and national parks. A thousand dollars for a ticket to visit a state park? I guess that's one way to eliminate all tourism.
high quality has its price! from the stable genius minds that brought you clean coal, crystal clear water and the cleanest crispest air anywhere in the world while gutting the EPA!
pay to play parks and rec! packages are
-tier1: the fun starts at the border! have your phones and social medias searched for memes disparaging the greatest US president who ever lived? - not cool and strike one you ungrateful hombre! who would object to a digital and maybe even physical strip search as an added bonus? we are pointing the gun in an inviting and safe manner so you better not!
-tier2: action adventure as you might get abducted by ICE looking suspiciously foreign and/or brown!
-tier 3 unlocks for special VIP guest only! come to the US - have the once in a lifetime chance to visit Alligator Alcatraz before it closes! only to contract tuberculosis. (terms an germs may change due to different location and mistreatment in crowded detention centers!)
-tier4, survival adventure! haven't had enough fun already?! be one of the lucky souls to get the FULL Trumpian due process experience! visit America AND have the chance to see another country - night flight in a military plane while being restrained included!? only god knows which country though!
Uganda? El Salvador? we are not telling and you are certainly not asking after we processed you! stupid questions are for gay woke leftist lunatics and their judges after all! CECOT is ready for YOU!
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On September 03 2025 22:51 WombaT wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 21:20 Velr wrote:
Nice analysis by the resident "US/West BAD"-Expert. Stay tuned for more thrilling and not at all expected top level analysis from deep within the tankie complex. I mean he’s not entirely off-base here no?
What base? He delivered no base. He delivered the simplest talking points you can find if you work fromt he premise "west bad".
But for what it's worth:
India is hamstrung by it's caste system and religious infighting within itself. They still haven't managed to get indoor plumbing to large areas of the country and these are just the most obvious issues. They are also led by a strongman and still love to just throw their trash on the ground/into rivers whiteout a second thought.
China has just as much problems as "the West", is actively pursuing a geonicde of the Uighur population and judging how it's "partnerships" in Africa and elsewhere are proceeding, no better than "the West" in any shape or form. They are also led by a strongman facing demographic and ecological troubles.
Russia is basically a Gasstation with nothing else to offer. They are also led by a strongman facing huge external struggles and the mother of all demographic struggles.
I mean, sure let them partner, but I don't see what any of them offer that "the West" isn't, outside of pesky annoyances like human rights, safety and ecological standards and so on. Cheap labour? They all allready got that in spades. It remains to be seen if they even manage to not be at each others troaths for a few months due to various border disputes. If looking at the various issues these countries face, you would probably wish to have "the Wests" issues.
They don't have the toddler in chief at the table, which is working tirelessly to transform the US into another authoritarian state... I guess before the US decided to go full retard (twice) this wasn't even a real question.
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On September 03 2025 22:54 oBlade wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 22:40 Velr wrote:
I tought Trump tried to defund these anyway? So they will be gone soon if stuff goes according to plan anyway.
Yep, National Parks comprise over 50 million acres of federal land that are set to disappear from the face of the Earth within 4 years if Trump doesn't make payments on them. Luckily the National Guard is already funded and can protect the land from... whoever would make it "gone soon."
Not funding them is step one to privatizing and exploiting them. Drill baby drill, dig baby dig.
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On September 03 2025 23:19 Doublemint wrote:Show nested quote +On September 03 2025 22:43 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On September 03 2025 22:37 oBlade wrote:On September 03 2025 17:52 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:On September 03 2025 16:16 Doublemint wrote:The ‘self-inflicted injury’ to US tourism that’s making some Americans angry and disappointed@CNN by Natasha Chen
Joe Koenen has not seen a single Toronto Blue Jays baseball hat all summer.
Typically, Canadians will flood the streets of Seattle during the summer, but Koenen, who runs Seattle Free Walking Tours (where people pay what they can), said Canadian tourists are almost gone. Streets look emptier to him.
Canadians calling to cancel their tours “explicitly told me that it was because of the policies and the behavior of our current president,” he said.
As a result of seeing 30% fewer customers this year overall, Koenen has been paying his employees but not himself. This is also the first year since he took over the tour company in 2021 that he has had to put his own savings into the business to keep it afloat.
“I am super-duper angry. I’m also disappointed, but I’m more sad … it’s such a self-inflicted injury,” Koenen said.
Another Seattle tour operator, John Brink, said “usually you kill it that weekend,” referring to the annual May series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. But the foot traffic wasn’t there this year. The Blue Jays are Canada’s only Major League Baseball team, so while the team is based in Toronto, many fans from Western Canada passionately sport their Blue Jays gear when they come to Seattle each summer.
Brink’s company, Tasty Tours, which guides visitors through food stalls in the historic Pike Place Market, has seen a 50% drop in Canadian customers.
Many Canadians have boycotted taking US trips and buying American products since the spring. That’s when President Trump made false claims and belittling comments about Canada in the midst of a tariff war.
The absence of Canadians has been felt acutely in the United States, especially in cities like Seattle close to the northern border. And Canadians aren’t the only international travelers skipping the US. Some other international travelers have also named recent policies around tariffs and immigration as reasons they’re staying away.
After a promising estimate in December by analytics company Tourism Economics that the US would see about 9% growth in overall international visitation in 2025, the company’s updated outlook now estimates an 8.2% decline, led by about one quarter fewer Canadians visiting the US from January to July, compared to the same period in 2024.
The World Travel and Tourism Council, a global tourism advocacy organization, projected in May that the United States will lose $12.5 billion in international visitor spending in 2025, the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed that will see a decline this year. well, can't be any clearer than that as to the how and why of the tourism decline - "the only country out of 184 economies the council analyzed." now that is an achievement. Yikes. I don't blame them, and I also don't blame any country that would start looking for alternative trade partners who could more reliably and predictably offer what the United States offers. Needing to rely on us when half the time we have a Republican president... that can't possibly instill confidence in trade or friendship. International tourists should have to pay thousands of dollars to enter state and national parks. A thousand dollars for a ticket to visit a state park? I guess that's one way to eliminate all tourism. high quality has its price! from the stable genius minds that brought you clean coal, crystal clear water and the cleanest crispest air anywhere in the world while gutting the EPA! pay to play parks and rec! packages are -tier1: the fun starts at the border! have your phones and social medias searched for memes disparaging the greatest US president who ever lived? - not cool and strike one you ungrateful hombre! who would object to a digital and maybe even physical strip search as an added bonus? we are pointing the gun in an inviting and safe manner so you better not! -tier2: action adventure as you might get abducted by ICE looking suspiciously foreign and/or brown! -tier 3 unlocks for special VIP guest only! come to the US - have the once in a lifetime chance to visit Alligator Alcatraz before it closes! only to contract tuberculosis. (terms an germs may change due to different location and mistreatment in crowded detention centers!) -tier4, survival adventure! haven't had enough fun already?! be one of the lucky souls to get the FULL Trumpian due process experience! visit America AND have the chance to see another country - night flight in a military plane while being restrained included!? only god knows which country though! Uganda? El Salvador? we are not telling and you are certainly not asking after we processed you! stupid questions are for gay woke leftist lunatics and their judges after all! CECOT is ready for YOU!
Speaking of the environment, Trump's U.S. Department of Energy is putting out "scientific" reports where they just make shit up and deny climate change: https://www.npr.org/2025/09/02/nx-s1-5521384/energy-report-scientists-climate-change
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