War and Stuff and POTUS Policies.

Responses to Facebook chats.

<>BILL CLINTON. President Clinton and NATO and the Kosovo War. That is a huge discussion. After 1991 and the end of the Warsaw Pact (and Cold War sort of), NATO would have at least stayed cool. Nope. So the Slovenian War and Bosnian War (and Kosovo War) were "rationales" for NATO expansion. Pissed Russia off, of course. On the trade angle, Bill's trade pact with Jiang Zemin in 2000 is another huge discussion. The following year, China joined the WTO as a privileged member or Most Favored Nation (MFN). Next is history, such as China's unflagging trade expansionism. 🏛🗽☮️

<>BARACK OBAMA. President Obama and prolonged or heightened the Afghanistan War. He could have stopped this war from surpassing the Vietnam crisis as America's longest war but he didn't. In his first term, he increased U.S. military presence there but he withdrew 8,400 (from 98,000) in his second term. 

       To his credit, Mr Obama presided over a mission to take out Osama bin Laden in 2011. Yet he also helped install the U.S.-educated Ashraf Ghani as president, which only infuriated the Taliban. Development projects in the countryside didn't really work because the people out there rejected them or didn't really mostly participate.

       Lots to talk about the Afghanistan story. Budget or expenditures etcetera. You may google numbers.

       Meanwhile, before Barack left office in 2016, he enhanced arms aid to Israel via a 10-year $38 billion military aid package in September of that year (which would expire next year). 🏛🗽☮️

<>JOE BIDEN. Two weeks following November 2020, as President Biden exalted his election win, China gathered 14 Asia Pacific economies to form the largest trade pact in history, the RCEP. China meanwhile solidified its trade partnership with Taiwan (think Foxconn and TSMC's silicon supply). 

       So all the war-mongering that Mr Biden did per South China Sea via Taiwan didn't work. President Trump is doing it via tariffs but the Chinese are not dumb; the CCP's trade leverage has exponentially strengthened since 2001. 

       Meanwhile, the U.S. still gotta sell arms in Asia because the Arab League, especially Saudi Arabia, ain't cool with "arms for oil" anymore. Well, unless wars continue, policies may change? Hawks will not allow peace in the desert, obviously. 

       Iran is a key but per recent news, the Supreme Leader is pissed with Mr Trump's “dares.” Still, Tehran's new moderate leadership doesn't want more war or China will stop buying Iran's oil (if the Strait of Hormuz becomes a bottleneck). Etc etcetera. ☮️☮️☮️

FB Friend: I’m tired of this horror movie we’re trapped in the middle of.

Me: Imagine, those who are ACTUALLY in these/those horror for real--while we (only) watch the movie.

Who Rules America? / More Migrant Talk.

Responses to Facebook chats.

Who Rules America?

Who rules: The 1 Percent. The current eerie divide is basically caused by both sides' corporate powers. Divide and rule. Only, they gotta decide between themselves who'd gain more profit traction by way of partisanship politics. Their zealots are pretty much what they are. Partisan zealots.

       The (New) Left favors a hawkish playbook, and uses its military brawn the traditional way: Proxy wars, "arms for oil," and the likes. The other, a dovish playbook, which puts more premium on trade wars (tariff gambits) or economic negotiations. The common denomination is–military brinkmanship stays. Up front or in the background.

       Whatever the case, Washington's military spending stays exponentially spiking. America is culturally obsessed with weaponry as proof of power, whether they use them or not. (So far, hawks are winning over Trump's doves. Or we don't really know the actual composition of Mr Trump's crew, dovish or hawkish.) 💻✍️📲

More Migrant Talk.

<>Due to record number of border crossings (from 2021 to 2024), the U.S. asylum fiscal management is now bankrupt. Cities that house them are facing budget problems and their constituents, jittery. But those who were removed or deported were mostly facing criminal cases hence they were directly sent to prisons in their country of origin. 

       The U.S. helps these countries with the surge of new inmates. I guess, they pretty much dealt with basic accounting per U.S. taxpayer money. Feed them in U.S.prisons or feed them in El Salvador etc prisons. Which is more expensive? I give them the benefit of the doubt. (Hint: President Trump is massively cost-cutting.)

<>The thinking that the U.S. is helping undocumented migrants (or helping Americans) by having them pick veggies and fruits for us is a bit flawed. Farms and factories actually exploit or abuse these migrant workers by paying them $2/hr (no benefits and insurance etc) and house them in trailers like 12 in a 4 room trailer. Some are minors, too. Food is rationed. 

       Meanwhile, those who are left wandering about, figure that one out. When calamities happen, they are not counted of course. Anyhow there are still many who are in DOJ housing, foster homes, churches and NGO-provided facilities with paralegal aid, awaiting asylum but these numbers have overflowed years ago. Bottomline, the U.S. needs to process their papers before accepting more applications. No brainer. 💻✍️📲

Signal Chat and War Plans. And Stuff.

WASHINGTON's top security staff's surreal “group chat” goof, or whatever that “accidental” shenanigan is called, is of course a national American frolic. A sure feed to the partisanship caterwaul or hate Trump showtime. Certainly, an SNL material.

 

       Beyond this though, whether Jeffrey Goldberg, The Atlantic journalist in the center of the Signal chat drama, was mistakenly included in the chat room or not, it proves that the internet is not a safe place, especially for this kind of internal top-level government "chat." Anyhow, hackers can easily breach an online site if they want to, regardless if the trespass is a juvenile nerd mischief or a really massive terror intent. 

       Whatever the case, the Houthis in Yemen now know what's up in the U.S. camp. Of course they're not dumb. They got their own "chats," too, to discuss this. But then, was the booboo actually a trap? Journalists are not supposed to be in the “room” so who let Mr Goldberg in? And why? Did Jeffrey infiltrate the security soiree? Is that legal? I don't know.

       Anyways, whatever Defense chief Pete Hegseth, security advisor Mike Waltz etc chatted per “bombing Yemen” is rendered senseless when smokes of social media chatter subside. It was a chat or a plan that wasn't carried out. (As though a “war plan” isn't a fact of superpower leadership playbook and such acts weren't carried out in actuality in the past…) 

WASHINGTON regroups. In Mr Trump's first term, his military took out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Iran/Quds chief Qasem Soleimani leading to the Doha Accords that eventually ended the 20-year Afghanistan war (never mind the stupid drama thriller in July 20, 2021 or during Joe Biden's time). 

       Meanwhile, as we know it, the Israel/Hamas ceasefire is shaky and fighting resumes. The Hezbollah is a bit quiet but the Houthis are not easy to obliterate. They have resumed shudders in the Red Sea. Etcetera. So I am not amused by the Signal brouhaha. I am not partisan but I favor the end of wars or relatively dovish U.S. plans to help ease hostilities in the region over escalating them.    

       For the meantime, I expect President Trump to yell "You are fired!" However, I can't help but ask, why would this fiasco be a laughing matter to many or a fodder for jest? Because when war escalates, we stay comfy as ever in America? Of course… So let the shaming continue? 🏛🗽🏛

[Visual: USA Today.]

Old Journalism. Blogging. Social Media.

Response to a Friend's Facebook post.

SOMEONE here on my Facebook Page (older or my age) disagreed with my thoughts on current politics by insulting my “journalist-self” or, according to him, my inability to consider facts hence my opinion or insight about what's going on. He was reacting to my "My Thought..." per the day’s news, quoted the first line from a mostly liberal media source. His words, as the usual case, were rude and smothered with juvenile snides and punctuated by that annoying laughing emoji. 

       I wrote back saying this is my social media self, my opinion, my "blog," my random take on a current news report. Not me years ago after I covered an event or interviewed someone. When I wrote as a journalist or reporter, I was "detached" from my subject and myself. I write about what I saw and heard more than how I felt about the event that I covered. (My youth's editor Joe Burgos' to me: "Write news, not poetry.") 

       Then, I often wrote about how I feel about the news that I filed via poetry, songs or I painted. My feelings or emotions about what I saw or experienced went through my literary work. The artist in me beyond or apart from the journalist me. Then came social media and blogging. I extensively post as I blog extensively. That persona is like the guy who responds in a poetry workshop in GAT or political “talakayan” at Grand Inihaw over beers after a day's work at the beat albeit not rude or insulting. 

       When I blog, I don't just "decide for myself." Blogging or journaling isn't like jotting outbursts in a diary, which is private or all for yourself. Although I am currently writing a sort of memoir (I meant to leave to my kids and family when the day is "done.") That is like a diary, not a blog or Facebook post. Etc etcetera. Anyhow, we didn't expect the internet to "replace" traditional journalism. So comparison is a bit difficult. Just two different animals, I guess. 📰✍️💻

Ukraine. And Trump Stuff.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook post.

THE New Left howls, “I stand with Ukraine.” Me, I stand with Ukraine and I stand with Russia. I stand higher for No War so no more military aid to whatever country, amidst war or peacetime. And I stand with the (current) U.S. position in brokering peace in whatever way but not via more fighting or arms aid. End the war now and then we can talk more about trade and economics next. 

       Ukraine's minerals are not a one-shipment deal so whatever deal President Trump offered, sign it. Let FDIs enter Ukraine for recovery and rebuilding. Not just from the U.S. and the European Union, but also from China and BRICS nations. 

       Most importantly, hold a national election in Ukraine, alongside a probe of how the foreign aid to Kyiv, since February 2022, was spent. Before 2022, more than 3 million Ukrainians worked in Russia. Both peoples are kin or couples and friends. My neighbors are Ukrainian/Russian wife and husband. Yet in America, we chose to take a stand to divide them over taking a stand to end this war. 

       We are not really affected by this war the way the Ukrainians and Russians are so we treat this as a dramatic Left vs Right caterwaul while comfortably seated in front of our gadgets, sipping wine or drowned in beer. Mostly, the New Left’s stand is due to their hatred for Mr Trump who chose to shake hands with Russia rather than goad Vladimir Putin to continue the war. Yet Donald uses that friendship, perceived or real, to end this war. 

       Volodymyr Zelensky's fate as President depends on this war. He suspended the election because the war is still happening, hence he expects to get more aid? Logical. Probably if Kamala Harris won last November, he will get more? But America has already given a lot of taxpayer money to Kyiv. Money that the U.S. can, for example, allocate for FEMA or health services. 

       Mr Zelensky has no leverage to negotiate apart from his country's "rare earth" etcetera. Whoever is POTUS, the quid pro quo for USAID or military aid is natural resources or priority country in trade deals. That's always been the case, historically. Aid is not dole-out or gift. (I am a Filipino who protested USAID when I was in the Philippines.)  

       At least, President Trump's deal is not the "arms for oil" that was the deal in the Middle East for many years. That region is already rich and now high on economic development so they now reject "arms for oil." Volodymyr still insists on arms for rare earth etcetera. He is dreaming. But I am scared for him. Hint: His military might make a move. You know, that is also historical and we know whose hand would push it. 🇺🇸☮️🇺🇦

Ukraine. And Trump Stuff.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook post.

THE New Left howls, “I stand with Ukraine.” Me, I stand with Ukraine and I stand with Russia. I stand higher for No War so no more military aid to whatever country, amidst war or peacetime. And I stand with the (current) U.S. position in brokering peace in whatever way but not via more fighting or arms aid. End the war now and then we can talk more about trade and economics next. 

       Ukraine's minerals are not a one-shipment deal so whatever deal President Trump offered, sign it. Let FDIs enter Ukraine for recovery and rebuilding. Not just from the U.S. and the European Union, but also from China and BRICS nations. 

       Most importantly, hold a national election in Ukraine, alongside a probe of how the foreign aid to Kyiv, since February 2022, was spent. Before 2022, more than 3 million Ukrainians worked in Russia. Both peoples are kin or couples and friends. My neighbors are Ukrainian/Russian wife and husband. Yet in America, we chose to take a stand to divide them over taking a stand to end this war. 

       We are not really affected by this war the way the Ukrainians and Russians are so we treat this as a dramatic Left vs Right caterwaul while comfortably seated in front of our gadgets, sipping wine or drowned in beer. Mostly, the New Left’s stand is due to their hatred for Mr Trump who chose to shake hands with Russia rather than goad Vladimir Putin to continue the war. Yet Donald uses that friendship, perceived or real, to end this war. 

       Volodymyr Zelensky's fate as President depends on this war. He suspended the election because the war is still happening, hence he expects to get more aid? Logical. Probably if Kamala Harris won last November, he will get more? But America has already given a lot of taxpayer money to Kyiv. Money that the U.S. can, for example, allocate for FEMA or health services. 

       Mr Zelensky has no leverage to negotiate apart from his country's "rare earth" etcetera. Whoever is POTUS, the quid pro quo for USAID or military aid is natural resources or priority country in trade deals. That's always been the case, historically. Aid is not dole-out or gift. (I am a Filipino who protested USAID when I was in the Philippines.)  

       At least, President Trump's deal is not the "arms for oil" that was the deal in the Middle East for many years. That region is already rich and now high on economic development so they now reject "arms for oil." Volodymyr still insists on arms for rare earth etcetera. He is dreaming. But I am scared for him. Hint: His military might make a move. You know, that is also historical and we know whose hand would push it. 🇺🇸☮️🇺🇦

Ukraine. Russia. U.S. European Union.

Response to a Friend’s Facebook post.

I DON'T don't get the narrative that President Trump being cordial with Russia is bad for the world (according to Time, NY Times, Washington Post, Rolling Stone in so many words). So would that mean a return to the Cold War would make the world peaceful? Nope.

       Meanwhile, I thought, for a moment, that Volodymyr Zelensky was fine with the end of war. Yet when France et al protested Mr Trump's chat with Vladimir Putin, Mr Z again changed his mind and whined that Ukraine will be ignored in the peace negotiations. 

       Fact is, the EU was concerned after Donald Trump mentioned U.S. interest in Ukraine's "rare earth." Of course that was the rationale for the war: Ukraine's massive natural resources (including who'd run natural gas company Naftogaz). The EU invested a lot in this war, as well, via $145 billion in aid since the start of war in 2022.

       But Europe also needs Russia's energy imports. In 2021, Russia supplied 75 percent and 45 percent of the region's natural gas and oil needs, respectively. Meanwhile, E.U. is collectively mired at 1 percent economic growth. 

       The West, especially Europe, wants Ukraine's natural wealth and a war is the perfect tool to get a handle of those and Volodymyr is more than willing to pawn his country for this quid pro quo as he enriches himself. (Refer to the Kyiv leader's ill-gotten wealth stashed in British Virgin Islands, Belize and Cyprus + real estates in London). 

       America and Europe want Ukraine's wealth. It just so happened that Joe Biden and Donald Trump have contrasting playbooks on how to get them. Joe via a war so he (with help from EU leaders) goaded Russia to a war. Donald's strategy is trade negotiation, not war.    

       I don't think Russia is interested in Ukraine's natural resources though. Coal-rich Donbas seeks to secede, it's their decision. But I believe war will end, the U.S. and EU will talk about profit share in rare earth, how to run Naftogaz in a partnership etcetera, and Russia gets Nord Stream 2 to operate and sell energy to the EU again. Volodymyr Zelensky will be eased out via election or regime-change. ☮️☮️☮️

MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page.

NY Times: “What’s Behind the Protests in the Country of Georgia?” The issue: Georgia’s plan for European Union membership. If I am still in my 20s, I'd probably be so gullible enough to believe the current Georgia tempest is isolated from the bigger geopolitical picture. Right? Regardless of Washington hawks’ insistence to keep Ukraine burning, that war is bound to end next year. And so we have Georgia. Oh well. 🇬🇪🇬🇪🇬🇪

NY Times: “Mexican Authorities Seize 20 Million Doses of Fentanyl in Record Haul.” This developed after Donald Trump threatened tariffs on Mexico if the country did not crack down on fentanyl. Would Claudia Sheinbaum's initial response to The D’s “threats” carry on? Fentanyl is a cartel product. And drug cartels facilitate massive migrants’ trek to the U.S. borders, which went hugely unchecked in Joe Biden's years. 🇺🇸☮️🇲🇽

New York Times: “Mexican Cartels Lure Chemistry Students to Make Fentanyl.” And adds: “Criminals turn college campuses into recruitment hubs, recruiting chemistry students in Mexico with big paydays.” Don’t we know that already? And of course, Walter White a.k.a. Heisenberg was a high school chemistry teacher. “Breaking Bad” was immensely popular because it is very truthful, factual even. 💉💊🇲🇽

New York Times: “Oxford’s 2024 Word of the Year Is…” The word is “brain rot.” The shortlist: “Lore,” “demure,” “slop.” Notice that these so-called “words of the year” usually connote negative descriptions or fringy, underground sub-meanings. Or simply modern lingo spit. Who decides on those things, by the way. And what is the sense? So it is now cool (crispy?) to say a friend suffers from “brain rot,” I guess? 😏😒🤨

AP: “With Assad Challenged, a Push to Cut Syria’s Ties to Iran Grows More Unlikely.” The Middle East conflagration gets more complicated. Before the Hamas attack of Israel in early October last year, Syria was welcomed back by the Arab League. That'd after Iran and League power Saudi Arabia shook hands, on China's intercession. Meanwhile, Syria's top trade partner is Turkey. Iran's top oil buyer is China. 

       News adds: “Even as Israel bombarded Syria, officials say the U.S. and Gulf countries were working to weaken its president’s alliance with Tehran. Rebels’ shock advance has dampened those hopes.” ☮️☮️☮️

New York Times: “Russian General Calls U.S. Chairman of Joint Chiefs.” News adds that the two men “discussed a number of global and regional security issues, to include the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.” Because despite Joe Biden's moves to escalate fighting in Ukraine as he leaves office, Donald Trump's team is already laying out a contrary groundwork. Let's see how things play out as 2025 marches in. 🇷🇺☮️🇺🇦

NY Times: “Tensions Rise Among Russia’s Elite as Economic Growth Slows.” But, it seems, the Kremlin won’t back away from its war effort as the challenge heightens. Russia has an ample (economic) safety net. And BRICS bros continually buying Moscow's oil and natural gas are very helpful. But a longer war and additional money for military hardware isn't good. But that is also the European Union’s economic fact right now. 🇷🇺☮️🇷🇺

Washington Post: “Inside the effort to market Russia and Putin to Africans.” More lenders, more investors to choose from, beyond traditional Western money, is a good thing. Russia's FDIs in Africa have risen to $24.5 billion this year although much lower than Chinese and U.S. commitments. In September, China offered a new $51 billion funding to the continent as U.S. total FDI in 41 countries dropped to $44.8 this year. 🇷🇺☮️🇷🇺

New York Times: “Russia and Iran Pledge Support for Syria’s al-Assad Against Advancing Rebels.” I go back to my college years when we, students of global politics, used to discourse who was funding who in those wars. Sure, these days we point at mostly Iran when we talk of terror groups. Yet (especially) in the last decade, significant upheavals altered some behaviors in the region. So I remain thinking. ☮️☮️☮️

       News adds: “In just a few days, a patchwork of rebel forces has seized control of a broad stretch of land in the west and northwest of Syria. But it’s unclear just how much support Syria’s weakened allies can provide.”

Rolling Stone: “Ex-Aides Say Gabbard Regularly Consumed Russian State Media: Report.” Members of the intelligence community are raising concerns about Mr Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Intelligence Community? Ms Gabbard consumed maybe too much time reading up on Russians? A concern, really? Or what if she wasn't glued to anything Russian? Am I lost here? Can we please define what “intel” really is? 🏛🗽🏛

MORE: I Me Mine Stuff.

Previously posted on my Facebook page. Or written years ago, unedited/not updated.

I ALWAYS say I am a very courageous guy. I am not scared to interface my truths or my little me in any given situation, circumstances, diversity. But that doesn't mean I am a very confident dude or a person beaming with grandiose self-esteem. I write because I am not very trustful of my spoken word. I mumble. I ruminate as I talk. I ramble. So I project myself in so many ways in relative quiet—art, literature, cooking, organizing events. I am not as proud as others in terms of my physical attributes. I am short and skinny etc. I also believe in so many ways that I am just weird and oblique and that I get scary and dark. You know, the fear of not knowing an individual who seems to be so different. 

       So before I could even “fully introduce” myself, I already frightened people away, uh huh. I wrestle with my acute inferiority complex yet no one who knows me wouldn't believe that at all. “Pasckie, you rock out there! You are all over the place!” I always crack silly jokes that elicit unfeigned laughter. Yet the only moments that I feel really belonged and attached is when I read poetry in front of an intimate crowd. I relish the moment up front on the mic. 

       Yet still, after each show—I gravitate back to The Batcave and wish that warmth stays. But you wouldn't know that, ain't you? Until I share this drama. In fact, right now I am painting with radiant colors as the Bee Gees (again!) provides the dancing vibe. 🌬💨🥹

MY THOUGHTS about the NEWS.

Previously posted on my Facebook Page. 

Washington Post: “Harris’s advisers blame everything but themselves for their loss.” Their aggro “vilify!” (sic) strategies didn't work, obviously. Of course, such a negative tactic won't ever work, especially if the pitch was meant to cover or blur current (especially economic) realities. Has the Left already abandoned meticulous groundwork, persuasive advocacy, and calm efforts to build tactical alliances–as in the past? 🏛🗽🏛

Washington Post: “Missing woman may have fallen into sinkhole while searching for cat.” I don't know. I can't judge her. I am so deeply attached to Ching and Fizz that I wouldn't probably stop searching if ever they get lost. Pretty much a missing child. You don’t sleep unless you find the cat. No amount of “your cat will show up soon…” will ever calm me down. So I feel for the woman. I hope they find her and the cat soon. 😢🐈😩

New York Sun: “Musks’s Department of Government Efficiency Highlights Current Spending of $150 Billion on Migrants.” Hmmm. I guess, many agency bosses are nervous of Mr Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy's “good government” office. Military spending, immigration budget. Next? Student loan forgiveness? But I'll see what's up with huge-ass bailouts to corporations, though those could be alibi'ed as loans. (Photo: IAMA.) 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “South Korea President Declares Martial Law, Then Backs Down.” / “Martial Law in South Korea Tests Biden and a Key U.S. Alliance.” Yoon Suk Yeol is in severe panic mode. I try to evade the thought but Mr Yoon’s erratic behavior seems ushered in by the change of POTUS. An obvious Joe Biden lapdog, he differed with his predecessor Moon Jae-in, whose pacifism vibes with Mr Trump's playbook. 🇰🇷🇰🇷🇰🇷

NY Sun: “Renewed Fighting in Syria Puts at Risk Trump’s Hope of Pacifying the Globe.” Joe Biden and his hawks are obviously worsening situations (in the Middle East and Ukraine). Haven’t those people seen worse in the past? The incoming President leads in “pacifying the globe,” which the outgoing President helped bring into chaos. Weird. But, I guess, that's just what America is all about? Pacify or provoke? ☮️☮️☮️

New York Times: “Biden’s Pardon for His Son Dishonors the Office.” / “Democrats Sharply Criticize Biden’s Pardon of His Son.” Democratic Party zealots, of course, divert the issue to other issues, such as Donald Trump's pardon of so and so. As though other POTUSes didn't also pardon whoever. And so they totally ignore why Joe Biden's pardon of his erring son stands out. Especially after he said he won’t. 🏛🗽🏛

New York Sun: “California’s Attorney General Wants Holiday Shoppers To Report Stores Lacking ‘Gender-Neutral’ Toy Options.” Honestly, I don't know what a “gender-neutral” toy is. The dress? Skin color? The names of the toys? Nope? I googled some samples. Chicken and pig puppets, $55; Captain Calamari, $15.99; discovery blocks, $29.99; wood baby gym, $90. But I still don't know what a “gender-neutral” toy is. 😏😒🤨

NY Times: “Trump Won More of New York’s Votes. Did He Win More of Its Love, Too?” Trump! We don't have to “love” him to like him or vote for him. He is not your dad or drinking buddy. I don't think I'd last 10 minutes when (if ever) given a change to sit in front of Mr Trump. But after his first 4 years, I can't question his leadership mojo, especially his foreign affairs playbook. He is POTUS, not my pool hall pal. 

       News adds: “The city tolerated Donald J. Trump, and then it loathed him. Now, some New Yorkers have begun to embrace him. The Kid from Queens couldn’t be happier.” 🏛🗽🏛

New York Times: “How a Tourist Paradise Became a Drug-Trafficking Magnet.” Costa Rica’s lush rainforests are being infiltrated by cartels on a quest to find new trafficking routes to evade the authorities. The illegal drug industry is a massive trade that operates as a typical farm to production line to distribution channels to consumer hands. A complex web of economic activity. And the U.S. stays as its focal market base. 🧲💉⛰

Time: “Tons of viruses live in your toothbrush and showerhead.” Don’t we know that already? Current journalism is so consistently good at pitching fear-factor narratives, ain’t it? Mowing grass, blowing leaves. Bad. Garlic and onions, exposure to sunlight, hand washing clothes sans “protective” gloves. All bad. Etcetera. Media’s experts coax us to pause and think again. Well, what about kissing lips to lips? 🪥🛀🪒

“What happened to NAFTA?”

Facebook friend: “What happened to NAFTA?” 

From my chat with friends on Facebook.

NAFTA  or the North American Free Trade Agreement was "replaced" in July 2020. It is now called USMCA or United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement. Critics say NAFTA led to job losses and wage stagnation due to many U.S. companies moving to Mexico; obvious reasons. USMCA vowed to fix that. What happened? Then President Donald Trump initiated USMCA but since he lost in the election to Joe Biden in 2020, he wasn't really able to implement the "repair" of the "unfair" trade exchange. 

       What happened when President Biden took over? A record number of illegal migrants crossed the border. I guess that’d be Mexico's response: Send the U.S. more workers, poorly paid and untaxed. And Joe's version of the deal was let 'em in so U.S. firms would have more "convenient" workers, untaxed and measly paid, but paid for by taxpayer money so they could stay while waiting for asylum, if ever. (If they get asylum, they get paid the legal way, of course, as workers). 

       The POTUS at the time of NAFTA’s  inception in 1994 was Bill Clinton. He also signed pretty much the same deal with China in 2000; with Jiang Zemin. Same result. U.S. companies moved to China. Mr Trump tried to fix it via his trade pact with Xi Jinping or modification of the deal in January 2020. But (again) Joe Biden took over as POTUS before the new agreements were implemented. From that point? 

       Mr Biden sent Treasury chief Janet Yellen and State secretary Antony Blinken to Beijing on two separate occasions, twice each, but no "rewrite" or whatever deal was signed or agreed upon. Joe sent a new crack economic team in October, I think, but the CCP opted to wait till November 5 was over. 

       Fast forward, post-November 5. Mr Trump expects to sit with Xi again so before that happens, Donald issues tariff “threats,” which was actually somehow included in the agreed pact in 2020 but Joe opted not to abide by it. Some say it was China that refused to abide etcetera. So Trump's "threats" are basically new pre-chess moves before the negotiation actually happens.
      Meanwhile, back to Mexico: Before he sits, Donald Trump issues tariff threats as well to President Claudia Sheinbaum, pressuring her to stop migrants from crossing to the U.S. from her end. Logic: Migrants would find it hard to cross if they are already stopped at Darien Pass or Rio Grande or the desert leading to the borders. Weeks ago, Mexico responded by stopping two trucks of migrants in Mexico reportedly carrying fentanyl etcetera. (Chess move by Mexico.) 

       We can now add the cartel issue and largely ineffective Merida Initiative (created in 2008) to the insight. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau talked with Mr Trump as well a few weeks ago. Scant details were reported per their talks though. Canada is the U.S. top trading partner. Etc etcetera. 🇺🇸🇨🇦🇲🇽

Free Trade and Stuff.

From my chat with friends on Facebook.

Free trade. Should be. Sans kickass economic and political textbook lingo, let me offer an insight based on history to current geopolitics. Fair trade. Cool. 

       Yet "unfair" ways such as market dominance and inequality of bargaining power or info control have always been dominated by the West. True, (Scottish) Adam Smith coined the term in the 16th century yet those that refused to join the Western monopoly (British East India Company?) were forced to. 

       In Asia, we can refer to the two opium wars in China and Admiral Perry's "gunboat diplomacy" in Japan in the 1800s. And per Bretton Woods of 1944 at the tailend of World War II, that market/negotiating dominance was cemented via IMF and World Bank and the U.S. dollar as the world's reserve currency. 

       In the Middle East, that market rule was laid out via "arms for oil" as integral chips in bilateral agreements (think the Rockefellers and J. Paul Getty, for example). And so when China formally joined WTO in 2001, BRICS was born in 2009, the Arab world "revolted" via Arab Spring (started 2010) and Russia joined WTO in 2012, Western capitalists got super worried. 

       Add that China's 5 huge state-owned banks balanced IMF etc al and again China gathered 14 Asia Pacific economies and formed the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) two weeks after Joe Biden won as POTUS in 2020, the West resorted to its old, antiquated tactics to influence trade agreements: Military brinkmanship and proxy war. 💸🏢💸