Stop wanting goods at half price and ban China trade… ☺️
We are too spoilt in Europe and honestly sometimes I wish we would have our brains checked because we are so oblivious to what is going on. The majority of us support a more integrated EU but do we see that majority actually defending the EU from those who want to destabilise it? Do we see that majority offering constructive criticism in order to make the EU better? No, we see a very laid back population that prefers to close its eyes and pretend they have no control.
Right now we have a huge division between those who are against restrictions and those who want this pandemic to end via vaccination and lockdowns where necessary. The issue is that the first group is far more organised than the second.
For those who do not know history, a determined united minority will always defeat a disorganised blind majority.
If Europe had strategic autonomy it would not use it to fight China or Russia. We could do that now in cooperation with the Americans.
Global crash .in coming
It’s true that these are trying times and ambitious dictators are trying to have their way with Europe. Sometimes I’m frustrated that Europe doesn’t respond more strongly.
But there is a simple reason that it hasn’t – it’s costly. And guess what, it’s costly not only for Europe but also for its adversaries who are living in trying times as well but chose to be confrontational in stead of cautious.
The result is that countries like Turkey, Belarus and Russia have lost way more from confronting Europe than it itself has. Turkey and Belarus are ruined economies, both of them are at the very bottom of average wages in Europe and they didn’t use to be nearly so bad before. Much of that has to do with their foreign policy, which has brought them sanctions, instability, depreciating currencies and brain drain.
Russia hasn’t been hit so hard but no doubt it would be doing much better if it hadn’t invaded Crimea in 2014 and had kept its cool but friendly relations with the West.
What I’m trying to say is that, even though Europe isn’t very united and it’s meek in its foreign policy, and I too find that frustrating, I also think it’s understandable that it avoids conflict because it really does have a cost… Though Erdogan or Lukashenko or Putin may grab headlines with their bold words and bold actions, they have in reality greatly weakened their countries. And if you try to come up with what they’ve actually won… well it’s nothing but Crimea for Russia really.
I don’t know if Europe’s approach is that good but if it perseveres it will come out way ahead of these autocrats. China is a different beast though.
It just feels like many in the EU are blind optimists and do not see the current global situation and the danger in the future.
*Dwindling global resources.
*further increases in global population.
* climate change
* USA being so divided it can’t really look outward as much as it has so many domestic issues.
* China having the military & economic strengh to lock down the USA so they will not get involved in a war in Europe. (They have also started to get frustrated at the EUs lack of commitment to defence spending so have started to give up on the alliance more & more it seems)
* Russia has been pushing more and more to see what it can get away with and the EU just does nothing.
I’m no fan of the current UK government & the decision to reduce our ability to trade with the EU effectively is hurting us a lot economically I will admit but the EU may come to regret it. You may see us as an annoying neighbour but we’re not a threat like Russia are. We also have one of the larger militaries in Europe and the will to fight I have no doubt should the EU need.
Better to have an annoying friend who would come help you when there’s a big bear at your door than not.
Can someone fill me in on “power-hungry China”? I’ve only been able to keep up with more noticeably aggressive leaders in the headlines (Erdogan, Putin, Lukashenko, etc)
7 comments
Stop wanting goods at half price and ban China trade… ☺️
We are too spoilt in Europe and honestly sometimes I wish we would have our brains checked because we are so oblivious to what is going on. The majority of us support a more integrated EU but do we see that majority actually defending the EU from those who want to destabilise it? Do we see that majority offering constructive criticism in order to make the EU better? No, we see a very laid back population that prefers to close its eyes and pretend they have no control.
Right now we have a huge division between those who are against restrictions and those who want this pandemic to end via vaccination and lockdowns where necessary. The issue is that the first group is far more organised than the second.
For those who do not know history, a determined united minority will always defeat a disorganised blind majority.
If Europe had strategic autonomy it would not use it to fight China or Russia. We could do that now in cooperation with the Americans.
Global crash .in coming
It’s true that these are trying times and ambitious dictators are trying to have their way with Europe. Sometimes I’m frustrated that Europe doesn’t respond more strongly.
But there is a simple reason that it hasn’t – it’s costly. And guess what, it’s costly not only for Europe but also for its adversaries who are living in trying times as well but chose to be confrontational in stead of cautious.
The result is that countries like Turkey, Belarus and Russia have lost way more from confronting Europe than it itself has. Turkey and Belarus are ruined economies, both of them are at the very bottom of average wages in Europe and they didn’t use to be nearly so bad before. Much of that has to do with their foreign policy, which has brought them sanctions, instability, depreciating currencies and brain drain.
Russia hasn’t been hit so hard but no doubt it would be doing much better if it hadn’t invaded Crimea in 2014 and had kept its cool but friendly relations with the West.
What I’m trying to say is that, even though Europe isn’t very united and it’s meek in its foreign policy, and I too find that frustrating, I also think it’s understandable that it avoids conflict because it really does have a cost… Though Erdogan or Lukashenko or Putin may grab headlines with their bold words and bold actions, they have in reality greatly weakened their countries. And if you try to come up with what they’ve actually won… well it’s nothing but Crimea for Russia really.
I don’t know if Europe’s approach is that good but if it perseveres it will come out way ahead of these autocrats. China is a different beast though.
It just feels like many in the EU are blind optimists and do not see the current global situation and the danger in the future.
*Dwindling global resources.
*further increases in global population.
* climate change
* USA being so divided it can’t really look outward as much as it has so many domestic issues.
* China having the military & economic strengh to lock down the USA so they will not get involved in a war in Europe. (They have also started to get frustrated at the EUs lack of commitment to defence spending so have started to give up on the alliance more & more it seems)
* Russia has been pushing more and more to see what it can get away with and the EU just does nothing.
I’m no fan of the current UK government & the decision to reduce our ability to trade with the EU effectively is hurting us a lot economically I will admit but the EU may come to regret it. You may see us as an annoying neighbour but we’re not a threat like Russia are. We also have one of the larger militaries in Europe and the will to fight I have no doubt should the EU need.
Better to have an annoying friend who would come help you when there’s a big bear at your door than not.
Can someone fill me in on “power-hungry China”? I’ve only been able to keep up with more noticeably aggressive leaders in the headlines (Erdogan, Putin, Lukashenko, etc)