patrick.net

A Jesuit from the Holy Roman Empire will be knocking on your door shortly with castrating clippers and will hold you down as illegal immigrant squatters occupy your home. Why do you fight progress?

“The eurozone economy grew about 6% over the past 15 years, measured in dollars, compared with 82% for the U.S., according to International Monetary Fund data. That has left the average EU country poorer per head than every US state except Idaho and Mississippi, according to a report this month by the European Centre for International Political Economy, a Brussels-based independent think tank. If the current trend continues, by 2035 the gap between economic output per capita in the US and EU will be as large as that between Japan and Ecuador today, the report said.”

https://newsletter.doomberg.com/p/judgement-day

DemocratsAreTotallyFucked says

“The eurozone economy grew about 6% over the past 15 years, measured in dollars, compared with 82% for the U.S., according to International Monetary Fund data. That has left the average EU country poorer per head than every US state except Idaho and Mississippi, according to a report this month by the European Centre for International Political Economy, a Brussels-based independent think tank. If the current trend continues, by 2035 the gap between economic output per capita in the US and EU will be as large as that between Japan and Ecuador today, the report said.”

https://newsletter.doomberg.com/p/judgement-day

Ah but the standard of living in the US has been declining in the recent decade compared to the Western Europen countries, no doubt about it. GDP is meaningless, debt to gdp is at least a somewhat legit measure, and the EU with all of it's corrupt Eurocrats is doing quite better than the US lately here. Zero reason to gloat, hopefully November will bring an America first govt back again. You can live well in the US but you need to be in the top 10% of earners as absolute minimum, better top 5%.

mell says

Ah but the standard of living in the US has been declining in the recent decade compared to the Western Europen countries

Not really. Energy prices are through the roof over there. And Germany is becoming a Rust Belt.

DemocratsAreTotallyFucked says

mell says

Ah but the standard of living in the US has been declining in the recent decade compared to the Western Europen countries

Not really. Energy prices are through the roof over there. And Germany is becoming a Rust Belt.

Germany has been declining no doubt due to unfettered immigration and bad govt (prob not worse than xiden/harris though), but they are reversing course now at least compared to the US. I know Europe pretty well and would argue that if you have kids your standard of living is better in Germany atm on average (upper class and uber wealthy excluded). Of course this depends on the region and city, but in terms of child care, family friendly infrastructure, cost of living and inflation they're ahead. If you're a single tech worker or have another profession with a great salary the US has more to offer imo as the tech and science (as well as MDs) salary bands are fairly narrow in Europe and you're just middle or upper middle class. Of course if you prefer low density population you will be served better in the US mostly.

mell says

know Europe pretty well and would argue that if you have kids your standard of living is better in Germany atm on average

...and you pay for it with heavy taxation, too. On net, it's either a wash or they are poorer. They are definitely becoming poorer in the future as demographics fucks them. France and Sweden are outliers.

At least back in the 90's, if you emigrated and didn't declare a religion, then they didn't take 10% of your wages for donations to your church.

Paganism had its privileges even then - the Irish at the time that I told were gobsmacked that they could save 10% by denying their religion.

So...who is gonna pay for the rebuilding of the Ukraine when the hostilities end ???

Not Germany 'cause they believe the Ukraine blew up the Nord stream II. Ukraine is pissing off other Euro countries, as well. Like Slovakia.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/kyiv-will-not-extend-gas-transit-deal-ukraine-tells-slovakia/ar-AA1rPEmL

The US ??? - Not if we start to put America first.

Russian reparations ???? - Makes me giggle.

So, the Europeans get to have a blown-up, 3rd world country that nobody likes festering in the middle of Europe.

All EU Loans to Ukraine have both US guarantees and are backed by Ukrainian assets.

So an entity richer than the USA is having the USA guarantee loans for a war in their region.

AmericanKulak says

All EU Loans to Ukraine have both US guarantees and are backed by Ukrainian assets.

So an entity richer than the USA is having the USA guarantee loans for a war in their region.

U sure 'bout that? The most recent $50B loan is guaranteed by Pukin's $300B stuck in the West, not the USA.

RWSGFY says

The most recent $50B loan is guaranteed by Pukin's $300B stuck in the West, not the USA.

And the Iraq War was going to be paid with Iraqi oil.

AmericanKulak says

RWSGFY says

The most recent $50B loan is guaranteed by Pukin's $300B stuck in the West, not the USA.

And the Iraq War was going to be paid with Iraqi oil.

The difference is the money are already in the bank. It's not some oil in some sand somewhere..,

BMW Says EU Ban on Gasoline Cars from 2035 Is “No Longer Realistic”

Germany’s car manufacturing giant BMW is warning that an EU ban on the sale of gasoline and diesel cars from 2035 is “no longer realistic” amid slow EV sales as the European auto industry will see a “massive shrinking” with such a ban.

European carmakers are already struggling with their EV sales as subsidies in many countries are coming to an end and Chinese low-cost vehicle makers are gaining market share.

Last year, the EU member states approved an emissions regulation under which the bloc will end sales of new carbon dioxide-emitting cars and vans in 2035.

The rules target 55% CO2 emission reductions for new cars and 50% for new vans from 2030 to 2034 compared to 2021 levels, as well as 100% CO2 emission reductions for both new cars and vans from 2035.

Under the regulation, the European Commission will assess in 2026 the progress the EU has made in achieving the target. The Commission will decide whether the targets need to be reviewed.

But BMW’s chief executive Oliver Zipse said on Tuesday at the Paris Automotive Summit that the ban “could also threaten the European automotive industry in its heart.”

The current regulations will “with today’s assumptions, lead to a massive shrinking of the industry as a whole,” Zipse added, as carried by Bloomberg.

Electric vehicle sales in Europe have been suffering this year. Sales in Germany, for example, are plummeting as Berlin ended subsidies at the end of 2023.

Amid slowing sales of EVs, the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association, ACEA, last month called for urgent action to reverse this year’s trend of declining EV sales.

The European auto manufacturers united in ACEA, called on the EU institutions “to come forward with urgent relief measures before new CO2 targets for cars and vans come into effect in 2025.”

Europe’s automakers “are playing our part in this transition, but unfortunately, the other necessary elements for this systemic shift are not in place,” ACEA said.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/BMW-Says-EU-Ban-on-Gasoline-Cars-from-2035-Is-No-Longer-Realistic.html

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

The rules target 55% CO2 emission reductions for new cars and 50% for new vans from 2030 to 2034 compared to 2021 levels, as well as 100% CO2 emission reductions for both new cars and vans from 2035.

Better get working on those nukes asap. They take at least 5 years to build. And they'll probably need a dozen at least. And if natural gas usage is high and flow short, people might switch to electric for heat in the colder areas of Europe in the winter.

Renewables aren't going to cut it if 100% of new cars are EV. Solar will barely work in the northern nations in the winter. A engineer could figure out back of napkin math and tell you in 5 minutes that goal is 100% unrealistic.

Euros also like their ICE vehicles as well and won't give them up. They're not the sharpest knives in the drawer though when it comes to planning. Engineering sure, government no. I hate the term melting pot, but the US succeeded by melting language into one for a large land mass. Race, we segregate ourselves which is fine. I wish we make english the official language.

But Europe if you move around it's possible that you have to be able to half ass 8 or so different languages. So a lot of shit gets lost in translation. You can't tell if someone is lying, being sarcastic, basic language things kind of like body language. If they made English the EU language, they'd get along better in the Union and globally.

It's generally working here in the states besides city neighborhoods where like ethnicities move to and it take 2-3 generations for them to finally get proficient at English. Anywhere rural it's 100% English speakers. Even my native Puerto Rican neighbor speaks solid English having mostly grown up in PR.

EU also is targeting Musk:

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/10/eu-considers-calculating-x-fines-by-including-revenue-from-musks-other-firms/

The fines are from their inability to censor X. Musk ain't cooperating, the don't like it.

And...it gets worse:

Here's a chart on VC financing between the USA, UK, and EU. And 75% of UK's financing is greater London.

DOGEWontAmountToShit says

Visegrád 24 also quoted Sweden’s deputy prime minister and energy minister, Ebba Busch, as being “furious with the Germans.” The article continued, explaining that due to Germany’s decision to shutter its nuclear plants, “people in southern Sweden and southern Norway now have [to] pay $5 for a 10-minute shower.”

https://robertbryce.substack.com/p/germany-gets-dunkelfked-again-norway

They seem to be experiencing a bit of 'all green measures are designed to fail' antipathy. Maybe their frozen and fuel plundered asses will shake them out of their socialist delusion sadistic kakistocracy.

I'm in an argument with a Euro on FB about EV's. Says she does multi-million dollar (euro) payroll. She says EV's are cheaper than my car or what I could buy right now that works for me. I told her the employees probably don't like you because you suck at basic math.

I think Europe is crashing. The reliance on renewables is going to be their downfall. Energy is the core of any economy and they decimated it. That's why I'm hopeful for the next 4 years at least in the US. I think Europe is in a downward spiral. It's why my BIL chose not to play another year in Europe. Everything is so expensive and taxes are through the roof over there. Fine you get holiday, but you're poor by all means.

WookieMan says

I'm in an argument with a Euro on FB about EV's.

You are wasting your time with socal2, you mean.

DOGEWontAmountToShit says

WookieMan says

I'm in an argument with a Euro on FB about EV's.

You are wasting your time with socal2, you mean.

I think he sees the light. EV users justify the purchase by cheap electric and fun driving. Those days are coming to an end for overpriced cars.

I like the looks of American and even foreign high end cars. I don't want to be in a car has that has no utility. Don't care how luxurious or fast. I want a car that if I hit someone they die and I can fit 6-7 people in it. And I can tow 2 bricks from the pyramids more than 50 miles. I want a lethal, useful care with milage more than that. No EV does that.

WookieMan says

EV users justify the purchase by cheap electric

No more 'cheap electric' as EVs are only viable as long as they are a niche segment of the market.

Don't buy German cars. Even the ones 'manufactured' in the US are mostly just assembled here with major parts (engines, trannies, etc.) imported from Europe.

All that is going away. Faster than ppl realize.

Amazing that Stellantis is more set up to whether the rapid deindustrialization of Europe & accelerating overall deglobalization than Volkswagon, BMW and Daimler are. But there you have it.

Not saying that Stellantis WILL do so. Just that they can, if their leadership is competent enough. They own plants and have car parts relationships via their Chrysler assets. Fiat was stupid not to avail itself to them fully, for example.

Stellantis is entirely fucked. I keep seeing long time Jeep afficionadoes turn on the company. Many Jeeps are fabricated in Italy, which is damned strange. Unless the subsidies and loopholes and abused tax breaks on both sides of the Atlantic are excessive.

It's always darkest before the Don, everything bad seems unsolvable.

But as another poster said today, the Worm turns. The pendulum swings. The Wheel of Boethius, etc. etc. etc.

Really, there's a huge opportunity for Wall Street to profit from financing Re-Industrialization. Restoring Industry will create opposition and competition between Finance and Production, which I think is a major cause of current problems.

Fuck Europe as I'm likely going there in the next year or two. Iceland Air partnered with Southwest. I don't know prices or the details fully, but yeah, the wife is going to drag my ass to Europe at some point.

Besides international fees the flight will be free for the fare so I guess that's a plus. Saves probably $3-4k for the family. Hopefully their planes are more comfortable. Plus I still get two free checked bags and carry on and under the seat bag. Need to see what cities it will be. I'd be okay with Spain, Portugal, Greece and that's about it. Maybe Austria in the winter to snowboard. Not interested in France, Italy or Germany (maybe Octoberfest with the push up bustiers boobie gals).

UK is a hell no. Iceland is a maybe. Don't know if they'll have routes to Poland in the network, but that would be intriguing.

Either way it's likely happening now and I'm not happy about it. I've never told the wife, but I really don't want to go to Europe and give them money. They kind of started two world wars. https://youtu.be/fIO0DesXpdo?si=MPpgfa2lHHkFKRAq One of my favorite Norm bits.

Way people in Denmark are happy riding bikes regardless of weather.

Well...

The cost of owning a car is higher in Denmark than in other European countries. Denmark is known for high vehicle registration costs which go up to 150% of the car’s market value, which makes the cost of car ownership go high. However, most people resort to buying used cars, which have also become costly because of the rising demand. The government is trying its best to discourage car use.