Will Biden sell out the Ukrainian people … or has he already
The Ukraine crisis has provided President Biden with one significant benefit. It has suffocated virtually all the news about the tragic conditions in Afghanistan due to his unilateral decision to surrender. It has limited media attention of the continuing humanitarian crisis at America’s southern border.
Unfortunately for Biden and the Democrats, however, the Ukraine situation is still all bad news. Whether Russian madman Vladimir Putin invades at this time or not – he wins. There will be concessions if he does not.
In his recent appearance before the press, Biden doubled down on his major blunders. He repeatedly – and with great emphasis – assured Putin that there will not be any American or NATO boots on the ground in Ukraine.
Even if there was some private decision to not engage militarily, a good negotiator would never, never, never take the military option off the table. With Biden broadcasting the fact that we will not support the Ukrainians in the most meaningful way possible, Putin is seeing the light at the border going from red to green.
In his remarks, Biden AGAIN intimated a difference between a limited incursion and an all-out invasion. No one in the press seemed to pick up on it – at least not immediately – but you can bet Putin did. Was it another gaffe, or is Biden willing to reduce the level of sanctions depending on the nature of the incursion?
So, what has Biden done to deter Putin? He talks and talks about some Draconian sanctions that will cripple Russia. So far, the sanctions threat has not slowed down the Russian build-up.
Biden has put 8500 American troops on alert. They MIGHT BE deployed to the western border of Ukraine to increase the protection for the NATO nations to the west of Ukraine. Biden will protect borders of nations that Putin is not threatening to invade – and would likely be blocked by Article Five of the NATO Charter that states that an attack on one is an attack on all.
Ukraine would not be the first time that the United States confronted Russia in a war – although both sides try to only kill the locals. President Reagan shot down Libyan fighter jets that were provided and often flown by Russian pilots – it was only circumstance that those downed plans were flown by Libyan pilots.
Not long after that incident, the Russian ambassador told me that the downing of the Libyan jets chilled the folks in the Kremlin because there was no way for Reagan to know if the jets were being flown by Libyan or Russian pilots – and he did not care. They realized that Reagan could not be taken lightly. That is the kind of strength that Biden lacks.
We also faced down Russia in Syria. First when Trump bombed the airstrip used by Russian planes and again when he refused to obey Russia’s orders not to fly over what they claimed to be their airspace. Again, America did not discount the use of the military. In fact, in Syria, American forces killed a number of Russian soldiers attacking American forces — without any losses on the American side.
It is stated that Putin only responds to force – or the credible threats of force. Saying the military actions is on the table does not mean that it will have to be used. It is often the best way to avoid conflict.
We should know soon if Putin intends to enter Ukraine – either to bite off another piece or to go for total takeover. If he does, it will be a clear indication that Biden’s policies have been an utter and tragic failure. And since we will have expended every non-military response, what next?
So, there ‘tis.
Larry’s itching for another war!
You must have some serious money riding on the military industrial complex.
The Fox News personalities sure seem to be siding with Daddy Vlad. Things that make you go “hmmmm”
Ben ,,, but you are the one siding with Tucker Carlson on the Ukraine. Hmmmm, You seem to be having an internal debate with the Larry Horist of your imagination again. This guy does not “itch for war” and I have no money invested in what you would call the military complex. I am not even a Wall Streeter like you. You mentioned your stock family’s investments periodically. And if I recall, you and Frank have money in defense stocks. The real Larry Horist, not into stock. You are starting to sound like one of those limousine liberals.
Dang Larry, I get that conservatives intentionally distort the facts to suit themselves, but come on.
Larry, you are a world famous economist, the next Charles Krauthammer and don’t invest in the stock market? You are doing something wrong.
I know that as you age, you tend to forget stuff more often… or is that just a selective memory you have? But I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt and tell you again. If you mention this again, I will know you have done so purposely, and not out of a one off comment. As I’ve explained before, I don’t own individual stocks, I use my Union’s 401k program and invest in a lifestyle fund. I really have no idea what it is invested in. But keep on Keeping on.
I didn’t realize that to be a progressive liberal you had to live below the poverty line. I am a civil servant, unlike you, I am not living in an Ivory tower sipping fancy wine with the global elite.
Now, back to the purpose of my original post. Hell NO, no more war! We have done nothing but waste treasure, life, and time over the last 60 years trying to “protect our interests”… I guess they meant the interests of the military industrial complex.
Even a blind squire finds a nut, tuck and comrades can be right in the thief anti war stance ( this time) and wrong about why they have that stance. As an anti war, progressive liberal, right now I don’t care so much as why they oppose war, just that they do.
Ben ,,, There you go again. Debating you mythical Larry Horist. Now that you reveal that you are a bureaucrat, I can safely say that you have made more money in your lifetime than I have… have a much more lucrative retirement program (none here outside of Social Security) … and are pretty well off. I am sure your net worth far exceeds mine. Damn .. i wish I was as well off as that mythical Larry Horist you have occupying your brain. And by the way … this Larry Horist has an exceptionally good memory. So sayeth my friends and the doctors. I would have mentioned it when you previously accused me of memory decline — but I forgot.
Well, that explains the economist resume checkbox, the yuge clients and staff. Not. Hopefully you spent all your money on family and friends. And, of course, you roll out yet another Republican, conservative, trope —- public sector makes more than private sector. And again, my response is —- is that their problem to make more compensation or do YOU have the problem of making less? Which is better, making more or making less? What, you say that if you make more, then capitalism in America will fail from the massive layoffs? WTF do you expect to do with the extra money? You’ve already indicated what you have done so far, you spend it….you have little left…you have no retirement package except SS (which is impossible to believe if you had any acumen in economics, I just have to believe you created your own retirement via savings and investment.)
But, for the record, one more time:
from an older study: Employees of state & local government earn an average of 11% and 12% less, respectively, than comparable private sector employees. An analysis spanning two decades shows the pay gap between public and private sector employees has widened in recent years.
Jobs in the public sector typically require more education than private sector positions. Thus, state and local employees are twice as likely to hold a college degree or higher as compared to private sector employees. Only 23% of private sector employees have completed college as compared to about 48% in the public sector.
Wages and salaries of state and local employees are lower than those for private sector employees with comparable earnings determinants such as education and work experience. State workers typically earn 11% less and local workers 12% less.
During the last 15 years, the pay gap has grown – earnings for state and local workers have generally declined relative to comparable private sector employees.
The pattern of declining relative earnings remains true in most of the large states examined in the study, although there does exist some state level variation.
Benefits make up a slightly larger share of compensation for the state and local sector. But even after accounting for the value of retirement, healthcare, and other benefits, state and local employees earn less than private sector counterparts. On average, total compensation is 6.8% lower for state employees and 7.4% lower for local employees than for comparable private sector employees.
https://www.nirsonline.org/reports/out-of-balance-comparing-public-and-private-sector-compensation-over-20-years/#:~:text=Comparing%20Public%20and%20Private%20Sector%20Compensation%20over%2020%20Years,-John%20Heywood&text=Employees%20of%20state%20%26%20local%20government,has%20widened%20in%20recent%20years.
This is an older study, concluding in 2010 and covering 20 years of BLS data.
However, since that study, the gap has narrowed. While bureaucrats tend to flatline more, private industry tends to rise and fall faster. Especially rise. So, the total compensation gap narrows, is practically non-existent with private having better salaries, less benefits. It takes a bit of sleuthing, but the 12/21 total comp numbers released day ago are I believe tables three and four, pages eight and nine.
12/21 BLS Study conclusions: “Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 1.0 percent, seasonally adjusted, for the 3-month period ending in December 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Wages and salaries increased 1.1 percent and benefit costs increased 0.9 percent from September 2021. (See
chart 1 and tables A, 1, 2, and 3.)
Compensation costs for civilian workers increased 4.0 percent for the 12-month period ending in
December 2021 and increased 2.5 percent in December 2020. Wages and salaries increased 4.5
percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2021 and increased 2.6 percent for the 12-month
period ending in December 2020. Benefit costs increased 2.8 percent over the year and increased 2.3
percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2020. (See chart 2 and tables A, 4, 8, and 12.)
Compensation costs for private industry workers increased 4.4 percent over the year. In December
2020, the increase was 2.6 percent. Wages and salaries increased 5.0 percent for the 12-month period
ending in December 2021 and increased 2.8 percent in December 2020. The cost of benefits increased
2.9 percent for the 12-month period ending in December 2021 and increased 2.1 percent in December
2020. Inflation-adjusted (constant dollar) private wages and salaries declined 1.9 percent for the 12
months ending December 2021. Inflation-adjusted benefit costs in the private sector declined 3.8
percent. (See charts 3, 4, and tables A, 5, 9, 12 and http://www.bls.gov/web/eci/eci-constant-real-dollar.pdf.)”
As you can see, private industry is a great place to join, just after the recession ends. During recession, not so much so…. But the truth remains that the biggest difference is total compensation where private gets more salary, less benefits, when compared with public. Which is why, old man, an economist would suggest that private industry employees really think about retirement, cuz you traded away yours for salary up front while the public sector said let’s get lower salaries, but take ours in benefits for the long run.
Or, Larry’s true mantra: live fast, die young, stay pretty….. Just kidding, but you were the one saying you’re retirement is social security — which any economist will tell you is not a full retirement package, or even a nest egg, it’s a safety net only.
Larry’s though that public enemies make more in total compensation: BUSTED
Larry depends only on Social Security for retirement (I truly hope this is busted)
Larry’s ability to check his facts BUSTED
I really hate the last one Larry, not for you, you’re pretty good, but for others who post before they look, trust and don’t verify. If you haven’t figured it out, Trump lies and by extension, many conservative tropes and lies have blossomed as Republicans discount facts, media, reports, on a regular basis JUST because the results renounce their paradigms so engrained and entrenched in their culture.
Boy, talk about painting pictures of people. You saying I’m a limousine liberal because I have a portfolio? The real question is, where is yours? You’re starting to sound like one of those redneck republicans, a cracker conservative… surprised you are vaccinated and not standing on a corner waiting for JFK Jr. to appear.
Larry, I am a second generation American, Nana told us stories of Ellis, the mines in Scranton, and then building her dream, her business. On the other side, we started on Whiskey Row, in your steel mills, naturalized but still not able to vote, by law. I was born in a city that Larry would be afraid to walk it’s streets, even in the light of day. Sure, parents gave me State School, thank you GI Bill and a Dad and Mom that lived by: “pay it forward.” Now, I am a business manager, a capitalist, and I have investments, does not make me a wall streeter, my education kills that notion right there.
Yes, I own a nice little defense mutual, still doing well. Is there something wrong with a liberal supporting defense? You gotta a problem with that? I support the medical industry in the same way, does not make me a voo doo hypocrite. Hell, I even support sin via some pot stocks —- via a tobacco giant —- that’s like two liberal strikes, right? Supported Pfizer before the vaccine, am I faster than Trump’s Warp Speed? And a little Kraft-Heinz because, well, let’s face it, they are the liberal business fountainhead (get it, rand and kerry in one thought, clever, eh).
My first limo was in my twenties to get to a client. The driver was three times my age, I was embarrassed. Once we got one of those 30 footers, running board lights, the works, to go to Puck’s Chinos Restaurant on Main in Santa Monica. Wow, that was cool. Until my boss rolled up in the car he brought out to CA for his daughter, a pos toyota that had seen one too many NJ winters…. That humbled us right there as he called us and the valet who looked like he didn’t want to get in…. took the limousine luster off this liberal right fast.
You know better than to stereotype people, putting your aspirations for them on them. You complain about people doing it to you all the time. Much less lumping ben and I together for your fantasy fun. If Ben and I put you and Joe together we would have someone so old than we would call you young: Don Young.
You mean things like wondering if you have more than two brain cells? Hmmmmm.
Teddy, you talking about Larry, right? Or the Fox tv personalities?
No, he means things like wondering if you have two balls? Hmmmmm. Doubtful.
Or two eyes but still can’t see…..
Or two legs but still can’t walk and chew gum at the same time……
Or two arms but still can’t catch a clue…..hmmmmmm….. my, this is fun.
Larry, why is your site so fucked up? A man of your stature should have a website that works.
Your Fox personalities may have arrived at the right conclusion for the wrong reason, but at least it’s not rooting for war. I’ll take it.
I am shocked you have no money invested in the military industrial complex. Larry, The legendary economist, The next Charles Krauthammer, doesn’t have ANY money invested in the most profitable sector in our economy? I don’t believe that for a second.
You know I’m a civil servant, so your limo liberal comment is absolute bullshit. , i didn’t realize you had to live below the poverty line to be a liberal progressive. Not all of us live in an ivory tower and hobnob with the global elites.
Now, I know you’re old as fuck and your memory gets a bit hazy, but I already explained that I’m in a lifestyle fund through my Unions 401k. I’ve never looked at the specific investments.
On this subject, I’ll agree with faux personalities and the presumptive Republican nominee for President, this is yet another war republicans are pushing us into and there’s NO reason for it.
Ben, I am sorry, but I have to push back on this one.
1. Larry has a site? He has little foresight, less insight. I think he is Joe’s site parasite looking for a campsite for his decomposite threads.
2. defense most profitable. Plainly you have not heard of Activision….Pfizer…..don’t you know the gaming industry in conclusion with the druggies funded Fauci to fund the Chinese to release a virus in their own country to get us. That’s common knowledge by the most common of people.
3. Charles Krauthammer died in 2018, you want Larry to be next? You know I don’t roll that way. Just kills me to say so. Look, now you went and did it again….
4. All servants should be civil, I’m with you on that one, although how you got a savings plan is…..
5. Larry is old as fuck? Nope, he has to be older than fuck. I mean, since when has fucking gotten old? Even if Larry can’t…..oh, never mind.
6. Hazy memory? Heck, his current thoughts are hazy. For Larry, if it isn’t on a meme, it’s not a memory….
7. Lifestyle Fund? You don’t know what’s it’s invested in? Come on, who’s the fool now? If having a “lifestyle fund” investment isn’t a limousine, leftist, californian, socialist, wall street warrior, looney liberal, what is? Does that “lifestyle fund” have a gender?
8. They can’t push dick in jello; nothing happens until putin happens and then what happens depends on what putin made happen and how that effects November 2022. Putin knows this, we are in election season now and most decisions will focus on that potential outcome. Sad but true. More true today than in yesteryear as yet another casualty of partisan politics trumping the rule of law that is supposed to govern our Republic. Leaders used to base decisions on best interests of all citizens they serve. Today, it’s what’s in it for me, for my next election, and to put me in a better position to gain more power, power, power.
Well, my push back couldn’t quite make a top ten.
But what do you think? “besides that, how did you like the play, Mrs. Lincoln?”
Frank … you have outdone yourself — and virtually everyone else who comments here — for the Academy Award of low-class, vulgar, irrelevant, childish ad hominin attacks that have notating to do with the subject matter. You have lost all credibility in your self-serving claims of intelligent communication. For your sake, I can only hope that this moronic screed was motivated by an excess of something you consumed. You will have to carry on by playing with your mythical Larry Horist — or amuse yourself in your favorite self-satisfying past time … intellectual masturbation. Done with you.