Politics

Calliban · 2025-12-03 00:58:00

A man has been jailed in the UK for 'possessing rightwing music'.
https://youtu.be/kKrBDsFBlxw

kbd512 · 2025-12-04 14:39:29

All the headlines say "40 months", but that's for each of his three convictions for government-unapproved music, to be served concurrently, so it's actually 10 years. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was only sentenced to 8 years in the gulag for his various criticisms of Stalin. 10 years for music that the British government finds distasteful is more punitive than criticizing the Soviet government's leader during his purges.

You Brits gave up your arms in the 1980s. Within a human lifetime you lost your freedom of speech. You will likely lose even more of your freedoms in fairly short order. Don't expect to get any of them back without a fight. That's how government works- all of them, to include our government here in America. It's always worked that way. Anyone who thought otherwise thought wrong.

GW Johnson · 2025-12-05 16:15:41

I dunno what "right wing music" is. Sounds rather contrived to me. Typical of what happens as extremists of one type or another take over your government or your political parties.

But I do know what both far-right and far-left extremism does: install dictatorships. Britain almost was destroyed by the far-right dictatorship of Nazi Germany. We helped them survive and together defeat Hitler. Everybody knows what Stalin did in his far-left dictatorship. All dictatorships are the same. Does not matter what they say or how they got there, it only matters what they do.

And I have noticed that some Brits and some Canadians (and some French and some Germans) have very most definitely noticed the dictatorship currently still being installed in the US. They've seen this crap in action before, we haven't (although the trend toward it was interrupted by the Pear Harbor attack). Its installation is not complete yet here in the US, but there is very little time left to oppose it. Unless you want to do armed revolution in the streets. I'd rather not: incredible amounts of mess to clean up afterward. But I will if I have to.

GW

RobertDyck · Yesterday 11:45:31

YouTube: 1 Minute Ago: Trump Explodes as Canada Redirects Aluminum Exports Away From the US | George Conway - 20 minutes, 20 seconds

An American speaking how Trump's policies backfired. America doesn't produce enough aluminum to fulfill their own needs. Attacking Canadian aluminum tried to protect American jobs at smelters, but for every job protect, it threatened dozens of jobs in American manufacturers. Trump assumed Canada would have to accept whatever penalties he imposed, but Canada didn't. Canada found new customers. Trump policies are like surgery with a chainsaw; you might hit the target but collateral damage is going to be catastrophic.

kbd512 · Yesterday 16:02:50

US aluminum prices are currently around $1.17-$1.30 per pound or over $2,900 per metric ton, reflecting recent increases due to tighter global supply, strong demand, and factors like Chinese production curbs and potential US rate cuts, though prices fluctuate daily based on LME benchmarks and regional premiums. Expect variations for different forms (scrap vs. primary) and markets, with ongoing tightness potentially keeping prices elevated.

As of late 2025, European aluminum prices are high, driven by supply concerns from smelter issues (Mozambique, Iceland) and high energy costs, with futures testing or exceeding $3,000/tonne, while physical duty-paid premiums have seen volatility, reflecting tighter supply and market panic, with a trend towards deficits.

China's aluminum prices are hovering around 21,800 - 22,000 RMB/ton for ingot in late 2025, showing slight daily fluctuations but generally stable or slightly increasing, driven by tightened supply from production caps and rebounding demand in construction/consumer goods, despite some short-term demand weakness, with futures and spot prices reflecting this tension between supply control and economic momentum, say Mysteel and CEIC Data, intratec.us

22,000 * 0.14RMB/USD = $3,080 USD

Aluminum prices are now nearly equalized, no matter where you shop for it, which incentives domestic production.

Edit:
All you have to do is check spot prices and futures in America, Canada, Europe, and China:

From Investing.com - Canada:
The current price of Aluminum futures is 2,959.50, with a previous close of 2,947.45.

When our leftists are finished with their lies, lectures, and tantrums, we really should have a chat about the future. You cannot BS your way through your entire life. At some point, reality is what it is. If this upsets you, that doesn't mean everyone and everything else is somehow wrong, it means your ideation is not reality-based.

Last edited by kbd512 (Yesterday 16:11:15)

RobertDyck · Yesterday 16:09:45

No matter how much Trump policies harm the United States, you will always support Trump. You have joined the cult.

Watch the video. The whole thing.

SpaceNut · Yesterday 16:10:14

The U.S. primarily relies on imported bauxite (aluminum ore) for its aluminum production, though small amounts are mined domestically for non-metal uses like abrasives and proppants in oil/gas drilling. Arkansas has historically been the main U.S. source, but mining for metal ceased years ago, with the nation now depending on imports from countries like Jamaica, Guinea, and Brazil for its refineries, mainly in Louisiana.
Key Points:
Primary Ore: Bauxite, a rock rich in aluminum hydroxides (gibbsite, boehmite, diaspore).
Domestic Mining: Limited; primarily for non-metallurgical uses like refractories or hydraulic fracturing proppants, not primary aluminum.
Main Source: Imports, with significant quantities coming from Jamaica, Guyana, China, and Australia.
Refining: U.S. alumina refineries are in Louisiana, converting imported bauxite into alumina for smelting.
Energy Intensive: Aluminum production is energy-intensive, making electricity costs a major factor in U.S. smelter operations.
U.S. Bauxite Resources:
Arkansas: Historically the largest domestic producer, but mining for metal stopped in the 1980s.
Other States: Small deposits exist in Alabama, Georgia, and other areas, but aren't major suppliers for metal production.
In essence, while the U.S. consumes and produces aluminum, it relies heavily on foreign sources for the raw bauxite ore.
Yes, the U.S. has bauxite, primarily in Arkansas, Alabama, and Georgia, but production is small and mostly for non-metallurgical uses like chemicals, abrasives, and proppants for fracking; the nation imports the vast majority of its metallurgical-grade bauxite for aluminum production from other countries like Jamaica, Guinea, and Brazil.
Key Details:
Domestic Production: Small amounts are mined in the Southeastern U.S., with Arkansas being the leading domestic producer, though not for primary aluminum metal in recent decades.
Uses: U.S. bauxite is used for chemicals, abrasives, cements, and hydraulic fracturing proppants, not as much for aluminum metal as in the past.
Imports: The U.S. relies heavily on imports for aluminum, with significant quantities of metallurgical bauxite coming from global suppliers.
History: Major U.S. bauxite mining for aluminum happened in the past, especially in Arkansas, but stopped in the 1980s for metal production.

Mean mining needs to increase within the US

kbd512 · Yesterday 16:24:17

RobertDyck,

President Trump lives rent-free in your head. It's Christmas Eve. Instead of focusing your attention and energy on friends and family, you're calling someone a cult member for pointing out the nature of current economic reality.

Be that as it may, have a Trumpy Christmas and a Trumpy New Year!

SpaceNut · Yesterday 17:20:25

The cost comparison between mining bauxite and importing it is complex and depends heavily on location, quality of the bauxite, and market conditions. Generally, mining bauxite can be cheaper than importing it, but only if significant domestic reserves and infrastructure are available.
Cost Breakdown: Mining vs. Importing
Mining Bauxite: Initial mining costs for high-volume producers can be low, sometimes under $30 per ton. However, this requires substantial initial investment in infrastructure, equipment, and compliance with environmental regulations.
Importing Bauxite: Import prices can fluctuate significantly based on global supply and demand, geopolitical factors, and freight costs. Recent (2024/2025) average import prices (free alongside ship, or f.a.s./FOB) in the U.S and China have ranged from approximately $30 to over $100 per ton, with prices recently peaking at $115–$130 per mt in early 2025 due to supply disruptions

Global Imported Bauxite Prices Remain Stable at $74/mt

So if you want lower costs you do not invest in capital equipment and fights against mining regulations.

kbd512 · Yesterday 18:14:44

We're clearly capable of mining our own bauxite, because we've done so in the past:

SpaceNut · Yesterday 18:22:41

Sudden drop just before 1990..

The global decline in bauxite mining in and around 1990 was primarily due to a stagnating demand for primary aluminum, which resulted in a worldwide oversupply of the metal and structural changes in the global market.
Specific factors contributing to the drop include:
Global Overcapacity: Additions to aluminum production capacity were larger than the increase in demand, leading to an oversupply that reduced prices and the need for new bauxite.
Increased Competition: Traditional producers, particularly in the Caribbean and the U.S., faced increased competition from other bauxite-endowed countries like Australia and Brazil, which had cost advantages.
Economic Transition in Eastern Europe: The dissolution of the Eastern Bloc and the war in former Yugoslavia seriously affected production in those regions, and the subsequent export of cheap aluminum from former USSR republics into Western markets contributed to the global glut.
Domestic U.S. Factors: In the United States, a significant reduction in domestic production in 1990 was attributed to the permanent closure of the last major bauxite mining operation in Arkansas. The U.S. became highly dependent on foreign bauxite sources, with most domestic output used for non-metallurgical products.
Operational Inefficiencies: Some countries, like Guyana, faced loss of market share due to un-competitiveness and inefficient management under state ownership

So the stagnation was due to importing being cheaper most likely.

Void · Yesterday 20:20:21

According to this video, the Orange Man cannot use the National Guard in sanctuary cities the way he was trying to.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4M9YbxGAqc
Quote:

The Supreme Court ACTUALLY DID IT.
MattMorseTV

Merry Christmas!

Last edited by Void (Yesterday 20:21:39)

kbd512 · Yesterday 20:50:57

Void,

According to the court ruling cited in the video, he can use active duty US Army personnel, but not the National Guard, unless the active duty component of the US Army is insufficient to enforce the law.

Edit:
If I understand this correctly, President Trump calling up the 82nd and 101st Airborne divisions to deal with these lunatics is perfectly acceptable.

Last edited by kbd512 (Yesterday 21:04:28)

kbd512 · Yesterday 21:27:24

I took a look at some macroeconomics indicators to see how America as a whole fared during 2025:

Canadian GDP Update - RBC Economics
Canada's GDP growth for 2025 is projected to be modest, around 1.2% to 1.4% on average, with a weaker Q4 expected after a strong Q3 rebound driven by trade, though factors like U.S. trade uncertainty and soft household spending temper projections, indicating a slowdown from earlier hopes.

I looked at the EU's economic figures and projections for 2025 as well, and while not as good as Canada, they're still growing, too.

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