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User's avatar
Brien's avatar

They know what the hell they are doing.

It’s not about peak oil or peak global temperature or peak sea level

It’s about peak people.

The number picked decades ago was 8 Billion. It couldn’t go above that, or rather couldn’t be allowed to go above that. This was (and is) our planetary existential crisis. Everything gets easier, the operative synonym being Sustainable, when we get the world’s population down to where it belongs. The target number is no doubt arguable. Gates and Buffet have no doubt discussed it at length. Countless others. How many back room, or front room, Brie and claret clinking conversations(or arguments) have been held attempting to establish the grounds and logic for the right number? It appears to have settled in the range of 1 to 2 Billion.

But how to get there?

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pete's avatar

Its Reparations and authoritarianism gone full retardation.

Virtue signalling CEO's, celebrities, academia are with a movement aka Marxist.

First they came for the Jews, I was not a Jew.

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Vern's avatar

So what comes in a $110 breakfast Bill? A small silver or gold coin perhaps ?

Do tell. I am agog to know!

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𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐧's avatar

I would think that the strong dollar vs the euro would make a breakfast in Paris cheap. I guess I don't eat the fancy stuff for breakfast that Bill does. Post shredded wheat and a Bays english muffin spread with Kerrygold Irish butter and Bonne Maman French strawberry preserves.

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Dave J's avatar

I was just in Paris during July and I don't know how many people Bill was buying for, but the really nice cafes where we ate didn't crack $50 Euros for the most elaborate options for 2. The French aren't big breakfast eaters so the typical options were even less. Maybe Bill is a big tipper-lol.

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Hipolito Cuba's avatar

Reality always trumps B S. At some point the idiots in Europe and here will get it. No that won’t happen ……it is the reason they are idiots.

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Don Harrell's avatar

Don't misunderstand! I am not surprised by the intent of the woke. I am surprised that the people have not recognized what is going on. The "great reset" or whatever is evil beyond comprehension. Now, whether the people stand around and wait for it is another matter. Reminds me of a Roadrunner cartoon!! Just sayin'

Don Harrell

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Egypt Solomon's avatar

Blame it all on my roots....I showed up in boots.... ruined your black tie affair..Garth!

Front row seats! Germany! No Gas!

Europe flattens out like a race horse this winter! 😂

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𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐧's avatar

My two cents -- The quick and dirty fix will be for governments to freeze energy prices and beg (force?) the EU people to cut energy consumption as much as possible. Also, governments may impose a windfall profits tax on energy producers who have low energy production costs and thus will make very large profits (I totally disagree with this idea!). These actions will be very costly and disruptive, so they will only work for a short period of a few years. The long term fix is to eliminate restrictions and provide incentives to bring new energy sources on line as quickly as possible, even if fossil fuel. The Planet Savers will fight like hell, but they must not win this battle! Meanwhile, Putin's Russia must be made to pay dearly for cutting off the gas by continuing the sanctions and helping Ukraine defeat Russia! Things will continue to get uglier.

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Hi Mr. Baldwin. Great post until you hit the "Meanwhile" iceberg -

"Meanwhile, Putin's Russia must be made to pay dearly for cutting off the gas by continuing the sanctions and helping Ukraine defeat Russia!"

No evil Vlad, you do NOT get to choose to whom you will sell your natural resources. Do you honestly believe that Russia actually OWNS the fruits of their land? You must comply!!

Yes evil Vlad, we will continue the sanctions against your horrible, terrible, despicable country because we are ABSOLUTELY too ignorant and indoctrinated see the reality of the widespread and likely irreversible damage said sanctions are doing to our OWN economies and countries. In other words, we will continue drinking poison in the hopes that it soon kills you. We will continue to comply!!

Perhaps evil Vlad, the "Opposite Day" we have all fantasized about since kindergarten will finally arrive and play a YUUUGE part in helping Ukraine defeat Russia, even though so far you have been handing the Ukies their buttocks on a platter...

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Worm Farmer extraordinaire's avatar

Really? We get to weaponize the dollar but Putin has no right to his countries private property. Where do these people come from? Propaganda works!

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𝐓𝐢𝐦 𝐁𝐚𝐥𝐝𝐰𝐢𝐧's avatar

The only thing I want to add to PG V's excellent response to your comment is to point out that Russia waived the right "to choose to whom you will sell your natural resources" when they signed contracts with the EU countries to sell gas to them (how much, how long, and at what cost). As long as the EU countries fulfill their end of the contracts, Russia has no "right" to cut them off!

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Worm Farmer extraordinaire's avatar

They have every right. Sanctions are an act of war. The west did this.

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Rick's avatar

I have wondered since the BPR energy discussion back in Dec and your continued Europe energy coverage, what is the unintended , not fully known/seen consequence that will bring this problem more fully to the US (exclude CA). While we do not rely on Russia for gas what sequence of interconnected complexity will impact the US in a big way?

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rjt's avatar

I visited a small manufacturer today, Summit Log Homes. There was a breakdown in one of their major saw's motor, and the replacement which would previously been available in three days might arrive in three weeks.

BC Ferries has been having scheduling "issues" this summer with breakdowns and repair problems, and also with inability to fully crew vessels after dismissing employees who objected to Vaxx mandates. Our hospitals are even worse off as they were overburdened before the loss of staff with the coerced injections.

We have lots of electricity from gas and hydro.

If you extend my examples to the entire USA or North America, you might generate a prediction comparable to BPR's "Energy Stalingrad."

The second half of Ayn Rand's "Atlas Shrugged" gives a pretty good model- as I recall, the loss of the Minnesota grain harvest was a significant disaster.

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Jimm Roberts's avatar

Sounds like a recession is ordained, certainly in Europe. If more of everyone's paychecks are going to be dedicated to buying energy to stay warm and to prepare meals, then there will that much less to buy everything else

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CQWLNC's avatar

Excellent article on the jam the EU has put itself in and how the US and others are determined to follow

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Larry Brinneman's avatar

I am just a novice investor. Only good enough to be dangerous. I have a question. You are recommending the trade of the decade. I checked into some of the stocks in the portfolio. I have a fair amount of them individually as stocks. Would you recommend still purchasing XOP? Would a position in maybe BOIL, BPT or LPG make any sense as an addition? Stupid is as stupid does!!

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User's avatar
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Sep 10, 2022
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Larry Brinneman's avatar

Thank you

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Rich C's avatar

It's a controlled demolition.

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Jim Gibbons's avatar

$110 for breakfast! The whole Bonner clan must be there.

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Loic's avatar

Ironically, there are always solutions. Just that they’re not convenient. A possible nightmare, is that if sanctions were “now” pulled back - it could feed an unbelievable ego in mr P. and not achieve a thing (anymore)

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StarboardEdge's avatar

Ummmm, Mr. Loic -

If you can cite one or two things that the Western sanctions have done to verifiably and measurably cause ANY harm to befall Russia, I (for one) would LOVE to hear it. Well, besides the damage caused by the outright theft of Russian assets held in Western banks by those naïve, trusting Russians.

Yeah, take your time. I'll wait.

Like EVERYTHING lefties try, the sanctions have been a huge backfire and are currently providing precisely opposite outcomes than what the progtardes say they intended. Also being provided are the exact opposite outcomes than what they told us would be accomplished.

But who cares about results when the intentions are oh so noble, right? Now where did I put that Ukrainian lawn flag...

So tiresomely typical of what we get from the domestic enemies currently "leading" our once-great Nation. SS,DD on that score (Same Sh*t, Different Day...)

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Loic's avatar

I’m ok with what you’re saying. My point was similar: no major effect WITH sanctions, imagine what dismantling them will do, because I know I’d probably not let go that easily. After all, any pain felt by the west as a result of sanctions is self-inflicted. Russia did not attack any NATO ally, financially, indirectly or otherwise.

The West on the other hand directly engaged in a proxy war (official/vocal support for one belligerent followed by arms procurement and dispatch is pretty direct involvement), and backed this up by tough words (like “we will make Russia feel pain!”), and rough actions (like reserve confiscation, asset forfeiture and diplomatic/admin restrictions)...so no, Russia hasn’t yet attacked the west. It’s mostly self-inflicted so far.

And I’ll add this: when you (probably) have a sizeable ego and already in your seventies, and your major client announces they do not intend to buy what you produce in the future. And they further recently says they will put a cap on the maximum they will pay for your product... it’s almost a logical conclusion that you might stop supplying them. Maybe even prematurely to teach them a lesson. Smarter nations would have continued (at a faster pace perhaps) to diversify their fuel sources and develop green substitutes. It’s so obvious that you must think it’s done intentionally with an ulterior plan in mind.

If you want to be assured of supply to the end whilst creating viable and sustainable substitutes, why have your accounts Dept confiscate your supplier’s credit, issue him penalties, verbally threaten his operations, openly confirm your intention to stop using his product...what did they think would happen?!

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Don Harrell's avatar

I am speechless. The insanity! What can I add to your missive? What is there to prove?

Don Harrell

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Sep 9, 2022
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Worm Farmer extraordinaire's avatar

King Charles is a globalist piece of garbage. Your adoration for him and Jerome Powell is disturbing.

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Sep 9, 2022
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Kevin Leader's avatar

Dont hold your breath...

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Dave J's avatar

Your link fails to find the story on msn.com (it opens to the msn.com home page, but I'm not finding the story there.) However, I did find a story by that title on Newsweek.com. It's a fascinating development. It would appear that the fissures within Russia are growing wider and some of the things Ole' PG V has been calling for and predicting might just come to pass.

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