gowlerk
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Everything posted by gowlerk
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We are not talking about your or my word. We are talking about how nations behave. Specifically about the USA vs Canada. While we most likely have among the very best relationships that exist between nations anywhere there is no shortage of agreements broken between us. Your word is not your nations word and neither is mine. In the history of defense cooperation between our nations Canada has always been there when the cause was just and we could get behind you. But we don't blindly follow your lead for very good reasons. Canada will increase its defense budget in the current climate, but not to the absurd levels of the US. I believe this rant came because you feel you would like to pay less taxes. Again, get your own house in order.
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Just like the trade agreements some nations are known to tear up at will.
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See, weasel words. Guideline, Defense Ministers agreement. Was it part of a treaty? Anyway, just like your nation ours is run by the government of the day. And just like you we sometimes ignore things like this when it is seen as being in our national interest. Do you need examples, because I'm pretty sure I can find many.
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I'm just confused now. And not fast enough on the edits.
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Whatever
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Cause of decline over time in annual fatalities per 100k jumps
gowlerk replied to JDBoston's topic in Safety and Training
There is also the fact that since skydiving is often seen as a little more tame these days many of the jumpers who want greater thrills, challenge, and risk will go onto BASE jumping. The BASE fatality list currently contains 423 entries, 238 of them in the ten year period of 2012 to 2021. Almost two dozen per year average. Nearly all of these people were also skydivers. At one time riskier behaviors happened at DZs and while not encouraged there was more tolerance. Now more people go to where there are few if any rules and everyone is even more individually able to decide on their own level of risk exposure. -
He made $4B or his holdings increased in value by $4B? I don't know about you, but when my stocks go up in value I don't pay any taxes on the increase. Only if I sell them at a profit.
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Realistically Canada meeting the 2% target (which I can not find anywhere that we agreed to do, although it may be so) would require a 50% increase in the defense budget. Unlike in the US the defense industry does not have its fingers in the till of the nation. The only way to spend that kind of money quickly would be to just hand it over to American defense corporations to dispense to their shareholders. Very unlikely.
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I am talking about the general push within NATO to get to 2%. You work your way down and maybe we'll work our way up. Again, it's not our fault that you overspend. The party which holds the balance of power in our Parliament has stated it opposes any move toward increasing defense spending. Neither of the parties in the US are willing to decrease spending. Sucks to be an American taxpayer I guess.
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We are working on the 2% thing. I'll bet you we get there before you do.
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So, what part of "America can only control its own spending, not its allies spending" are you having a hard time getting your head around? I said it once before in this thread, but clearly a repeat is needed. Get your own house in order. Make your argument where it needs to be made. At your politicians and your fellow citizens. America's errors are not the fault of others, they are yours to own and fix.
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That pretty much sums up the situation as I see it.
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Soon enough Joe will be complaining that Canada is not doing enough to defend the people of Taiwan.
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Yes, that is true. And also the fact that the large middle class must pay the bills of the nation because if not them, who?
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Did you ever stop to think that the reason China is spending more and that Russia spends so much is the threat they feel from the massive USA military? If the US spent less the nations that see the US as an adversary would as well. Have you ever heard of something called an "arms race"? The fact is you guys set the pace and make the rules. But not all the rules.
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That would be because you have failed at turning your income into something that is not earned. Jeff does not earn income. Instead he generates wealth. Wealth is not taxable.
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IDK, if wish were horses would beggars ride? That is too far down in the weeds for me.
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Canada is contributing both material and training to Ukraine and has been since before the war, although I am sure not on a scale that would satisfy you. We are sending far more than Ts and Ps. I am happy that the western world is supporting Ukraine including the US. I am happy that Canada is taking in many refugees from there although it does make me feel a little queasy that we were not so generous with some other refugees who are not so light skinned. At this time I am satisfied with the stated plan of our government to increase defense spending, but I question their sincerity.
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Well then back to basics if you insist. From my point of view the problem is not that we spend too little. The problem is that you spend too much. You keep using the inane metaphor of splitting a dinner bill evenly. But you want a filet and a fine merlot. We want a burger and a Coke. We don't want what you want and we don't want to pay for what you want. Do you get it now?
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Cause of decline over time in annual fatalities per 100k jumps
gowlerk replied to JDBoston's topic in Safety and Training
The same basic reasons for the decline in automobile deaths per mile. Better equipment especially AADs and RSLs led to an acceptance among jumpers of using them. I'm not sure better training is a huge factor, but it is one for sure. And a big one is a change in culture to one that does not easily accept jumpers who take excessive risks. -
They would also like to see the WMD gone from the equation.
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The world mostly wishes you would do that. The goal of every nation should be to spend as little as possible on military expenditures. Please start by dismantling your WMD, then lecture the rest of us.
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Perhaps you are misinterpreting my points. I fully understand what you are trying to say. America spends more of it's wealth proportionally on its military than its allies and particularly Canada does. My point is that the US has become a particularly militaristic nation that spends so much more than it needs to. It is your level of spending which is out of line, not Canada's. Every year at budget time the only thing your Congress can agree on is a hefty increase for the military. Get your own house in order before coming after everyone else. In the end the only national defense budget your nation can control is its own.
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But not need in the way that Zelensky needs a no fly zone and/or fresh fighter aircraft then. One man's need is another man's want.
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Define need. You are likely to remain disappointed. America and Canada and all nations have allies, not partners.
