Trump in fighting mood

Curious that Trump wants to buy Canada, but doesn't want to buy Mexico. I wonder why that is. It could become the 54th state of the USA.

Maizie

“Businesses do this all the time when they get a loan from their bank. The bank 'creates' the money for the loan and the business spends it. There is no difference at all between the money that commercial banks 'create' when they make loans and the money the BoE creates' for government spending. It buys stuff... that's the whole point of it.”

The difference is that business make a profit or a surplus if you like, for decades the UK hasn’t done this it has just taken on additional loans to pay those that have expired.

The BoE could create money but Reeves has already stated that they aim to balance spending with income and only borrow for infrastructure investment. I expect them to stick to this plan for now, if a lot is borrowed/created for social spending, the finance markets will loose confidence and sterling will depreciate.

Others are fearing a recession, falling sterling could well trigger it

Whitewavemark2

MayBee70

Grantanow

Journalists need to find some real issues to write about and give less time to attention seekers like Musk, Trump and various Tory so-called leaders. Of course, it's easy for lazy hacks to write up cheap rhetoric rather than search for real news.

I agree about ignoring Musk. But we can’t ignore someone as powerful as Trump

We could afford to ignore him more if we were still members of the EU.

They at least have the economic heft to be able to stand up against Trump

So it's not ok for Russia to invade Ukraine but it is ok for the US to take Greenland?

The man and his advisor are idiots. I can't see Trump putting up with being told what to do with his sidekick for long or for Trump to keep his job for the full term.

MayBee70

Grantanow

Journalists need to find some real issues to write about and give less time to attention seekers like Musk, Trump and various Tory so-called leaders. Of course, it's easy for lazy hacks to write up cheap rhetoric rather than search for real news.

I agree about ignoring Musk. But we can’t ignore someone as powerful as Trump

We could afford to ignore him more if we were still members of the EU.

They at least have the economic heft to be able to stand up against Trump

Grantanow

Journalists need to find some real issues to write about and give less time to attention seekers like Musk, Trump and various Tory so-called leaders. Of course, it's easy for lazy hacks to write up cheap rhetoric rather than search for real news.

I agree about ignoring Musk. But we can’t ignore someone as powerful as Trump

Exactly Maizie, but that’s not the way Reeves intends to operate is it?

Barleyfields

I agree, Maizie. Reeves is coming dangerously close to having to either make cuts in public service expenditure or raise taxes (but which?) further, I think, if she continues to refuse to increase borrowing. Things will deteriorate further when the increased employers’ NI and minimum wage kick in in April. There have been warnings that the increased costs will be passed on to consumers, thus increasing the cost of living and inflation.

She's already making cuts, disguised, as usual ,as 'efficiency savings', 5% across the board in government departments.

I think there 'might' be a small boost once the pay awards given to some public sector employees have kicked in, but I really doubt if that is anywhere near enough to get the economy moving.

The government doesn't need to borrow anything, it just needs to spend a serious amount of money into the economy. The only thing it needs is for the Bank of England to create the money for it.

Businesses do this all the time when they get a loan from their bank. The bank 'creates' the money for the loan and the business spends it. There is no difference at all between the money that commercial banks 'create' when they make loans and the money the BoE creates' for government spending. It buys stuff... that's the whole point of it.

Is all hyperbole. All hell has already broken loose in Gaza, what else does he suggest, nukes??
The man is as unhinged as his advisor Musk.

All this is Trump bluster he wants a deal that suits him better,

I’m sure he is subsidizing Canada, he wants them to pay more, Canada has plenty of natural resources they can do that.

He wants control over Greenland so that when it gets exploited others cannot get in, eg China. He could take over tomorrow, Denmark isn’t going to declare war on him, he won’t, a deal will be done.

China has become very dominant in Panama that’s a risk to the US, Trump wants to reverse that, he definitely doesn’t want a war over the canal that could go badly wrong, all he has to do is pay Panama more than the Chinese do.

If he is successful persuading Israel to do a deal over hostages in Gaza and end the Ukraine war we will all feel safer and more optimistic of the future

He and Musk made sure that interference behind the scenes created division in the EU, and Brexit- to weaken their position. The UK is now particularly at risk, as trade deals are desperately required to replace the loss of EU market. Remember Brexit was sold as a sure road to very special and profitable deals with the USA which would more than compensate for the loss of EU ones.

We are in a very precarious and dangerous position.

I agree, Maizie. Reeves is coming dangerously close to having to either make cuts in public service expenditure or raise taxes (but which?) further, I think, if she continues to refuse to increase borrowing. Things will deteriorate further when the increased employers’ NI and minimum wage kick in in April. There have been warnings that the increased costs will be passed on to consumers, thus increasing the cost of living and inflation.

ronib

That’s cheered me up MaizieD for the Uk no signs at all of a government cut in spending so no recession? It’s not that simple surely?

I'm not quite sure what you're trying to say here, ronib.

I think the UK is not far off recession, too. Partly because of spending cuts (what do you think the WFA was all about?) and partly because of continued inflation driven by the Bank of England refusing to lower interest rates.

The reason Trump is threatening Canada.

Trump: Canada is subsidized to the tune of about $200 billion a year, plus other things. And they don't essentially have a military. They have a very small military. They rely on our military. It's all fine, but you know they gotta pay for that.

I’ve been waiting for the EU to warn Trump.

Good - they have.

That’s cheered me up MaizieD for the Uk no signs at all of a government cut in spending so no recession? It’s not that simple surely?

HousePlantQueen

Whitewavemark2

On the other hand, you could panic a tad and worry that Trump’s apparent expansionism is reminiscent of so much in history which has never ended well.

I agree. My daughter said this is reminiscent of the 1920s.

I think that what will prove to be reminiscent of the 1920s is the great stock market crash the US is working up to and a recession caused by cutting government spending.

Where the MAGAs will go once their god has let them down I'm not sure...

How does he intend to resolve matters over the hostages? Trump will hold a lot of power as regards Netanyahu because of the huge military aid budget.

Whitewavemark2

On the other hand, you could panic a tad and worry that Trump’s apparent expansionism is reminiscent of so much in history which has never ended well.

I agree. My daughter said this is reminiscent of the 1920s.

Ladyleftfieldlover

We’re talking about trump!

Yes I know you were fieldlover.

Journalists need to find some real issues to write about and give less time to attention seekers like Musk, Trump and various Tory so-called leaders. Of course, it's easy for lazy hacks to write up cheap rhetoric rather than search for real news.

Trump can call The Gulf of Mexico anything he likes, the rest of the world doesn't have to (and no doubt wouldn't) comply. He really can't control other countries to that extent, that fluff should be the least of anyone's worries. On the other hand threatening two NATO partners is worrying.

Oreo

Sarnia

Marydoll

You forgot to mention, absorbing Canada into the USA!!!

Oh yes, especially now Trudeau has resigned. No better time!

Such a bad time for Canada to be without a good leader!
We all hope it’s just rhetoric from Trump but can’t be sure he won’t back up his words with action on some things.🤬

So his pal Musk is saying that the UK is no longer a democracy but it’s ok for America to take over Canada? And Trump now says he’s going to rename The Gulf of Mexico The Gulf of America.

ronib

Trump is a businessman and the Uk has no investment appeal whatsoever. Trump does of course need to have an open Panama Canal and NATO is duty bound to protect Greenland. Trump seems to enjoy dishing out vague information for the journalists to fantasy spin. We don’t need to believe it.

Trump is an ext

MayBee70

I listened to part of his speech. Sounded like gobbledegook to me.I didn’t understand what he was rambling on about apart from being ‘the best at everything’. My partner says that, later on in his speech he was critical of Jimmy Carter. I’m glad I didn’t hear that bit .

What!

The man has taken leave of his senses.
Well, you know what I mean.

Trump is a businessman and the Uk has no investment appeal whatsoever. Trump does of course need to have an open Panama Canal and NATO is duty bound to protect Greenland. Trump seems to enjoy dishing out vague information for the journalists to fantasy spin. We don’t need to believe it.