Hey there P.Robinson, I appreciate your imperial point of view, but it isn’t up to “us” to “give” Russia the Donbas. They are taking it - or, taking it back, one might say.
Trumpus Maximus has been back on Palatine for only a week now and has been making good on scores of campaign promises -unlike every other predecessor upon entering the Oval Office going back decades. It has been a wild week to observe.
As for stopping the horrors in the Ukraine/Novorussia, my personal analysis is that right now Trump can “get something” from Russia by slowly opening negotiations with the parties, whereas by just shutting down our Ukro proxies and stopping the conflict, little is to be gained from Russia. I expect the bluster dance to go on for a while.
Mr Bardi, here, west of the Atlantic, we see what looks like Western Europe trying to commit suicide in various ways (cultural, economic, energetic and by ardently inviting nuclear apocalypse).
From your observational point, what is the average Italian’s opinion on all the institution-derived vandalism? Is there any growth of organized action against the doom trends?
Some of us see the second age of Trump as a second attempt to throw an effective “monkey wrench” into the gears of an anti-citizen, anti-human system that, if it’s growth isn’t arrested, will crush we the 99% in its maw.
His election is our attempt (via a rigged system, sure) to stop the cycle of sunk cost (or Easter Island) investment. It holds the potential for a moment of institutional chaos in which changes in the direction of liberty becomes possible.
Sadly, the vast majority of us are too ignorant, insouciant and downright lazy to seize the movement, and the statists are incessant in their drive for power and its trappings, so this period probably is only a brief respite from the societal death cult drivers.
Zhou, I think there is no more an "average opinion" anywhere. From what I hear around me, a majority of people, here, will simply repeat verbatim what they heard in TV --e.g. "Putin must be stopped." Those who don't trust TV seem to perceive that there is a conscious or unconscious push toward suicide in Europe, but it seems impossible to focus zillion of different attitudes into an effective political action to stop the disaster. You can even say it, you will be ignored, but not erased. It just has no effect. You caught exactly my point when you said that Trump's election "holds the potential for a moment of institutional chaos in which changes in the direction of liberty becomes possible." Unfortunately, possible doesn't mean likely. And I am afraid that Mr. Trump wil fail badly. Very, very badly. But, who knows?
It is kind of you to reply thoughtfully, Mr Bardi. Thank you.
I suppose if I look at the percentage of the respective populations in our nations that resisted and defied the anti-human Covid authoritarianism, compared to the percentage that willfully and uncritically joined the (mass formation?) cult, I will despair for the chances of liberty prevailing.
However, however, it has been ages that the executive office has been occupied by leader. Is Trump a leader? He has the charismatic momentum, I’d argue, and he seems to have -this time- girded his administration with anti-vandal leaders.
Most of we the people have never experienced “leadership” from politicians. Mostly betrayal, I’d say.
The stage is open and ripe with potential, but the DC- localized phenomenon must become a movement filled with active citizens in order to create value, and I don’t see local political action groups forming nor being led in that direction.
Maybe we just have to accept this moment for the opportunity it allows us to enjoy some private sanity without having to defend our minds against the non-stop onslaught of pitched insanity endlessly being fired at our heads and aesthetic-oriented senses
Sorry that I misspelled your name as "Zhou" in my first message. Apart from that, maybe we can still enjoy the opportunity to maintain some sanity without being classed as "enemies of the people" and then shot or departed. I don't know for how long, and even this possibility seems to be lost among a wave of fanaticism engulfing everybody. I had appreciated the attitude of many people who correctly refused to join the Covidian cult, only to see them turning themselves into rabid haters of everything and anything that science says, just because it is "science." But this is the way our minds work -- we are all sensitive to what's called "anchoring." We judge complex questions by anchoring to a small facet of the problem. "Scientists cheated us with the coronavirus, hence we never landed on the moon" -- as simple and wrong as possible.
As Aurélien has often emphasised in these essays, the problem is not so much that the USA and Russia (or Trump and Putin) should reach an agreement in principle to end the war. It might be the easy part actually.
It will probably be some kind of armistice. In other words, the Russians will not accept a simple ceasefire that will freeze the combat lines and allow Ukrainians to rebuild an army. Russia will set conditions regarding the locations Ukrainian army will have to evacuate and the number of troops and kind of heavy weaponry it will be allowed to keep, etc.
Then the problem is more likely to be found on the ground, on the Ukrainian side, when it comes to finding people with the power and authority to put it into practice and that could be trusted by the Russians.
Then, it might well degenerate in some kind of civil war the way it happened in Ireland in the 1920s...
It amazes me to see intelligent, educated folks attempt to rationalize, make sense of, the productions of the mind of a 2yo. Strong in his high chair, with his wooden spoon pounding away for more pudding.
This post completely sidesteps the one thing that nobody can debate: Russian forces are in Ukraine causing the death and destruction. Whether the "West" is incompetent etc. seems to be beside the point. The Russian invasion, taken along with Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania's reluctance to enjoy the same thing points to prevention of further Russian expansion. Countries which have experienced Russian occupation seem to be reluctant to repeat the experience. Until Russians are back in Russia there isn't much that can be done differently. From the point the Russian dictator ordered the invasion and until it ends it appears the ugly course for war was set.
This is just the Western countries' point of view. Basically considering that the administrative limits of the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine the way they have been designed by the various communist dictators should be the actual international borders regardless of the will of the people living on either side...
So far, it didn't get us anywhere except more war and more destruction. And, sadly, it might well have been the whole point all along actually...
Proper info is a requirement which suggests not to dump retired workers but instead, if they want and are able, provide them with an active role for the benefit of all.
Somehow "the West" still has to learn that "winner takes all" can only end fatally. The "win-win" strategy is a better way to use human and natural resources. The most recent example of that is how China developed "DeepSeek", a public domain AI that rivals US commercial $$ models. And it's a lot cheaper too.
The last Westerner who understood "Asian mind" was the late psychologist C.G. Jung, who visited India abt a century ago, to finish the book "der Weg zum Selbst" by his friend, Indologist Heinrich Zimmer. Jung's conclusion was that "inner man" in India was dying. In the West, "inner man" was dead, long before that - with predictable consequences re moral and ethics, showing in politics just as well.
dear professor ugo bardi I know it is off topic but in the podcast from zero input agriculture you stated that we would collapse in less than a decade but can you by specific in years because I see the club of rome will present a book in Australia in Perth for weec 2026 and is you will by on 22 Septembre 2025 in Serbia I did see this in the events from the club of rome website ?
Hey there P.Robinson, I appreciate your imperial point of view, but it isn’t up to “us” to “give” Russia the Donbas. They are taking it - or, taking it back, one might say.
Trumpus Maximus has been back on Palatine for only a week now and has been making good on scores of campaign promises -unlike every other predecessor upon entering the Oval Office going back decades. It has been a wild week to observe.
As for stopping the horrors in the Ukraine/Novorussia, my personal analysis is that right now Trump can “get something” from Russia by slowly opening negotiations with the parties, whereas by just shutting down our Ukro proxies and stopping the conflict, little is to be gained from Russia. I expect the bluster dance to go on for a while.
Mr Bardi, here, west of the Atlantic, we see what looks like Western Europe trying to commit suicide in various ways (cultural, economic, energetic and by ardently inviting nuclear apocalypse).
From your observational point, what is the average Italian’s opinion on all the institution-derived vandalism? Is there any growth of organized action against the doom trends?
Some of us see the second age of Trump as a second attempt to throw an effective “monkey wrench” into the gears of an anti-citizen, anti-human system that, if it’s growth isn’t arrested, will crush we the 99% in its maw.
His election is our attempt (via a rigged system, sure) to stop the cycle of sunk cost (or Easter Island) investment. It holds the potential for a moment of institutional chaos in which changes in the direction of liberty becomes possible.
Sadly, the vast majority of us are too ignorant, insouciant and downright lazy to seize the movement, and the statists are incessant in their drive for power and its trappings, so this period probably is only a brief respite from the societal death cult drivers.
Zhou, I think there is no more an "average opinion" anywhere. From what I hear around me, a majority of people, here, will simply repeat verbatim what they heard in TV --e.g. "Putin must be stopped." Those who don't trust TV seem to perceive that there is a conscious or unconscious push toward suicide in Europe, but it seems impossible to focus zillion of different attitudes into an effective political action to stop the disaster. You can even say it, you will be ignored, but not erased. It just has no effect. You caught exactly my point when you said that Trump's election "holds the potential for a moment of institutional chaos in which changes in the direction of liberty becomes possible." Unfortunately, possible doesn't mean likely. And I am afraid that Mr. Trump wil fail badly. Very, very badly. But, who knows?
It is kind of you to reply thoughtfully, Mr Bardi. Thank you.
I suppose if I look at the percentage of the respective populations in our nations that resisted and defied the anti-human Covid authoritarianism, compared to the percentage that willfully and uncritically joined the (mass formation?) cult, I will despair for the chances of liberty prevailing.
However, however, it has been ages that the executive office has been occupied by leader. Is Trump a leader? He has the charismatic momentum, I’d argue, and he seems to have -this time- girded his administration with anti-vandal leaders.
Most of we the people have never experienced “leadership” from politicians. Mostly betrayal, I’d say.
The stage is open and ripe with potential, but the DC- localized phenomenon must become a movement filled with active citizens in order to create value, and I don’t see local political action groups forming nor being led in that direction.
Maybe we just have to accept this moment for the opportunity it allows us to enjoy some private sanity without having to defend our minds against the non-stop onslaught of pitched insanity endlessly being fired at our heads and aesthetic-oriented senses
Sorry that I misspelled your name as "Zhou" in my first message. Apart from that, maybe we can still enjoy the opportunity to maintain some sanity without being classed as "enemies of the people" and then shot or departed. I don't know for how long, and even this possibility seems to be lost among a wave of fanaticism engulfing everybody. I had appreciated the attitude of many people who correctly refused to join the Covidian cult, only to see them turning themselves into rabid haters of everything and anything that science says, just because it is "science." But this is the way our minds work -- we are all sensitive to what's called "anchoring." We judge complex questions by anchoring to a small facet of the problem. "Scientists cheated us with the coronavirus, hence we never landed on the moon" -- as simple and wrong as possible.
As Aurélien has often emphasised in these essays, the problem is not so much that the USA and Russia (or Trump and Putin) should reach an agreement in principle to end the war. It might be the easy part actually.
It will probably be some kind of armistice. In other words, the Russians will not accept a simple ceasefire that will freeze the combat lines and allow Ukrainians to rebuild an army. Russia will set conditions regarding the locations Ukrainian army will have to evacuate and the number of troops and kind of heavy weaponry it will be allowed to keep, etc.
Then the problem is more likely to be found on the ground, on the Ukrainian side, when it comes to finding people with the power and authority to put it into practice and that could be trusted by the Russians.
Then, it might well degenerate in some kind of civil war the way it happened in Ireland in the 1920s...
One of the great tragedies of our time. Those who invented it and made money and prestige on it should burn in hell at an especially high temperature.
What's the botton line here? Give Russia the Donbas and hope they don't ask for more?
Indeed, that would be "peace through appeasment", which history shows backfires in the long run.
It amazes me to see intelligent, educated folks attempt to rationalize, make sense of, the productions of the mind of a 2yo. Strong in his high chair, with his wooden spoon pounding away for more pudding.
This post completely sidesteps the one thing that nobody can debate: Russian forces are in Ukraine causing the death and destruction. Whether the "West" is incompetent etc. seems to be beside the point. The Russian invasion, taken along with Finland, Sweden, Poland, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania's reluctance to enjoy the same thing points to prevention of further Russian expansion. Countries which have experienced Russian occupation seem to be reluctant to repeat the experience. Until Russians are back in Russia there isn't much that can be done differently. From the point the Russian dictator ordered the invasion and until it ends it appears the ugly course for war was set.
This is just the Western countries' point of view. Basically considering that the administrative limits of the former Soviet Republic of Ukraine the way they have been designed by the various communist dictators should be the actual international borders regardless of the will of the people living on either side...
So far, it didn't get us anywhere except more war and more destruction. And, sadly, it might well have been the whole point all along actually...
🤡
Very well put, Michael
🤡
Trump was fed the wrong info on Russia by his "advisors", discussed in detail at
https://sonar21.com/is-trump-positioning-for-a-no-deal-with-russia-or-not/
Proper info is a requirement which suggests not to dump retired workers but instead, if they want and are able, provide them with an active role for the benefit of all.
Somehow "the West" still has to learn that "winner takes all" can only end fatally. The "win-win" strategy is a better way to use human and natural resources. The most recent example of that is how China developed "DeepSeek", a public domain AI that rivals US commercial $$ models. And it's a lot cheaper too.
https://www.unz.com/mwhitney/chinas-deepseek-bombshell-rocks-trumps-500b-ai-boondoggle/
The last Westerner who understood "Asian mind" was the late psychologist C.G. Jung, who visited India abt a century ago, to finish the book "der Weg zum Selbst" by his friend, Indologist Heinrich Zimmer. Jung's conclusion was that "inner man" in India was dying. In the West, "inner man" was dead, long before that - with predictable consequences re moral and ethics, showing in politics just as well.
There are profits to be made in peace, but they will largely be made by different oligarchs.
"Oligarch's Banquet" https://drjohnsblog.substack.com/p/oligarchs-banquet
Doomsday Clock updating tomorrow! Odds of it setting a record worse than 90 seconds to midnight? 100:1
We say in Italy "Il momento è catartico" -- it is a humorous way to say it is critical.
dear professor ugo bardi I know it is off topic but in the podcast from zero input agriculture you stated that we would collapse in less than a decade but can you by specific in years because I see the club of rome will present a book in Australia in Perth for weec 2026 and is you will by on 22 Septembre 2025 in Serbia I did see this in the events from the club of rome website ?