Life intrudes. Catch up when able. Sorry.

So far as I am aware the only thing we buy from Argentina is "flathead".

Take a look at this from the Lowy Institute. It shows trade in terms of US vs China, from 2001 to the year before last.


(The bit about Chinese wisdom. The US didn't notice it was in a war until China had already won.)

Canada and Mexico are the only places left that have more trade with the US than China.

So who do they impose a tariffs on?

So far as I am aware the only thing we buy from Argentina is "flathead". — Banno

• And you find it necessary to use scare quotes for that?

∃E

You know what we import from Australia? Billabong merch.

And you find it necessary to use scare quotes for that? — Arcane Sandwich

Yep. Your lizardfish are a different, and less tasty, species to our flathead.

You know what we import from Australia? — Arcane Sandwich

Coal.

Yep. Your lizardfish are a different, and less tasty, species to our flathead. — Banno

Spoken like a True Australian.

You know what we import from Australia? — Arcane Sandwich

Coal. — Banno

For your Nuclear Power Plants of The Future?

So who do they impose a tariffs on? — Banno

Don't expect considered and informed economic policies out of the US for the next 3.7 years.

Lowy Institute's article didn't inform much new broadly but put it in a deeper economic context. Worth checking on them from time to time to validate general observable trends in numerous current affairs areas.

Who bankrolls the L Institute?....just the skeptic checking!

smile

(The bit about Chinese wisdom. — Banno

What can be said about the Chinese except they read their own (historical) writers? And apply in long term policies.

unsurprised smile

unsurprised smile — kazan

We really need more smileys here. I mean, you can type :S and it does nothing, but if you type : and the ), it turns into this :)

Snakes are a ground-slithering scum of a creature.

EDIT: On the other hand, some folks are in the habit of saying odd-sounding things such as "it's true because a bird told me about it."

Yeah mate? A snake told me a lot of things, that doesn't mean I have to believe what it told me.

We really need more smileys here. I mean, you can type :S and it does nothing, but if you type : and the ), it turns into this :) — Arcane Sandwich

Mmm. Duly noted.

Snakes are ground-slithering scum of a creature. — Arcane Sandwich

Any intended reference to ":S" ?

just wondering smile

@Banno et al,

Any thoughts on how or whether the German elections might influence the timing of and/or the run up shenanigans to Aus'. coming Fed elections?
The timing definitely not as much as the WA elections outcome and the RBA's decision on interest rates/ cost of borrowing money?

https://www.lowyinstitute.org/about/funding-support

@Banno,

Thanks.

It's a shame that political parties etc. don't adhere to the same attempt at financial source transparency. Might give politics a more attractive image.

Oh, but of course, that might mean more citizens would pay attention and get involved!

P.S, Any thoughts on German elections, or is that too much of a stretch? Some parallels like rise of right wing populism,race and migration issues, unmet economic expectations, decline of strong party politics.
Just reading your latest. Mind reading again....?

deadpan smile

New polling

The model estimates there is a 78 per cent chance of a hung parliament, and a 19 per cent chance of the Coalition winning a majority. — ABC News

I'm surprised it's that close.

The model estimates there is a 78 per cent chance of a hung parliament, and a 19 per cent chance of the Coalition winning a majority. — ABC News

Ok, bite, bite.
As in 78% is close to 100%, or that !9% is so close to 100%, in regards to what the two percentages each refer?
Too much overthinking or are you gauging reaction?

yeah, another curious smile

@Banno,

Does who did the "new polling" have an influence or was it an ABC News poll?
Which doesn't imply that the ABC is entirely free of bias, of course.
smile

It was a YouGov poll, not ABC.

https://au.yougov.com/elections/au/2025

MRP Methodology

Any intended reference to ":S" ?

just wondering smile — kazan

Doesn't matter. I found some smileys that I think you might like, here they are for the purpose copypasting them:

Useful smileys:

☺☹

Hey @kazan, check out this cool smiley that I just created in another Thread.



click on The Naughty (i.e., the purple devil) Smiley above, in this very comment, and you'll see the comment light-up and glow yellow :)

I'm a Smart Devil, ain't I? :naughty:

Click on the following fire icon, it will light up your screen. Well, the comment (this comment) part of it, at least. ;)

@Banno,

ACOSS has timed its revelations well to be "overwhelmed" by the more important news of the RBA's decision today.
Guess its Melbourne Cup rules with the run up to the elections... it's not how good your horse is, just how well you've ridden it and are placed in the last furlong.

Oh, thanks. Found it was YouGov polling reported on the ABC News channel.
Very proud of their "complex" MRP method of data collection, selection and interpretation, aren't they?.... mmm!
Statistics' most useful quality is achieving the required/predetermined outcome by a careful selection of the input data and an apparently logical but limited and carefully directed analysis of that data.... it has been said!
Of course, wouldn't suggest that is the case, in this case. That would be libel, wouldn't it?
Yeah, yeah, it's a highly reputable and generally accurate methodology, for sure.
But that was then, things have a habit of changing.

usual cynical smile

Looming ( but as yet, undeclared) election, extra 8 billion dollars for X over the next 4 years,opposition matches dollar for dollar + a little bit extra ( how much extra exactly, undeclared), the promises do flow from on high.

smiling at the predictability of it all

With the lead up to the (yet to be declared) Fed elections, are the major players/parties all playing the populist card or are they taking a gamble and hanging their petards to the right,center or left, "philosophically"?
Historically (last 50 years, at least), the Aust voter seems to generally favour the center it may be/has been suggested.
Does anyone have a view on whether the outcome of this election may be determined differently or not, and why?

Despite the "experts" leaning on the cost of living as the make or break of this election, that has been the prediction at many past elections and few policies of the major parties have a great distinction in this area, this time,..yes...no?

Just a thought teaser to stimulate!

non partisan smile

Energy policy and environmentalism are issues. The liberals are running for nuclear power. Trump’s election has cast doubt over climate change amelioration. Yes, cost of living is a perennial, but I think there’s cynicism that either side can really address that. There’s also the ‘incumbency’ factor which goes against whomever is in power.

All in all, too close to call, although I did notice some street-level campaign activity in my district today.

All in all, too close to call, although I did notice some street-level campaign activity in my district today. — Wayfarer

Agree with your extra issues and analysis and the "Incumbency" factor although, historically ( with some noticeable exceptions e.g. Qld' Campbell Newman one term), there is a "fair go" factor of at least two terms to make good election promises in the minds of Aust voters...to date.

"Campaign activity"... nothing here in rural NE Vic village, yet. But that doesn't mean much... The world could be on the verge of..... and the locals only talk about the weather while waiting to collect their mail which is not delivered within the 40-50 home, 100 person village.
A worry when the town holds one of the best attended Anzac Day each year in the local council area. Granted the average ( not mean) age is around 60-65 and the local primary school has been closed for two years because there was/is less than 6 children. Rust belt!

Keeping the flame alive smile

Didn’t realize you were posting from inside Australia!


Friendly compatriot smile

Mmmm! Try to be internationally even handed, but always see a bias which presume others see through.

smile

Presume, assume, deduct..... the fodder of philosophy?

smile