Recent posts

#61

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Josquius - July 08, 2026, 09:15:07 AM

Yes. I was always traditionally quite jealous of the Irish position.
It made a lot of sense for them to not bother with military spending - Britain was obviously not going to be invading and if anyone else did.... Well that would be a British problem too.

These days though with Russia stepping up it's dodgy tricks and the Irish economy being so reliant on undersea cables and the Internet.... It does make sense to shift a bit.

#62

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Sheilbh - July 08, 2026, 09:03:03 AM

In fairness the state has increased defence spending by a third - but it is from 0.2% so there's an awful lot of catching up to do.

I think as the new (ceremonial but elected) President's views show there is a fair degree of attachment to the idea of neutrality being constitutionally mandated even within a European context. That was the change the EU made to the Treaty of Lisbon on watering down mutual defence provisions after the Irish "no" in the referendum.

I think there is a degree of Ireland being secure so able to have a perhaps more idealistic stance (for a certain set of ideals).

#63

Off the Record / Re: Brexit and the waning days...

Last post by Sheilbh - July 08, 2026, 08:51:54 AM

Also worth noting that with that Farage can't back out. He has formally resigned as Clacton's MP.

#64

Off the Record / Re: Who will win the 2026 Worl...

Last post by mongers - July 08, 2026, 08:46:41 AM

I can honestly I hope the best team on the day wins.

#65

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Josquius - July 08, 2026, 08:46:07 AM

Ireland is on board with increasing spending right now though.
Really starkly stepping away from their traditionally neutral, if you want to play soldier go do it with the Brits who we will just hide behind if things get serious, position.
They've been facing a fair bit of threat from the Russians messing with cables et al.

#66

Off the Record / Re: What does a TRUMP presiden...

Last post by Valmy - July 08, 2026, 08:41:56 AM

I disagree on Spain. They have the lowest defence spending in NATO which is not going up - and their response to Trump is not to build up but to suggest their should be a European army and European defence. Which I think reveals exactly the challenge of that: some countries want it to shift who is paying for Europe's defence from the US to someone else but not themselves and it's because Spain is not and does not feel itself to be at risk, but is not willing to increase spending in order to better support Poland or the Baltics who do.

I think it is striking that the countries who are most willing to criticise Trump verbally like Spain or Ireland are also the ones least likely to be increasing their defence spending, while the countries who are increasing their defence spending and perceive a real threat like the Baltics and Poland and Germany are broadly trying to play down Trump.

Well that is a different issue.

#67

Off the Record / Re: Who will win the 2026 Worl...

Last post by HVC - July 08, 2026, 08:40:08 AM

Was it on here that I read the theory Brazil is dead and never coming back now they've moved into a pay to play academy direction?

Main thread. And necessarily dead, just not pretty.

Sheilbh blames protestants, which I can get on board with

#68

Off the Record / Re: Who will win the 2026 Worl...

Last post by Josquius - July 08, 2026, 08:39:00 AM

France are the only team that are particularly good right now.
The other traditionally decent teams are all at a low ebb.

Was it on here that I read the theory Brazil is dead and never coming back now they've moved into a pay to play academy direction?

#69

Off the Record / Re: Facebook Follies of Friend...

Last post by Valmy - July 08, 2026, 08:38:37 AM

It is about 99.9% luck; the surest route to wealth is to be born to wealthy parents in a wealthy country. I suppose then the question is to what extent do we wish to help exceedingly fortunate people even more?

Sure. Wealth on that level requires a ton of luck. A ton of it is simply gambling where your capital goes. Or, you know, be born to lucky people.

Theoretically higher skilled workers and wiser managers would receive higher compensation and it would be based on how useful you are. But that only really works in a competitive market.

#70

Off the Record / Re: World Cup 2026

Last post by Duque de Bragança - July 08, 2026, 08:25:33 AM

There are indeed quite a lot of conspiracies flying around about trying to make sure Ronaldo, Messi and the US stay in as long as possible 

Even at their best play I don't think they could beat Belgium. And they definitely weren't at their best from what I saw. Despite Sheilbh's enthusiasm US still has a ways to go. But they were getting more exciting and better every tournament   Shame Trump had to taint them.

As for Portugal, you can have different views on the Croatia goal but if FIFA wanted them to win there were some jersey tugs in the Spanish box

I think there it's less the Croatia goal and more Cristianos earlier suspension being removed.

Wrong example. Cristiano suspended for long would have helped the Selecção.