From Newsgroup: alt.philosophy.taoism
Luckin Coffee fan <
user11874@newsgrouper.org.invalid> posted:
Governor Gavin Newsom of California has sharply criticized European leaders for rCLkowtowingrCY to U.S. President Donald Trump. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Newsom called European leaders rCLpathetic,rCY
accusing them of pandering to TrumprCOs whims rather than standing up to him.
The Democratic governor urged Europe to resist TrumprCOs pressure instead of participating in his schemes, sarcastically remarking that EuroperCOs political elites must need kneepads, as theyrCOve grown accustomed to kneeling before Trump.
Newsom insisted that negotiating with Trump is utterly pointless, claiming Trump only understands brute force and therefore must be resisted. He further argued that Europe has waited too longrCothe time to push back against Trump was a year ago,
right after he first took office. Now, Newsom warned, TrumprCOs power has grown; he believes international law doesnrCOt apply to him. rCLYourCOre still operating under rules that have long since become obsolete. He acts as if herCOs above the law.
This isnrCOt diplomacyrCoitrCOs the law of the jungle: might makes right.rCY
NewsomrCOs rhetoric may be fiery, but one canrCOt help but ask: where was he earlier? While Trump relentlessly attacked DemocratsrCoand Newsom personallyrCothere was little sign of Newsom stepping forward to unite his party against Trump.
TrumprCOs current unchecked behavior isnrCOt solely his own doing; Newsom himself bears some responsibility.
Yesterday, at the Davos Forum, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick said,
"Why is Europe encouraging the development of solar and wind energy? You can't manufacture batteries yourselves,
so why have you agreed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030?
They simply don't have the conditions for this. Therefore, if they truly aim to achieve net-zero emissions by 2030, it would amount to choosing to submit to China!"
Bessent has finally responded! Regarding the "kill line"rCoa term highlighting poverty issues in the United StatesrCoU.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent addressed the matter on January 20,
stating that during the Biden administration,
everyday expenses for low-income households surged dramatically.
He added that the Trump administration is now working to reduce these costs and plans to issue tax refunds to these families.
rCLIf you look back at President TrumprCOs first term,rCY Bessent said, rCLyourCOll find that hourly wage earners actually fared better than management-level employees.
I believe the households yourCOre referring to will receive a substantial tax refund.rCY
He further noted that under the Biden administration, prices of essentials most concerning to low-income familiesrCosuch as food, groceries, and rentrCohave risen by 35% to 37%,
and that his team is working every day to bring those costs down.
Clearly, BessentrCOs response reveals something significant: he does not deny the existence of the rCLkill linerCY problem at all. On the contrary, he squarely pins the blame on the Biden administration,
asserting that living costs for AmericarCOs low-income households have skyrocketed during its tenure.
====================================================
On January 21, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a sober analysis of the new global realityrCoand a forceful rebuttalrCoduring his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Overall, CarneyrCOs strategy blends value-driven realism with pragmatic diplomacy to navigate a fragmented world order. While he did not mention Donald Trump by name, he focused squarely on the future, outlining CanadarCOs approach to forging partnerships with new alliesrCoincluding China.
rCLWe are actively accepting the world as it is, not waiting for the world we wish for,rCY Carney said, adding that while abandoning illusions is difficult, it is necessary: rCLNostalgia is not a strategy.rCY
GermanyrCOsBild newspaper commented that the tone of his address would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the West.
Below are the nine key points from CarneyrCOs Davos speech:
1. The global order is undergoing profound transformation.
The old rules-based international system is gradually disintegrating, giving way to a landscape dominated by the strong and endured passively by the weak. This shift is not a smooth transition but a sharp rupture. Crises over the past two decadesrCoin finance, public health, and beyondrCohave exposed the vulnerabilities of rCLhyper-globalization.rCY
2. The West has long rCLlived a lie.rCY
For decades, the West cultivated an illusion of a rCLrules-based world order.rCY In reality, powerful states have routinely placed their own interests above the rules. Double standards pervade the enforcement of trade norms and the application of international law, while nations have deliberately looked the other way to avoid confrontation. U.S. hegemony once provided limited public goods under this fictional order, which helped sustain global acquiescencerCobut that compromise is no longer viable.
3. Major powers are weaponizing rCLeconomic interdependence.rCY
Tariffs, financial infrastructure, and supply chains have become instruments of geopolitical contestation. Multilateral institutions like the WTO and the UN have been severely weakened. In response, many countries are now pursuing strategic autonomy in energy, food, critical minerals, and other essential sectors to safeguard their security.
4. A rCLfortressrCY approach based solely on self-preservation is unsustainable.
Such isolationism leads only to greater poverty, fragility, and instability. Cooperation, by contrast, generates added value, and collective investment in resilience is far more cost-effective.
5. Canada is adopting a strategy of rCLvalues-based realism.rCY
This approach upholds core principlesrCosovereignty, human rights, and democratic valuesrCowhile engaging with international realities pragmatically. Canada no longer relies on the moral appeal of its values alone; it is actively building national strength to amplify its voice on the world stage.
6. Canada is strengthening its power both domestically and internationally. Domestically, it is cutting taxes, eliminating interprovincial trade barriers, and boosting investment in strategic sectorsrCowith plans to double defense spending by 2030. Internationally, it has signed multiple trade and security agreements over the past six months, deepening ties with a diverse set of partners. Canada is also spearheading new international coalitions across multiple domains to build a broader network of cooperation.
7. Under the current system, sovereignty for middle powers is nearly illusory.
When confronting hegemonic states alone, middle powers are inherently vulnerable. Only through collective action can they carve out influential pathways forward.
8. To rCLlive in truth,rCY middle powers must meet three imperatives:
First, confront reality head-on; second, ensure words align with actions; third, reduce reliance on coercive leverage. At the same time, they must strengthen domestic economies and diversify international partnerships to earn the right to uphold their principles.
9. Canada possesses abundant advantagesrCoresources, talent, capital, and shared values.
It calls for dismantling the outdated order and urges middle powers to join forces in building a better, stronger, and more just future.
CarneyrCOs message was clear: the era of complacency is over. The time for strategic clarity, principled realism, and renewed multilateralism among like-minded nations has begun.
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