shoebat--2020-11-25--Instead Of A ‘Baby Boom’, COVID Isolation With Couples May Generate A ‘Baby Bust’

What happens when men and women are left alone together for an extended period ?
Historically speaking under normal conditions , and barring strong moral or philosophical barriers that are clearly exercised in a consistent way , while one may not see what happens , the proof often comes about nine months later from the woman , which is the gestation time for a child to be born .
It does not matter what the race or place is , because in all cases the nature of man is the same .
It is of interest then that right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at home are not seeing the trend of a “ baby boom ” , but according to The Atlantic , the opposite , where a “ baby bust ” is taking place with dropping fertility rates .
y now , the pandemic has disrupted Americans ’ daily lives for nearly as long as a baby typically spends in the womb .
This means that many children conceived in mid-March are weeks away from joining us in this disorienting new world , but just as notable are the children who won ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ born were it not for the ongoing economic and public-health crises .
These missing births , which could end up numbering in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S. , will make up what ’ s been called the “ COVID baby bust.
” One would think that a baby bust would take at least nine months to reveal itself , but traces of one seem to have already appeared .
As Philip Cohen , a sociologist at the University of Maryland , has noted , births started to decline in California and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ d be too soon , though , to reflect a drop in conceptions during the pandemic , or a rise in abortions or miscarriages ( which tend to happen earlier on in pregnancy ) .
Three possible explanations , Cohen told me , are errors or lags in states ’ data on births , large numbers of pregnant people moving during the pandemic and giving birth in another state , or a large , unexpected drop-off in births that was already going to happen regardless of the pandemic .
( source ) This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There are numerous reasons for why this has happened .
However , it can be easily explained by a look at society , which is that the US truly is from all historical trends and empire in decline .
In the 1960s , scientist John Calhoun conducted the infamous “ mouse utopia experiment ” where he created a “ utopia ” for Norway rats , but found that with no purpose to struggle to live , eventually the rats turned against themselves and started to self-destruct .
While Calhoun ’ s experiment is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a positive conclusion that can be taken from it is that great societies do not die from the fault of others , or for a lack of something .
Rather , they die from their own internal behavioral choices that result in their destruction .
In the case of human beings , this would not seem to be material needs , but a lack of purpose and place in the world .
Right now , what does it mean to be an American ?
What does one hope to look forward to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one looks closely , but due to a never-ending expansion of laws , taxes , work that requires far more effort for far fewer wages with little to no stability , and living a life that is tenuous where one ’ s place is defined by one ’ s advancement in position that can seldom if ever hope to be attained with the fact that God is not believed in by many save for as an extension of oneself , many people see no purpose to life .
COVID has only exposed this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American of the modern era could placate himself with sensual pleasures , those being limited access to him by COVID have helped to expose the ugly reality of what has been taking place for a long time and what few want to discuss .
People do not want to children not because they are not having sex- there is plenty of energy being spent on pleasure .
What is not happening is reproduction , because people do not want to reproduce because for many , having children is an extension of themselves like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if one ’ s pleasures are limited right now , why have a child when knowing that children will limit one ’ s access to them further ?
It is fundamentally selfishness that is consuming the nation , just as those who yell about “ those Hispanics ” who cross illegally but have two to three children- a number still low by historical standards but higher than the average American -will also not have children themselves and then wonder why they are being demographically replaced with another group that has more children .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this trend , and even more than what their parents already did .
It is also not that these problems are unfixable .
They are very much able to be fixed , and it is as simple as living a normal life .
However , it is a sad thing to note that the abnormal has become normal , and what is normal in the objective sense is now , generally speaking , an abnormal thing .
Thus couples will stay together in their homes , they will engage in relations , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they do not want to have them .
Instead of living for the future , they are living for the day , and it is coming at the cost of the future .
This same problem exists in Europe , and even more so .
It is in both Western and Eastern Europe , and the only reason why there are not more problems openly showing in Eastern Europe is because of the lack of immigration , generally speaking , to those parts with the exception of Russia , but it is as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ away , and will be forcibly and in a very ugly way exposed .
Likewise , the solution to these problems are the same , which is to have faith in something greater than oneself and one ’ s own presence in this world , and also to express that through what one consumes and one ’ s family choices .
There is always hope , even for the US .
However , to fix the problems will require serious solutions that are very much able to be done .
The problem is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ themselves , and that is why from a trend viewpoint , the same problems will continue until they become much more serious and a fundamental change is forced by the circumstances themselves .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

What happens when men and women are left alone together for an extended period? Historically speaking under normal conditions, and barring strong moral or philosophical barriers that are clearly exercised in a consistent way, while one may not see what happens, the proof often comes about nine months later from the woman, which is the gestation time for a child to be born. It does not matter what the race or place is, because in all cases the nature of man is the same.
It is of interest then that right now, couples who are forced to stay at home are not seeing the trend of a “baby boom”, but according to The Atlantic, the opposite, where a “baby bust” is taking place with dropping fertility rates.
y now, the pandemic has disrupted Americans’ daily lives for nearly as long as a baby typically spends in the womb. This means that many children conceived in mid-March are weeks away from joining us in this disorienting new world, but just as notable are the children who won’t be joining us—the babies who would have been born were it not for the ongoing economic and public-health crises. These missing births, which could end up numbering in the hundreds of thousands in the U.S., will make up what’s been called the “COVID baby bust.” One would think that a baby bust would take at least nine months to reveal itself, but traces of one seem to have already appeared. As Philip Cohen, a sociologist at the University of Maryland, has noted, births started to decline in California and Florida during the summer. That’d be too soon, though, to reflect a drop in conceptions during the pandemic, or a rise in abortions or miscarriages (which tend to happen earlier on in pregnancy). Three possible explanations, Cohen told me, are errors or lags in states’ data on births, large numbers of pregnant people moving during the pandemic and giving birth in another state, or a large, unexpected drop-off in births that was already going to happen regardless of the pandemic. (source)
This is unfortunate but not a surprise. There are numerous reasons for why this has happened. However, it can be easily explained by a look at society, which is that the US truly is from all historical trends and empire in decline.
In the 1960s, scientist John Calhoun conducted the infamous “mouse utopia experiment” where he created a “utopia” for Norway rats, but found that with no purpose to struggle to live, eventually the rats turned against themselves and started to self-destruct. While Calhoun’s experiment is sometimes use to advocate for eugenic policies, a positive conclusion that can be taken from it is that great societies do not die from the fault of others, or for a lack of something. Rather, they die from their own internal behavioral choices that result in their destruction. In the case of human beings, this would not seem to be material needs, but a lack of purpose and place in the world.
Right now, what does it mean to be an American? What does one hope to look forward to? Indeed there is much hope if one looks closely, but due to a never-ending expansion of laws, taxes, work that requires far more effort for far fewer wages with little to no stability, and living a life that is tenuous where one’s place is defined by one’s advancement in position that can seldom if ever hope to be attained with the fact that God is not believed in by many save for as an extension of oneself, many people see no purpose to life. COVID has only exposed this, for while the restaurant-eating, entertainment-consuming American of the modern era could placate himself with sensual pleasures, those being limited access to him by COVID have helped to expose the ugly reality of what has been taking place for a long time and what few want to discuss.
People do not want to children not because they are not having sex- there is plenty of energy being spent on pleasure. What is not happening is reproduction, because people do not want to reproduce because for many, having children is an extension of themselves like what they learned from previous generations, if one’s pleasures are limited right now, why have a child when knowing that children will limit one’s access to them further?
It is fundamentally selfishness that is consuming the nation, just as those who yell about “those Hispanics” who cross illegally but have two to three children- a number still low by historical standards but higher than the average American -will also not have children themselves and then wonder why they are being demographically replaced with another group that has more children. The Millennials and Zoomers are only continuing this trend, and even more than what their parents already did.
It is also not that these problems are unfixable. They are very much able to be fixed, and it is as simple as living a normal life. However, it is a sad thing to note that the abnormal has become normal, and what is normal in the objective sense is now, generally speaking, an abnormal thing.
Thus couples will stay together in their homes, they will engage in relations, but they will not have children, because they do not want to have them. Instead of living for the future, they are living for the day, and it is coming at the cost of the future.
This same problem exists in Europe, and even more so. It is in both Western and Eastern Europe, and the only reason why there are not more problems openly showing in Eastern Europe is because of the lack of immigration, generally speaking, to those parts with the exception of Russia, but it is as just as serious and is not going away, and will be forcibly and in a very ugly way exposed. Likewise, the solution to these problems are the same, which is to have faith in something greater than oneself and one’s own presence in this world, and also to express that through what one consumes and one’s family choices.
There is always hope, even for the US. However, to fix the problems will require serious solutions that are very much able to be done. The problem is that men do not want to avail themselves, and that is why from a trend viewpoint, the same problems will continue until they become much more serious and a fundamental change is forced by the circumstances themselves.
print


shoebat--2020-11-25--France Backs Armenia With Vote On Resolution To Declare Artsakh A Republic

Just as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was finishing with Azerbaijan and by extension Turkey the victors , and as Russian troops pour into Armenia and now as “ peacekeepers ” in Nagorno-Karabakh , the French have decided to kick a hornet ’ s nest ( proverbially speaking ) by voting a resolution to , in a historical fist recognize Artsakh , which is a part of Azerbaijan that includes Nagorno-Karabakh , as an independent republic , making it the first country other than Armenia to do so .
The French Senate voted 305 to 1 to adopt a resolution , calling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by France .
The resolution was authored by Senators Bruno Retailleau , Patrick Kanner , Hervé Marseille , Éliane Assassi , Guillaume Gontard .
The voting was preceded by nearly two hours of debate .
The resolution condemns the military aggression of Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh , emphasizing that Azerbaijan has been supported by the Turkish authorities i.a .
through the involvement of jihadist mercenaries and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the territories occupied after 27 September , 2020 .
-call for providing massive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nagorno Karabakh -call for conducting an international investigation into the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan in particular against the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh including the use of weapons prohibited by the international law -call for an appropriate and firm response to Turkey for its role in this conflict -call for action from the French Government to do everything in its power to ensure that negotiations for a lasting resolution of the conflict resume under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group -emphasize that the negotiations should address the restoration of the borders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security of the Armenian populations and the right of return of displaced persons and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage .
The resolution underlines that the security and freedom of the Armenian populations of Artsakh are not guaranteed under the Azerbaijani control , which is i.a .
attested in the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe ( ECRI ) and of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination ( CERD ) .
( source ) This is not being done out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people in Artsakh or Armenia .
It has nothing to do with religion .
This is some serious geopolitical chess taking place .
The Armenians lost the war , and Azerbaijan ’ s victory means that Turkey gains power in the area and takes control of that region through Azerbaijan .
Shoebat.com has reported how this move is economically and geographically isolating and surrounding Armenia , and given the current railroad plans , there appears to be a chance Turkey could try to force building a railroad through Armenia to connect the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Azerbaijan , which would not be the main reason , but the expansion of Turkish power and eventually , a possible annexation of Armenia .
Russia interrupted this for now by sending ‘ peacekeepers ’ to Nagorno-Karabakh and troops to Armenia , which Turkey has angrily responded by saying that she wants to send ‘ peacekeepers ’ to Nagorno-Karabakh .
Nagorno-Karabakh is one part of Artsakh , which is a breakaway republic recognized only by Armenia .
The rest of the world says she belongs to Azerbaijan .
The fact that France @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying that a large part of Azerbaijan- including the area they just won in the war with Armenia -is actually a separate country apart from Azerbaijan , meaning that Azerbaijan should lose more territory from this vote than what she gained from the war .
The biggest potential loser here is Turkey , who if more in the world recognized Artsakh as independent , means that Turkey ’ s power moves in the region have been checked by outside influence .
Of course , given what is taking place , there may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Franco-Ottoman alliance as well as the Franco-Russian alliance are both real things , and it may be that France is trying to play off both of the Russians and the Turks at the same time , which would not be a surprise .
In the case of the French , given the attempts that Turkey is making to rise again as a new Ottoman Empire and the potential threat it has for French interests around the world , France may be trying to interrupt this process and ‘ check ’ Turkey while still @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If this is true , it should not be a surprise that France suspended weapons sales to Turkey in 2019 and then began selling weapons to other eastern Mediterranean nations in 2020 .
This also includes Turkey ’ s claim that other nations , including Russia , have been selling weapons to Armenia as a part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict .
In this case , it is an ideal situation for France to make money in , but more importantly , it is about checking the power of a rising Turkey .
America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1776 , and was an English colony since the early 1600s , with large parts in the south and west controlled by France and Spain .
For all of that time and before , the French , Spanish , and other European nations were in heavy wars for centuries against the Ottomans , and they know how dangerous Turkey can be .
She may be a useful and important tool against the Russians , but she also can not be trusted given her history of imperialism and directly threatening Europe herself .
NATO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the USSR , and it worked .
However , like all monsters , it is out of its cage now , and one can wonder if French policy here is a European attempt to ‘ reign in ’ control of that monster again using the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to do this .
However , no matter what happened , the current trend of a rising Turkey is an extremely dangerous prospect , for if history is a guide to the past , she will attempt to do the same as before with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , computers and contemporary weaponry to commit the same acts on the basis of the same reasoning to their full end .
This resolution is not about Armenia , Artsakh , Azerbaijan , or Nagorno-Karabakh .
It has all the historical patterns that suggest France is looking out for French interests long-term , and is using the political situation in that nation to do this .
However , it remains to be seen if it will actually be successful , or if it will only embolden Turkey ’ s worst impulses to repeat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Armenia .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

Just as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was finishing with Azerbaijan and by extension Turkey the victors, and as Russian troops pour into Armenia and now as “peacekeepers” in Nagorno-Karabakh, the French have decided to kick a hornet’s nest (proverbially speaking) by voting a resolution to, in a historical fist recognize Artsakh, which is a part of Azerbaijan that includes Nagorno-Karabakh, as an independent republic, making it the first country other than Armenia to do so.
The French Senate voted 305 to 1 to adopt a resolution, calling for recognition of the Republics of Artsakh by France. The resolution was authored by Senators Bruno Retailleau, Patrick Kanner, Hervé Marseille, Éliane Assassi, Guillaume Gontard. The voting was preceded by nearly two hours of debate. The resolution condemns the military aggression of Azerbaijan against the people of Nagorno Karabakh, emphasizing that Azerbaijan has been supported by the Turkish authorities i.a. through the involvement of jihadist mercenaries and calls for the immediate withdrawal of the Azerbaijani armed forces from the territories occupied after 27 September, 2020. The French Senators also: -call for providing massive humanitarian aid to the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh -call for conducting an international investigation into the war crimes committed by Azerbaijan in particular against the civilian population of Nagorno Karabakh including the use of weapons prohibited by the international law -call for an appropriate and firm response to Turkey for its role in this conflict -call for action from the French Government to do everything in its power to ensure that negotiations for a lasting resolution of the conflict resume under the auspices of the OSCE Minsk Group -emphasize that the negotiations should address the restoration of the borders defined in 1994 as well as the security of the Armenian populations and the right of return of displaced persons and the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious heritage. The resolution underlines that the security and freedom of the Armenian populations of Artsakh are not guaranteed under the Azerbaijani control, which is i.a. attested in the reports of the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance of the Council of Europe (ECRI) and of the UN Committee for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). (source)
This is not being done out of any sort of good will to the people in Artsakh or Armenia. It has nothing to do with religion. This is some serious geopolitical chess taking place.
The Armenians lost the war, and Azerbaijan’s victory means that Turkey gains power in the area and takes control of that region through Azerbaijan. Shoebat.com has reported how this move is economically and geographically isolating and surrounding Armenia, and given the current railroad plans, there appears to be a chance Turkey could try to force building a railroad through Armenia to connect the Azeri exclaves of Nakhchivan with the rest of Azerbaijan, which would not be the main reason, but the expansion of Turkish power and eventually, a possible annexation of Armenia. Russia interrupted this for now by sending ‘peacekeepers’ to Nagorno-Karabakh and troops to Armenia, which Turkey has angrily responded by saying that she wants to send ‘peacekeepers’ to Nagorno-Karabakh.
Nagorno-Karabakh is one part of Artsakh, which is a breakaway republic recognized only by Armenia. The rest of the world says she belongs to Azerbaijan. The fact that France voted to support Armenia means they are saying that a large part of Azerbaijan- including the area they just won in the war with Armenia -is actually a separate country apart from Azerbaijan, meaning that Azerbaijan should lose more territory from this vote than what she gained from the war.
The biggest potential loser here is Turkey, who if more in the world recognized Artsakh as independent, means that Turkey’s power moves in the region have been checked by outside influence.
Of course, given what is taking place, there may be a lot more going on. The Franco-Ottoman alliance as well as the Franco-Russian alliance are both real things, and it may be that France is trying to play off both of the Russians and the Turks at the same time, which would not be a surprise. In the case of the French, given the attempts that Turkey is making to rise again as a new Ottoman Empire and the potential threat it has for French interests around the world, France may be trying to interrupt this process and ‘check’ Turkey while still using her for her own interests. If this is true, it should not be a surprise that France suspended weapons sales to Turkey in 2019 and then began selling weapons to other eastern Mediterranean nations in 2020. This also includes Turkey’s claim that other nations, including Russia, have been selling weapons to Armenia as a part of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In this case, it is an ideal situation for France to make money in, but more importantly, it is about checking the power of a rising Turkey. America has only existed as a nation since 1776, and was an English colony since the early 1600s, with large parts in the south and west controlled by France and Spain. For all of that time and before, the French, Spanish, and other European nations were in heavy wars for centuries against the Ottomans, and they know how dangerous Turkey can be. She may be a useful and important tool against the Russians, but she also cannot be trusted given her history of imperialism and directly threatening Europe herself.
NATO made a monster to fight the communists in the USSR, and it worked. However, like all monsters, it is out of its cage now, and one can wonder if French policy here is a European attempt to ‘reign in’ control of that monster again using the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict to do this. However, no matter what happened, the current trend of a rising Turkey is an extremely dangerous prospect, for if history is a guide to the past, she will attempt to do the same as before with the same brutality except now having artificial intelligence, computers and contemporary weaponry to commit the same acts on the basis of the same reasoning to their full end.
This resolution is not about Armenia, Artsakh, Azerbaijan, or Nagorno-Karabakh. It has all the historical patterns that suggest France is looking out for French interests long-term, and is using the political situation in that nation to do this. However, it remains to be seen if it will actually be successful, or if it will only embolden Turkey’s worst impulses to repeat what she tried to do last century to Armenia.
.
print


shoebat--2020-11-25--Food Bank Report: 25% Of Rhode Islanders Cannot Meet Food Needs

America is one of the largest , if not the largest food producer nation on Earth .
Now the US is not like China , where a “ food crisis ” can mean not eating McDonalds or one ’ s preferred food , whereas in the latter a pork shortage means that people really do go hungry .
However , no matter where one goes , food instability is a serious issue because people have to eat , and if they can ’ t eat , serious problems happen .
According to the Providence Journal , local food banks are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 25 % of Rhode Islanders now are forced to use their services because they can not meet basic food needs .
Thanksgiving guest lists must be pared down to household members in hopes of stopping COVID-19 before it steals Christmas , but most families will still load the holiday table with abundance .
They ’ re likely to focus on who ’ s missing from the table , not whether there ’ s enough food .
And yet an increasing number do worry about food .
The pandemic that has taken almost 1,300 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into food insecurity at a rate not seen since the Great Depression .
In 2019 , the number reporting food insecurity was 9.1 % .
This year , 25 % said they were unable to provide enough food for themselves and their families .
The numbers are part of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank ’ s “ 2020 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island , ” being released at a virtual news conference at 10 a.m. Monday .
So many people sought help from the 159 agencies distributing food that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 30 % more food in 2020 than the 13.8 million pounds it supplied in 2019 , the report said .
People in lower-paying jobs are often among the first to get laid off .
Those left jobless and hungry by the pandemic are more susceptible to being infected by coronavirus , the report shows .
The more people who need food , said Andrew Schiff , the food bank ’ s chief executive officer , the fewer there are to donate food .
Businesses that have to stay closed have no money coming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make donations , either .
Every month , 68,000 people rely on the food bank , Schiff said .
That ’ s up from 53,000 last year .
Andrew Schiff , the R.I. Community Food Bank chief executive officer , says “ the largest new population , people who have been laid off because of COVID-19 , ” are further learning that the jobs “ are never going to come back .
Those families are in real trouble .
They ’ re struggling to pay rent , pay the heating bill , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CARES ( Coronavirus Aid , Relief , and Economic Security ) Act , passed by Congress in March , gave extra financial assistance to laid-off workers , adding $ 600 per week to their unemployment insurance compensation .
These supplemental benefits ended in July , even though the economic downturn is expected to last far into 2021 , the report says .
“ I don ’ t think we ’ re going to get through this unless Congress approves another COVID-19 relief bill , ” Schiff said .
( source ) Claims such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1930s during the Great Depression .
Arguably , right now the US is living through a Greater Depression , as the country has been economically eviscerated due to financialization and debt driving down the value of the money itself , and when this is combined with then fact that many jobs are going away and not returning and people do not have a real way out to make money , it becomes much harder for them to provide for basic needs .
This creates a self-fulfilling cycle that spirals downward into more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was or may have been doing well into poverty , let alone those who already are on the ‘ edge ’ of society and just fall into worse poverty than before .
Right now , millions of Americans are looking at losing their homes come January of next year because of the economic fallout from COVID .
After all , if one has trouble buying food , how does one pay the mortgage ?
It is not really possible for all practical purposes , and this does not even consider issues such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or phone bills .
This is part of the trend of COVID and its effects .
It is not about the disease so much as it is about the effects of the disease that it will have for the long-term on others , of which as I have consistently said , the economic problems are going to be the greatest because of the unsolvable debt issues save for drastic measures , and with that more of the same patterns will continue that will likely cause a trend of increasing poverty and desperation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gen X , not so much .
Millennials and Zoomers ?
Their future is going to be very difficult , and it is their frustrations at the economic situation that , as it is a historically constant trend , leads to serious political problems that can result in men seeking drastic solutions , and those generally do not end well for anybody , as this is the historical formula for how revolutions , no matter where the society is , takes place .
What is happening in Rhode Island is not a particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reflection of a national trend that is affecting all states , and even nations , and one ignores it only at one ’ s peril .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

America is one of the largest, if not the largest food producer nation on Earth. Now the US is not like China, where a “food crisis” can mean not eating McDonalds or one’s preferred food, whereas in the latter a pork shortage means that people really do go hungry. However, no matter where one goes, food instability is a serious issue because people have to eat, and if they can’t eat, serious problems happen.
According to the Providence Journal, local food banks are reporting that they are overwhelmed, and 25% of Rhode Islanders now are forced to use their services because they cannot meet basic food needs.
Thanksgiving guest lists must be pared down to household members in hopes of stopping COVID-19 before it steals Christmas, but most families will still load the holiday table with abundance. They’re likely to focus on who’s missing from the table, not whether there’s enough food. And yet an increasing number do worry about food. The pandemic that has taken almost 1,300 Rhode Island lives has also plunged people into food insecurity at a rate not seen since the Great Depression. In 2019, the number reporting food insecurity was 9.1%. This year, 25% said they were unable to provide enough food for themselves and their families. The numbers are part of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank’s “2020 Status Report on Hunger in Rhode Island,” being released at a virtual news conference at 10 a.m. Monday. So many people sought help from the 159 agencies distributing food that the food bank’s network sent out 30% more food in 2020 than the 13.8 million pounds it supplied in 2019, the report said. People in lower-paying jobs are often among the first to get laid off. Those left jobless and hungry by the pandemic are more susceptible to being infected by coronavirus, the report shows. The more people who need food, said Andrew Schiff, the food bank’s chief executive officer, the fewer there are to donate food. Businesses that have to stay closed have no money coming in, and they can’t make donations, either. Every month, 68,000 people rely on the food bank, Schiff said. That’s up from 53,000 last year. Andrew Schiff, the R.I. Community Food Bank chief executive officer, says “the largest new population, people who have been laid off because of COVID-19,” are further learning that the jobs “are never going to come back. Those families are in real trouble. They’re struggling to pay rent, pay the heating bill, and they run out of food.” … The CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act, passed by Congress in March, gave extra financial assistance to laid-off workers, adding $600 per week to their unemployment insurance compensation. These supplemental benefits ended in July, even though the economic downturn is expected to last far into 2021, the report says. “I don’t think we’re going to get through this unless Congress approves another COVID-19 relief bill,” Schiff said. (source)
Claims such as this have not been made since the 1930s during the Great Depression. Arguably, right now the US is living through a Greater Depression, as the country has been economically eviscerated due to financialization and debt driving down the value of the money itself, and when this is combined with then fact that many jobs are going away and not returning and people do not have a real way out to make money, it becomes much harder for them to provide for basic needs. This creates a self-fulfilling cycle that spirals downward into more problems that eventually place a man who was or may have been doing well into poverty, let alone those who already are on the ‘edge’ of society and just fall into worse poverty than before.
Right now, millions of Americans are looking at losing their homes come January of next year because of the economic fallout from COVID. After all, if one has trouble buying food, how does one pay the mortgage? It is not really possible for all practical purposes, and this does not even consider issues such as paying the electric, water, gas, or phone bills.
This is part of the trend of COVID and its effects. It is not about the disease so much as it is about the effects of the disease that it will have for the long-term on others, of which as I have consistently said, the economic problems are going to be the greatest because of the unsolvable debt issues save for drastic measures, and with that more of the same patterns will continue that will likely cause a trend of increasing poverty and desperation.
The Boomers largely will be OK. Gen X, not so much. Millennials and Zoomers? Their future is going to be very difficult, and it is their frustrations at the economic situation that, as it is a historically constant trend, leads to serious political problems that can result in men seeking drastic solutions, and those generally do not end well for anybody, as this is the historical formula for how revolutions, no matter where the society is, takes place.
What is happening in Rhode Island is not a particular trend to that state. It is a reflection of a national trend that is affecting all states, and even nations, and one ignores it only at one’s peril.
print


shoebat--2020-11-25--Zoomers Don’t Seem To Care About Sports

Zoomers Don’t Seem To Care About Sports

I enjoy sports , but for the most part , I prefer to play them rather than watch them , and for those I want to watch , usually they are smaller or more interesting matches .
Even large-scale competitions I can enjoy , but simply for the sport itself .
However , I am wholly lacking in any interest in the “ bravado ” that surrounds the contemporary American association with sport , where people wearing silly foam fingers and eating overpriced mass-produced food with clothes to match their “ team ” shout loudly and talk for hours about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of contemporary substitution for religious worship , where the object of adoration is not God , but is a man throwing a ball into a tiny space with the help of other men .
It ’ s not I ’ m against sports- it ’ s the industry that has built up around it to efficiently extract money from people ’ s wallets that is so large and what turn a small game into a theatrical production .
However , according to the Washington Post , as a trend to be watched with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Boomer , Gen X , and sometimes Millennial interest in sports is being lost on a majority of Millennial and most importantly , the Zoomers , whose lack of interest threatens a billion-dollar industry .
The bulky and bankable U.S. sports industry , built on towers of cash and lucrative television contracts , is confronting a Generation Z problem .
The nation ’ s youngest cohort is fundamentally different from the generations that preceded it .
Having grown up with smartphones in their pockets , its members eschew traditional television-viewing and subscribe to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ generation of sports fans a challenge .
That challenge is being met with a sense of urgency in some corners of the sports world and a sense of alarm in others , according to interviews with team and league officials , social scientists , research analysts and marketing specialists who focus on Generation Z .
Failing to hook young people might not devastate today ’ s bottom line , but it threatens to muddle the future of every league , every team and every sport .
“ If you lose a generation , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Ted Leonsis , principal owner of Washington-based teams that compete in the NBA , WNBA and NHL .
“ It ’ s what some of the big sports leagues are nervous about .
Could we lose a generation because we didn ’ t give them access and the products and services they want ?
” While many have embraced digital platforms , leagues and teams were slow to tailor their offerings to the youngest generation , even as research made clear that Gen Z members – loosely defined as those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world much differently than millennials , Gen Xers and baby boomers .
And these habits have taken a toll on the way they engage in sports , research shows .
According to ESPN ’ s internal data , some 96 % of 12- to 17-year-olds still identify as sports fans , a consistent figure over the past decade .
But the share of fans who call themselves “ avid ” has been dropping , from 42 % a decade ago to 34 % last year .
( source ) This trend is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true that some Millennials and the Zoomer generation as a whole has difficult communicating and forming interpersonal relationships , that marriage and family life is on the significant decline , and that people overall prefer solitary pursuits away from people that are not necessarily directly to a greater end , with video games being the most significant “ change ” in this regard .
In other words , there seems to be a trend that Zoomers are more interested in watching a video game competition between “ professional gamer ” than they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an actual sport competition .
After all , who wants to spend mountains of money on something that is questionably enjoyable , when one can get what one wants in the privacy of one ’ s home while being able to enjoy oneself at the same time ?
This trend is essentially the same model that OnlyFans is built on and what has made it successful , providing the same content ( and usually a lot less ) in a personalized way in more privacy than before , except this is the sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It will be interesting to watch , but what one may see in the future is a decline in sports as an ‘ industry ’ ( it is unlikely to go away fully , but just contract from the overinflated monster is still is ) and see the rise of ‘ gaming ’ as a new form of sport along with possibly other forms of yet-to-be developed virtual technologies .
Personally , it would seem that the better option is not to avoid sports , but to play them on a local , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ level for love of the sport but without the needless money-grabbing ‘ show ’ that commonly precedes them .
Even better , try playing sports in a local community , for while it is not a trend , given the move towards “ tribalism ” and “ regionalism ” taking place , instead of using violence against each other , it would be worthy to see that sports , which as a trend have been used to control violence and distract people by governments across history , could provide entertainment and a healthy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used for once again .
What should never be forgotten is that life is not lived through sports or in the virtual world , but with and through other people , and what is meant to entertain can never become an excuse for creating a parallel reality to live in so that one might disconnect himself from his fellow man or to such a way that he forgets his duties to himself , family , and society , and instead becomes an isolated being sealed in the walls of a chamber made by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

I enjoy sports, but for the most part, I prefer to play them rather than watch them, and for those I want to watch, usually they are smaller or more interesting matches. Even large-scale competitions I can enjoy, but simply for the sport itself. However, I am wholly lacking in any interest in the “bravado” that surrounds the contemporary American association with sport, where people wearing silly foam fingers and eating overpriced mass-produced food with clothes to match their “team” shout loudly and talk for hours about “their team” in a sort of contemporary substitution for religious worship, where the object of adoration is not God, but is a man throwing a ball into a tiny space with the help of other men.
It’s not I’m against sports- it’s the industry that has built up around it to efficiently extract money from people’s wallets that is so large and what turn a small game into a theatrical production. However, according to the Washington Post, as a trend to be watched with the passing of the generations, the Boomer, Gen X, and sometimes Millennial interest in sports is being lost on a majority of Millennial and most importantly, the Zoomers, whose lack of interest threatens a billion-dollar industry.
The bulky and bankable U.S. sports industry, built on towers of cash and lucrative television contracts, is confronting a Generation Z problem. The nation’s youngest cohort is fundamentally different from the generations that preceded it. Having grown up with smartphones in their pockets, its members eschew traditional television-viewing and subscribe to digital habits that make grooming a new generation of sports fans a challenge. That challenge is being met with a sense of urgency in some corners of the sports world and a sense of alarm in others, according to interviews with team and league officials, social scientists, research analysts and marketing specialists who focus on Generation Z. Failing to hook young people might not devastate today’s bottom line, but it threatens to muddle the future of every league, every team and every sport. “If you lose a generation, it destroys value and the connective tissue,” said Ted Leonsis, principal owner of Washington-based teams that compete in the NBA, WNBA and NHL. “It’s what some of the big sports leagues are nervous about. Could we lose a generation because we didn’t give them access and the products and services they want?” While many have embraced digital platforms, leagues and teams were slow to tailor their offerings to the youngest generation, even as research made clear that Gen Z members – loosely defined as those born after 1996 – interact with the world much differently than millennials, Gen Xers and baby boomers. And these habits have taken a toll on the way they engage in sports, research shows. According to ESPN’s internal data, some 96% of 12- to 17-year-olds still identify as sports fans, a consistent figure over the past decade. But the share of fans who call themselves “avid” has been dropping, from 42% a decade ago to 34% last year. (source)
This trend is not necessarily a bad thing. It is true that some Millennials and the Zoomer generation as a whole has difficult communicating and forming interpersonal relationships, that marriage and family life is on the significant decline, and that people overall prefer solitary pursuits away from people that are not necessarily directly to a greater end, with video games being the most significant “change” in this regard. In other words, there seems to be a trend that Zoomers are more interested in watching a video game competition between “professional gamer” than they are, as it seems, in watching an actual sport competition. After all, who wants to spend mountains of money on something that is questionably enjoyable, when one can get what one wants in the privacy of one’s home while being able to enjoy oneself at the same time? This trend is essentially the same model that OnlyFans is built on and what has made it successful, providing the same content (and usually a lot less) in a personalized way in more privacy than before, except this is the sports version of the similar upcoming trend.
It will be interesting to watch, but what one may see in the future is a decline in sports as an ‘industry’ (it is unlikely to go away fully, but just contract from the overinflated monster is still is) and see the rise of ‘gaming’ as a new form of sport along with possibly other forms of yet-to-be developed virtual technologies.
Personally, it would seem that the better option is not to avoid sports, but to play them on a local, regional, or even national and international level for love of the sport but without the needless money-grabbing ‘show’ that commonly precedes them. Even better, try playing sports in a local community, for while it is not a trend, given the move towards “tribalism” and “regionalism” taking place, instead of using violence against each other, it would be worthy to see that sports, which as a trend have been used to control violence and distract people by governments across history, could provide entertainment and a healthy physical outlets in what they originally were used for once again.
What should never be forgotten is that life is not lived through sports or in the virtual world, but with and through other people, and what is meant to entertain can never become an excuse for creating a parallel reality to live in so that one might disconnect himself from his fellow man or to such a way that he forgets his duties to himself, family, and society, and instead becomes an isolated being sealed in the walls of a chamber made by his own hands.
print


shoebat--2020-11-25--German Researchers Developed Hydrogen-Powered Engines To Replace Diesel Engines

Some forms of energy are well-established .
Two such examples of this are petroleum products ( oil and gas ) and coal ( technically related to petroleum products , but in a different form ) .
However , there are new science trends that promise potentially new items .
One of these is the use of low-grade nuclear chambers using lower-toxicity materials such as thorium .
Another one according to CNN that German researchers have announced as a possible trend for the future to watch is hydrogen , which based on new engine developments may be able to replace certain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Germany ’ s rail operator Deutsche Bahn have announced plans to test a hydrogen-powered train with a range of more than 370 miles , technology that promises to reduce CO2 emissions and help make 1,300 diesel units obsolete .
The companies said in a joint statement that tests of a train equipped with a new hydrogen drive will commence in 2024 and run for one year .
The two-car train will have a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour ( 99.4 miles per hour ) and it can be recharged in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is called the Mireo Plus H , will run between three cities in the German state of Baden-Württemberg , replacing a conventional diesel-powered unit running on the route .
The new hydrogen drive will save around 330 tons of CO2 a year , the companies said .
“ Hydrogen drives are an advanced , emission-free form of propulsion that will help decarbonize rail transport and make a significant contribution toward achieving our climate targets , ” Siemens ( SIEGY ) Mobility CEO Michael Peter said in a statement .
Deutsche Bahn operates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and roughly 40 % of its 33,000 kilometer ( 20,500 mile ) rail network has not yet been electrified -— meaning trains can ’ t run using overhead power lines .
The company plans to eliminate diesel trains from its network by 2050 .
( source ) Hydrogen has been used by Germans before as a power source .
The notorious Hindenburg disaster in New Jersey is probably the most famous example of this , but it does not rule out at all hydrogen as a possible energy source , and given @ @ @ @ @ @ @ imagine if it is much safer to use .
What we can take from this is that when people say that a technology has reached its apex , it almost always is not the case , and that a new development is potentially in development or at a very close hand to becoming a new and likely common reality .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

Some forms of energy are well-established. Two such examples of this are petroleum products (oil and gas) and coal (technically related to petroleum products, but in a different form). However, there are new science trends that promise potentially new items. One of these is the use of low-grade nuclear chambers using lower-toxicity materials such as thorium. Another one according to CNN that German researchers have announced as a possible trend for the future to watch is hydrogen, which based on new engine developments may be able to replace certain diesel engines in the future.
Siemens and Germany’s rail operator Deutsche Bahn have announced plans to test a hydrogen-powered train with a range of more than 370 miles, technology that promises to reduce CO2 emissions and help make 1,300 diesel units obsolete. The companies said in a joint statement that tests of a train equipped with a new hydrogen drive will commence in 2024 and run for one year. The two-car train will have a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour (99.4 miles per hour) and it can be recharged in just 15 minutes. The train, which is called the Mireo Plus H, will run between three cities in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, replacing a conventional diesel-powered unit running on the route. The new hydrogen drive will save around 330 tons of CO2 a year, the companies said. “Hydrogen drives are an advanced, emission-free form of propulsion that will help decarbonize rail transport and make a significant contribution toward achieving our climate targets,” Siemens (SIEGY) Mobility CEO Michael Peter said in a statement. Deutsche Bahn operates around 1,300 diesel trains in regional service, and roughly 40% of its 33,000 kilometer (20,500 mile) rail network has not yet been electrified -— meaning trains can’t run using overhead power lines. The company plans to eliminate diesel trains from its network by 2050. (source)
Hydrogen has been used by Germans before as a power source. The notorious Hindenburg disaster in New Jersey is probably the most famous example of this, but it does not rule out at all hydrogen as a possible energy source, and given new technological developments, one can only imagine if it is much safer to use.
What we can take from this is that when people say that a technology has reached its apex, it almost always is not the case, and that a new development is potentially in development or at a very close hand to becoming a new and likely common reality.
print


shoebat--2020-11-25--Armenian Doctor Who Survived The War Between Christian Armenians And Muslim Azerbaijanis Describes T

Armenian Doctor Who Survived The War Between Christian Armenians And Muslim Azerbaijanis Describes The Horrors Of Islamic Attacks On The Christian Population: ‘People Were Running Into The Hospital Missing Body Parts. There Was Nothing We Could Do. Muslim Soldiers Were Taking Christians And Dismembering Them And Filming It.”

The horrors of the very recent Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenians and Azeris is still being revealed to the world .
@ @ @ @ @ slaughter of people through cruel dismemberment , the attack on churches — all of these @ @ @ @ @ .
We spoke Nare Sargsyan , a doctor who works in the region ’ s @ @ @ @ @ to tell us about the horrors that occurred :

By Theodore Shoebat
The horrors of the very recent Nagorno-Karabakh war between Armenians and Azeris is still being revealed to the world. Bombings of civilians, the slaughter of people through cruel dismemberment, the attack on churches — all of these things happened in this conflict. We spoke Nare Sargsyan, a doctor who works in the region’s capital city of Stepanakert, to tell us about the horrors that occurred:
print


shoebat--2020-11-26--Thanksgiving 2020 Is Almost 10% More Expensive Than In 2019, And Being Thankful Now And In The Futur

Thanksgiving 2020 Is Almost 10% More Expensive Than In 2019, And Being Thankful Now And In The Future

Turkey is tasty and cranberries delicious , but higher prices are not .
If you believe that things seem more expensive this Thanksgiving than last year , you would be correct , for according to a price analysis conducted by AdvisorSmith , the price of Thanksgiving foods from 2019 to 2020 has increased by 9.8 % , or almost 10 % over a period of one year .
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching , Americans around the country are preparing their menus for the traditional holiday .
This year , Thanksgiving celebrations may be a bit different given the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smaller family gatherings with fewer people and potentially less holiday travel .
Additionally , the pandemic has led to some disruption in food supply chains , as some food supply workers have been sickened with the virus .
AdvisorSmith examined a basket of staple foods from the Thanksgiving table to understand how these trends have affected the pricing of the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner .
We compared recent prices for common Thanksgiving foods in October and November compared with the previous year at both retail and wholesale , as reported by the Bureau @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Agriculture to find the change in the cost of a basket of Thanksgiving foods .
AdvisorSmith found that a basket of Thanksgiving foods costs approximately 9.8 % more in 2020 when compared to Thanksgiving of 2019 .
The foods included in our analysis were turkey , vegetables , and baking & bread .
Vegetables included were potatoes , cranberries , squash , sweet potatoes , corn , green beans , and pumpkin .
Baking and bread products included flour , white bread , milk , eggs , and butter .
( source @ @ @ @ @ @ @ food has increased , and it is true that as a trend , the price of food is becoming more expensive ( evidenced by not merely price increases , but the fact that food package sizes are decreasing in spite of prices remaining the same , which is a covert form of price change ) , one can be thankful that one is living in the US , which is arguably the largest food producer in the world and as such is not subject to the same sudden political shocks that can and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A price increase in turkey or chicken may be painful and one can not buy the ingredients for that pie that one wants to make , but a pork price increase in China or a wheat price increase in Saudi Arabia may mean the difference between eating today and actual hunger tomorrow .
However , this does not mean that price increases can not happen , or that one should not be prepared .
To that , one may also want to remember that the purpose of Thanksgiving is not to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or just to eat turkey and certain culturally-acceptable foods for the day , for while the former is vanity and the latter is certainly a good thing , the essence of Thanksgiving is to be thankful for what one has and to enjoy it with one ’ s family and loved ones .
One can be thankful on Thanksgiving even if it means one can only eat on paper plates out of food that was served from cans while wearing a thick sweater because one neither has the money to pay for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to put into the heater , for while it is naturally more difficult to do so , there is always a silver lining even in difficult times .
Do you have COVID ?
Did you survive COVID ?
Do you have a home ?
Food to eat ?
Water to drink ?
Indoor plumbing ?
A clean toilet ?
A car with gas in the tank ?
A phone ?
Indoor heating ?
Blankets to sleep under ?
All of these things are not just theoretical , but practical realities to be thankful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turkey or not .
The 2020s are going to be a decade of escalation .
That escalation will involve political changes forced by economic changes , since economics consistently precedes politics as a historical trend .
People will get , on average , poorer not because of a lack of industry or desire , but that more will be expected and , ontologically speaking , will unable to be realized in order to maintain the current standard of living .
The result will be poorer people , less spending , and overall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the face of America .
One can already see this in the grocery stores , where having talked with people who work in this retail sector , there is a consistent observation that due to a combination of less purchasing ( likely related to economic reasons ) , supply chain disruptions , and less purchasing from corporate , consistent product scarcity is becoming a normal reality that few seem to fully realize is taking place .
Dare I make a prediction , but the stories I heard for years as a child from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to , very slowly , come to reflect conditions in the US , that while certainly not to the same extent , seem to be a creeping reality that may , if trends in the future continue , become a “ normal ” reality .
That said , Thanksgiving 2020 should not be looked at with sadness .
Instead , it is a time to enjoy , to celebrate , and to remember that while much is ahead , there is much to be thankful for no matter what the time is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future if one desires to work for it .
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Shoebat.com .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Turkey is tasty and cranberries delicious, but higher prices are not. If you believe that things seem more expensive this Thanksgiving than last year, you would be correct, for according to a price analysis conducted by AdvisorSmith, the price of Thanksgiving foods from 2019 to 2020 has increased by 9.8%, or almost 10% over a period of one year.
With the Thanksgiving holiday fast approaching, Americans around the country are preparing their menus for the traditional holiday. This year, Thanksgiving celebrations may be a bit different given the effects of the coronavirus pandemic leading to smaller family gatherings with fewer people and potentially less holiday travel. Additionally, the pandemic has led to some disruption in food supply chains, as some food supply workers have been sickened with the virus. AdvisorSmith examined a basket of staple foods from the Thanksgiving table to understand how these trends have affected the pricing of the ingredients for Thanksgiving dinner. We compared recent prices for common Thanksgiving foods in October and November compared with the previous year at both retail and wholesale, as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to find the change in the cost of a basket of Thanksgiving foods. AdvisorSmith found that a basket of Thanksgiving foods costs approximately 9.8% more in 2020 when compared to Thanksgiving of 2019. The foods included in our analysis were turkey, vegetables, and baking & bread. Vegetables included were potatoes, cranberries, squash, sweet potatoes, corn, green beans, and pumpkin. Baking and bread products included flour, white bread, milk, eggs, and butter. (source)
As much as the price of food has increased, and it is true that as a trend, the price of food is becoming more expensive (evidenced by not merely price increases, but the fact that food package sizes are decreasing in spite of prices remaining the same, which is a covert form of price change), one can be thankful that one is living in the US, which is arguably the largest food producer in the world and as such is not subject to the same sudden political shocks that can and do affect the rest of the world. A price increase in turkey or chicken may be painful and one cannot buy the ingredients for that pie that one wants to make, but a pork price increase in China or a wheat price increase in Saudi Arabia may mean the difference between eating today and actual hunger tomorrow.
However, this does not mean that price increases cannot happen, or that one should not be prepared. To that, one may also want to remember that the purpose of Thanksgiving is not to show off to one’s neighbors, or just to eat turkey and certain culturally-acceptable foods for the day, for while the former is vanity and the latter is certainly a good thing, the essence of Thanksgiving is to be thankful for what one has and to enjoy it with one’s family and loved ones. One can be thankful on Thanksgiving even if it means one can only eat on paper plates out of food that was served from cans while wearing a thick sweater because one neither has the money to pay for a “proper” meal nor for fuel to put into the heater, for while it is naturally more difficult to do so, there is always a silver lining even in difficult times.
Do you have COVID? Did you survive COVID? Do you have a home? Food to eat? Water to drink? Indoor plumbing? A clean toilet? A car with gas in the tank? A phone? Indoor heating? Blankets to sleep under? All of these things are not just theoretical, but practical realities to be thankful for, regardless if one is eating turkey or not.
The 2020s are going to be a decade of escalation. That escalation will involve political changes forced by economic changes, since economics consistently precedes politics as a historical trend. People will get, on average, poorer not because of a lack of industry or desire, but that more will be expected and, ontologically speaking, will unable to be realized in order to maintain the current standard of living. The result will be poorer people, less spending, and overall, a more “worn” look on the face of America. One can already see this in the grocery stores, where having talked with people who work in this retail sector, there is a consistent observation that due to a combination of less purchasing (likely related to economic reasons), supply chain disruptions, and less purchasing from corporate, consistent product scarcity is becoming a normal reality that few seem to fully realize is taking place.
Dare I make a prediction, but the stories I heard for years as a child from people who survived the USSR are seeming to, very slowly, come to reflect conditions in the US, that while certainly not to the same extent, seem to be a creeping reality that may, if trends in the future continue, become a “normal” reality.
That said, Thanksgiving 2020 should not be looked at with sadness. Instead, it is a time to enjoy, to celebrate, and to remember that while much is ahead, there is much to be thankful for no matter what the time is, and that there is always a better future if one desires to work for it.
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Shoebat.com.
print


shoebat--2020-11-26--He Said “Lock Her Up” But Never Did, Now Will Trump Go To Jail?

“ Lock Her Up ” was a de facto Trump supporter chant along with “ Build The Wall ” for his 2016 presidential campaign .
However , Trump as he is now seen has been an utter failure in so far as it concerns his ability to follow through on his promises .
It does not matter if what he says one likes or does not like , or even if it is good or bad , but rather the execution of the principle .
By comparison to use another example , Obama was very much the opposite- he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health care leading to a single-payer system , and sure enough , Obama has been a success as doing the former and setting up the conditions for realizing the latter .
I ’ m not saying that Obama is “ good ” or “ bad ” .
I am speaking strictly from a practical viewpoint in that Obama , hate him or love him , did or clearly attempted to do what he said , while Trump didn ’ t .
It is as easy to understand as that .
It is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broad sense as it concerns major political promises , Obama didn ’ t lie , while Trump did .
That may be hard to hear , since many people put a lot of hope into Trump , but the facts clearly speak to the opposite , for the measure of a man is not taken by the power of his words to effect change in the sentiments of people , but in his ability to put his words into practical action .
Trump did not “ Build The Wall ” , and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” .
However , Trump may now find himself in an interesting position , for according to The Hill , there is the possibility that Trump may be the one “ locked up ” .
Donald Trump on trial ?
Donald Trump behind bars ?
That ’ s exactly what he fears the most .
And that explains , more than anything , why Trump not only refuses to concede to Joe Biden but is doing everything he can to overturn the election results .
Because he knows that staying in the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stay out of prison .
Both at the federal and state level , Trump ’ s in serious legal jeopardy .
We know the federal crimes that make him vulnerable to prosecution .
Attempting to bribe the president of Ukraine into launching an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden .
Even though his Senate Republican buddies failed to convict him for it , it ’ s still a crime .
Obstructing justice by trying to undermine a Justice Department investigation .
Even though feckless Robert Mueller failed to charge him with it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime .
Accepting money from foreign governments through his hotels and golf clubs .
A violation of the Emoluments Act , even though his bootlicker attorney general lets him get away with it .
So what ?
As some point out , Trump would not hesitate to become the first president to grant himself a pardon .
Or , if pressed , resign the presidency so that lapdog Mike Pence could pardon him .
But , of course , that would only shield him from prosecution for federal crimes .
A slew of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , mainly in New York state .
Trump ’ s in deep legal doodoo .
So far , he ’ s been able to skate free , thanks to a compliant Justice Department and cowardly Congress .
But that protective cocoon disappears Jan. 20 .
Then the real question is : What will President Joe Biden do about it ?
( source ) Will Trump be prosecuted ?
It is highly unlikely , but the fact that the possibility has been raised , and given the combination of legitimate complaints made about him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him for even the smallest of actions , it would not be unlikely to see serious attempts made to pursue legal action against him .
If this happens , it will only fuel the worst tendencies of the political right , which in the name of “ helping my president ” may be inclined to violence or other actions .
The recent scandals showing Biden ’ s connections to Ukraine and China through his drug-addicted and prostitute-soliciting son Hunter , which are arguably equal to and potentially more serious than claims made against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any politically-rooted hatred of the left by the right .
However , the call is ultimately up to Biden ’ s administration .
Given how from an “ outsider ” view , one could say that Trump has turned the GOP into a cult of personality combined with a silly television show , and how Trump has many enemies in both parties , it is possible that after Biden is elected , it would not be a surprise if Trump was indeed prosecuted , or if one wants to dream of something more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ succumbs ’ to ‘ health problems ’ , which if such a thing happened , would benefit the Republicans , since it is likely that given the cultish devotion to Trump , his followers may blame “ the Democrats ” .
Love Trump or hate him , if the stories in private about him are true ( impulsive behavior , irrational actions , demanding absolute personal loyalty to him from his assistants , placing personal interests over national ones , etc . )
, and given the public cult-like devotion to him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was in because the response of either party in their respective positions would likely be the same .
Trump has become not a hero , but a sort of political cancer in what is this case the Republican party body politic , and from the view of a political strategist , a Biden victory is a blessing so that the Republican party can dispose of Trump and begin the process remaking their image as well as exploiting the populism they used Trump to justify for their long-term benefit but without the arrogance , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ single man ( Trump ) whose biggest accomplishment as a president seems to have been selling an image and cult of personality but without ever making good on the fundamental promises he made to that same base .
In the first movie in the “ Austin Powers ” series , after Austin Power ’ s assistant is taken hostage by Dr .
Evil , Austin manages to take Dr.
Evil ’ s son hostage .
In response , Dr .
Evil says “ Go ahead , kill the little b*stard , see what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history will tell , this may be what is happening with Trump .
The Republican party seems not to be turning against him not out of hatred , but political expediency , and from one can see , Trump does not seem to be helping himself by his actions .
Will Trump go to jail ?
One can only guess , but no matter what happens , as long as the Republican party can use it to justify their long-term survival ( which the Democrats would also do ) , they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to him .
Donate now to help support the work of this site .
When you donate , you are not donating to just any commentary group , but one that is endlessly observing the news , reading between the lines and separating hysteria and perception from reality .
In shoebat.com , we are working every day , tirelessly investigating global trends and providing data and analysis to tell you what lies for the future .
CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW OUR NEW SHOEBAT FACEBOOK PAGE

“Lock Her Up” was a de facto Trump supporter chant along with “Build The Wall” for his 2016 presidential campaign. However, Trump as he is now seen has been an utter failure in so far as it concerns his ability to follow through on his promises. It does not matter if what he says one likes or does not like, or even if it is good or bad, but rather the execution of the principle. By comparison to use another example, Obama was very much the opposite- he said that he wanted a sort of nationalized health care leading to a single-payer system, and sure enough, Obama has been a success as doing the former and setting up the conditions for realizing the latter.
I’m not saying that Obama is “good” or “bad”. I am speaking strictly from a practical viewpoint in that Obama, hate him or love him, did or clearly attempted to do what he said, while Trump didn’t. It is as easy to understand as that. It is not an exaggeration to say that in a broad sense as it concerns major political promises, Obama didn’t lie, while Trump did. That may be hard to hear, since many people put a lot of hope into Trump, but the facts clearly speak to the opposite, for the measure of a man is not taken by the power of his words to effect change in the sentiments of people, but in his ability to put his words into practical action.
Trump did not “Build The Wall”, and he certainly did not “Lock Her Up”. However, Trump may now find himself in an interesting position, for according to The Hill, there is the possibility that Trump may be the one “locked up”.
Donald Trump on trial? Donald Trump behind bars? That’s exactly what he fears the most. And that explains, more than anything, why Trump not only refuses to concede to Joe Biden but is doing everything he can to overturn the election results. Because he knows that staying in the White House is the only way he can stay out of prison. Both at the federal and state level, Trump’s in serious legal jeopardy. We know the federal crimes that make him vulnerable to prosecution. Attempting to bribe the president of Ukraine into launching an investigation into former Vice President Joe Biden. Even though his Senate Republican buddies failed to convict him for it, it’s still a crime. Obstructing justice by trying to undermine a Justice Department investigation. Even though feckless Robert Mueller failed to charge him with it, it’s still a federal crime. Accepting money from foreign governments through his hotels and golf clubs. A violation of the Emoluments Act, even though his bootlicker attorney general lets him get away with it. So what? As some point out, Trump would not hesitate to become the first president to grant himself a pardon. Or, if pressed, resign the presidency so that lapdog Mike Pence could pardon him. But, of course, that would only shield him from prosecution for federal crimes. A slew of state crimes also hang over his head, mainly in New York state. … Trump’s in deep legal doodoo. So far, he’s been able to skate free, thanks to a compliant Justice Department and cowardly Congress. But that protective cocoon disappears Jan. 20. Then the real question is: What will President Joe Biden do about it? (source)
Will Trump be prosecuted? It is highly unlikely, but the fact that the possibility has been raised, and given the combination of legitimate complaints made about him with the unreasonable rancor that constantly excoriates him for even the smallest of actions, it would not be unlikely to see serious attempts made to pursue legal action against him. If this happens, it will only fuel the worst tendencies of the political right, which in the name of “helping my president” may be inclined to violence or other actions. The recent scandals showing Biden’s connections to Ukraine and China through his drug-addicted and prostitute-soliciting son Hunter, which are arguably equal to and potentially more serious than claims made against Trump, would only serve to magnify any politically-rooted hatred of the left by the right.
However, the call is ultimately up to Biden’s administration. Given how from an “outsider” view, one could say that Trump has turned the GOP into a cult of personality combined with a silly television show, and how Trump has many enemies in both parties, it is possible that after Biden is elected, it would not be a surprise if Trump was indeed prosecuted, or if one wants to dream of something more insidious, that maybe Trump potentially ‘succumbs’ to ‘health problems’, which if such a thing happened, would benefit the Republicans, since it is likely that given the cultish devotion to Trump, his followers may blame “the Democrats”.
Love Trump or hate him, if the stories in private about him are true (impulsive behavior, irrational actions, demanding absolute personal loyalty to him from his assistants, placing personal interests over national ones, etc.), and given the public cult-like devotion to him, it would not matter what party he was in because the response of either party in their respective positions would likely be the same. Trump has become not a hero, but a sort of political cancer in what is this case the Republican party body politic, and from the view of a political strategist, a Biden victory is a blessing so that the Republican party can dispose of Trump and begin the process remaking their image as well as exploiting the populism they used Trump to justify for their long-term benefit but without the arrogance, bravado, and slavish worship of a single man (Trump) whose biggest accomplishment as a president seems to have been selling an image and cult of personality but without ever making good on the fundamental promises he made to that same base.
In the first movie in the “Austin Powers” series, after Austin Power’s assistant is taken hostage by Dr. Evil, Austin manages to take Dr. Evil’s son hostage. In response, Dr. Evil says “Go ahead, kill the little b*stard, see what I care.”
While only time and history will tell, this may be what is happening with Trump. The Republican party seems not to be turning against him not out of hatred, but political expediency, and from one can see, Trump does not seem to be helping himself by his actions.
Will Trump go to jail? One can only guess, but no matter what happens, as long as the Republican party can use it to justify their long-term survival (which the Democrats would also do), they don’t seem to care much what happens to him.
print


shoebat--2020-11-28--Turkey’s Aspiration To Create Its Own NATO

Turkey ’ s foreign policy has less to do with dealing with the things foreign and more to do with making foreign things Turkish .
The goal of Turkey , as we have been saying on this website for over a decade now , is the revival of the Ottoman Empire as part of the ideology of neo-Ottomanism .
The Turks want to establish a Turkic union , or really the creation of a Turkish NATO , consisting of a confederacy of Turkic countries alongside Arab countries that were once under Ottoman control .
Turkey ’ s military presence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is merely the pretext — but about expanding the power of Ankara and ultimately establishing empire .
If this were not the case , then Turkey would not be building banks , flying its flag in government buildings , utilizing Turkish curriculum in schools , or having Syrian rebels pose in front of a flag of the Ottoman Empire , in Syria .
This is exactly what has been occurring in Syria with this conspicuous Turkish imperialism .
As we read in a report from the Greek City Times : You can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Army rebel in front of a map of the Ottoman Empire , spanning all the way into the Balkans : Turkey wants to form its own NATO — or really its own hegemony — and signs of this are already seen in the Turkic Council , or an organization of Turkic countries , consisting of Azerbaijan , Kazakhstan , Kyrgyzstan , Turkey and Uzbekistan .
What is fascinating is that Hungary is listed as an observer state of the Turkic Council since Victor Orban is actually a pan-Turanian who believes that Hungarians and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believes that “ Hungary can offer the Turkic Council a connection to Europe.
” Orban has even described Hungary as “ Christian Turkish lands.
” Orbin has also affirmed that Turkey is at the foundation for Hungary ’ s security : “ Turkey ’ s stability is an assurance of Hungary ’ s security .
Hungary ’ s foreign policy is to be framed in a triangle of Istanbul , Moscow and Berlin.
” Orbin was the most vocal political official within EU who was against the EU ’ s taking in of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major supporter of Turkey , not just policy wise , but on an ideological level as well .
In June of 2017 , Viktor Orban delivered a speech at the Hungarian-Turkish Business Forum in Ankara , to talk about the importance of relations between Hungarian and Turkish industrialists .
In his speech , Orban talked about both the racial relations and the need for deeper economic ties between Turkey and Hungary : Turkey is in a good location , and although there are now wars on its borders , strategically it is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important locations .
It has an enormous private sector .
Why should it pay any attention to the Hungarians – aside from friendship and the intellectually intriguing question of common origins lost in the mists of ancient history ?
Why should any member of its business community divert their gaze to Hungary ?
I believe that there is one fact which even the most successful Turkish businesspeople would be wise to consider : Hungary is a country of ten million , and we are capable of generating exports worth 110 billion dollars ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million , which is capable of generating exports worth 145 billion dollars .
Later in the speech Orban again brought up a common racial origin between Hungarians and Turks : To sum up , we have the legend of common Turkish-Hungarian origins .
We have mutual respect .
We have an outstanding political and personal relationship between the leaders of the two countries .
We have an enormous Turkey and a strengthening Central Europe .
And we have a Hungarian investment and business environment without rival in Europe .
“ We know little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Viktor Orbán during the Turkish prime minister ’ s visit to Budapest a few days ago , but in the joint press conference Orbán talked about improving the Hungarian armed forces with Turkish participation .
He explained that because of the poor economic conditions he faced in 2010 , he was forced to curtail military spending , but now the Hungarian army is on track for a major upgrade .
He intends for Turkey to play a major role in this endeavor .
He added that Hungary is planning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ industry with Turkish help.
” Also according to Hungary Today : …Orbán said that Hungary and Turkey would raise the level of military cooperation and build “ powerful ties ” in the military industry .
He added that in recent decades “ there have been no money or energy left to develop the military ” but “ we will make up for that now ; Hungary ’ s goal is to build a modern and effective national army ” .
” Peter E. Uhde talks about a military plan for Hungary that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2026 : “ Zrínyi 2026 ” is the name of a ten-year defense and military development program .
This includes a voluntary reserve system for territorial protection , ie homeland security.
” There has been talk amongst Turkish nationalists in the media on the formation of a Turanian army , or even a Turkish NATO , in which Turkish nations will unite under Ankara .
For example , in an article published on October 27th , 2020 , by the Turkish daily Türkiye , professor Cemalettin Taşkıran , speaks of how “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Turkey than in any point in the history of the Ottoman Empire , stating : “ In Turkish history , the periods in which the Central Asian Republics got as close [ as they are today ] to the Ottoman state , and later to the Republic of Turkey , and in fact , gave each other such close support , are so few as to be non-existent.
” He then goes on to say that “ the regaining of nearly all of the land [ Azerbaijan ] had lost… pleased the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be wrong to say that the support that Turkey gave changed the balance in the region .
Will this go on to [ the formation of ] a Turan Army ?
Inshallah it will.
” The introduction of this article speaks of how the Azeri and Turkish victory over the Armenians bolsters the position in favor of a pan-Turkish military force .
Its subheading reads : “ It Will Be A Global Power – It Is Early But Definitely One Day.
” And before this it reads : “ The success in Karabagh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the West ’ s greatest fears : the Turan Army .
Azerbaijan , which has become stronger with the military training , joint drills , and support with armed drones that Turkey has provided , has broken Armenia ’ s back .
This picture of success that has appeared has once again brought to life the hopes concerning a Turan Army , that would be the joint military power of the Turkic states .
The Turan Army , which will be a unique option for disrupting the plots in the region @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every issue.
” In an article published on October 28th of 2020 by Yeni Çağ , nationalist Ahmet Gürsoy described this Turan army as “ a kind of Turkic NATO , ” and said that : “ Can it be ?
Yes .
If we want it and we decide [ to do it ] , it will be .
Should it be ?
Yes to that too , it should be .
It should be established , and the Turkic union should be wrapped up in a military organization and a concrete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will come under one single army umbrella and one single military personage .
The dream , without beginning or end , of Turkish nationalists , is the great homeland : the Turan homeland may not be realized geographically .
For this reason , we may not be able to geographically unite all of the Turks under a single flag as they were in their imperial periods .
However , socially , by forming a legal identity , we can unite the whole Turkic union under a single flag , just as multinational companies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every corner of the world .
The most striking and possible way to do this is the Turan Army .
”

By Theodore Shoebat
Turkey’s foreign policy has less to do with dealing with the things foreign and more to do with making foreign things Turkish. The goal of Turkey, as we have been saying on this website for over a decade now, is the revival of the Ottoman Empire as part of the ideology of neo-Ottomanism. The Turks want to establish a Turkic union, or really the creation of a Turkish NATO, consisting of a confederacy of Turkic countries alongside Arab countries that were once under Ottoman control. Turkey’s military presence in Syria is not about fighting terrorism — this is merely the pretext — but about expanding the power of Ankara and ultimately establishing empire. If this were not the case, then Turkey would not be building banks, flying its flag in government buildings, utilizing Turkish curriculum in schools, or having Syrian rebels pose in front of a flag of the Ottoman Empire, in Syria. This is exactly what has been occurring in Syria with this conspicuous Turkish imperialism. As we read in a report from the Greek City Times:
You can see in this photo a Free Syrian Army rebel in front of a map of the Ottoman Empire, spanning all the way into the Balkans:
Interview in Jarablus to a Free? Syrian? Army?? Look at the map. Not Syrian but Turkish ambitions. Not Freedom but a Turkish proxy War… pic.twitter.com/t8azqJhcWW — Endi Zentarmi (@EndiZentarmi) July 6, 2018
Turkey wants to form its own NATO — or really its own hegemony — and signs of this are already seen in the Turkic Council, or an organization of Turkic countries, consisting of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. What is fascinating is that Hungary is listed as an observer state of the Turkic Council since Victor Orban is actually a pan-Turanian who believes that Hungarians and Turks have ethnic ties. Victor Orbin believes that “Hungary can offer the Turkic Council a connection to Europe.” Orban has even described Hungary as “Christian Turkish lands.” Orbin has also affirmed that Turkey is at the foundation for Hungary’s security: “Turkey’s stability is an assurance of Hungary’s security. Hungary’s foreign policy is to be framed in a triangle of Istanbul, Moscow and Berlin.” Orbin was the most vocal political official within EU who was against the EU’s taking in of migrants, but he is also a major supporter of Turkey, not just policy wise, but on an ideological level as well.
Orban and his ilk subscribe to the racial ideology of Turanism, or the belief in the superiority of the Turkic races. In 2012, Orban described Hungary as “half-Asian” and stated that Hungarians are the type of people who will unite together only by force:
“Cooperation is a question of force, not of intention. Perhaps there are countries where things don’t work that way, for example in the Scandinavian countries, but such a half-Asiatic rag-tag people as we are can unite only if there is force.”
In June of 2017, Viktor Orban delivered a speech at the Hungarian-Turkish Business Forum in Ankara, to talk about the importance of relations between Hungarian and Turkish industrialists. In his speech, Orban talked about both the racial relations and the need for deeper economic ties between Turkey and Hungary: Turkey is in a good location, and although there are now wars on its borders, strategically it is in one of the world’s most important locations. It has an enormous private sector. Why should it pay any attention to the Hungarians – aside from friendship and the intellectually intriguing question of common origins lost in the mists of ancient history? Why should any member of its business community divert their gaze to Hungary? I believe that there is one fact which even the most successful Turkish businesspeople would be wise to consider: Hungary is a country of ten million, and we are capable of generating exports worth 110 billion dollars; meanwhile Turkey is a country of eighty million, which is capable of generating exports worth 145 billion dollars. Later in the speech Orban again brought up a common racial origin between Hungarians and Turks: To sum up, we have the legend of common Turkish-Hungarian origins. We have mutual respect. We have an outstanding political and personal relationship between the leaders of the two countries. We have an enormous Turkey and a strengthening Central Europe. And we have a Hungarian investment and business environment without rival in Europe.
This interconnects with the pan-Asianism of Turkey; for the Young Turks declared Turkey to be the “Japan of the Near East” (I wrote an article on pan-Asianism which can be read here ). Turkey will also be playing a major role in revamping Hungary’s military. According to a 2018 report from Hungarian Spectrum
“We know little about the conversation that took place between Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Viktor Orbán during the Turkish prime minister’s visit to Budapest a few days ago, but in the joint press conference Orbán talked about improving the Hungarian armed forces with Turkish participation. He explained that because of the poor economic conditions he faced in 2010, he was forced to curtail military spending, but now the Hungarian army is on track for a major upgrade. He intends for Turkey to play a major role in this endeavor. He added that Hungary is planning to embark on developing a robust armament industry with Turkish help.” Also according to Hungary Today: …Orbán said that Hungary and Turkey would raise the level of military cooperation and build “powerful ties” in the military industry. He added that in recent decades “there have been no money or energy left to develop the military” but “we will make up for that now; Hungary’s goal is to build a modern and effective national army”.” Peter E. Uhde talks about a military plan for Hungary that is set to be in full materialization by 2026: “Zrínyi 2026” is the name of a ten-year defense and military development program. This includes a voluntary reserve system for territorial protection, ie homeland security.” There has been talk amongst Turkish nationalists in the media on the formation of a Turanian army, or even a Turkish NATO, in which Turkish nations will unite under Ankara. For example, in an article published on October 27th, 2020, by the Turkish daily Türkiye, professor Cemalettin Taşkıran, speaks of how “the Central Asian Republics” are closer now to Turkey than in any point in the history of the Ottoman Empire, stating: “In Turkish history, the periods in which the Central Asian Republics got as close [as they are today] to the Ottoman state, and later to the Republic of Turkey, and in fact, gave each other such close support, are so few as to be non-existent.” He then goes on to say that “the regaining of nearly all of the land [Azerbaijan] had lost… pleased the entire Turkic world. It would not be wrong to say that the support that Turkey gave changed the balance in the region. Will this go on to [the formation of] a Turan Army? Inshallah it will.” The introduction of this article speaks of how the Azeri and Turkish victory over the Armenians bolsters the position in favor of a pan-Turkish military force. Its subheading reads: “It Will Be A Global Power – It Is Early But Definitely One Day.” And before this it reads: “The success in Karabagh has brought once again to the agenda one of the West’s greatest fears: the Turan Army. Azerbaijan, which has become stronger with the military training, joint drills, and support with armed drones that Turkey has provided, has broken Armenia’s back. This picture of success that has appeared has once again brought to life the hopes concerning a Turan Army, that would be the joint military power of the Turkic states. The Turan Army, which will be a unique option for disrupting the plots in the region, will become a leading actor on every issue.” In an article published on October 28th of 2020 by Yeni Çağ,nationalist Ahmet Gürsoy described this Turan army as “a kind of Turkic NATO,” and said that: “Can it be? Yes. If we want it and we decide [to do it], it will be. Should it be? Yes to that too, it should be. It should be established, and the Turkic union should be wrapped up in a military organization and a concrete legal identity. This way all Turks will come under one single army umbrella and one single military personage. The dream, without beginning or end, of Turkish nationalists, is the great homeland: the Turan homeland may not be realized geographically. For this reason, we may not be able to geographically unite all of the Turks under a single flag as they were in their imperial periods. However, socially, by forming a legal identity, we can unite the whole Turkic union under a single flag, just as multinational companies are represented by the same flag in every corner of the world. The most striking and possible way to do this is the Turan Army.”
According to some prominent politicians in the Turkish parliament, there is a plan being conspired by Erdogan and his ilk to bring back the Caliphate to the center of the religious and political paradigm of the Islamic world. Cem Toker, the former head of the libertarian Liberal Democratic Party in Turkey, warned in an interview: “There will be another referendum in the next four years… There is one more referendum left to come. I believe that Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is assertive (on this point). My guess: the caliphate. We will ask the nation, ‘shall we bring back the caliphate or not?” When asked by the interviewer on whether or not he was certain of what he was saying, Toker responded: “It’s a very, very great possibility, yes …March 3, 2024 is the hundredth anniversary of the abolition of the caliphate…” The 2020s is going to be a very turbulent decade (to say the least).
print