this post was submitted on 07 Mar 2025
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Leaders of the European Union have voted to approve a plan to dramatically increase defense spending. The move is a reaction to the U.S. reducing its support for Ukraine in the war against Russia's invasion. We go to Brussels to understand the ramifications.

And we hear what the series of recent developments in the relationship between the U.S. and Ukraine could mean for peace talks with Russia.

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Although I understand the need, the re-armament of Europe makes me sad. Imagine what we could have done with all this money. Research, culture, decarbonisation, social programs, housing... but instead we have to use it on ways to kill people.

Sad really.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 day ago

I'm very happy that Europe finally is letting go of the US, but yeah, it's sad to see all this money go to waste.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

This money literally wouldn't exist otherwise. Or conversely: We could just make up some more money for housing if we wished to, if the powers that be allowed that. The hard limit is never money, the hard limit is willpower and material resources.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

the hard limit is willpower and material resources.

Which money is an accounting mechanism for.

What this actually means is that people will work for tank manufacturers instead of developing civilian EVs or whatever. Same story for the steel and equipment that goes into it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (2 children)

But this money is willpower and material resources that could be spent elsewhere : research, culture, decarbonisation, social programs, housing...

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Though I share your frustration, you just don't get to have most of those things, if your country gets invaded.

And if YOUR country is lucky to be left alone, yet only your neighbouring countries are invaded, that is bound to affect you economically regardless.

From a purely economic perspective, I would think rearming Europe is the least costly thing to do in the long run.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 hours ago* (last edited 3 hours ago)

Yes, it's the right call, but it's sad someone's actions have made it necessary, I guess.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

Yeah yeah I 100% align with CAVOK initial's comment, this seems necessary to me, but sad because the potential aggressors really seem to make the world worse for everyone but themselves. And by "themselves" I don't mean whole countries, only the sucker leaders.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Material resources are material resources. Money is a declaration of mutual trust that is created in the central bank's computers.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I don't get what you are trying to say? You don't think this money will be used to use material resources and employ people in weapon industry?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

That's different from what you said before. ("Money is material resources"). Money can be used to buy material resources, but it is not equal to material resources.

Believing the latter leads to the assumption that money is somehow sparse (for governments) and governments should e.g. reduce social or infrastructure spendings to finance the military instead of taking on debt.

[–] [email protected] 49 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I wish all Americans very congratulations on getting Germany to rearm, something you’ve avoided for 70 years

[–] [email protected] 28 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

My fellows are so blind and deep in the cult. I genuinely think it's going to be dictatorship or civil war.

That said, Trump is so effective at being anti-war, that he's got the entirety of Europe re-arming! 10/10

Stg MAGA's had a few lines about how Hillary or Kamala would bring us closer to WW3

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

And you're only 3 months in! (6%)

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Funny enough? The day the government is set to shutdown if not funded.. is day 53 of the administration

It only took Hitler 53 days

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

That's not funny at all :(

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 days ago (1 children)

That is not true. Both Germanys did rearm in the Cold War and ended up with massive armies.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

But it was split in half. First time since the 40s that a United Germany is a military powerhouse

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Germans are efficient, it won’t take long.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I can totally see how European military expenditures are going to lower the price of eggs.

[–] [email protected] 15 points 2 days ago (1 children)

For those less smart then Trump:

US being unreliable -> EU does not buy US weapons -> US economy weakens -> Americans have less money -> Demand for eggs falls -> egg prices fall

[–] [email protected] 19 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Actually you didn't quite capture the genius of Trump. It goes like this:

US dismantles CDC β–Ά Bird flu kills all birds β–Ά No more eggs β–Ά No more price of eggs

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

also no more inflation, because you just set the egg price to an arbitrary negative value like -700 USD and it will balance out all the products getting more expensive.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 days ago

And nothing from that extra spending will go to US military complex. For what it's worth it will probably even go down.