US 'sleepwalking' into WWIII, experts warn nation is underprepared: 'We do not have our Churchill'

[Hans Blaster]

I suppose that you missed it yet again.

"God and gold" quote. Don't think so.

Aside from that, I already talked about how Empires devalue their currencies, to fund their armies, to coerce their vassals into doing their bidding.

This is the modern age. No empires. No vassals. No shiny bauble based economies.

As the USD is only retaining 3% of its' original value; this currency, along with the Empire that was built on it, is at the end of its' life cycle.

You've seriously lost the plot if you think this is all about gold. How much of an element you possess is a bad way to manage an economy. Good riddance to bad (metallic) money.

 

[HARK!]

This is the modern age. No empires. No vassals. No shiny bauble based economies.

Like I said BRICS, will be deciding the matter very soon. regardless of your misinformed opinion.

In 1900, a silver dollar would buy you a steak dinner. Today, that same silver dollar will still buy you a steak dinner.

Silver Price Today | Price of Silver Per Ounce | 24 Hour Spot Chart | KITCO

Live Silver Charts and Silver Spot Price from International Silver Markets, Prices from New York, London, Hong Kong and Sydney provided by Kitco.

www.kitco.com

The current market value is devalued through market manipulation with fake stocks being sold on margin.

It's a bargain right now. Wait until the dollar dies, and the inflated market crashes, for the true value to be revealed.

 

[Gene2memE]

The US has run out of ATACMS to give to Ukraine. We stopped making them years ago;

This is false.

As of late 2023, Lockheed Martin was producing ~500 ATACMS per year. Although not all of these are destined for the US, the FY2023 defense bill put $7.7 billion in funding in place for US acquisition of 1700 ATACMS missiles. See page 1128:

https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20221205/BILLS-117hres_-SUS.pdf

Older M39A1 missile bodies are also being refurbished to modern standards and brought back to active inventory. Some of this work is still being carried out under funding from the FY17 and FY18 defense appropriations. It's hard to tell how many are being converted though - $214 million was spent on this in 2021 and estimates are that the cost is anywhere from $1.1 to $1.4 million per missile.

Even after transfers to Ukraine (which reportedly are anywhere from 100 to 180 missiles), low estimates are that the US has somewhere in the range of 800 to 1000 ATACMs remaining in inventory. Upper estimates are that inventory is closer to 1400. Hard to tell, details are classified.

and the DOD is saving the rest of what we have for a potential war with China.

They're not. The US has made at least two transfers of ATACMS to Ukraine. One in October 2023 and another in March - April 2024.

Ukraine is requesting additional deliveries, which are under active consideration at the moment. The 2024 Ukraine appropriation authorisation requires additional ATACMS deliveries for Ukraine. Likely longer ranged M57s.

We have a long range replacement for the ATACMS; but we're still working out the bugs on that one.

Precision Strike Missile (PrSM) achieved initial operating capability in November and deliveries of the full 'Increment 1' production version started in December 2023. Pre-production/test deliveries of ~120 missiles were completed in 2021 through 2023.

Lockheed Martin expects to deliver 110 by the end of September 2024 and there are contracts in place for deliveries of another 230 in the 12 months following. Full rate production (~400 per year) is due to start in late 2025.

The "bugs" in PrSM are mostly worked out, although the Increment 1 missiles are only cleared for use against static targets. Multiple successful tests of the improved 'Increment 2' missile have been conducted in the last 6 months, including hitting moving sea and land targets. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2026, in the form of a land-based ASM. The very long range Increment 4 (range of 600 miles plus) is slated for initial service entry in 2027/2028.

 

[HARK!]

This is false.

As of late 2023, Lockheed Martin was producing ~500 ATACMS per year. Although not all of these are destined for the US, the FY2023 defense bill put $7.7 billion in funding in place for US acquisition of 1700 ATACMS missiles. See page 1128:

https://docs.house.gov/billsthisweek/20221205/BILLS-117hres_-SUS.pdf

False? The 117TH Congress, 2nd Session, convened in 2022. This Resolution was for 2023 appropriations. This is 2024.

 

[HARK!]

The "bugs" in PrSM are mostly worked out

So in other words it still has bugs?

 

[Gene2memE]

Like I said BRICS, will be deciding the matter very soon. regardless of your misinformed opinion.

View attachment 354942

In 1900, a silver dollar would buy you a steak dinner. Today, that same silver dollar will still buy you a steak dinner.

This is just inflation. You could do the same from 1800 to 1900 and the graph would show a similar downwards trend.

'Purchasing power' is useless without measuring it against earning power.

In 1920 the average US wage was somewhere around $1407 to $1458, based on US Census data. Adjusting for inflation, that's about $22,150 to $22,950 in today's money.

In 2022, the average US wage was $47,960 (US Census, all workers) to $63,795.13 (US Social Security Administration, full time workers only).


So, despite the 'purchasing power' having diminished over time, the US worker of 2022 was earning somewhere between 2 and 3 times what his counterpart a decade before was earning.

 

[rambot]

That's hilarious. "We do not have our Churchill." Oh no! Like it would take the USA more than approximately three seconds to find a drunk, racist loudmouth willing to wear a top hat while spewing war propaganda. Come on.

Come to think America is kinda chockablock with Churchills

 

[HARK!]

They're not. The US has made at least two transfers of ATACMS to Ukraine. One in October 2023 and another in March - April 2024.

Ukraine is requesting additional deliveries, which are under active consideration at the moment. The 2024 Ukraine appropriation authorisation requires additional ATACMS deliveries for Ukraine. Likely longer ranged M57s.

What are we talking about, ATACMS or M57s? My source reported on ATACMS. He said that the DOD is holding the rest back. 2024 is almost over. You can let me know when more ATACMS are delivered to Ukraine.

 

[HARK!]

This is just inflation.

Inflation is caused by the devaluation of currency.

'Purchasing power' is useless without measuring it against earning power.

No it's not. That is the beauty of stored wealth. The wealth remains when the earning power is lost.

So, despite the 'purchasing power' having diminished over time, the US worker of 2022 was earning somewhere between 2 and 3 times what his counterpart a decade before was earning.

Then please explain to me why mom has to get a job to make household ends meet; and even then families are struggling to buy groceries.

If grandpa gave mom 4 silver dollars from his savings; she could take the whole family out for steak dinner on the town. If grandpa gave mom 4 $1 fiat notes; she could get creative and cook her family a nice ramen noodle dinner at home.

 

[Gene2memE]

So in other words it still has bugs?

It's in LRIP and early operational service, so of course. The main "bug" with PrSM is that with the US Army accelerating deliveries, some cybersecurity features haven't been fully rolled out yet (and likely won't be until 2028). Yet, PrSM is operational and it fully met specifications in the December qualification review.

Name a complex military system in a similar position that doesn't have bugs.

The M1911/M45 still has "bugs" - frame cracking and slide issues - and that's a gun that's better than a century old. The M4 carbine still has bugs (selector malfunctions amzong others) and that system is nearly as old as I am.

There's a difference between "bugs" that mean a system can't be used or is only partially functional (think the UK's Ajax debacle, or the MiG 9 engines flaming out every time it fired its guns) and bugs that can be worked around/overcome and you still have a fully operational system.

 

[Gene2memE]

What are we talking about, ATACMS or M57s?

ATACMS is M57. There are three main variants M39, M48 and M57.

M57 is the current version - with both M39 conversions and new builds rolling off the line at Lockheed Martin.

 

[HARK!]

ATACMS is M57. There are three main variants M39, M48 and M57.

M57 is the current version - with both M39 conversions and new builds rolling off the line at Lockheed Martin.

Well please let me know when they are delivered.

 

[HARK!]

80,000 Ukraine Soldiers 'Refuse' To Fight Russia; 'Mass Desertions' Hit Ukrainian Army - Report​

If this is true I pray that they escape the revenge of Zelenskyy's Dictatorship.

May this war end quickly.

 

[Hans Blaster]

It's a bargain right now. Wait until the dollar dies, and the inflated market crashes, for the true value to be revealed.

Cool story. Another silly neutron-capture element. What's the spot price of gold-pressed latinum these days?

I just can't take [seriously] the economic opinion of someone going on about the purchasing power of silver.

ETA: [seriously]

 

[Gene2memE]

Then please explain to me why mom has to get a job to make household ends meet; and even then families are struggling to buy groceries.

Because the standard of living has increased dramatically over the past 100 years, and people's spending priorities are radically different, as is the level of comfort and services they demand. There's vastly more spending on non-essential goods and services than there used to be.

100 years ago, 23-25% of an average household's income went on food. Now it's just 10-12%. Similar story with clothing. It was 10-11% of spending 100 years ago, now it's only 2-3%.

The US population spends much more of its income on things like education, travel, insurance, personal hobbies and non-durable consumer goods than it did a century ago. And it spends less on necessities, with the notable exceptions of housing and utilities - which are about level pegging with that of the 1920s - and healthcare, which is up about 400%.

Here's what households spent their money on in 1929 and 2023:

1929, Table 2.4.5. Personal Consumption Expenditures by Type of Product: Annual | FRED | St. Louis Fed

Release Table for 1929, Table 2.4.5. Personal Consumption Expenditures by Type of Product: Annual. FRED: Download, graph, and track economic data.

fred.stlouisfed.org

2023, Table 2.4.5. Personal Consumption Expenditures by Type of Product: Annual | FRED | St. Louis Fed

Release Table for 2023, Table 2.4.5. Personal Consumption Expenditures by Type of Product: Annual. FRED: Download, graph, and track economic data.

fred.stlouisfed.org

 

[7thKeeper]

What are we talking about, ATACMS or M57s? My source reported on ATACMS. He said that the DOD is holding the rest back. 2024 is almost over. You can let me know when more ATACMS are delivered to Ukraine.

I'm sorry but what IS your source for this? You've failed to mention that.

 

[7thKeeper]

If this is true I pray that they escape the revenge of Zelenskyy's Dictatorship.

May this war end quickly.

.... Uh huh...

 

[HARK!]

Cool story. Another silly neutron-capture element. What's the spot price of gold-pressed latinum these days?

I just can't take [seriously] the economic opinion of someone going on about the purchasing power of silver.

ETA: [seriously]

Why do you suppose that the banks are buying up gold?

 

[7thKeeper]

No really! I really don't care. When the EMP goes off; you won't either.

And that's the problem. You don't care, just because it says what you want to hear. And now that it's been pointed out to you, you try not to talk about it,instead "EMP will get ya!". A cooking channel, after being inactive for for a while, suddenly starts posting about Ukraine repeatedly? Shouldn't take much to guess it got hijacked later on. And this from someone who proudly proclaimed that they're so smart that they are immune to propaganda. I'm sure you are.

 

[HARK!]

Because the standard of living has increased dramatically over the past 100 years, and people's spending priorities are radically different, as is the level of comfort and services they demand. There's vastly more spending on non-essential goods and services than there used to be.

Having both the husband and wife to both maintain jobs to put food on the table, only to find that they are struggling to buy groceries, doesn't sound like a higher quality of life to me; but we were talking about storing wealth. History shows us that fiat currency extracts wealth from those who save.