4 ms·

Those price increases were from covid. Fed raised rates just after eastern Europe hostilities which is being used to split world supply chains.

somewhat_drunk 3y ago
You know what, after googling a bit, you are more correct than I thought. The Ukraine War is responsible for a significant portion of US inflation. Not all, but maybe a third, at its peak.[1] But as other posters have mentioned, the FED had been telegraphing raising interest rate hikes for months prior to the war. I would wager the acceleration of inflation accelerated their rate hikes, but hikes were coming nonetheless. Russia essentially made a difficult situation much worse. That said, we can no more end that war than we can invade Russia and force them to withdraw. The best policy going forward is to continue to support an ally who was aggressed upon, one whom we promised to protect in case they were invaded in return for them giving up their nuclear weapons only thirty years ago.[2] 1. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-accounts-for-more-than-a-third-of-u-s-inflation-forecaster-says-11655122032 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-russian-invasion-of-uk... 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum
- landemva 3y ago
  Despite neocon politicians visiting Ukraine over past decade (McCain Pence Nuland others), that country is not in NATO. In 1994 Ukraine was disarmed of Soviet nukes and was specifically set up as buffer between western Europe and Russia as part of that agreement. Since then NATO kept pushing east. Consider what USA would do if China was arming Canada or Mexico and visiting those countries encouraging attacks on USA. As an actual example, consider the panic and fear in USA when Soviet missiles appeared in Cuba. I'm disgusted by the wasted treasure of USA meddling in eastern Europe. Spend the funds at home. We could encourage Zelensky to abide by 2016 Minsk agreement to allow Donbas to vote on it's own future direction. Democracy good, right? Let them vote, as was agreed.
  - somewhat_drunk 3y ago
    Russia invaded an ally whom we promised to protect, who is also rich in natural resources, and is a strategic chokepoint for a future Russian invasion of Europe proper. Ukraine had problems with corruption, but they were trending in the right direction, and their democracy was working. Russia, on the other hand, has a long history of murdering political dissidents and journalists, and their democracy was a sham. Ukraine was clearly ideologically aligned with western interests; Russia was clearly not. I'm wholly in favor of inducting Ukraine into NATO once this is over and helping them rebuild. Russia can get fucked. China is watching. We fail to honor our promise to Ukraine at Taiwan's peril. Appearing weak on our promises to allies invites World War. Finally, $75 billion is an absolute bargain to effectively destroy one of our longest-standing enemies. Defending Ukraine was correct morally, ethically, ideologically, and strategically. It boggles my mind that right wingers argue against it with a straight face. You are spreading Russian propaganda. Stop doing that. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/exposing-the-myth-of-western-betrayal-of-russia/ https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/exposing-the-myth-...
    - landemva 3y ago
      > Russia invaded an ally whom we promised to protect Lindsey Graham and John McCain and Hunter Biden had interests there, but Ukraine is not in NATO and was set up in 1994 to not ally with either side. USA has no actual defense agreement there yet is now running a proxy war against Russia. If that is good for USA, then let Congress debate it and declare war. Russia is not my enemy, despite the propaganda.
      - somewhat_drunk 3y ago
        Ukraine is not in NATO, but they are absolutely an ally. Why would you allow Russia to invade a potential member of NATO as well as an ally as well as someone who you persuaded to give up their nukes in exchange for a promise to defend them in just this circumstance is beyond me. We had every reason to defend Ukraine, and very few to abstain from doing so. That we also got Russia's collapse for a pittance in the bargain is just icing on the cake. You have drank the koolaid, and are likely still doing so. Stop doing that.

somewhat_drunk 3y ago

You know what, after googling a bit, you are more correct than I thought. The Ukraine War is responsible for a significant portion of US inflation. Not all, but maybe a third, at its peak.[1] But as other posters have mentioned, the FED had been telegraphing raising interest rate hikes for months prior to the war. I would wager the acceleration of inflation accelerated their rate hikes, but hikes were coming nonetheless. Russia essentially made a difficult situation much worse. That said, we can no more end that war than we can invade Russia and force them to withdraw. The best policy going forward is to continue to support an ally who was aggressed upon, one whom we promised to protect in case they were invaded in return for them giving up their nuclear weapons only thirty years ago.[2] 1. https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-accounts-for-more-than-a-third-of-u-s-inflation-forecaster-says-11655122032 https://www.marketwatch.com/story/the-russian-invasion-of-uk... 2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budapest_Memorandum

landemva 3y ago
Despite neocon politicians visiting Ukraine over past decade (McCain Pence Nuland others), that country is not in NATO. In 1994 Ukraine was disarmed of Soviet nukes and was specifically set up as buffer between western Europe and Russia as part of that agreement. Since then NATO kept pushing east. Consider what USA would do if China was arming Canada or Mexico and visiting those countries encouraging attacks on USA. As an actual example, consider the panic and fear in USA when Soviet missiles appeared in Cuba. I'm disgusted by the wasted treasure of USA meddling in eastern Europe. Spend the funds at home. We could encourage Zelensky to abide by 2016 Minsk agreement to allow Donbas to vote on it's own future direction. Democracy good, right? Let them vote, as was agreed.
- somewhat_drunk 3y ago
  Russia invaded an ally whom we promised to protect, who is also rich in natural resources, and is a strategic chokepoint for a future Russian invasion of Europe proper. Ukraine had problems with corruption, but they were trending in the right direction, and their democracy was working. Russia, on the other hand, has a long history of murdering political dissidents and journalists, and their democracy was a sham. Ukraine was clearly ideologically aligned with western interests; Russia was clearly not. I'm wholly in favor of inducting Ukraine into NATO once this is over and helping them rebuild. Russia can get fucked. China is watching. We fail to honor our promise to Ukraine at Taiwan's peril. Appearing weak on our promises to allies invites World War. Finally, $75 billion is an absolute bargain to effectively destroy one of our longest-standing enemies. Defending Ukraine was correct morally, ethically, ideologically, and strategically. It boggles my mind that right wingers argue against it with a straight face. You are spreading Russian propaganda. Stop doing that. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/exposing-the-myth-of-western-betrayal-of-russia/ https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/politicsandpolicy/exposing-the-myth-...
  - landemva 3y ago
    > Russia invaded an ally whom we promised to protect Lindsey Graham and John McCain and Hunter Biden had interests there, but Ukraine is not in NATO and was set up in 1994 to not ally with either side. USA has no actual defense agreement there yet is now running a proxy war against Russia. If that is good for USA, then let Congress debate it and declare war. Russia is not my enemy, despite the propaganda.
    - somewhat_drunk 3y ago
      Ukraine is not in NATO, but they are absolutely an ally. Why would you allow Russia to invade a potential member of NATO as well as an ally as well as someone who you persuaded to give up their nukes in exchange for a promise to defend them in just this circumstance is beyond me. We had every reason to defend Ukraine, and very few to abstain from doing so. That we also got Russia's collapse for a pittance in the bargain is just icing on the cake. You have drank the koolaid, and are likely still doing so. Stop doing that.