OutdoorKing Repair Forum Forums General Discussion Forum Off Topics Are we sleepwalking to World War III?

Anyone seen this? http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-07-14/sleepwalking-to-world-war-three-stan-grant/8710390

It's been on my mind for several years especially since all our petroleum refineries are closing down forcing a reliance on imported fuel. In fact, Riodan fuel's newsletter from a couple of months ago said Australia has only 14 days supply of diesel if imports ceased.

As many know how much we rely on products from China, things would collapse pretty quickly if China stopped shipments.

If a war did eventuate, most mechanics have lost the skills to repair as it's cheaper just to fit a reconditioned or new replacement part rather than spending time learning how the equipment operates and what needs fixing. At the agricultural dealership I worked at, a qualified mechanic was diagnosing an exhaust whistle on an 350HP Cummins powered Case IH tractor so he fitted a new Garret turbo worth over $1,000 in the hope it would be the cause. However, it turned out to just be a blown exhaust manifold gasket! I felt sorry for the customer!

What I find absurd is how we are happy to lease the Darwin and Melbourne ports to China. http://www.ntnews.com.au/business/d...s-story/22dd6087b217e1fa343cd5aaf93968bb

We seem to be sleepwalking towards something, but I'm not sure it is necessarily war. It is a brave new world we have entered, but in many ways it seems to be getting dumber. History has shown us that things have a habit of either escalating or gradually working out. At present it is difficult to judge which way the world might go.

G'day LRT and vint-mow
I did see that article, and it coincided with other shock articles.
I must agree with vint-mow's comments there.
Will history repeat itself, or has the World learnt anything from history?

I once saw a movie - Remains of the Day - that influenced my understanding
of the modern world and new world orders. Based on a book by Kazuo Ishiguro,
it starred Anthony Hopkins and Emma and Emma Stone Thompson.

Diplomacy must be the first approach, but another may be required ...

We are now seeing the first challenges to neo-liberalism and globalisation
after about four decades of supremacy. I feel LRT's comments are important
on self-sufficiency - and this explains the re-emergence of sovereignty in
the modern world. Australia has given away so much!

All very sombre.
-------------------
Jack

I have no idea where it is all heading but I think the ability to repair is probably on the decline worldwide not just in Australia because it has become cheaper to replace than repair. The Chinese factories still need many skilled trades people etc to build the machines that then mass produce the consumable products for the rest of the world. This then leaves every country in a vulnerable position should hostilities break out somewhere, but then the methods of war have changed so dramatically and become so complex that manpower is one of the least needed components of war, which is the opposite of WW1. Cyber war will probably be the way it is fought and that can quite easily shut down a countries fuel/water and power supplies.

Just because Star Wars had a trilogy doesn't mean Earth has to.
WWII yielded a device that has largely been responsible for preventing a third
instalment in the last 72 years. The bomb!
We have since entered a new century and nothing has started in this one thus far.
You must remember that advancements in living conditions has made life far more worth living
for the masses than in any other time in existence (that we know of) and this fact as well as the ultimate deterrent mentioned earlier has allowed us to enjoy a long period of tranquillity and realise how much better it is that way.
I think a slow degeneration of living conditions and societal values is the biggest threat of all and power going to the wrong hands.

BTW, it was Emma Thompson you were thinking of Cyberjack, not Emma Stone of Easy A and La La land fame.