Hi AC,

JL is some kind of female version of the 'Mad Katter', just a degree or two more sensible, but that's no recommendation as she hails from Tasmania. Like Bob, she has been known to make a sensible comment on something or other during one of her rare but truly infrequent lucid moments. Most of the time, like Bob, she is up her tree singing 'Yankee Doodle Dany', but we should not hold that against her. Like Bob she is "good value" but unfortunately like the rest of us, insane most of the time. Don't forget she did start off as a Fat Clive convert when she first entered politics. To her credit she woke up to the complete craziness of Fat Clive and his crazy band, and resigned from the Mad Hatters tea "party".

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Dear mhaze,

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You wrote :

« In 2023, total US soft drink exports to Australia was valued at $2.3 million. Yeah, let's put a tariff on that huge market (!!). The US will be begging for mercy before ya know it. Struth. »
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You did not indicate the source of your information, mhaze. Would you please do so ?

According to the IndexBox market intelligence platform, Australia’s imports of soft drinks stood at US $458 million in 2024, of which US $44 million was from the United States.

That's quite different from the AUD 2.3 million you indicate.

In value terms, according to the IndexBox market intelligence platform, sugary soft drinks represented 80% of imports.

Here is a link to the source :

http://www.indexbox.io/blog/soft-drink-australia-market-overview-2024-1/
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As I indicated in my previous post, I suggested that we reciprocate and align with the US by placing a 25% tariff on soft drinks, as it would be better for our health if, as a result, we reduced our consumption of soft drinks.

Trump is reported to be addicted to Diet Coke, and though he became aware of the alleged health risks over a decade ago, he refused to stop drinking it.

In October 2012, he tweeted that he’s “never seen a thin person drinking Diet Coke.”

He later revealed that he received some backlash from the Coke brigade for suggesting that the sugar-free drink makes people fat, stating that the company was “not happy” with him.

“I’ll still keep drinking that garbage,’’ he reassured voters before celebrating his endorsement as Republican nominee, with a bottle of Diet Coke.

That seems to indicate that he should be quite sensitive to Australia retaliating with a 25% tariff on his favourite beverage.

Don't you think ?

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Hi BP,

"Trump is reported to be addicted to Diet Coke, and though he became aware of the alleged health risks over a decade ago, he refused to stop drinking it."

A health risk you say, so lets send the Dangerous Doctor Donald a couple of complementary pallets so he can drink to his hearts content. BTW DDD told people to drink Pine-O-Clean diso during Covid, so Diet Coke can't be too bad.

BTW; 84% of Australians disapprove of Donald Trump and even more disapprove of Elon Musk. That does not include the sycophantic Trumpsters on this Forum, mhaze, ttbn, Indy etc.

"That seems to indicate that he should be quite sensitive to Australia retaliating with a 25% tariff on his favourite beverage. Don't you think ?"

I don't think there's very much thinking going on here.

Australia doesn't import Diet Coke or any other Coca Cola beverage for that matter. They are made here in Sydney. But what have the facts got to do with it, heh?

So putting a tariff on imported Diet Coke would be a useful as putting a tariff on imported Akubras. Struth.

What I find fascinating as how easy it is to get the sheeple to rally around the flag on issues like this. People who would reject nationalism let alone jingoism suddenly become nationalists to a man. Manipulating the population is so easy.

It wasn't all that long ago that China put all sorts of tariffs and quotes on Australian products. Hands up all those who remember the likes of Paul demanding reciprocal attacks. Me either.

But that's different because.... shut up.

Un-Australian Trumpster,

I make allowance for your increasing dementia syndrome, but I suppose at the age of 97 it is to be expected, such a pity you're a sufferer, but that's life!

"It wasn't all that long ago that China put all sorts of tariffs and quotes on Australian products. Hands up all those who remember the likes of Paul demanding reciprocal attacks. Me either."

Yes, given your mental state you wouldn't remember me criticizing Chinese tariffs on Australian goods, but I did.

The poor Un-Australian Trumpster has got it wrong again;

"The Coca-Cola Company produces concentrate, ( which is then sold to licensed Coca-Cola bottlers throughout the world. The bottlers, who hold exclusive territory contracts with the company, produce the finished product in cans and bottles from the concentrate, in combination with filtered water and sweeteners. A typical 12-US-fluid-ounce (350 ml) can contains 38 grams (1.3 oz) of sugar (usually in the form of high-fructose corn syrup in North America). The bottlers then sell, distribute, and merchandise Coca-Cola to retail stores, restaurants, and vending machines throughout the world. The Coca-Cola Company also sells concentrate for soda fountains of major restaurants and foodservice distributors."

"Coca-Cola concentrate, the core flavoring ingredient for the beverage, is produced by the Stepan Company in Maywood, New Jersey, a company authorized by the US government to import and process coca leaves."

Yep, The Coca-Cola Company very carefully guards its concentrate formula.