Of course he was always a jerk, but I still think of a reality where Elon never went (officially) Nazi and just stuck with his otherwise important companies. Tesla being an important early mover in EVs, especially in such an oil-dependent country, and all the cool stuff SpaceX has been up to.

Governments in any nation - France deefinitely not excluded - are self-serving and following the wishes of the rich, but the common French people have always had balls!

You know that their Asian neighbours also have low birth rates, right? Then it’s simply shifting the issue to another area.

Really depends on the society. South Korea, for example, is definitely genuinely threatened by its way too sharp decline - including culturally. Otherwise I agree that negative effects are generally overexaggerated and that the future will inevitably demand less human labour.

European governments and the EU definitely don’t care about us, their citizens, but most do see the threat coming from USA these days, thankfully

How is that a “crazy theory”? Information control is not directly tied to capitalism but to any form of regime. The Western model and social media is, of course, strongly tied to capitalism and the desire for economic growth. How does that add to it?

There is no better regime than the West in this regard. Force things on people? You’re gonna risk a revolt or dissent. ‘Subtly’ make people dependent on your product so they’ll voluntarily use it and share everything with you while you ‘subtly’ control the algorithm in your favour? Now that’s perfect. Social media is the ultimate tool of power and governance.

Although North Korea is a very “successful” oppressive regime, largely able to have full control over information both in and out of the country and to greatly limit desertion. I can’t think of a “better” regime in this regard.

Just to be clear though, it’s not a state programme. But fuck Germany’s stance on Israel for sure…

You know fully well that vaccines make frogs gay. It’s a protective measure not to use them!

For real, what is wrong with you?

Huh? I’m not even from the UK or a royalist 😂 what is up with your stupid assumptions? Go touch some grass fam

“Never”? This is literally the only comment of mine you’ve ever seen 😂 bro, don’t tell me there’s not pleeenty of criticism of the Catholic church going around. By far the most scorned religious institution in the West.

Now what does this have to do with criticism of a pervasive issue in Japanese culture? Do we have to attach a list of every problematic institution every time criticism is given, or do you just have a weak ass mental? Bring an argument rather than ad hominem and we might actually have something relevant to talk about. Otherwise you’re just a tosser.

Don’t let fear of being “racist” keep you from calling a spade a spade. Japan has a track record when it comes to issues such as these.

You misunderstand. Elon is retired from US politics now, obviously, and will return to being a force of good!

I definitely disagree we’re seeing as terrible rise of fascist ideology; oligarchs controlling the flow of information on the internet is the biggest threat towards human existence.

I wouldn’t even say I’m a regular right-winger, or any kind of wing really, I mainly simply don’t believe in the effectiveness of extremes.

What nations would you consider “properly” socialist? Isn’t a prerequisite for achieving acommunist society a period of socialist government preparing the people’s spirits? Also, even 'socialism" is a spectrum; if any government with progressive taxes is “socialist” then yes, you have plenty of states you can include. Mind you, I’m from Scandinavia - a region often mentioned as an example of socialist policies - but the system is fundamentally capitalist for better and worse.

Sorry if I’m projecting a bit too much onto you! I don’t like capitalism, but I don’t find it realistic or achieveable to rid yourself of it in a meaningful way; history has shown that a new upper class emerges once the heads of the former have been cut off. Power. It’s human nature and it always will be. The best bet is to compromise and pressure capitalist systems as much as possible. Which camp am in?

I don’t know who “you guys” are; I’m not American at least. I have a more specific definition of “socialism” than just living under a system that taxes the rich and has a degree of national control over the means of production

Most moderate anything government doesn’t even begin to come anywhere close to the control of a “radical” leftist state.

What is your basis for “radical” leftists standing for human rights? Radical leftists are rarely liberally minded. I don’t disagree that many left-wing parties stand for decency, environmental protection, and various rights - but “radicals” do not.

Of course fascists are bad and can go fuck themselves - but not all “right wingers” are fascists.

Socialist regimes are inherently fond of surveillance. Indiviuals can have any given stance on it. Politically involved people - minus fascists - tend to have stances against surveillance and for data protection.

There’s a lot of nuance inbetween “capitalist” and “anti-capitalist”. I’m not here to defend capitalism but this black-and-white worldview often held by self-proclaimed left-wingers is offputting to the very masses that they claim to represent to such a degree that the working class would rather shoot themselves in the foot by voting for fascists and fascist-adjacents rather than support “crazy leftists”. In the modern age it’s an ideology of a lot of talk and studies and very few results.

And how do you ensure that the “radical left” doesn’t support surveillance measures? Not like the ideology has a good track record on that matter.

“No true Scotsman”.

We don’t have to think in political leanings following the left-right paradigm. Parties and persons considered “leftist” aren’t inherently good, nor is the other side inherently bad. Don’t limit yourself by identifying with just one ideology. In case you didn’t realise, socialists tend to like surveillance as well

Yup, gonna have some trips around Southeast and East Asia as well as Australia and NZ… probably Canada one day as well.

Especially Chile has some incredible landscapes I’d love to experience as well