JazzG I think you've already decided they are lying and not really interested in what they find, fair enough.

As I mentioned in my reply, I don't believe outright claims they make no because they have shown themselves to be dishonest in things they have said related to this very topic so it makes me sceptical at the outset. If they however provide the actual evidence and source information of their allegations to the public so that people can see see for themselves and it supports their claims then fair enough. I don't think that's an unreasonable position to take.

Your presumption seems to be that what they claim is the truth even without the evidence to I support it. You want transparency from government, why can't we have transparency from Musk et al?

awooga83 You want transparency from government, why can't we have transparency from Musk et al?

lol, it's so obvious it's ridiculous that you even have to write it aloud.

These pathetic business idiots think they're special because they have money. They are pitiful little weak-willed snowflakes who can't take even a shred of criticism without going ballistic.

For them, transparency is for the underpaid, overworked bureaucrat who foolishly dedicated their life to public service. They should have been born rich and bought themselves more money by bribing and extorting the US government like all the other business idiots, then they wouldn't cry so hard.

Claudius it's the framing that bothers me. It's blatantly racist.

Qwiss

It's everywhere. Young men are becoming more right wing (and women more liberal) - even in norway and denmark. Some surveys suggest it is a reaction to cultural issues.

JazzG Why does it matter which account I posted the video from?

It doesn't. Kudos for sticking to the issue.

I agree with the goal of Musk and Trump. Not sure they are doing it the right/most efficient way though.. we'll see in a year or two. Reducing the bureaucracy (in size and power) is necessary. Liberal democracies need more democracy (populism) and a less liberalism (institutions).

Populism isn't democratic, particularly in its current form where it relies heavily on mis/disinformation distributed through social media

So now NATO has effectively ceased to exist as well. What a catastrophe this administration is. The Russians couldn't have dreamed of a better outcome in their wildest dreams. Just goes to show that it is worth cultivating assets.

Gazza M

My version of populism is pretty simple. Will of the majority.

Gazza M also, democratic systems have been built by trial and error over thousands of years. they have checks and balances in place so nobody can typically impose their will on people. what Trump and Elon have figured out is that the government works through both rules and norms. They might not be able to break the rules - i.e., if anything is illegal, the courts will roll it back, but they can avoid the norms - i.e., implement illegal actions that would typically not be done because the system usually relies on negotiation with multiple stakeholders on every little topic, knowing that if you do enough of this you an a) change the perception of what is considered possible, and b) have some impact before the courts roll back your actions, including winning favour with your supporters and eliminating your enemies.

It's a very effective approach which people used to operating under democratic processes will have no idea how to deal with.

Kel Varnsen Reducing the bureaucracy (in size and power) is necessary. Liberal democracies need more democracy (populism) and a less liberalism (institutions).

Improved democracy comes from mass power, not this nonsense, which has only become possible due to the lack of it.

We had a discussion here about the 20 failed years of trying to get M4A up in the US. That's the symptom of elite economic domination, and so's this ... because if it were more democracy then public goods would be being instituted, with a mandate.

Gazza M

It is the will of the american people. Trump is doing pretty much exactly what he said he would do.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/07/us/politics/trump-rally-wisconsin.html

Dictatorship of the majority as a legitimate model of government or even as a form of democracy has been rejected a long time ago. Don't be a child.

Gurgen I think Europe needs to take some of the blame here as well. I don't agree with the American stance but Europe has been for too long ignored their own armed defences and relied upon American security for a long time. They've pissed away their money and now they'll be dictated to by the Americans how this war ends and the terms of it. They know exactly what Russia are like yet still chose that path, hell they happily bought oil off them.

Lets see what Trump does but early signs are he wants the war to stop and doesn't really care too much about anything else. Europe does have a lot of frozen Russian assets which it could try to use as leverage. But right now a lot of European countries needs to have a long hard think about how they prepare going forward. The Americans are not providing security any more, if they do it will come at a high cost.

Kel Varnsen I agree with the goal of Musk and Trump. Not sure they are doing it the right/most efficient way though.. we'll see in a year or two. Reducing the bureaucracy (in size and power) is necessary. Liberal democracies need more democracy (populism) and a less liberalism (institutions).

Democrats used to talk about this as well. I don't know how much Clinton and Obama got done, I do recall the last time their government had a surplus was under Clinton and possibly the first year of Bush.

Mirth What you described is a common scam that most businesses face and unfortunately some fall victim to.

I dare say that if the NHS flagged it at £250k, they have more sophisticated controls than Meta and Google!

I can't remember now how it was picked up but it happened long after the money had gone and they didn't recover anything. That Meta scam seems a lot more sophisticated then just sending an invoice through the post and hoping it gets paid!

Claudius So you actually need to actively create programs to grow and retain women. Doesn’t mean that the women are too stupid for the work. They juat face a million structural constraints that make their lives a lot harder than a man’s. That’s what DEI is about. It’s not about getting stupid people into your company.

Like I said it started with good intentions but it clearly being abused when less clever kids get vip lanes into top universities over more brighter kids because of their colour. I strongly support programs which have helped physically and mentally disabled people get into work, the problem is these good programs end up being abused by people with certain ideological beliefs.

awooga83 Your presumption seems to be that what they claim is the truth even without the evidence to I support it. You want transparency from government, why can't we have transparency from Musk et al?

That is the way government works, if Elon and Trump are fucking around they won't be able to hide it. In a couple years time when the next elections happen Trump will end up as a lame duck president like he did last time and then nothing gets done.

JazzG That is the way government works, if Elon and Trump are fucking around they won't be able to hide it. In a couple years time when the next elections happen Trump will end up as a lame duck president like he did last time and then nothing gets done.

Which is fine but it's only worth considering what they have alleged when they provide the supporting evidence, until then it's unverified and not worth taking on board because you have no way to know what's true.

JazzG Americans encouraged that behaviour because it suited them just fine to have the most powerful military in the world with as many countries as possible depending on them. They don't get to beat Europe with that stick, though Europe should wise up.