The Promised Land
edel @ edel @lemmy.ml Posts 0Comments 141Joined 5 mo. ago
edel @ edel @lemmy.ml
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I hear you Cowbee! I’ll be be reading that wiki page latter on today. But again, the regular European carpenter does not benefit from an “exploited” cheaper iron ore in the form of cheaper nails... Not even from cheaper wood, if anything, people will appreciate more wood and hire more carpenters to fix wood cabinets rather than dispose after being worn out... It is a complicated economy...Companies like Ikea do indeed benefit from exploitation, but not the Slovenian carpenter with a market with cheaper wood and cheaper nails.
Now, you could go with that Ikea does benefit, so that those companies pay taxes that the carpenter will ultimately benefit from... I could see that, but, again, we know that these large corporation do not pay their fair taxes, let alone, compensate for the negative externalities they create, so i do see no net benefit to the average EU citizen on the exploitation their countries participate on.
That would be nice to debate, but I hardly see how that is possible. I see you posted that the EU does colonialism in Africa... The EU per se, only finances some NGOs that may have some hidden agenda but hardly substantial in those countries. The other EU's domain is to assign free trade agreements with the poorest countries, but I don't think it is conditional and hard to see as malicious. Now, the EU is clearly now exercising power well beyond its mandate and, what it is worse, for evil... Gosh, it is now even blatantly violitig it is own laws. What I do see exercising colonialism is by some member states, usually correlated with its own GDP and that they now shield themselves behind the EU flag.
That is what many "anti-colonial" gets wrong... they see it as a "white" vs "colored"; it is power against powerless. A carpenter in Slovenia does not have anything to do with colonialism in Africa, Americas or Asia, neither does a farmer in Salisbury or a fisherman in Bilbao... but their white vs colored argument is gold for the architects of colonialism since it shovels that carpenter, farmer and fisherman toward the powers be just for the skin color. Let us remember that groups of people, before embarking in colonialism, did not have any problem abusing and killing the neighbor. Racial distinction only became far more prominent in recent history.
When a neighbor to one side of your home actively participates is genocidal intent, and the other neighbor in the other side also does the same but he smiles at you and even lends you a cup of sugar when needed... I am sorry, but there is no "lesser evil" here... I will vote for anyone but any of them, even if there is no chance it will make a difference now!
However... that is not a 'wasted' vote, but actually an extremely important one... although for a longer term, for following elections. If Democrats see that they loose an election because they loose 3% of typical votes to a third party, they will try to accommodate the concerns of that 3% next time around. If that 3% keeps voting Democrats, there is no incentive to change. The same applies for the Republican side. If the big political parties don't address that still, magic can happen, out of the blue, that 3% can become a 13% movement and donations start coming and in two or three years you have a chance of introducing a capable third party... either way is a win.
No voting, in theory, should have a similar wake-up power as a vote for a third party, but in reality it does not... in the mind of politicians it a much costlier vote to get to it ends usually dismissed as a lost cause; they don't take much reading into 25% or 45% absentee vote... but 1% vote loss to the other side or a third party is watched as a hack, specially in highly polarized elections when it is hard to compensate that 1% loss with voters from the other side!
So mark what is your critical red lines and if no major party respects them, do vote for anyone, anyone that does, no mater how small... don't try to do short-term political engineering since political parties have thousands of people far more capable than any of us at doing political engineering and start throwing around catchphrases such as "lesser evil" or that the other side is "fascist/communist" that is solely designed to leave you parallelized.
Finally, it is the problem of political deception. When it is so blatant in both sides, the same principle applies, vote for anyone, anyone that has not lied on your red lines so far, make your mark that you are sick of deceptions so politicians know they have to address it. Again, don't try to find the lesser evil while indicating your neighbor that smiles at you, that you are okay tolerating with his crimes and deceptions.
Lovely and well researched post... till I see the "tend to be people who also believe that they’re being monitored by the CIA, or that Covid vaccines are implanting mind-control receivers...". I find it problematic that both are considered as the same type; there is an incredible abundant evidence that security apparatus of different countries (not necessarily just the CIA that ' technically' can only operate in non-Americans) are indeed scrutinizing phone's data to well beyond what we would consider "the regular suspects"... way beyond! The other, is just people that, while rightly so can be skeptical of government intentions with global mandates, they hide behind that paranoia for their lack of technical and intend knowledge. As the meme says... "we are not the same".
As for GrapheneOS vs Lineage OS, I am torn. For the majority of people, as of today, LineageOS is just fine... I like that it brings diversity of hardware too since it discourages governments from having to intend to compromise different manufacturers (thing that GOS faults at). Now, more people in GrapheneOS will bring awareness too and more privacy conscious apps. So, for majority of people, do install LineageOS (or their variants), you will be taken good care of... However, for a minority of people, minority but not tiny! you know who you are, you will do better with grapheneOS (hope someone is scrutinizing both GOS and the Pixel hardware though).
And to answer the OP more directly, what do you give up by using a GrapheneOS (besides being forced to buy a Google device), well, no much since you have the option of installing Google services in a second profile or compartmentalized in your main profile. This, of course, would have your device communicating with Google's servers, but the info it can collect would mostly restricted. MicroG is potentially more private than creating a Google account (even if an anonymous one), but some claim is less secure too so I leave it as equal.
In conclusion, if you can live without installing Google services or juts just need it so sporadically that you only need to install it in a secondary profile, and you tolerate a Google Pixel go with GrapheneOS option. If, however, you are not a fan at all of having a Pixel, or need to have Google services constantly running, I would consider instead iodéOS, /e/, etc.
By the way... some opinions after dealing with their managers:
- GrapheneOS... not friendly but they genuinely seen to care about their service. These type of devotion for a cause usually brings these type of developers.
- CalyxOS. The friendlier and approachable. Amazing human beings overall.
- /e/. French usually create a distinct world... they are hard to collaborate with but I fully believe in the difference they bring to the table. Wish they were more accommodating to the global market though. I don't think any of them they would compromise their product for any government or monetary incentive.
After years of observing privacy OS for the phones, this is my conclusion on Phones’ operative systems:
· Android variants locked by a telephone carrier are absolutely the worse, both in privacy and security.
· The rest of OEM Android variants come next, absolutely bad on privacy, but also in security since most phones carry updates for very limited time.
· Newer Google phones (Pixels) at least have several years with security patches, in privacy still bad though.
· iPhones... Good with security (as Google’s) and in privacy... well, it depends; with 3rd party apps is quite good, but Apple has full control of everything and, since it is not opensource... Who knows what it does or does not. Now, there has not been cases brought to justice as evidence from what Apple claims is encrypted end-to-end so there is that. However, if I am an US intelligence agency I would also prefer to have a minimal access to iPhones reserved to critical cases and never reveal that to the public by using it as evidence in courts than revealing my access to iPhones and consequentially destroying the entire scheme permanently (and a trillion dollar industry!). In brief, iPhones are an acceptable device for the average consumer or those with minimal ‘phone hygiene', but, for instance, certain high-stake journalists, politicians and organizers should however avoid them.
· Then we have these customized Android OS; The OP has included I great continuously updated site listing them. However, that list is too detailed for most since just a single app you install can place the entire privacy benefits of these OS pointless. There is no need to mention GrapheneOS is the one who, point by point, take privacy and security to the maximum level, while the others, in different degrees, try to bring some short of compromise with compatibility. With GrapheneOS’s recent compartmentalization of Google apps option, it has really dented competitors like LineageOS, /e/, etc.. Now, I have to say, if I were a high-stake journalist, I would think twice using a Google Pixel device (the only one that work with GrapheneOS)... I trust GrapheneOS software, but what the Google chip could potentially do, no so much. I would trust more sending a secured message in a Sony device loaded with /e/ at the cost of not having updates (unless someone is being able to have physically access to it that is, if the device is in the hands of an adversary, I trust a Pixel 7 one thousand times than any Sony Xperia 5... I hope you understand what I mean. Any of these OS are** the best option for those that have an acceptable phone hygiene (choosing apps with some rigor and giving them access only for what it is needed)**.
· Finally there are the non Android based, mainly based on Linux. Linux Touch, PureOS, etc. but none has ever got beyong an experimental stage. I had really rooted for Sailfish OS since its very beginning, but unfortunately, most of them came much earlier when the market wasn’t demanding them, and now that the market demands for these, the effort and funds had been completely depleted on those types of initiatives. What puzzles my is how mid-sized phone companies never funded these privacy initiatives (looking at you Sony Ericsson , HMD’s Nokia, Alcatel..., they should have been able to have forecasting this trend since Snowden.)
To conclude, I just wanted to say, for the community, no so much for the individual, the importance of number of users in an OS/App and, paradoxically, the diversity in the market too. Market size for an opensourced OS is critical, because it increases the chances of being constantly audited... I am sorry, but the overwhelming majority of opensource OS and apps do no go through any audit at all (hopefully will put an AI scrutinize all these soon!) so they give a false sense of being non-malicious. But diversity is important too... Everyone relying on GrapheneOS alone, although considered trusted today, would be dangerous and would be bad from multiple fronts; Google may be compelled to lock bootloaders, governments may introduce backdoors for the chips since dealing with 1 manufacturer is easier to deal in secrecy with 6, GrapheneOS could relax its fight for privacy if there was no competition, etc... So, the mere existence of different OS CalixOS, SailfishOS, iodéOS, ect... Benefits all of us, even if not used by you.
I have to give it that the Fedora distros are a slightly bit superior to Ubuntu variants but for those that value some degree of not favoring corporate US (IBM/Red Hat) that provides AI resources for Israel's military to do what it is doing... Myself I tried to like Mint, I really did... but could not... not just it is old-fashioned looking but has limitations with scaling and others.
Now, I do recognize for the initiators is it great! Now, for those that find Mint ugly I recommend TuxedoOS... I find it as good as Kubuntu but without its known limitations with flatpaks. Yes, TuxedoOS was created for Tuxedo laptops but they left it open to use it with others so no problems at all and very well maintained. Now, you may want remove the Tuxedo app that they installed just to free some resources... a 10-seconds thing to do. Drawback is servers in Germany so a bit slower updates than usual for most.
I cannot agree more with the impression that the American is falling into authoritarianism... but why I have the feeling the originator of these comments are either a Democrat or an European.
The entire West has been falling into authoritarianism since a while ago, Trump just makes it more obvious, but the trend has been established way before he came. His presidential powers were given by many Congresses before him. The same happend in the EU, where the Commission has been allowed way, way more powers than the instituted in the Treaty of Lisbon (2007), let alone Maastricht Treaty (1992)
Inside the EU countries parliaments I see the same erosion.
But of course, lets all blame Trump so we can get back to normal... because whether you care about immigrants, discrimination, speech freedoms, wars, poverty, famine, etc... it was so much better in 2024!
In Western countries, anything relate to house maintenance. Since inflation is posed to increase far more in services like plumbing, electrical, carpentry, etc., it is good to known the basics. It is really not that complicated and the tools required can be justified just by no calling a professional even the first time. Now, do not cheap out in doing a good work, you may no realize it now, but it pays to do so. There is so much content online on how to do something it is really easy nowadays... and you partner will admire you like you never though possible!
There are several but this comes to mind: Assange rape cases from Sweden you really, really think were real? The infiltration by US with the aid of UK and Spain in a embassy you think was normal? The forcing him to plead guilty to let him live does sound okay to the EU member states?
But let me tell you other case of another journalist (and there are more!):
"It is unacceptable for an EU member state to detain a journalist in such an arbitrary manner. Not only are Pablo González's fundamental rights as a citizen and as a journalist being violated, but so is the freedom of the press and the public's right to know,"
He was arrested in Poland but his Spanish government officials did not lift a finger for him or any EU country for that matter.
He was in solitary confinement for 2 years and 5 months with no contact with any family member whatsoever. No charges were ever filed. He was covering the Ukraine refugee crisis for several Spanish media like LaSexta. His crime? having a Russia father so been able to speak Russian to cover a Russian speaking region. How dare an important media ever send a journalist that can speak the local language!
I love the framing the media said at the time though... "he was carrying two passports with different names" and reminded me of the multitude ¨terrorists" arrests after 9/11 and the press saying "they had multiple passports" and "a flight simulators was found"... until I realized which young immigrant in the US would not have multiple passports and have one of the most popular games in the 90s! The two passports with "different names" it is rather common for people with dual citizenship to have different names... there is nothing illegal or fishy about it. Here in the US it is even in the forms to change name as you gain the citizenship! He was born in Russia but lived all his live in Spain (a very commi side of Spain though, I give you that) but not deserving to imprison in solitary confinement for 2 and a half years without any charges to be released in a prisoner exchange with Russia.
By the way, after years of reading on spies' arrests by, whether is Poland, Russia, Iran, US or India, in today's world, with so much tech and the resources that these countries have to accumulate evidence... if a "spy" is arrested and no charges are brought up within 2 months and 5 in front of a judge, I straight consider it either there is no case at all, or the government it is just accumulating a head count to exchange with another country. I don´t even think 70% of the "prisonerś exchanges" are what they claimed they are. Now, if they pick people randomly or simply people they don´t like it is a mystery.
One little fact not known by non-Americans is that In the United States, immigration officers are granted full authority to operate without any warrant within a 100-mile zone from any U.S. border... they can enter in the homes of 2/3 of Americans (200 million) without any explanation!! And now in masks and without visible IDs... It is going to be fun!
Socialism has so many interpretations is hard to say.
Up to 8yrs ago, I would encourage any country with same "values" as the EU to join, I was an EU vociferous fan, now just an European one ... The EU has become something rotten and the values it held dear are no longer there. The EU disciplines countries that does not follow what the establishment wants and discriminates to what states rules applies and to who does not. For instance, member states are encouraged to incarcerate certain journalists for months without even charges and the powers of the Commission become more and more without any mandate, let alone debate. You tell me who when the EU citizens completely overturned their representatives for Brussels, these still voted for Ursula von der Leyen... in no parliamentary system in the democratic world that could be possible! In the EU it does. Member states, for better or for worse, have veto power... well, no for some now... and you can even now can punish them! What you think it will happen to "socialist Norway" if it dissent?
Stay out of the EU while the current status persist. So also from the Euro.
Do work, however, to get Norway out of NATO. It is perplexing why a voluntary military alliance exert so much power in internal politics, but it does to a horrendous degree. NATO would be the one to first prevent Norway to become a Socialist country and in very nasty ways behind the scene,
Thanks for the info and all references you do in Lemmy. I don´t consider myself with a similar ideology as you, but indeed I am learning lots of info from your posts.
I was aware of the atrocities and agreement violations, but not that perspective that colonials wanted to get free from any agreements the British did with the natives... Is that a common knowledge in the academia, disputed or a minority one? It is not to discredit it at all the idea, just to genuinely know its status at university level?
You know "Poland, the Baltic states or Finland" are not representative of Europe, don´t you? They represent 11% of the EU and 7% in Europe. As someone that witnessed the rise of irrational nationalism in the Balkans, I am fed up with political parties (with the aid of foreign entities) using media to polarize their population against the "monster neighbor" that just want o 'rape your woman'... it is sickening whether in Warsaw, Moscow, Kyiv, Delhi or Tel Avid.
But even in Poland, is there a risk of confrontation with Russia in a foreign land and the overwhelmingly majority of young in Poland will flee overnight. The noise is there, but few actually believe that Russia wants to roll tanks in Warsaw. Russia made clear for a decade already that their only drive is no NATO inference in Ukraine and that is it and made several fierce statements continuously, last one being a letter 2 months to NATO before the invasion. Russia did not even wanted Dombas region, those Russian speakers would be far more utilized within a democratic Ukraine since any constitutional change would require their approval so the facto maintaining Ukraine constitutional neutral. After the coup that disfranchised millions of residents in the East of Ukraine... the Moscow equation changed.
Countries like Baltic countries, Germany, Scandinavians and France (their leaders at least) are probably wondering if to simmer the drums till next US election, go all in themselves or change course with the head high. Europeans, rightly so, are not buying it and will not join any armed group even if constricted... and those leaders know it... so the dillenma is either to wait or how to get out. With Trump back, I was hoping, European leaders, in their highly antagonism to Trump, would reverse course, at least with Gaza... but not so... if Trump, does indeed reverse course... my gosh... The EU will be insignificant and a pariah in the global stage for decades to come.
As someone who publicly predicted Trump's wins in both 2016 and 2024 (I live in the most representative county there is!) I can tell you Americans are fed up with war expenditures abroad (even they do benefit the US in the short run!). Specially with the Ukrainian so, even if a Democrat would win in 2028, he/she would not pull off tens of billions on aid to any country... that, it is going likely to be a heavy issue in next elections and even demand a commitment no for massive aid packagers. I think they will even include Israel in the restrictions.
There are some, and well know by the West in other to appease some EU region that cannot easily accommodate for the sanctions. Do you really, really, think is would it, in any shape or form, even noticeably by Moscow? Their economy is much faster growing with respect the EU and far more diversified in customers than 4 yrs ago (they need now to do it also in types of exported goods). Fr sure, Russia would like to normalize relations with the West, but if you give Moscow the choice of 5Billions trade in the West for the cost of 1Billion from Asia, he will chose to maintain the Asian one without any further thought.
I have to disagree here. The carpenter would ultimately had a similar quality of life with empire or without... Life in the west would be very different for sure, but i would not qualify it as worse. Consumerism would be replaced by a far more sustainable lifestyle and we would have replaced our incentives based on GDP long ago, but does not mean less quality of life, just a more just one.