I mean, with all the censoring and pandering to Musk, allowing for entire bot swarms to the point it really becomes obvious it's happening - who could have predicted this?
That's right, kids. Allying yourself with fascist tendencies in any way, shape or form will hurt you in the long run. Just provide the damn service people are looking for and stop playing god, trying to use your platform to shape opinions and censor statements you or your buddies don't like.
We should ask ourselves why those sanctions are there in the first place, and if looking at Russia today is there any change to their behavior to justify lifting them.
"We are being mean to poor peaceful Russia, as they're friends who happen to have personally benefitted the current President of the US" is not a valid reason to lift sanctions.
Guessed as much with the wave of censorship many people, including myself, noticed and shared, pretty much exclusively to anti-MAGA opinions, and regardless of them being constructive and objective.
That, and the increase in bot activity in european and canadian subreddits, to the point it felt there were more pro-MAGA's demotivating and belittling people trying to make a change, than actual europeans or canadians.
It's one thing to not agree with my opinion, it's a-ok with me and everyone has a right to it. I even agree with moderating extreme and violent statements when necessary. It's another thing entirely to censor my opinion because you don't like it. And on a forum like Reddit that's inadmissible.
Nuked my account, changed to Lemmy and never looked back. And I'm happy for it. If you can't take my opinion without trying to take my voice away I'll just leave you alone in your echo chamber.
What are you gonna do? Tariff yourself into isolation? While Europe, UK, Canada, Mexico and possibly the rest of the British commonwealth trade and work more together to make up for the loss of the US?
If you think you don't need us then stop crying about it. Just do it. The free world has called your bluff, so either admit you're weak and take the loss graciously, or take the consequences of your continued actions (though we already know which option will be chosen).
Bring it on, homeboy. 🖕
I'll say it's fun seeing her increasingly squirm while trying to justify and lie through the bigger and bigger scandals that keep happening.
Lie, gaslight, become personally offended at questions, threaten with censure when presented with facts. It evolves as it goes.
The more we carry on, barely 2 months after taking office, the more indefensible it becomes. And the more she has to twist her logic to defend her bosses. Truly amazing to watch, despite how bad it is.
Donald Trump is the first US President since World War Two to challenge the role that his country set for itself many decades ago.
Keywords here are "set for itself", despite what Americans like to say about other countries depending on their leadership.
They conveniently ignore that at the time the US voluntarily took that role Europe was completely torn apart and destroyed, while the US had the luxury of sitting out most of the war with that 'big, beautiful ocean' apart, which Trump is so proud of. And no neighbors posing any kind of threat. They helped indirectly at first, sure, but only really jumped in at the end, after the war had made it to US shores through Pearl Harbor.
Let's not pretend the US hasn't benefitted massively from its prestigious position, setting its currency as the world trade currency, NATO article 5 post 9/11, lack of proper taxation by Europe on US digital products and services we consume, and the list goes on and on.
The US is absolutely and objectively not a poor victim here. As much as they like to pretend it. They were allowed to prosper because the world chose to follow their desires. And a leader without followers is just a delusional guy in an echo chamber.
You don't get to crave leadership, protagonism and glory, and at the same time complain about others relying on you. You can't be both a hero and a victim at once. You don't get to have it both ways.
I mean, this is on brand for them.
And I want to believe there's some mega 4D chess move going on, involving deliberately leaking false plans to mess with the enemy. But then I remember these are self-righteous buffoons who believe themselves above the world and have the hubris to match it. 🤏🧠
That's sad to hear. Well, alternatively, when conditions like these get in the way malicious compliance tends to be the answer. Let them go, but they shouldn't be surprised that the people don't welcome them and make them feel as unwanted as possible.
All this while we (allies) start paving the long, bureocratic and legal way to defend ourselves, by rethinking and adjusting these same accords and treaties that prove themselves to be liabilities in these circumstances. They're there to protect stability and balance, after all, not to excuse bullies wanting to impose themselves on other nations.
Deem them all persona-non-grata until they've backed down completely. Same for Canada, Panama, Germany and any other nation in the crosshairs of the US, whether for annexation or political tampering.
Strong worded letters won't do anything with these sleezebags. Only actions. Otherwise they'll always go up to you and grab your lollipop, because they know all you'll do is complain without taking action. And words alone don't hurt sociopaths who don't care about feelings.
To them it's literally 'as easy as taking candy from a child', because they know the child won't defend itself beyond crying - and that's what they want and expect. God forbid you actually defend yourselves, they'll be offended and take to social media to condemn you.
Yup. In several countries, including my own (Portugal), the 'far right' who tends to repeat Trump's talking points is raising red flags all over.
Poilievre in Canada, Farage in the UK, the whole AfD/Musk/Vance debacle in Germany, and so on. And many of these parties were gaining strong traction with each election. Now Trump's image association with them might as well be a radioactive label.
Yup. This is the kind of situation most average people will underestimate or believe this is just media doing its usual thing of blowing stuff out of proportion and creating drama for views, until they actually find themselves in a scenario of powerlessness against tyrants who waited their whole lives to have this kind of power.
And I don't mean Trump, specifically. I mean down to the ICE field agent who was always trigger-happy but was constrained by law and its consequences. These people now see there's fewer and fewer guardrails preventing their abuses, and they'll take full advantage of it.
Never underestimate human ambition. Both for good and bad. Appreciate your human rights, but don't take them for granted - the only thing protecting such rights is the fear of the consequences of violating them by bad people.
Maybe he could take the opportunity, accept Merz's invitation and stop by Germany. Unless this is a "dictators club only" trip.
*Wink wink