I… must… be… strong… must… not… do… it… must… resist… the urge…

🎵 But I’m only human 🎶

More meat for the meat grinder. And unlike Ukrainians Russia does have a choice to stop the war - all they need to do is stop and leave.

Ukrainians die to protect their homeland against invasion. Russians die for needless oligarchic aspirations of dominion of the elite. It’s not the same thing for either side, as many like to make it seem as if Ukraine has any responsibility in the matter.

Any loss of life on Russia’s side is completely optional, and due to Putin’s whims. Not that it matters to the vultures surrounding Ukraine.

If that simplistic and dismissive view is your take on the whole Ukraine defending their sovereignty against a foreign invader…

Then Doktor Jidanbo prescribes you with less Fox News consumption - as 9/10 dentists say it clouds judgement.

Stopping the ‘meat grinder’ is actually very simple. All that needs to happen is for Russia to stop attacking Ukraine and leave Ukrainian soil. All Russia needs to do is wanting to actually end it, which is the part all the greedy vultures wanting to carve up Ukraine conveniently leave out.

I rather die a proud fighter who fought my oppressors than live in misery while they gleefully take what’s mine, and my loved ones. Capitulating to bullies only leads to more bloodshed. Standing up to them and making them regret their barbaric ways is how you actually stop them.

Take that any way you want, as that’s all I’m gonna say.

Where’s Trump and his “young, brave men”? You know, that speech. The one aimed at Zelensky stating he should just stop the war and stop being desperate by conscripting more people for the defense effort?

Eh, must have left it in the same place he left the “Zelensky is a dictator” comment after he was asked if Putin was also a dictator.

So whataboutism, distorting my words to suit your point and strawmen are your answers. Good to know rather early this conversation isn’t going anywhere, since both of us will always be right and wrong at the same time, according to each other.

One crook or two facing consequences does not excuse all the others that consistently get away. Specially the ones we don’t even know about. She’s just “the one that was caught this time”, with plenty more in line like her waiting for their chance to succeed where she could not. And your willingness to see her “not-reward” as if it was an actual punishment written in the law for her crimes speaks volumes - to the point it makes me wonder what potential role or benefit you’re getting (or hoping to get) from such a system. And before you twist my words to say you’re “not french”, or “not a politician”, know that what I’m saying goes way beyond one person, one position or one nation, so that logic won’t cut it.

Almost makes me think you’re primed to automatically defend scum like her no matter how corrupt she was. Anyways I don’t think this will be a productive discussion for either of us, so forgive me for not participating further.

Cheers.

“Not being president” is not a punishment. Just the absence of a reward for her corruption. If the worst she had was “not being rewarded”, then what stops every other crook from attempting to seize power?

Absence of a reward is not a consequence for breaking the rules. A consequence for breaking the law is the actual punishment, and that also serves as a warning to any other people wanting to do the same.

That’s what’s wrong with the system we currently have, and I’m glad at least she got prison out of it. Leniency is what got us here. There’s got to be actual hard consequences for mocking the system. Rules are only as good as the willingness to apply consequences for breaking them. It’s that simple.

The worst thing in this statement is “could” - “could end her career”.

A system that doesn’t automatically provide real consequences and makes an example of the criminal is a corrupt system in itself. There shouldn’t even be a ‘could’ in a so-called ‘fair and free system’.

And this isn’t just France, by far. Cheers from the Banana Republic known as Portugal, quite the paradise for corrupt politicians.

Good. Still, any real consequences for her? Like prison time? Or will she be granted the usual politician/millionaire+ special treatment and just go on with her merry life minus the extra power?

Reminds me of Portugal’s former PM (Mr. Socrates), a few years ago, and ‘his’ 20M€. Or the convicted felon running the White House currently.

Putin: Hey Krasnov, it’s becoming too obvious. Tone it down a little, I’ll even give you permission to say you are angry at me. Don’t forget papa bear still loves you. 🥰🍆🍒

I guess she could always seek out a position of leadership at the EU, like von der Leyen or Costa.

Supposedly a safe haven for crooked politicians who failed their respective countries before their people had enough of them.

Greetings from Costaland Portugal.

If they before could do it, imagine now with the full US backing by the new fascist administration.

They don’t even have to pretend to be good, they can just do whatever they want because any guardrails that might have been there are now gone.

I want a future of peace worldwide, but we’ll have to suffer a lot more as a species before we reach that point. If we even get there in any kind of future, since there’s no shortage of lunatics with red nuclear buttons spread across the world who rather watch the world burn than give up their power.

I originally switched to Ecosia, loved it. Very identical to Chrome because, well, it’s chromium based. Still a food option, but I wanted to make a full swap.

So I reluctantly tried Vivaldi last week (with Ecosia as a search engine), because that’s 2 major changes to a browser this year, meaning migrating all data and setting stuff up, which is more bothersome than I have patience for under normal circumstances.

Yet, I must say I’m positively surprised by it. Loving Vivaldi so far, and I’m not even using all it has to offer.

Maybe he could take the opportunity, accept Merz’s invitation and stop by Germany. Unless this is a “dictators club only” trip.

*Wink wink

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. 🖕

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.

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.