Mastodawn

max.Jun 22, 2023

I'm laughing at memes about billionaires who can't pull themselves up to the surface by their own bootstraps, but in reality I'm furious.

I'm furious I was accused of human smuggling by FRONTEX (European border agency) for being part of a sea rescue operation that saved 1000+ lives of refugees fleeing war & terrorism.

I'm furious at the money & international effort being spent to rescue these billionaires when operations like ours cost so little and save so many lives, but are punished.

1/3

Revoluciana Jun 21, 2023

I'm furious about the money & international effort spent on both the causes of the desperate migration of refugees, and the money & effort spent to block and punish rescuers & refugees alike, and to force rescuers to leave thousands of people to die.

A couple billionaires drown on an $$$ and ill-advised tourist trip and it's tragedy. Thousands of refugees die and it's punishment for their crime of what? Color of their skin? Location of their birth? The amount of capital they don't own?

2/3

Revoluciana Jun 21, 2023

If you're concerned about the billionaires but can't have the slightest amount of compassion for refugees drowning at sea, you're the problem.

I'm looking at every nation, media outlet, and yes, Billionaire, that gives this amount of coverage, money, and international resources to this rescue operation but contribute to the opposite to migrants fleeing oppression and violence.

3/3

Sane Thinker Jun 21, 2023

@revoluciana There needs to be a maximum wage, and we need to tax the shit out of these people. Maybe Alito and Thomas will look into it.

Revoluciana Jun 21, 2023

@gdeihl Billionaires don't make money from wages, they make it from hoarding capital and exploiting the wage labor of others who have no choice but to be exploited.

Billionaires should not exist. Wage labor should not exist. Capitalism should not exist.

Sane Thinker Jun 21, 2023

@revoluciana No argument here. I'm writing an article about degrowth, neoliberal economics and Milton Friedman's Chicago Boys involvement in Chile in the early 70s.

Filipi Limi Jun 22, 2023

@gdeihl @revoluciana oh, hi there.
watcha need?

Carola Fuentes' book or film should got you fully covered on this matter

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Boys_(film)

Chicago Boys (film) - Wikipedia

Sane Thinker Jun 22, 2023

@morenonatural @revoluciana Thank you for this. Milton Friedman's personal responsibility for the state of the world can't be underestimated. Naomi Klein's Shock Doctrine Covers Friedman and the Chicago Boys and many other awful things quite well, too. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Shock_Doctrine

The Shock Doctrine - Wikipedia

Rokosun Jun 22, 2023

Hey @revoluciana, for the past 3 years my friend @tio has been working on this documentary called TROM II and its finally out now, it showcases these volunteer organizations who rescue refugees at the sea, along with many other humanitarian projects around the world. Its hard for me to summarize the entire documentary because there's a lot in it, but I have a feeling you're gonna like it so I'm sharing it here - https://www.tromsite.com/documentaries/trom2/

It is free to watch and there are no ads either 🙂

TROM 2

TROM II: A Message to the Aliens Year: 2023 / Duration: 4 parts, 5 hours We live in a world where everyone is busy, everyone is consumed, everyone seems confused. Money, social credits, ads, data collection, prices and billionaires. Climate change? Who cares! A one-marble world, floating in a giant soup of stars and planets, …

TROM

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@futureisfoss @gdeihl @tio Thanks for sharing! I'll take a look when I get a chance! Sounds like a great project :)

Sane Thinker Jun 22, 2023

@futureisfoss @revoluciana @tio The trailer is beautiful. This project looks inspired. I will be coming back to it as I have time. Thank you.

GATEKEEPER Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana @gdeihl
Wealthy people aren't effected by high interest rates. They pay cash for everything. We need to bring back the luxury tax.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@GatekeepKen @gdeihl We need to get rid of billionaires and redistribute all the wealth.

Blippy the Wonder Slug (MOVED)Jun 23, 2023

@revoluciana @GatekeepKen @gdeihl
Eat the rich.
#EatTheRich

@revoluciana Capitalism *should* exist. It's the best we have, it just should be better regulated and not be treated as a silver bullet that can magically solve every human problem, because it can't. There are parts of society where socialist policies would work much better (legal system, housing and healthcare are the obvious ones), but capitalism doesn't need to be the enemy.

Nour 🏳️‍⚧️🍉Jun 23, 2023

@person @revoluciana heavily regulated capitalism is an "okay" hill, but we'll never get to discover the higher hills and mountains if we're not willing to stroll around that hill and discover, and even fight and ostracize those who dare to wander around that hill on their own.

Revoluciana Jun 23, 2023

Twee Jack Jun 23, 2023

@person @revoluciana
Capitalism is the only system that has been proven to destroy the beautiful planetary systems that made our home so wonderful for human inhabitants.

It has also proven too unruly a beast for us mere humans to sufficiently regulate for it to work in our (or nature's) favour.

If the best you have doesn't work, then get another.

Sane Thinker Jun 24, 2023

@jackdweeb @person @revoluciana Yes, capitalism has to be abolished ASAP or we're all dead.
https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/the-economy-we-need-to-save-ourselves

The Economy We Need to Save Ourselves

Consumption is Killing Us

Sane Thoughts for Insane Times

AccordionBruce Jun 24, 2023

@jackdweeb @person @revoluciana
Somebody else may have said, but “big C” Communism did a tremendous job at destroying the environment when it had the chance (see also mass murder at least as well or better)

There may be better options than Capitalism, but we have to make our alternatives explicit

I anticipate a breakdown, and fear it will be ugly, and don’t know what to do [edit: oh, I had an idea 💡]

Revoluciana Jun 24, 2023

@AccordionBruce @jackdweeb @person Communism is not differentiated by capitalized and lowercase letters, so if your impression is that communism = mass murder, you need to educate yourself further than Capitalist propaganda. Also, there have been plenty of forms of communism, socialism, and anarchism that have done very well for working with the environment. You might check out the work of Murray Bookchin for more help that way.

AccordionBruce Jun 24, 2023

@revoluciana @jackdweeb @person
Lots of fine work from eco-socialists

Bookchin is a big influence

I was uncomfortable when posters like the above were saying Only capitalists had damaged the planet, when some people who claimed to be very anti-capitalist had covered up things like the Kyshtym disaster

(I couldn’t remember the name so save anybody else in this thread from looking it up):
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyshtym_disaster

Kyshtym disaster - Wikipedia

AccordionBruce Jun 24, 2023

@jackdweeb @person @revoluciana
Definitely agree, an economic system with no billionaires is probably a baseline necessity for global survival

If an #Accordion tune from @Geoffberner is appropriate …
🪗✊🏼🎶

I used to think this song was too simplistic, now I think it’s just straightforward and obvious:

'Take the Billionaire's Money Away'
https://youtu.be/vkU4bvpvNA8

Geoff Berner 'Take the Billionaire's Money Away'

YouTube

@jackdweeb Humanity is destroying nature because that is what nature teached it. Genetically encoded instincts don't materialize without reason and they certainly don't disappear in a century or two. Why do we blame the creation and not the creator?

Twee Jack Jun 26, 2023

Dan Hoover Jun 23, 2023

@revoluciana @gdeihl Isn't it time we taxed energy instead of labour?
The root of all our evils lies within the pursuit of endless growth built upon fossil slaves, an "energy slave tax" would help level the value of human efforts for human interests against those hording capital to control ever more energy.

Revoluciana Jun 23, 2023

@ddmgmgh @gdeihl I'm largely suspicious of your use of the term 'slave' here due to racist undertones (or at least tone-deaf) from usage of the term in this context, but I'm very tentatively addressing this as a substitution for the concept of wage slavery-- in which case your point about energy tax bears its roots in Marxist labor theory of value, in which case a revision for an energy theory of value is a common argument, if you're interested in learning more-- ultimately they are intertwined.

Dan Hoover Jun 23, 2023

@revoluciana @gdeihl Slavery of one kind or another has been the primary driver of massive wealth disparity since the dawn of civilization. IDK why "slave" would be a racist term as a portion of nearly every race on the planet has been enslaved at some point in history.
Nowadays it's the incredibly cheap power within our "fossil energy slaves" that makes our pursuit of endless growth so dangerous to our civilization's future.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_slave

Energy slave - Wikipedia

Revoluciana Jun 23, 2023

@ddmgmgh @gdeihl I'm not buying it. First because it's a lie-- slavery is not something that has been experienced meaningfully by "every race on the planet." Secondly, implying that inanimate objects experience slavery undermines the experience of actual enslaved peoples.

Sane Thinker Jun 23, 2023

@ddmgmgh @revoluciana Yes, slavery is as prevalent as ever. It didn't end with "modernity."

Revoluciana Jun 24, 2023

@gdeihl @ddmgmgh of course, but that's not really relevant to what this person is discussing.

Dan Hoover Jun 24, 2023

@revoluciana @gdeihl Fossil "energy slaves" is a common term used to communicate the incredible amount of nearly free work we extract from fossil fuels. Some folks who are very good at math calculated the human equivalent energy needed to replace what we consume in fossil energy and that the average Canadian relies upon abt 200 "energy slaves" daily.
I've seen the term used in slightly different ways but this is the one I'm most familiar with.
Eg: https://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011/05/05/EnergySlaves/

You and Your Slaves | The Tyee

Yes, you're the slave master of many energy-driven gadgets that replace human labour. But our slave society won't last.

The Tyee

Revoluciana Jun 24, 2023

@ddmgmgh @gdeihl Just because it's common doesn't make it any less problematic. I also don't believe it's that common.

Sane Thinker Jun 24, 2023

@ddmgmgh @revoluciana Wonderful article, great creative approach, thank you for sharing it. Sadly, this kind of brilliance is unlikely to make any difference.

Dan Hoover Jun 24, 2023

@gdeihl @revoluciana I agree. Until the rest of the world is ready to care about why these things matter, it's up to those of us who grasp; that growth, energy and our environment are all finite, to learn and share as much as we can.

Sane Thinker Jun 25, 2023

@ddmgmgh @revoluciana Sharing about #Degrowth will be the subject of my next article. I wonder how many people have even heard of it?

Dan Hoover Jun 25, 2023

@gdeihl @revoluciana IDK how what percentage of humanity has heard abt degrowth, but I do know that many more folks have heard of it than are willing to accept the need for #degrowth .
I look forward to reading your article.

Sane Thinker Jun 25, 2023

@ddmgmgh @revoluciana I think there are many strong selling points to degrowth. Making the concept as wide spread as possible is at least a starting point. There are books out there, but how many read them? Getting the information down to article size bits may be helpful. My blog audience is small, but growing, and there are others like me doing similar. Hopefully, we can cumulatively have an impact.

Dan Hoover Jun 25, 2023

@gdeihl @revoluciana I'm sure you are aware of the 10% theorem of policy change. To get the ball rolling, we don't need to first convince everyone that change is necessary, rather when aprx 10% of us accept something, it is hard to stop.
Please, let's not talk of right wing ideology at this point.

Sane Thinker Jun 23, 2023

@ddmgmgh @revoluciana We need an entire remake of the economy. Nibbling at what exists will not save us from the #ClimateCrisis. https://geoffreydeihl.substack.com/p/the-economy-we-need-to-save-ourselves

The Economy We Need to Save Ourselves

Consumption is Killing Us

Sane Thoughts for Insane Times

H4Heights 🇪🇺🇵🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦Jun 25, 2023

@revoluciana @gdeihl
True dis. It’s not a simple problem because the very wealthy don’t get a simple pay cheque at the end of each month. Their remuneration is vast and complex. Tying it being a multiple of their lowest paid workers’ wages seems a fair start, as does redistributing the obscene amounts they have have stolen so far.

Sane Thinker Jun 25, 2023

@H4Heights @revoluciana You're right, of course. The wealthy have all the advantages in hiding their money, and avoiding taxes. When I write about #Degrowth, I realize it's no simple matter, or likely outcome. Thing is, we're going to have degrowth either the planet's way or with some sort of marginal control our way. In the US, I think the majority don't have a clue.

H4Heights 🇪🇺🇵🇸🇺🇦🇨🇦Jun 25, 2023

@gdeihl @revoluciana
Ditto in the UK. There’s an understandable complacency on behalf of most people who either haven’t the time, inclination or intelligence to be aware. Too busy trying to earn a dismal min. wage existence, hoping “it’ll all turn out OK”. They rely upon politicians and the 4th estate to be aware and care on their behalf. But the MSM are presstitutes and they worship money as much as their owned sequacious politicians.

Sane Thinker Jun 25, 2023

@H4Heights @revoluciana I agree. People are running as hard as they can to survive, and not everyone has curiosity or tools to educate themselves. There seems to be a bit more awareness in the UK and Europe in general with the climate activism going on that's predictably being ever more heavily repressed.

Sykonee Jun 21, 2023

Honestly, I've seen absolutely no concern or sympathy for a couple billionaires who've literally drowned in their own hubris. Just a whole lotta' belly-laughs and snarky memes.

RobertWT Jun 22, 2023

@Sykonee @revoluciana If they each had but invested in a petard, they could have been hoisted by theirs. Oh wait, perhaps they were.

L'égrégore André ꕭꕬ Jun 22, 2023

@Sykonee @revoluciana The sympathy isn't vocalized by the hoi polloi, but in the papers, on the radio, and TV.

Alex W.Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana I agree your work is very important.

Canada & United States both have large Coast Guards, US is one of the largest Navies & Airforce. We train & fund this. We are surrounded by oceans.

US commands Standing NATO Maritime Group 2 & has ships attached to the Mediterranean that helps with rescues as well.

We work with Europe & the world to address this.

Cuba is having a mass exodus & we have to help migrants here too.

Sorry we use our resources & want to save a teenager if able.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@alex So which part is confusing you?

Alex W.Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana We give so much but when a news story sticks in people's mind it doesn't matter anymore because there wasn't a right number of chyrons.

You know we deal with Columbian drug smuggling semi-submersibles presently. We had Chinese spy balloons recently.

Why can't this not be seen as training & learning exercise instead of only 'Save Billionaires"?

If it's our investigation, then we can also develop better maritime rules & regs. Also, we charge for rescues.

Alex W.Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana https://www.state.gov/overseas-assistance-by-region/europe-middle-east-and-north-africa/

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@alex ahh, I see. Mansplaining and ignorant to so many aspects.

Would be amazing to hear you explain to the Syrians we rescued who fought alongside US troops, abandoned, and left to avoid being killed by US ally, Turkey. Syrians felt their only option was a trip through Libya. So when you say US is "helping" w/ the same EU partners that wanted to put me in prison, I'd say get lost.

But when you say it's OK bc billionaires can afford to pay so refugees are less deserving, you can get fucked.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@alex You want to save "a teenager," great. Pass the Afghan Adjustment Act. Stop selling cluster bombs to the Saudis to be used in Yemen. Stand up for trans rights. Feed a hungry teenager. Pass universal healthcare. Stop replacing democracies with dictators. Stop keeping kids in cages. Stop closing our borders to asylum seekers.

Got nothing against the kid in the sub, but have everything against a system that prioritizes wealth and resources for him over millions of others due to Capitalism.

Alex W.Jun 22, 2023

Not ignorant. I know what 24/7 coverage of migrants looks like.

Fox covered a "Migrant caravan" for weeks. The discussion did not improve their lives. We heard similar jokes as the ones about "billionares" but they were directed at vulnerable people. We oppose sensationalism of vulnerable people.

We roll up our sleeves & help. We have the receipts despite people ignoring it. That was sharing not mansplaining.

They pay because that company will be punished and prosecuted.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@alex You're trying to explain the situation to a woman who was literally there, has spent her career working and doing extensive fieldwork in this space, has advanced education on this topic, and all while you're demonstrating a lack of knowledge and education on the topic yourself, some of which are lies and propaganda, some of which are dangerous. Yes, you're mansplaining. And you can fuck off.

Alex W.Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana Being upset that we should discriminate on income not race still upholds the ideals of discrimination.

I don't think that is compatible with beginning to improve the challenges the world faces.

I see you want to move the goalposts, oddly simplify events to assign blame, & smear me with labels.

I'll leave it at this.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@alex And since I've told you to fuck off multiple times now, and you continue to harass me, you're blocked.

Cassandrich Jun 22, 2023

@revoluciana I love how Mastodon lets you annotate accounts with notes.

Revoluciana Jun 22, 2023

@dalias It really is a wonderful feature :)

pancakes🔜Bed Jun 24, 2023

@alex lol references Fox news and 2 sentences later, claims to oppose sensationalism of vulnerable people.