@andre123 @randahl "Planning ahead" implies the ability to plan. Or to think...

I think he's just finally getting to a point that even the right is starting to wake up a little bit. Slowly, a few at a time. A lot still won't let go because it would be admitting that they were wrong, but a few here and there are starting to get just angry enough to blame him while still pretending it wasn't just as much their fault for voting for him and promoting him every single chance they got.

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

It may be. And that they aknowledge they made a mistake, in an ocean of bad news, would be something a little less horrible.... Let's hope.
I really can't believe what is happening in the USA... from an european perspective it really looks dystopic.

@andre123 @randahl I don't think they can acknowledge they made a mistake. No, it's his fault that he turned out to be exactly what he was all along that they voted for him to be. How dare a malignant narcissist with a clearly degrading mind do things they didn't approve of when he very clearly showed that he would do things like this!

They won't admit they were wrong, just blame him and act like he is somehow being something they couldn't have seen right from the start 11+ years ago.

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

Is it really that bad for some people in the US to inform themselves , to read some books instead of trash in the social media from time to time, and to think about who they are voting for ?

(Sorry, english is not my primary language...and I do not use AI translations... I try to do my best !)

@andre123 @randahl Yes, it is.

Bear in mind we're all completely inundated. Most people don't even *know* they should put in an effort to find the truth. All the news media, centralized social media, etc etc are all specifically working to fool people. Even one of the few that was not algorithmically censoring the truth (Twitter) was bought up by a billionaire at an insane price just because he wanted to stifle it.

Many people don't even know to look... They just accept what they're told.

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

That's scary considering the power of the US President and what he can do. Citizens should really try to spread awareness, try to regain some awareness.
But I understand it's hard to fight against an inundation of fake news , algos, etc, especially when you are ready to accept what you are told...

There is some effort required from the population (and honest journalists) to maintain an healthy democracy. And the need for some form of higher education in the complex - interconnected world we are living in. Let's hope something better will happen, it's sad to see what's going on in the world.

@andre123 @randahl We're trying our best. Hence things like the "No Kings" protests. Naturally the mass media and social media promote statements that carefully word things in ways designed to keep people from really realizing the purpose of course.

IMO the biggest problem isn't that an effort is required (though that is really big) but that people don't *KNOW* they need to make that effort... Everything that can is working hard to sanewash all this as just stuff that will go away on its own

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

Unofrtunately it won't go away on its own...
It's so weird to grasp....you can do marvelous things like sending men on the moon and yet....
I've been watching the astronauts live from the moon (and some Nutella ! ) sitting on my sofa at home, isn't it fascinating what you've done ? How can it be that so many people voted for Trump a second time ?? 🤦‍♂️

@andre123 @randahl Ignorance.

And that goes a bit back towards the aforementioned inundation. And yes, some of that ignorance is willful. People are *born* into a system designed to teach them hate by necessity. (And don't fool yourself, this is fairly universal because capitalism needs things like teaching people to hate anyone perceived as "not productive enough" so the system is in place from birth almost everywhere.)

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

No doubt, but there are various degrees of acceptance to that.

Capitalism has become terrible in the last 50 years. It needs regulation, otherwise it becomes like a cancer. Billionaires are even worse.
Keynes need to be rediscovered....and quickly if possible. But I'm not that optimistic. Too many scary things happening make it hard to remain optimistic.

@andre123 @randahl Yeah, the world really needs big solutions for big problems and right now it's looking like our best hope to not just careen straight into the end of everything still involves small solutions (that feel big) desperately enacted at the last minute instead.

Billionaires need to be taxed right out of existence absolutely. Really even millionaires need to be. No one needs that much. No one. And CEOs too. No one should have the money to buy politicians nor should it be legal.

@nazokiyoubinbou @randahl

I agree, a democracy should not allow some folks to become so rich they can buy politicians. And no one need all that money... Also let's consider the damage they cause for climate change.
We are having this problem in EU too, where Meta is trying to buy politicians to change some laws that somehow still protect our (little) privacy online.... We try to resist, but it's an hard political fight.

@andre123 @randahl In the end, a politician should be someone who wants to do the job because they want to make change. They should barely make more than, say, a postal worker. It's not supposed to be a profitable career and it's not supposed to get you rich.

Meanwhile, over here, some of our politicians literally receive millions in a year from lobbyist groups. Literally millions.