rustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦

Feeling pretty doomer right now about the seemingly inescapable nature of requiring a proprietary mobile operating system in order to use banking apps. Hate the fact that the American regime has so much power over how the entire world when it comes to finances, the fact that the two main payment processors are American and charge a rip-off fee for every transaction that goes to these evil companies and the US government.

What I love about software is that there's an entire community out there building a free world mostly independent from corporations and governments with FOSS. When we write free software, anyone or any group of people willing to create a piece of software can just go ahead and build it without requiring permission from some higher entity. The bottleneck is skill, time and motivation, not any legal bullshit.

Jun 6 at 11:17amWeb
Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago
Unlike with normal software, there doesn't seem to be any way for a group of passionate people to create an alternative to the existing banking and payment processing systems. GNU Taler has the potential but it isn't widely adopted, cryptocurrencies could be nice in theory but they're environmentally destructive, extremely volatile and infested with scams.
Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago
It's nice that since the start of the second Trump regime, people in other Western countries traditionally allied with the US like in the EU and Canada are looking towards and creating alternatives, as well as moves in BRICS, but right now they are limited to those people living in those countries.
Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago

As someone living in the settler colonial regime occupying Aotearoa, I don't have any hope in the current Luxon regime in moving away from American financial control. The oligarchs running our government are the people who welcomed an FBI base in our capital and under them we are still one of the only few shameful countries that don't recognise Palestine.

I also don't have any hope in a Labour government, which did basically nothing fundamental for working class people when they had full control over the government a few years ago.

The only area where there might be hope is if Labour wins the next election but are forced to make a coalition with Greens and TPM. Hopefully these minor more left-wing parties can push things in the right direction.

Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago

Though I don't have much hope in working class people here right now. Unlike the US and Europe, there doesn't seem to be any large scale free software community that cares about these issues. There also seems to be little movement to free ourselves from US control when it comes to our politics.

One hope that I do have is that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz fucks us over we adopt a hatred against the US since it now directly affects us. Also it's nice that the worst effects of the strait being shut will happen around the election.

Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago

Also when the oil runs out, we will be extra fucked for a few reasons:

  • We get most of our oil from South Korea and Singapore. Those countries don't extract oil directly, but rather import it from other countries to refine it. And those other countries that they import it from are in West Asia.
  • We are a car dependent shithole, one of the worst in the world.
  • Our government is pretending like everything's fine, so any shock will be sudden and harder to adapt. Right now we aren't being hurt too much, but my understanding is that this is only because of the large lag between West Asia and the intermediate refineries. Once those countries run out, we will need to start rationing.
    • Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev yeah, but that assumes the voters ain't some spiteful boomers that don't give a shit.

    Granted, you guys have it easier re: renewables due to Wind and ample of Geothermal resources and a very low population density.

    Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago
    @Netzblockierer I don't think renewables will help mitigate the effects of the Iran war, since we still need oil for most of our vehicles, and we can't fully switch to EVs overnight. Though it is nice that this war is boosting EV demand here.
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev Granted: The acceleration towards renewables is a desired effect.

    • As for crude oil: Turning it into gasoline and diesel is considered 'beneath it' by most chemists.

    And for long-term & storeable power, methanol fuelcells & production of methanol using renewably-generated electricity is the way to go.

    • As Methanol can displace Diesel in standby / emergency power generation and long-distance / standy vehicles where BEV tech is just not acceptable (i.e. ambulances & fire trucks) within their safety/reliability/range/refueling speed demands.
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev same in Germany…

    https://tech.lgbt/@Netzblockierer/116702912489848739

    Netzblockierer (@[email protected])

    Content warning: proprietary software, banking, payment processors

    LGBTQIA+ and Tech
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev exactly.

    wero won't replace PayPal because they won't be available outside SEPA for no valid reason but to not endanger US hegemony.

    https://tech.lgbt/@Netzblockierer/116702912489848739

    #USpol #EUpol #wero #PayPal #SEPA #USA #hegemony.

    Netzblockierer (@[email protected])

    Content warning: proprietary software, banking, payment processors

    LGBTQIA+ and Tech
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev GNU Taler is Vapourware at best but to me just a shittier implementation,of what Sony released as FeliCa and run as payment systems like Pasmo, Suica & Octopus…

    Monerocexists, but it's so good it's being criminalized!

    Show threadrustydev 🏳️‍🌈🇵🇸🇺🇦3d ago
    @Netzblockierer What's the problem with GNU Taler?
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev it's combining the disadvantages of Shitcoins and silo'd payment systems without the advantages of either:

    • It has neither fungibility
    • nor acceptance
    • now low fees
    • nor is it easy to use.

    It feels and handles worse than Monero, Paysafecard and SMS-payment.

    • It doesn't even compete with girocard, V-pay or PayPal at all…
    Show threadNetzblockierer3d ago

    @rustydev yes and the problem of the US-centrism wjen it comes to the 3 relevant credit cards and 2 big payment processors is a huge problem…

    • Even if you ain't a regime like Russia and China who decide to mandate their own, domestic competition to be used domestically (in this case: Mir & UnionPay respectably)…
      • Cuz the US regime is known to nilly-willy commit economic murder on people just becaise they dislike them or their employers. Not because they did something wrong/illegal in their juristiction!

    Meanwhile wero is a controlled opposition that can't be bothered to even properly fake their "Souvereignity-Washing" halfway…

    • And the least worst option (not best!) is being criminalized because it's the closest to digital cash!

    #Monero #USpol #EUpol #AMEX #VISA #MasterCard #Mir #UnionPay #wero #SouvereignityWashing #aws #LeastWorst #criminalization #shitcoins