From December 16, 2024:
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OpenAI’s Altman will donate $1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund
↗︎ ↳Anyone need any more proof that Altman is evil? That the US is a kakisrocracy? That you can buy your way to anything you like if you’re a big enough capitalist? Disgusting. Microsoft, Apple, OpenAI and Trump’s whole crew are all buds in a circlejerk of mass proportions. And they have data on every single one of us. —added 6:22am on 16/12/24 ❧
I have been thinking about the how the corporate class, the bootlickers, the “upper middle class” and others utterly slavish to the capitalist simultaneously dehumanise themselves and others. A phenomenal piece of mental trickery: contortion, gaslighting and betrayal. Those who fancy themselves stable and wealthy (an ever treacherous position to claim), and often profess it so by engaging in “high culture” activities (themselves equal parts immoral and despicable) which range incredibly broadly from horse racing, to stock market investing, or apparently lately cryptocurrency market gambling. This, to me, is a fundamentally interesting group of “people”. Let’s think on it. In the imperial core — conceptually a useful imaginary space for us to consider in theorisation about “wealth” and culture — there are opportunities for multi-generational “middle classes” to establish themselves. However, there are no “middle classes”...
From December 15, 2024:
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ML SummaryThe article discusses the aftermath of the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson on December 4, 2024, highlighting how his death has unsettled CEOs across various industries. The public reaction to Thompson's shooting has been largely unsympathetic, with some social media users expressing glee, leading to fears of potential copycat attacks. Fake wanted posters targeting Thompson and other health insurance executives have appeared, signaling a troubling trend in public sentiment toward corporate leaders.
Former Medtronic CEO Bill George notes that many business leaders are shaken and are reconsidering their security measures, questioning the implications of a society that glorifies violence against executives. While some CEOs express annoyance at increased security, they recognize its necessity in a climate where threats are perceived to be rising. The article emphasizes the disconnect between the public's perception of CEOs and their humanity, as many leaders struggle to maintain employee morale amidst negative public sentiment.
There are calls for CEOs to reflect on societal anger toward corporate America and consider their roles in addressing these issues. Additionally, the media's portrayal of the incident, with a focus on the killer rather than the victim, raises concerns about the simplification of complex narratives in society. Overall, the piece underscores the evolving security reality for CEOs in a climate of increasing hostility.
Optimism as antidote to despair
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—posted 14/12/24, tagged as optimism, futurism, positivity, change, transformation, activism, chomsky, gramsci.
I have been thinking about optimism and despair. Actually, I’ve been reading on optimism over despair [1] and thinking about an analytical pattern that might help us mobilise this kind of thought in the way we discuss contemporaneous issues on ``mind reader``. So, yes, this post is a meta post about being meta, what else have you come to expect from me? I’m going to talk in abstract about both the reason for optimism, and for despair, and how we might mobilise these against the way they are mobilised by the capitalist class. Because what’s better than human emotion, passion, feeling and process against something so fundamentally inhuman, nonhuman, non-human as capitalism. Let’s get into it... Chomsky uses a pattern of explanatory critique that comprises his own unique theoretical positioning. I suspect, to label him as a “Marxist theorist” is to do him disservice given the expansive cannon of his texts over the decades....
From December 13, 2024:
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US targets China's solar dominance with 50% tariffs on solar wafers and polysilicon — tungsten products will see a 25% increase
↗︎ ↳All this does is push solar affordability out of workers hands. They know we get relief and less capitalist lock-in if we aren’t enslaved to electric bills. They hate our freedom. All the while, in Australia, policies are beginning to force people to have solar+battery to be authorised for install further benefiting businesses and the capitalist class - not workers. —added 7:24am on 13/12/24 ❧
‘They’ll be more upset’: Albo flags shift in Australia’s Israel-Palestine position at private Labor event
↗︎ ↳Albo is such a toxic idiot. You can’t have a “two state solution” when one state is led by a genocidal maniac hellbent on destroying all their neighbours. And where’s the fucking (meaningful) aid for Palestine, Australia? Stop. Supporting. Fucking. Israel. And end this empty rhetoric. Like the US, whose ass Albo’s crawled right up - including trump’s - we have leaders making empty gestures while sending billions of dollars to genociders. —added 6:17am on 13/12/24 ❧
ML SummaryThe article discusses Donald Trump's recent admission that lowering grocery prices, a promise he made during his campaign, may be more challenging than he initially suggested. In an interview with Time magazine, Trump acknowledged that while he would like to reduce prices, it is difficult to do so once they have risen. He stated that his presidency would not be considered a failure if he could not achieve this goal, contrasting with his earlier campaign rhetoric where he assured voters that electing him would lead to significant price reductions.
The article highlights Trump's past claims about cutting prices across various sectors, including groceries and energy, emphasizing that his strategy relied on deregulation and increased oil production. However, it points out the complexities of the economy, such as global market influences and supply chain issues, which complicate the promise of price reductions. Critics note that Trump's economic proposals, like tariffs, could lead to higher prices instead.
Overall, the piece illustrates the gap between campaign promises and the realities of economic management, underscoring the challenges faced by political leaders in addressing inflation and consumer prices.
From December 12, 2024:
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ML SummaryAnthony Albanese is proposing a plan to compel big tech companies, particularly Meta, to financially support Australian journalism. This initiative comes amid criticisms of his administration's handling of recent news coverage and a controversial stance on banning protests outside places of worship. Reports indicate that the plan aims to penalize platforms like Facebook that refuse to engage in content agreements with local publishers, potentially enforcing financial penalties to ensure compliance. Meta has previously indicated it would cease payments to Australian news organizations, while Google has renewed its agreements. The proposed scheme will focus on the revenue of these companies rather than their usage of Australian news content, targeting those with significant earnings. In addition to this, Albanese is facing backlash for his response to antisemitic incidents, including a recent attack on a synagogue, which has led to calls for protests to be banned outside religious sites. Civil liberties groups have criticized this decision, suggesting it reflects a lack of thoughtful leadership. Meanwhile, the opposition is questioning the government's childcare subsidy plans and the feasibility of meeting migration targets. The political landscape remains tense as Albanese navigates these pressing issues.