Post 9i2o7y23fKwyvt2IEK by FreePietje@x0f.org
(DIR) More posts by FreePietje@x0f.org
(DIR) Post #9i2h6KOqpiJU2vy6pU by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T10:29:47Z
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Incredibly well sourced article debunking Assange smears:https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2019/04/20/debunking-all-the-assange-smears/
(DIR) Post #9i2hjtkHLvz0xjrMI4 by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T20:04:27Z
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@FreePietje thanks, that's compelling. What about Ola Bini? I can't find relevant information either.I'm not worried by these arrests, gov' just doing gov' stuff, but I'm very concerned by the very feeble reaction of the general public outside the narrow circle of activists. I'm even more concerned when I see how giving in the smearing campaign of the US gov' seems to be the social norm now, at least on social media (that might not be representative of what most people think though)
(DIR) Post #9i2nxTJF2Osmkf4K8G by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T21:14:06Z
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@Sosthene I've seen (and retweeted) a message by Tor Project, linking to https://blog.torproject.org/ecuador-free-ola-biniBut that's it.I completely agree with your concern. The amount of people actually giving a fuck about Assange is low. Most seem pretty happy with what's happening. Including 'journalists' and people I otherwise had in high regard.I think that social media brings out the worst in people. Hoping it isn't representative may very well be false hope.
(DIR) Post #9i2o7y23fKwyvt2IEK by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T21:16:00Z
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@Sosthene I've seen (and retweeted) a message by Tor Project, linking to https://blog.torproject.org/ecuador-free-ola-biniBut that's it.I completely agree with your concern. The amount of people actually giving a fuck about Assange is low. Most seem pretty happy with what's happening. Including 'journalists' and people I otherwise had in high regard.Therefor these arrest do concern me.I think that social media brings out the worst in people. Hoping it isn't representative may very well be false hope.
(DIR) Post #9i2qJpdWuEiuHGLeXg by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T21:40:34Z
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@Sosthene I've seen (and retweeted) a message by Tor Project, linking to https://blog.torproject.org/ecuador-free-ola-biniBut that's it.I completely agree with your concern. The amount of people actually giving a fuck about Assange is low. Most seem pretty happy with what's happening. Including 'journalists' and people I otherwise had in high regard.Therefor these arrests do worry me.I think that social media brings out the worst in people. Hoping it isn't representative may very well be false hope.
(DIR) Post #9i2qkEy1Lmn6MrWdFo by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T21:45:22Z
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@FreePietje "not giving a fuck" is one thing, but I'm actually surprised by the proportion of comments that were downright hostile to Assange. I mean, what harm has he done to those people? I find pretty sobering and alarming to find out that western, supposedly educated audience is being so easily fooled by cartoonish smear campaign. What do you think all this people will do when the government will come for other people then?
(DIR) Post #9i2rn9RESl9E2k8mSO by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T21:57:04Z
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@Sosthene Yep, that actually horrifies me. Lots of people call him now a rapist. Apparently completely unaware of what actually happened. Indoctrination and smear campaigns are working as intended.It is a constant pattern I see.With Gitmo, de-humanization was used to 'justify' indefinite detention to 'the-worst-of-the-worst'.Now illegal immigrants face it too.Crickets.What I think? First they came for ... happens again.People don't learn.btw: just found this: https://freeolabini.org/en/
(DIR) Post #9i2wlVejO1Wi8rUVk0 by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T22:52:49Z
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@FreePietje thanks. I think the article you linked is right to say that most people are falling for cognitive dissonance. If you don't accept that Assange is an asshole and a criminal that deserves this, then his arrest has a lot of implications most people don't want/know how to deal with. John Doe has literally nothing to gain to defend Assange. In a free society political opposition and media should be head on attacking the government on this. How did we just fucked up this bad?
(DIR) Post #9i2yN94rsfhP4gE6Yy by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T23:10:48Z
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@Sosthene 'should' being the operative word here. Especially in the US, the MSM is just a mouthpiece/stenographer for the government.When Dutch journalists asked 'tough' questions to Peter Hoekstra (now US ambassador in .nl), it became a viral hit.To me: he was simply/actually doing his job!A free press, when they actually do their job, is essential for a free society.John Doe should want that too.What I see is US presidents attacking it and people cheer it on.I REALLY don't get that.
(DIR) Post #9i2z2DhXavQFHttwJc by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T23:18:15Z
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@FreePietje haha in France it is considered bad taste for a journalist now to ask unconvenient questions out of the blue to a politician 😀 I don't know, I think people don't necessarily want things like "free press" or a "free society", it is the result of a political culture that we used to have but sabotaged for more than a generation now. I think we're starting to reap what we sown, and it's not gonna be any better in a foreseeable future.
(DIR) Post #9i2zE5o2m3wUHCbWdM by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T23:17:38Z
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@Sosthene While Trump is a clown and most obviously attacking the press, he is 'just' continuing a trend.The NYT didn't publish a mass surveillance piece (by James Risen) on request(/intimidation?) of GW Bush. Obama prosecuted more whistleblowers then all previous presidents combined ... all under the Espionage Act.Instead of condemning the war crimes being committed, the ones bringing it to light are attacked.
(DIR) Post #9i2zE5z27CjUpHkIlM by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T23:20:24Z
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@FreePietje yes this shit is getting out of control, and I doubt that Assange will be the last nail on the coffin
(DIR) Post #9i2zIYN0W3u81Z5LRw by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-21T23:21:14.021080Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene What we have is false, so it should be attacked and replaced.Plot twist: in the internet age, journalism cannot pay for itself enough to bring in good writers.
(DIR) Post #9i2zqkf3KC0PzRpguG by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-21T23:27:23Z
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@amerika @FreePietje What is false? What do we need to attack?I don't think so, journalism in the west has mostly been killed because they sold off to politicians. I'm not familial enough with the US, but in France it is absolutely obvious.
(DIR) Post #9i2zyiCmL8uogoP5Q8 by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T23:28:48Z
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@Sosthene He certainly won't be.The reason I don't understand why people aren't rising up to defend a free press and free society, is because to me the pattern is so obvious. Why doesn't everyone see it? Some people point it out time and again, but they're being ignored.Hence me saying "First they came for..."
(DIR) Post #9i30cfzK0CXFOfAKTg by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T23:36:02Z
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@amerika @Sosthene A lot of what you have is indeed false. Most of your MSM is owned by a few corporations who aren't interested in exposing wrong doings by your government, because they own that too.I think the US is insanely corrupt.The problem is that people are conditioned to get everything for 'free', including news(, with targeted advertising).People seem to care only about entertainment, until it is too late and they realize that they should've fought for a free press/society.
(DIR) Post #9i31SjXc2MOLTV1mRk by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-21T23:45:26Z
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@Sosthene @amerika What do you mean with "sold off to politicians"?I don't know what happened in France (or most other countries), but it doesn't ring a bell with me wrt The Netherlands.I have my criticisms (reporting wrt Assange made me angry), but for the most part I think it's OK.
(DIR) Post #9i32cPFsPmkfPOuMme by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-21T23:58:26.203318Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene Our press in the USA is basically propaganda for the Left.
(DIR) Post #9i3o0tiXVJPcgJUlDU by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-22T08:49:29Z
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@FreePietje @amerika the French press and media are heavily subsidized by the state since at least the 80's. They basically don't need a readership anymore, and of course they won't bite the hand that feed. That's why I say they "sold off"
(DIR) Post #9i3pfHM18tGdWjmPR2 by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-22T09:08:00.112097Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene That is the nature of people in democracy. They focus on the self and not the world.
(DIR) Post #9i3plyJCLqb8UAeW9o by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-22T09:09:12.686198Z
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@Sosthene @FreePietje In France, the politicians pay the bills of the journalists; in America, it is public opinion or lobbyists, which is why they are industry's slave.
(DIR) Post #9i3tf2b2PXWHZbwnzM by samouraidev@mastodon.social
2019-04-22T09:52:44Z
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@Sosthene @amerika@freespeechextremist.com @FreePietje Yes, French press heavily subsidised in the name of "freedom of the press". Le Monde, Libé have virtually no readers among the general public and are on life support.
(DIR) Post #9i3z59tgOBbRW3wRjE by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-22T10:53:30Z
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@amerika @FreePietje well I'm cool with lobbyists and industry financing medias, because it means you have many competitors and different opinions on the media market. Except of course when you're living under crony capitalism and big business is literally in bed with big government, which seems to be the case in Washington. I bet that ultimately american journalists are also slaves to the state, they just happened to have pimps while in France politicians directly fuck with journalists 😀
(DIR) Post #9i3zm3TQ9D7a2u725w by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-22T11:01:15Z
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@FreePietje @amerika political apathy and pessimism is more a consequence of tyrannical government, why bother when you can't change things, and just trying put you and your family at risks? In France social pressure became insanely strong over the last decade, advocating unorthodox views can destroy your social life and reputation. People that try to change things are isolated and crushed. No one wants to be a martyr.Just give some power back to the people and they'll start to care again.
(DIR) Post #9i4ciuMRT48Z7xL3Ca by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-22T18:17:40Z
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@Sosthene @amerika @samouraidev Yeah, that's pretty bad.In .nl newspapers need to stand on their own, no subsidies.We do have a public broadcaster (which employs several journalist) and that is funded by us/our gov.But we also have commercial stations/news shows.
(DIR) Post #9i4yI37L0AZDSQs5yq by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-22T22:19:21.610450Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene @samouraidev Same thing in USA, but private industry and NGOs have taken over the press.
(DIR) Post #9i4yKqKR0Spwf9KUue by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-22T22:19:51.901242Z
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@Sosthene @FreePietje In democracy, does any one vote count? And does any election really change the path? That's where the apathy comes from. Very Soviet, now that you mention it.
(DIR) Post #9i4yOlLvRtPqO8tcTQ by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-22T22:20:34.409584Z
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@Sosthene @FreePietje In theory, yes, but in reality, markets concentrate and that leaves only a few big players. This would be less of a problem if we lowered taxes/regulations, ironically.
(DIR) Post #9i54kklMvArcehfLwu by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-22T23:31:45Z
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@amerika @FreePietje yes of course the market is not "perfect", but still I think we can agree that it's always worsr when you let the government step in
(DIR) Post #9i55IFWHabuhbNa8IK by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-22T23:37:49Z
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@amerika @FreePietje precisely, voting has never been more pointless than it is today, but is the only way we tolerate people to act politically. You bet why most people just don't give a fuck anymore!In fact, i really don't care about voting, they also vote in North Korea, kind of, what a deal
(DIR) Post #9i6MLwbnjcMQUITEzA by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-23T14:23:41.754421Z
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@Sosthene @FreePietje Yes, better to keep government out, if we can't outright abolish it. I favor a monarchy; they do less bureaucratic/administrative stuff than a government.
(DIR) Post #9i6MOrNXdVV98UBuO8 by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-23T14:24:13.373043Z
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@Sosthene @FreePietje The problem is that people become bitter and self-centered because of their inefficacy in the political system. They can handle having no power, but "fake power" is upsetting.
(DIR) Post #9i6Q5ArPtR3HaC28f2 by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T15:05:26Z
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@amerika @Sosthene Maybe I'm naive, but I do think voting counts in .nlIn the US it is mostly pointless as the ones who give money dictate the policies enacted. IIRC Democrats spend 70% of time raising money. I highly doubt it's any better with Republicans.Some even boast that they only respond to 'constituents' who pay more then X dollars.So $ is represented, not ppl.There are some ideologically driven representatives (Sanders f.e.) and it's encouraging that some refuse corporate money.
(DIR) Post #9i6QhlSKHTrQ5LhOHg by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T15:12:25Z
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@amerika @Sosthene As MSM only serve $ as well, those candidates get ridiculed to no end. You may not like their views/vision, but they actually work for their constituents. Which is what should happen in a representative democracy.IMO Democrats and Republicans are 90-95% the same and only differ in the margin. The US has a 2 party system, which will never change. Both parties are needed to change it, but they'll never give up power to achieve that.Any real change is thus highly unlikely.
(DIR) Post #9i6UDkGEYjZ3VYz4Hw by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T15:51:48Z
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@Sosthene @amerika I'm not cool with lobbyists as I see that as legalized corruption and/or makes it so that politicians do what big money wants. Their only job is to indoctrinate politicians. Normal people, the voters, have a normal job so they can only inform the politicians of their views occasionally.This means that big money/bizz have an unreasonable influence on policies.I'm not a free-market-absolutist btw. I also don't think that govs are to blame for everything that is/goes wrong.
(DIR) Post #9i6V2LbI0PMDnHxg8G by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T16:00:58Z
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@FreePietje @amerika the problem with corruption is that we usually get it the wrong way. You won't get rid of corruption by controlling lobbyists or punishing corrupted officials, corruption occurs when politicians have too much power and they can trade it. The Swiss government is relatively less corrupted not because they are more virtuous, but because they don't have much to sell. Lobbyists in the US are a problem only because with money they can buy politicians with absurdely wide powers
(DIR) Post #9i6VDgT6l7WVhUXZTs by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T16:03:01Z
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@FreePietje @amerika why most corrupted governments happen to also be those that are the most powerful (i.e. that can arbitrarily enforcing their decisions and disregard fundamental rights of citizens)?
(DIR) Post #9i6Will3F7u52KJtAG by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T16:19:49Z
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@Sosthene @amerika How do you mean "we usually get it the wrong way"?If you don't punish bad/illegal behavior, you're essentially saying that it is totally fine, which in turn makes it become even more widespread.Be it (political) corruption or torture.(By not prosecuting torturers, Obama made it clear that torture is considered totally fine. Words don't matter, actions do)I do think that money and politics are a bad combo. The US has made it extremely bad.
(DIR) Post #9i6ajQQYR11GzGIi8G by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T17:04:47Z
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@FreePietje @amerika I mean that when we talk about corruption we usually argue about how to make politicians "better", punish bad behavior etc, but we rarely argue about the power granted to the politicians and why there's so many people ready to grant them money or anything else. I don't argue that we shouldn't punish illegal behavior (especially from elected representants that should be held to the higher standard), but that it just won't work if their power is unchecked
(DIR) Post #9i6oG6P1Cq5nqFUhs0 by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T19:36:19Z
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@Sosthene @amerika It feels like I'm still missing something as I'm getting the urge to explain a representative democracy. But that feels rather patronizing.To me, their role and power are defined (and thereby limited), but I get the impression you think differently.The problem I see is when politicians don't so much represent (we the) people, but (only) people with (lots of) money. Or they represent businesses, which are comprised of, but are themselves not people.
(DIR) Post #9i6t3ul5AkjA1Xp2hs by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T20:29:37Z
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@FreePietje @amerika do you consider it normal that people representative are allowed to vote laws that are contrary to rights as fundamental as property rights or freedom of expression? To pledge to take from some people to give to others, for no particular reasons other than to win votes? Because that's as representative as democracy can get in France, to speak of what I know best.
(DIR) Post #9i6tSGNCScq60kGI7c by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T20:34:35Z
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@FreePietje @amerika representation is pointless if representatives' power is not kept in check. When representatives can borrow money and literally ruin the state because they know they will never be held accountable for it, or of any wrongdoing they will ever do, i really don't care having the right to vote for one candidate out of 2 equally corrupt. But it might not be that bad in the Netherlands, so maybe you don't get what I mean
(DIR) Post #9i72BZ5uVBMsjpHs6i by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T22:12:23Z
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@Sosthene @amerika I know property rights are popular/holy with lots of bitcoiners, but I actually don't know much about it.I do consider it part it part of their mandate to put limitations on freedom of speech. I also think it's wrong and pointless. In .nl the only limitation afaik is inciting violence towards others. Additional restrictions could be put in place. It's extremely unlikely I'd vote for that person ((ever) again).So I may not like or agree with it, but they are allowed to do it
(DIR) Post #9i72ysq1spfuA7NMuW by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T22:21:18Z
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@Sosthene @amerika Likewise, (changing) tax policies are also part of their mandate. I'm assuming that you meant wealth distribution with give/take to people. That will win votes with certain people (and lose yours).Thus I make a distinction between are they allowed and do I like them.If I don't like it, I'd vote accordingly.Everyone else should do so too.
(DIR) Post #9i73hOp4KKqm6O9Zb6 by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T22:29:20Z
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@Sosthene @amerika When the state keeps borrowing more and more money and they're not held accountable by getting voted out, then that's a problem with the electorate.It's in our DNA to be 'fiscally conservative' (sometimes too much imo) and if I'm not mistaken we('ll) have several years of budget surpluses which will be used in part to pay off our national debt.I understand that it is aggravating for you and think it's unwise what France is doing. But it's not 'illegal' or sth like that.
(DIR) Post #9i75Ks8lMHbcHEkdCi by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T22:47:42Z
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@FreePietje @amerika I think this conversation is getting too complicated for Masto, I'll try to answer later if I have the time
(DIR) Post #9i75kPfRqHLFV1DaQS by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-23T22:52:19Z
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@Sosthene @amerika I understand and agree.It's also an extreme detour from the OP ;-P
(DIR) Post #9i76JbcNP1OIhMYwZk by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-04-23T22:58:41Z
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@FreePietje @amerika not that much really, in fact I think it's spot on. But as we talk here it won't help Assange, Bini and the other people that are unjustly being jailed
(DIR) Post #9iBVDzqeNDfNAzNe1A by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-26T01:56:39.670910Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene Fiscal conservatism would involve removing entitlements entirely.I like that idea, honestly. Lower costs, raise wages.
(DIR) Post #9iBYGqAf6qMXtUmwgi by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-26T02:30:42Z
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@amerika @Sosthene I already thought it may have been a wrong use of words.I didn't mean it in the way Americans use it (or at least how I interpret them).We try (very hard) to balance our budgets and don't just go out to borrow money for spending.We do have several/lots of entitlements and are very proud to have them.
(DIR) Post #9iCYQhlRPm9fsIegYy by amerika@freespeechextremist.com
2019-04-26T14:07:17.062189Z
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@FreePietje @Sosthene It's always good to confirm terms.No one can afford these entitlements states, and we're just figuring that out.USA had a big reckoning on this front this week...
(DIR) Post #9iChF0t1OMm3IHhVLs by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-04-26T15:45:55Z
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@Sosthene First letter send from prison by Ola Bini, published by his girlfriend.source: https://twitter.com/claucece/status/1121774064161492993#FreeOlaBini"To me, privacy is something that is absolutely necessary for human beings to be free and the rise of surveillance is threatening this to the core"💯
(DIR) Post #9js9Lw8kYNIyE3VIPo by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-06-14T19:52:12Z
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@Sosthene DemocracyNow! had a segment on Ola Bini: https://www.democracynow.org/2019/6/14/ola_bini_ecuador_arrest_wikileaks_assange
(DIR) Post #9kBIUh1ehzp5XvfrY8 by FreePietje@x0f.org
2019-06-24T15:13:29Z
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@Sosthene DemocracyNow! reports (on 2019-06-21) that #OlaBini was released from prison, but still a suspect and is (in his own words) still not (really) free. But at least no longer in prison 😃 Haven't watched it yet, but apparently Ola is on today's show:https://www.democracynow.org/2019/6/24/ola_bini_privacy_activist_and_julian
(DIR) Post #9kBIXfAC5Zyydh5HP6 by Sosthene@bitcoinhackers.org
2019-06-24T19:18:44Z
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@FreePietje yes I saw the news earlier, but didn't watch the show. That's good anyway, still a shame they could detain him for so long!