… as are any genuine threats to capitalism in the US Empire

Yeah, I pretty much agree. I guess you could argue that Bernie is still alive, but there’s a reason the Dems never let him run, and there’s been smear campaigns against him.

“Brainwashing” fundamentally doesn’t exist.

Not as you interpreted it, it doesn’t. But in the metaphorical sense, (like the media keeping you focused on other things, you know the whole “bread and circuses” thing) it does.

The reality is that people support socialism because it works for them.

You think the people actively support China’s flavour of authoritarian communism deliberately, and not because of fear or the media? Tell that to the Tank Man and all the others that died fighting for democracy and freedom, at the Tiananmen Square Massacre.

The state is under the control of the working class

I don’t think I’ve heard anything that’s more ridiculous than that!

Tell that to the Uyghurs and other muslims that the CCP is sending to internment camps. I don’t think the workers in those camps control the state in any way, otherwise they wouldn’t be in there in the first place.

Your hatred of the working class would make Orwell blush

And your defence of dictatorships will make Trump, Musk and Thiel squeal in joy.

Maybe? Idk if I should feel honoured, as that’s sort-of how I’d align myself.

I’d say I’m more of a social democrat personally.

Oh my goodness.

Go to the US and call Trump a fuckwit.

Then go to China and call Xi Jinping a fuckwit.

Which one had you arrested? That’s right, China.

Go to the US and say Assange and Snowden are heroes and should be remembered.

Then go to China and say the Tiananmen Square Massacre should be remembered.

Which one had you arrested? That’s right, China.

Now do the same with the political system.

Now try to access an anti-US propaganda site from the US.

Then try to access an anti-China propaganda site from China.

Which one’s access was blocked? That’s right, China.

Now ask ChatGPT about the US Government’s war crimes.

Then ask Deepseek about the Chinese Government’s war crimes.

Which one refused to answer? That’s right, Deepseek from China.

I’m not saying the US is good. In fact, I agree with basically all you said about the bad in the US. But don’t be fooled by the mask of the Chinese Dictatorship. The proles are easy to fool, and statistics are easy to fake. I should know, I come from a heavily corrupt post-communist state that would make US corruption look like Child’s Play in comparison.

The only things China is better at, are the more efficient brainwashing and exploitation of its citizens, and the more efficient use of funds, funneling them towards further wealth of the state, rather than further wealth of the billionaire class (because in China they aren’t just friends, they’re one and the same).

It seems you’re mostly right (except there are rumours that a Taiwan takeover is part of China’s long term plan for economic dominance).

I’m worried at how many China shills there are around here.

Nobody is saying the US is all good. But it likely isn’t as horrible as China. Is it certainly the lesser of two evils? I’m actually not completely sure, but I’d guess the US isn’t as horrible.

Sorry, what I meant was that I’m sceptical AI can achieve what people are saying it will achieve. I think there will be a realisation that the impact would be significant enough to mention, but nowhere near as revolutionary as tech CEOs are trying to sell it as.

Did people forget when the US went to shit, and how the US quality of life only really started declining when they won the Cold War and had no more competition? Competition is key to pushing the US to do better. It’s not going to do that without the threat of China (not that it’s doing that now, but the principle still stands).

I always saw it as TSMC potentially being a key reason for China to invade Taiwan so they get their hands on semiconductors, with this being LESS likely now, instead of more, because China no longer needs TSMC and their research.

Correction: both are bad. The only good outcome is where neither the US nor China is a lone superpower, but instead they both compete economically, driving innovation and improvement for the rest of the world to enjoy.

Hinton has been saying apocalyptic things for years, and we’ve seen no evidence for most of it. At this point, I’m sceptical of anything he says, and I especially am curious about which companies he invested in and has a vested interest in the success of.

While I don’t disagree, I think talking about the corrupt oligarchist model as if it isn’t matched (if not outclassed) by the CCP’s control and surveillance in China feels disingenuous.

Idk about 2 years, but they can definitely do it by 2030.

It took TSMC a while to get to that point if I’m not mistaken, so even with all the financial might of the CCP, I still doubt it will happen THAT quickly.

If China’s already at 5nm, they’re getting close. Smallest in use now is 3nm, I think.

This poses the question, how long until China can achieve its goals without Taiwan and TSMC?

Wait, 5G isn’t encrypted? I think it does have some protections still. I mean, not that it would matter to me, they only use NR-NSA in my country so it isn’t even full 5G with all its advantages.

At the risk of sounding like an AI-generated ad, I use an app called Privacy Cell on Fdroid, that confirmed there is no true 5G anywhere in my country. I just wish there was a way to differentiate between the two versions of 5G natively, kinda like 4G-LTE showing up as LTE instead of just 4G.

I’m starting to think maybe I’d prefer Brave New World over the current reality. At least the people are happy and not miserable.

Until I’m reminded we still have some power in numbers, and speech isn’t completely censored yet.

Though the future is basically BNW but with no soma. The soma will be UBI. Enough to live, but not enough to afford to rebel.

Don’t mind if I do!

buys more options

The other day I was bored and asked AI to play a game. Then I ended the “conversation” because I realised this “game’s” environmental impact. If it was clean energy-powered I’d find a way to run it in perpetuity to waste OpenAI’s money, but the environmental impact is more important

I’m a Linux user, and while that would also be win for me, I’d be really happy for Windows users to finally stop having what amounts to a rootkit and spyware combined, to have to play games.

In some ways, I’d almost describe him as a role model. I’m sure many people would agree that they have also held grudges towards the modern ruling class and have wanted to offer a similar response. Perhaps he is the first of many. After all, of those who became billionaires, I would only spare a small number (there are many billionaires who simply inherited their wealth and are not guilty of sacrificing people’s wellbeing to amass greater wealth).

The [new] venue is considered safer than the medieval former religious school where the party was initially scheduled to be held. It is surrounded by water, making it impossible to reach by land when bridges are raised.

I wonder, if Jeff is a good guy, why is he so scared? If he was a good guy, surely nobody would want to Luigi him (attack and/or murder him) too?