Old Fucking Punk @lwriemen@librem.one

@LeoSammallahti @dynamic Small densities work just as well as big ones. The corner store, small medical centers, etc.

The Pain of Pandemic-Induced Unemployment in America Is Brutal and Unceasing https://basicincometoday.com/the-pain-of-pandemic-induced-unemployment-in-america-is-brutal-and-unceasing/

The Trump Administration Has Planted a Land Mine in Federal Agencies https://theintercept.com/2020/12/18/the-trump-administration-has-planted-a-landmine-in-federal-agencies/

Up to 3 million devices infected by malware-laced Chrome and Edge add-ons https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2020/12/up-to-3-million-devices-infected-by-malware-laced-chrome-and-edge-add-ons/

@dynamic @LeoSammallahti A lot of exciting data from studies on indigenous farming practices these days.

I think (at least in the USA) if one could disconnect the nostalgia of the idea of the small farmer from the minds of voters when talking about ag subsidies and insert the picture of the industrial ag behemoth, then more progress would be made toward ag reform.

@LeoSammallahti @dynamic I'm more for tearing down urban areas. I think high population density creates more problems than solutions; it's not ecologically sound, but the only way out is to put the human population into balance with the world resources. i.e., massive population reduction.

OTOH, you're absolutely right about higher population density easing access to services.

@LeoSammallahti @dynamic Maybe I'm focusing on "cheaper" when the meaning is affordable. Cost of essential goods rising would have to be more than offset by tax cuts.

We are probably talking around each other. I think I now understand your original post as focus on services rather than consumption of goods, and achieve affordability through better government spending/more sensible taxing.

@LeoSammallahti @dynamic
"Wage earners would now have more money to spend, and it would be cheaper to hire someone to do something for you."

Change "Wage earners" to "Business owners" (or maybe "Job creators"[sic]) and you have the very basis of the argument for trickle down economics.

The crux of the issue is how they choose to spend that money. Assuming "wage earner" is someone in a middle to lower income level, then tax cuts are likely to go back into the economy.

@LeoSammallahti @dynamic Services cheaper equals lower salaries for service workers or cost of overhead reductions. I assume goods means nonessential goods or the service worker gets a possible double negative impact.

@LeoSammallahti Sounds like trickle-down.

In the 'Did anyone really believe they did?' department

Fifty Years of Tax Cuts for Rich Didn’t Trickle Down, Study Says
https://basicincometoday.com/fifty-years-of-tax-cuts-for-rich-didnt-trickle-down-study-says/

Yes, the U.S. can go carbon neutral by 2050, says new Princeton study https://grist.org/climate/yes-the-u-s-can-go-carbon-neutral-by-2050-says-new-princeton-study/

Pentagon Training Equates Whistleblower Chelsea Manning With Terrorists https://theintercept.com/2020/12/17/chelsea-manning-terrorism-defense-department/

A U.S.-Backed Militia That Kills Children May Be America's Exit Strategy From Its Longest War https://theintercept.com/2020/12/18/afghanistan-cia-militia-01-strike-force/

Dear Mackenzie: There's One More Donation You Owe to the World - Unionize Amazon. https://inthesetimes.com/article/amazon-ceo-jeff-bezos-mackenzie-scott-billionaire-union

Looks like Google is getting involved in power grid management.
https://www.landisgyr.eu/news/landisgyr-and-google-cloud-sign-groundbreaking-long-term-strategic-partnership/

@lightweight I felt about as bad as I did for Trump voters after the last USA election. ;-)

@lightweight First thought I had on hearing the Solarwinds news was, "Must be Windows/Microsoft."