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I dunno, recently traveling through Europe I mentally “joined” the campaign by seeing the ridiculousness for myself.

I very much support their ideals and their people-centered mindset.

But in execution it’s that meme: US rocket lands in slow motion on reusable pad, Chinese rocket lands in slow motion on reusable pad, European hand in slow motion closes a water bottle cap that is permanently attached to the bottle and always hits you in the nose.



> But in execution it’s that meme: (…)

If you agree with that meme, you’ve fallen for the manipulative narrative of lobbyists¹. Bottle caps are a massive problem (as is plastic in general) on the environment (you know, the thing we all live in) and the regulation is already having an impact. There will be more regulating the uses of plastic. If you don’t know why the bottle caps are so problematic, you live a privileged life and are being shielded from the reality your fellow human beings have to endure (but will eventually feel the effects just the same).

We don’t fucking need rockets right now, what we need is to stop poisoning ourselves. True progress is not inventing new technology, it’s understanding how to properly use what we have and reject what is harmful.

¹ Which is not a dig on you; we’re all susceptible to be tricked by these massive corporations whose only goal is to extract value from us. I’m on your side.


I've had the bottle cap in my nose multiple times... nobody's tricking me into not liking it.

Yes: I have the privilege of living in a developed 21st century world where I don't need to deal with stuff like this. Proud of it.

I'm well past being told to eat my vegetables because children in Africa are starving.

The solution is to expand the pie for everybody, not to throw our arms up and return to living in caves in harmony with "nature". Technology and progress solve this.


Nobody's forcing you to buy products in plastic bottles. It would actually be better if you didn't. "Technology and progress" are so far producing mountains of trash and pollution that you're privileged to not have to see, unlike those children in Africa, and other impoverished places where your garbage washes up. You're proud of winning the lottery. Have some self-awareness.


I’m proud of living in a world of comfort that every generation before me has suffered through hell to accomplish.

The solution to children in Africa suffering isn’t me living worse or even me beating myself up for “my privilege”.


> The solution to children in Africa suffering isn’t me living worse

It may very much be, to be honest. The causalities aren't that mysterious.


> I've had the bottle cap in my nose multiple times...

Are you unfamiliar with the concept of rotating an object?


Does the slowly landing rocket in any way improve live for ordinary people?


Yeah: https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starlink

Billions of people are getting access to information through it.


Billions?

You mean millions. As in 12 million subscribers.

Which includes people who have it as a backup.

Thats a lot of taxes for a few cities worth of people. Especially since Americans already paid for fibre to be laid to everyone in to US' home until the fund was embezzled.


It also includes Ukrainian drone operators, for whom this service is the difference between life and death.

Not much tax money was spent on it either.


They've had $100 million in government subsidies.

And then all the government contracts.

Their entire business plan is based off taxes.

He is the biggest leach on state benefits.

> Not much tax money was spent on it either.

A lot of tax money has been given to him.


Good for them! We, europeans, already have fiber everywhere and unlimited 5G mobile internet for 2 euro/month.


“2 euro/month” is what you pay directly out of pocket. Your taxes pay the rest.


I can't be absolutely sure, but I don't think this is true. This company [1] I'm paying 2euro/month to, AFAIK is not subsidized and never was. They already spread fiber and cable long before we joined EU (in 2007) and I had this 2euro plan since 2006.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digi_Communications

On the other hand, SpaceX did receive a lot of money from the state.


The same goes for landing rockets on the moon. You pay from your taxes.




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