Ashok Thomas

This graph is enough to tell me that we need more taxation of the rich, on both income and wealth, as the rich disproportionately benefit from the infrastructure and scientific achievements of the past etc..

If there is one wrong doing, it will make headlines, and talked about for weeks and months even..

However, if there is a continuous stream of atrocities, we become numb to it, i guess.. That's their plan..

(Scene from Andor, a star wars spinoff series ⬇️)

And Trump fires the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics..

The authoritarians all have the same approach.!

The guy is only 44 years old now, and could potentially rule for another 40 years !!

Hurling insults around the world is doing enormous long term damage to US soft power, as well as damaging the reliability of the US as an ally and partner.

It seems there is no humanity left in the world...

Is this... a child?

I can't, I can't, I hate russia so much. I hate them.

The spin machine relies on the majority of his supporters being dumb, or the cultish supporters themselves just needing an excuse they can use to justify their continued support..

The richest country in the world wants to give a 15 to 25% price advantage to local products over imported goods in its own market, while forcing zero tariff for its products in foreign markets.

Sounds fair. The rich should get richer !! 🙄

I was hopeful of a 2 state solution for several decades.

But under the longest serving PM Netanyahu, it has been gradually made nearly impossible.

Resigned to watching helplessly with horror as the tragedy unfolds..

It is frustrating to see this unnecessary war going on for over 3.5 years, killing and maiming hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians.. and causing enormous destruction..

It all hinges on one man's will.. whether to end this tragedy or not.. Can Putin find the courage to end this war..

such a coward.. clinging to the speaker post at all costs..

Somebody should tell him that the known oil reserves will last for only 50 years.

Future generations will require alternate sources of energy.

His original name is Alexei Fridman.
Changing Alexei to Lex hides his Russian origin, i guess.

This video was interesting..

His hesitation to mention where he studied is curious..!

The very first Lex Fridman podcast that i watched was a about 3 years back, not knowing anything about him.

Within a few mins, i realised that something was off. It all seemed phony, with assertions of seeking truth and understanding both sides.

Googled about him and never saw his videos again !

The Russian government can fight Russophobia by being nice and friendly with all neighbours !

High tariffs should only be used for strategic purposes like food security or national security.

Trade imbalances are best handled by letting the markets arrive at the proper currency exchange rate, and not relying on capital flows (by borrowing) to plug the gap.

(I am not an economist !)

Charging a tariff of 20% on an imported item increases the cost by 20%, whereas locally produced items don't have that additional burden.

This is like getting a 20m headstart in a 100m race.

Not fair.

So, mostly no one will agree to such an unfair deal in the long term, without retaliation.

⬇️

Good to see the India-UK trade agreement getting signed.

With the US (under Trump) planning on slapping a minimum 15% tariff on all countries, it is important for India to have fair trade agreements with the UK, Europe, Canada, Japan, Australia and other democracies.

How Finland starts its fight against fake news in primary schools Country on frontline of information war teaches everyone from school pupils to politicians how to spot slippery information

To break the cycle, critical thinking is required to be taught in schools from an early stage. (Before the oligarchs gain control of the education system)

Finland is leading the way in this aspect..

Sadly, psychopathic tendencies help some people achieve success in business and enrich themselves immensely.

And the insanely rich people control many politicians, media and most of the influencers, and bombard people with relentless propaganda.

And we repeat mistakes of the past again and again.

Yes, warfare has changed.

I think if we elect decent people who have a history of fighting for better minimum wages as well as affordable housing, education & healthcare, and do not have a history of lying, then such a government can be trusted to do the right amount of spending on defence.

It is not a contest between

liberal vs conservative
or
left vs right
or
Wokist vs fundamentalist

It is a actually a struggle between

welfare capitalism vs vulture capitalism,

egalitarianism vs elitism and

Democracy vs Autocracy.

I said national sovereignty is the cake, not nationalism.

Also to spend on defence, can also tax the rich.

In my simple mind, it seems that national sovereignty is the cake or the base, and welfare is the icing or the topping..

Without sovereignty, there is no welfare. It is the responsibility of the politicians to strike the right balance between defence and welfare.

It may appear to be a hard choice, i.e. to spend more on defence or on welfare, but it is a clear choice. Defence against a marauding enemy obviously gets priority.

Happy birthday. May this year bring victory over aggressors and a just peace.

Dialogue from Andor (Star wars spin off)..

makes so much sense..

"The pace of repression outstrips our ability to understand it.

It is easier to hide behind 40 atrocities than a single incident.."