Christian Weilbach

I am a PhD researcher in statistics, machine learning and programming language theory, and it is starting to do my own job fairly well. The situation is very challenging, but I think exactly because of this it is necessary to engage and not just hate. It is both amazing and scary.

Cut nice deals with Europe and other allies maybe. Trump thinks he can get better deals out of this.

This is a benefit of Linux/Open Source, they cannot just take things away from you like this. Use Signal.

Hold your breath and look to Germany: its election could decide the fate of Europe – and the UK | Martin Kettle If the country holds out against the Trump-assisted AfD, it shows rightwing populism can be resisted in Europe’s heartland, says Guardian columnist Martin Kettle

Hold your breath and look to Germany: its election could decide the fate of Europe – and the UK | Martin Kettle

I appreciate it, but I have not seen many Canadians yet face what they are really up against if Trump comes for Canada. bsky.app/profile/wh1l...

I hope there is serious push back against Trump, but it is not really visible yet.

The US is in this position because of its monetary commitment and even more so because it is the sole manufacturer of many weapon systems such as Patriot and HIMARS. If the Europeans can replace that then the US has nothing to negotiate except sanctions. I don't think Trump cares about impartiality.

Please everybody wake up. It is really a problem that democracies always sit out problems for so long. There is no guarantee that things will end well.

99% of immigrants could do his job better. He cannot even speak clearly. People like this are fascist because they have nothing else.

YouTube video by FRANCE 24 English ‘What the hell do we do now?’: France hosts Ukraine talks following Munich meeting • FRANCE 24

NATO looks somewhat dead now. www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTCI...

The most important force that could stop that from happening are Americans. They seem to be somewhat sleep walking now though. Too many decided to just sit it out, which will get them into authoritarianism.

Maybe it is just bluster of Trump and the US economy will not be able to disentangle from Canada over a few months to render Canadian counter tariffs manageable for them, but I have searched for reasons why it would not work and cannot find any. Lmk if you have. Alberta's oil is already pro US.

Not even the UK has a defence treaty with Canada, Canada is in economic and military terms just an extension of the US.

YouTube video by CBC News White House confirms ‘51st state’ threats should be taken seriously, premier says

Here it is explained by the premier of Newfoundland www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGVj....

If I have to bet I would say Canada is not going to exist in 2 years anymore. I think most Canadians have no clue how much economic leverage the US has over them. It can literally starve Canada to death through a naval blockade without any direct military engagement. Most people are still in denial.

YouTube video by DW News Trade tariff turmoil pushes Canada to rethink US ties | DW News

Canadian EU membership is becoming more palatable, as strange as it seems. Probably it is just going to be more treatises, but it is also good for Europe to think more out of the box. www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJKe...

Yes, I think intersectionality is also a powerful perspective on understanding structural inequalities in the system better. Unfortunately it is often used in a way to police and exclude e.g. white males. I think it does actually tell also about their difficulties in identity constructions.

It is really good. He points out, from a leftist position, that most leftists are detached from the working class and that they have lost complete connection to the "petty bourgeoisie", even though the problems of people have converged. His distinctions of groups on the left is helpful I think.

My point is that the left has become very rigid around its issues (e.g. political correctness) and that it is often just trying to reactivate its old positions. I would say that even the left-right divide is a historical construction. In Germany the Green party is most progressive and flexible.

Yes, that is also my point. Trump was pro LGBQT+ in the first term. Culture war works now because it is as a distraction. Arguing pro or against DEI on cultural grounds is already buying into the right wing frame. I am not saying people should not defend those discriminated against.

I would love to know what you think about this youtube.com/watch?v=hRp5...

Opinion | That Giant Sucking Sound? It’s Climate Change Devouring Your Home’s Value. A new analysis predicts an extraordinary reversal in housing fortunes for Americans.

You can ignore climate change. The political system can ignore climate change. But the insurance industry cannot ignore climate change.

This is very partisan and has the typical left-wing sectarian squabbles about different forms of Marxism or very specific issues of discrimination. Most workers don't care about this and they also are not really into anti-capitalism. Pragmatic parties are ideologically boring, but more effective.

Left-wing parties did survive in Europe, but there is no clear program. Anti-capitalist attempts have failed and I think it is way too easy to point at "capitalists" and blame them for everything. Capitalism dismantled feudalism despite the latter being in power.

I think cybernetics is interesting. Bogdanov was a funding member of the Bolsheviks and of cybernetics and emphasized the importance of organisation. Any progressive movement should be able to prove that it can organise society better.

My point is that many startup founders also want a society in which they can build something meaningful. They want to make money, but they also care about building something. This spirit should at least be part of the game and appreciated.

I think this is a problem in Marxism, the notion of "false consciousness". It has enabled Stalin to claim that he knew better what the future proletariat will want and that he can oppress workers now. People's understanding contains a lot of truth, I think Trump supporters were not just stupid.

It is good to take responsibility. I did this as well in different forms. I am disappointed by left-wing parties, in Germany they came out pro-Putin and aligned dangerously closely to the AfD. I think we need new ideas and more flexibilty. Partisan leftist positions are comfortable and often wrong.

The problem is that the left has no credible alternative at least since the 1970s. One can blame everything on capitalists, but the truth is that the economic experiments were not really compelling to people. Most workers preferred social democracy and the New Deal of America post WWII.

This is the proposed opposition at least since Marx. But Marx needed Engels, who was the son of a factory owner, to even get how things work in capitalism. The world is not simply divided in workers and capitalists, modern economies are complicated. A lot of workers voted for Trump.