AmericanEconomicThinkTank @ AmericanEconomicThinkTank @lemmy.world

**International NGO**

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I used to run in consulting circles, long enough time around execs and you start to see just how well the good ol boy clubs, and know-a-guy chains can make business deals between firms. Once you get the ball rolling on a project as a large enough entity, it doesn't take much to consult the digital equivalent of their rolodex to find vendor upon vendor for this part, this data broker, etc.

Cheaper in bulk too.

I'll always be a major proponent of voting. I make it a priority to try and work the polls when I can.

But damn, does voting with your wallet work every time. From civil rights to free speech, it just works.

So you know, the next obvious step is to really kick them in the balls and outright replace their businesses on the free market. Bit harder a step but the real ultimate irony would be a resurgence of local communities stepping up utilitization of rebroadcast stations to better inform their populations and improve overall broadcast standards by ensuring proper "free market discourse" as they so often put it.

You know, even amidst of all this, a genuine part of me hopes some of these kids being sent to do dress up army man, or pick up trash in city parks while their buddies practice combat drills against American citizens get at least some exposure to a different way of life on their down time.

But maybe I'm too much a damn optimist.

Really makes you wonder just how absolutely vile these folks are behind closed doors if this is what's facing the public.

It almost still surprised me how often members of this administration have such a need to feel better about themselves.

If it weren't so consequential, I'd probably feel mpre genuine sadness for these folks. Like I wonder if you could count how many genuine heartfelt hugs they've ever gotten in their combined lives.

You know, from a policy and leadership standpoint I can sort of enjoy the process behind working to combat racially prejudiced policy, adopting new and better cultural shifts in existing organizations, being able to foster real appreciation for the American ethos of appreciation of our neighbors, the real melting pot our society is.

Being able to meet someone where they are and enrich their lives through real exposure of different ideas, these their beliefs, and work with them to bring themselves into the modern world is an honestly wonderful experience. One of my favorite memories was a student I had helped to learn half a decades worth of missing reading skills. Young man went from constantly belligerent to anyone and everything around him, slowly to being self confident, more open with people around him, and just be himself. Sure, not the universal experience with the ignorant, can't teach and old dog new tricks and all that.

But this shit? It's just so deeply demonstrative of a small man.

If I was a writer having a political administration encourage literal toxic sludge pits, and yet further paying for those toxic sludge pits to be increased, and poisoning wells for miles around, I probably would have ever publisher I even glance at drop my number.

I recall something I recently overheard from a very excitable young man the other week: "Bro those cop shows were psyops for real"

Not quite the way I would've put it, but considering the change in attitude towards automatic presumption of guilt, and simple guilt by association, I think there's strong merit.

Oh the ag. collapse could be, at the very least, interesting.

Bad enough that the lions share of the industry will need major handouts, or more likely that farm after farm will be bought out for land-lease to former owners, and then given handouts to offset purchase price. But, the midwest corporate cash crop farms have been fighting tooth and nail against soil conservation methods just to squeeze a few extra bucks out.

I so hope we don't end up getting into another dust bowl.

I'd highly recommend folks look at keeping up a community garden or two if possible, or helping out at one if not.

What's the old metrics?

Private industry costs three bucks to do what public does for one.

The Department of Defense War hasn't passed an audit for 8 years straight, high percentage of contract deliverables being immediately retired, resold domestically, or outright never delivered.

Of course they're going to stuff their pockets as much as possible. It's the only thing they're actually able to do, and barely competently at that.

Modern internet for you.

It may be far from perfect, but it's why I have such a soft spot for alternative to modern social media. If I'm going to put my through a slog of keeping these sorts of official social media accounts ip and running, I might as well make it a nicer experience.

Best part: the better names in the alt os and device scenes don't sell in us markets.

Unless you do the legwork of flashing your own device, most of us are out of luck.

I just love a good market stranglehold.

Very true, but a happy commodity.

Eh.

Whats the harm in a little nuclear war here and there?

Maybe a small nuclear winter will offset all this global warming hullabaloo, keep things balanced.

Of course he goes the "Small loan of a million dollars" route just at international politics scale.

Not like that 20 billion could help anyone else or anything right?

Wonder if they offered him his own private island as collateral.

Okay I mayyyy be glossing over the occasional pee stains, bad scheduling, overly expensive tickets, and occasional fella high out of his gourd taking the occasional break from his hazed trance to scream at me because I'm secretly the devil.

Just the colors of life I say.

Nothing like 40 years of political maneuvering and policy influence throughout a system of government to unravel.

Small consolation, while many work to also influence local offices and political bodies to properly prop up their power, it's also some of the easiest areas to get your foot in the door and make change yourself.

Hell, even under the Putin regime, opposition thrives in areas like schoolboards and townhalls, they tend not to be the ones thrown out windows. Just high enough to make a difference, too small to be noticed.

Lol unless the industrial complex keeps growing surveillance and monitoring without hard laws put in place, in which case oh well.

Haha helps not viewing it dead tired. Totally see where you were coming from there. It is an interesting point to make, especially given most view the need for IP protection for an individual or firm to extend only within reach of that party. Some are often enforced where common overlap occurs, like I could build surfboards under the name Tide and the soap people can't do jack.

Yet, books long out of circulation and print are still given full protection. If copyright technically allows home movie showing to extend to streaming, why isn't allowing home vcr recordings of tv movie broadcasts extended to downloading online streams given the actual method of data transfer is indistinguishablen from just watching it.

Shame that general priorities in law and policy are uh, what they are, I honestly would've loved seeing this stuff explored in the courts more, over just giving priority interest to corporations lol.

I could give you some indepth economic analysis, and behavior philosophy behind business spending, but the easiest?

Just unionize. Now. Volunteer time to talk outside work hours. Speak to local professionals like accountants and lawyers to help pro-bono with getting setup.

Talk to political offices locally, run if you can.

Talk about these issues with strangers. Print out your own corny pamphlet newspaper to educate someone willing to read.

In a car I am in constant conflict, constant in risk.

In a plane I am but a commodity, worth only my payment.

In a bus we are a union, to endure together, and one another.

In a train we are a tribe, fortified in goals, interests, as philosophers of old.