Richard Stallman's Political Notes' Journal
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Wednesday, January 11th, 2023
| Time |
Event |
| 9:32a |
| | 12:02p |
| | 1:32p |
Labour as a centrist party
If a former elected
official of the Tory party quits and gives support to Labour,
saying in effect "I haven't changed — the parties have changed," what
does that imply?
You could say that Labour is getting stronger, because it is attracting people
from new areas of political views. But I think Labor is becoming more and
more like a "centrist" party that puts the rich first.
| | 1:32p |
| | 1:32p |
| | 2:16p |
| | 2:16p |
| | 2:16p |
War games, Taiwan
War game simulation suggests that
an attempted Chinese invasion of
Taiwan would fail,
leaving Taiwan in devastated condition though
unconquered, while wrecking the Chinese military and causing
substantial casualties for the US and Japan.
These casualties would be large by the standard of 21st century US
wars, but small compared with what the US experienced in the Vietnam
War or the Korean War.
Taiwan would rebuild its infrastructure with help. Being devastated
for a decade is not as bad as becoming brainwashed slaves forever.
Another article about
the same war games
reports on projected political effects of the war's damage, but I
think it exaggerates that. If the US had defeated China and still
possessed most of its armed forces, no other enemy would risk a
conventional war.
I wonder how this would affect global heating and climate defense.
The article also suggests how Taiwan could build a more effective
defense for much less money.
If China were not a totalitarian dictatorship, I think it would choose
not to attack Taiwan, rather than suffer such a defeat. Surely some
sort of compromise and peace would be better for everyone. Even Xi
might choose peace, and I hope he does; but he may not care about the
cost or the casualties to China as long as he wins.
| | 2:16p |
| | 2:16p |
Covid 19, 2023 theory
Some scientists believe that
repeated Covid-19 infections gradually
wear down a human's immune system
and eventually render her more vulnerable
to various diseases.
It seems there is not yet enough clear evidence to be sure of the
truth about this. In science it is not unusual to get various pieces
of information that don't add up to a clear picture. Eventually,
scientists do the right experiments and get the insight to find the
answer — but that takes time.
In the mean time, it is wise to minimize your own risk — and the
risks to others who come hear you — by wearing good masks.
However, people in general seem to be
rushing to forget about Covid-19
although it continues to spread, injure, kill and mutate.
The same
thing happened after the 1918/1919 flu epidemic.
This is exactly the wrong thing for people to do now.
| | 3:01p |
Brazil coup
Bolsonaro's followers openly promoted their violent plans
(to attack
Brazil's highest government buildings) on antisocial media platforms,
with hardly any hindrance.
The governor of the Brasilia region and its security chief were
Bolsonarists, and did not cooperate in protecting the government from
the planned riot.
They have been fired.
*1,500 Bolsonaro Backers [arrested] After Far-Right Coup Attempt
in Brazil.*
It is good that they did not let all the rioters get away. But it
would have been better to hold everyone who had attacked the
government buildings, at least enough to identify them and search
them.
Bolsonaro's followers remain a threat
to democracy and liberty in
Brazil, and (due to their commitment to deforestation) to the survival
of civilization as well.
The US is an exception among countries in several ways. Here are a few
unfortunate exceptions that we Americans ought to fix.
The ICC is supposed to prosecute people for war crimes when their own
countries fail to prosecute them. The US should sign the ICC treaty;
but them it should never leave prosecution of American war criminals
to the ICC. The US should prosecute them.
| | 3:16p |
US exceptionalism
The US is an exception among countries in several ways. Here are a few
unfortunate exceptions that we Americans ought to fix.
The ICC is supposed to prosecute people for war crimes when their own
countries fail to prosecute them. The US should sign the ICC treaty;
but them it should never leave prosecution of American war criminals
to the ICC. The US should prosecute them.
| | 11:32p |
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