Post by @randahl@mastodon.social

Randahl Fink

@randahl@mastodon.social 5 hr. ago

It is wonderful to see that not all businesspeople are cowards.

Virgin's Richard Branson:

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I thought I'd never have to say this in my lifetime, but this is 2026, and sadly nothing is what it used to be.
The Trump administration has become an appeaser to autocrats and dictators, putting their personal whims before the best interests of the American people and those of the free world. What is it about Putin that President Trump fawns over?
How will America's allies ever be able to trust this administration again when they are now turning against them at a time of war and suffering? — I thought I'd never have to say this in my lifetime, but this is 2026, and sadly nothing is what it used to be. The Trump administration has become an appeaser to autocrats and dictators, putting their personal whims before the best interests of the American people and those of the free world. What is it about Putin that President Trump fawns over? How will America's allies ever be able to trust this administration again when they are now turning against them at a time of war and suffering?

The slowdown of Starlink Starshield and the inexplicable lack of advance warning of Russian missile launches have already caused Ukrainian civilians to die unnecessarily. How much worse can it get?
If one thing is clear it's that European leaders must overcome the initial shock about
Trump's recent actions and step up to the plate. It's as much about Europe's freedom as it is about Ukraine's sovereignty. Both are worth fighting for. All options should be on the table now, from the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine to the delivery of advanced weapons systems such as Germany's Taurus.
Why oh why is this happening? We cannot let the free world be dismantled before our very eyes. — The slowdown of Starlink Starshield and the inexplicable lack of advance warning of Russian missile launches have already caused Ukrainian civilians to die unnecessarily. How much worse can it get? If one thing is clear it's that European leaders must overcome the initial shock about Trump's recent actions and step up to the plate. It's as much about Europe's freedom as it is about Ukraine's sovereignty. Both are worth fighting for. All options should be on the table now, from the transfer of frozen Russian assets to Ukraine to the delivery of advanced weapons systems such as Germany's Taurus. Why oh why is this happening? We cannot let the free world be dismantled before our very eyes.

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Kiwï

@Kowalski@chaos.social 1 hr. ago

@randahl

How we say that in German: “Tja!…”

S★m V★rm★

@samvarma@fosstodon.org 1 hr. ago

@randahl I would also love it if British people would stop using Americanisms. "Step up to the plate" is a baseball metaphor.

cauZation

@cauZation@mastodon.social 2 hr. ago

@randahl Please be gentle penetrating Virgin's reasoning. It's as precious as a newborn 99% agency.

Remove the .01% from power.

Jean-Baptiste Fidélia

@jeantranscene@mastodon.social 2 hr. ago

@randahl I'm always amused to hear people talking about billionaires as if they were a special sub species of human. A billionaire is only a human turns into given great financial success: an a**hole. It doesn't matter how you get there the perception is always:
- it was all you
- you of all people deserved it
- you're better than the rest for it
Its a human thing. A lot of them started as decent people. They all turn eventually. It's just a matter of time and circumstances.

UkeleleEric

@UkeleleEric@mstdn.social 2 hr. ago

@randahl Then again, I must say, from his record, I wouldn't trust him. And since when has there been a 'Free world', anyway? The US has always been a colonialist, interventionist, fascist-supporting, money above ALL ELSE, state (It learnt well from the UK, and then added some). Freedom to do what the Americans want, I suppose...

xenophyte

@xenophyte@c.im 3 hr. ago

@randahl From Branson, not something you would hear from the current tech celebrities:

Train people well enough so they can leave, treat them well enough so they don't want to.

@jwi@aus.social 4 hr. ago

@randahl
Through his work, my brother came across Musk and Branson, this was over 10 years ago. He described one as egotistical (and some expletives) and the other as a listener work didn't impose his ego.