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Joined 2 years ago
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Cake day: June 9th, 2023

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  • It has only been 6 months. The effects of this administration will not appear in tables of budgets and salaries yet. Although in simple terms it will probably still look ok, it is far less attractive.

    Cost of living matters too. From simple things like how much broadband costs (uk: £30 pcm, usa: $78 pcm) to an ambulance ride (uk: free, usa:$2000). The higher salary is an illusion.

    I also note that every company in your list is a tech company. Researchers in other fields are probably not going to be as lucky.

    Buying in instrumentation is also now more expensive due to tariffs so your research budget was effectively cut as well as being actually cut. Scientists with approved grants for equipment have had them revoked. Universities are advising not spending funds to provide contingency funds.





  • Pretty sure that Musk has realised he alienated his prior fan base by courting this government so publicly and passionately.

    Now he is trying to reclaim his former status by attacking the Trump admin thinking the left will love him for it. Trouble with that is, petulent is not a good look, nor is appearing not to have an allegiance to anything but money. His mask has slipped and that won’t be forgotten, he did a nazi salute twice on the international stage ffs. No one is going to see Musk as a champion for the left or the environment again.

    Not only has he screwed Tesla by making them unfashionable, he’s now screwed SpaceX by pissing off a major source of income.

    But we are still to believe that the guy is a financial genius and not just lucky, right?










  • I meant any incoming administration in 4 years would have to win big in all 3 houses to demonstrate to the world that this 4 years was unwelcome and unexpected. Incidentally that’s also what would be needed to effect the change BUT. A sizable proportion of the US electorate has shown an appetite for what is happening and historically the republicans always seem to do better than they should despite all the horrible shit they do. So I don’t have faith that the next election would go as we hope.

    In 2024, despite, or maybe because of his first term, Trump won the popular vote, and project 2025 was also not a secret.

    So the question would be, what reform or reforms would convince the rest of the world the USA wouldn’t pull the same moves again?

    Donor caps? Media regulation?

    The problem is not just getting trump out in 2028, it’s keeping his followers out in 2032, 2036, 2040 etc.


  • With respect, it will take the US a lot longer than 4 years to rebuild the trust that has been destroyed. Even a return to the norms of the last 75 years, while it would be welcomed by the traditional allies, would mean nothing if it can be reversed so easily again in 8 years and sharing secrets and cooperation with an “ally” like that is dangerous.

    Foreign policy changed radically in a matter of weeks. The US is no longer predictable or reliable.





  • Every time I read something about the USA in the last few weeks I think “Wow that’s shitty. How can it get worse?”

    In short order, the answer to my question is served up. I find it worse when the victims cannot speak or stand up for themselves. Though horrible things are happening to a wide range of victims at least they can protest, take action etc. The dogs cannot. I only hope that the handlers make sure the welfare of these animals is taken care of despite the order. They do not deserve to be pawns in the MAGA game, but then no one does.