Notices by AKingsbury (alexanderkingsbury@mastodon.social), page 2

@alxd @matti_len @clacke @sendai

I find it interesting that you repeatedly refuse to answer questions on the matter.

@clacke @alxd @matti_len

It's hardly a cross-examination; I'm asking relevant questions in an attempt to understand the situation.

@matti_len @clacke @alxd@writing.exchange @alxd

Is it "unreasonable" to go and help after a disaster?

@alxd @matti_len

Can you also confirm that there was no call from any competent authority or organization for such help?

@sabik @alxd

Have you ever helped clean up from a flood? Or talked to anyone that has?

@alxd

Are you seriously comparing shovels and labor in a flood zone to medical devices with no support structure?

@sabik @alxd

I'm openly saying that I've never heard of a significant flood that had too much labor in the first couple weeks. Now maybe you feel like answering the question I asked you.

@alxd @sabik

"absolutely no knowledge with what is needed"? Really?

@matti_len @alxd

Do you know that these people did not ask? Or perhaps that there was no call from emergency managers or the like saying "Please, we need willing hands"?

@alxd @sabik

So they'll be there long enough to do useful, complex, technical work, but they cannot get useful manual labor done in that same time?

@alxd

Seriously? You're criticizing people for helping the wrong way?

Are you going there with power banks, replacement parts, etc? Or a shovel?

@jeffowski @diffiehellmanstan

No, I'll speak as I please. But feel free to keep trying to order me around.

@diffiehellmanstan @jeffowski

"the government is in the hands of the capitalists by and large"

Nonsense. The government is, by and large, in the hands of either socialists or cronyists; precious few people in the government are interested in there being an actual free market. And your link makes its agenda very conveniently clear; it lies in the very first sentence.

@jeffowski

Really? I still have savings. And a pension (well, a 401(k)). My jobs is still here. I still have healthcare. The educational system is run largely by the government, not the free market.

Sooooo....nope, not really.

@denki @jeffowski

Well, I seem to be getting wealthier each year. My 401(k) keeps growing. I have excellent job security. At what point should I expect these trends to suddenly reverse for....well, reasons?

@bhasic

Actual symptoms:

Choice in the markets.

Formerly luxury goods becoming commonplace and affordable.

Innovation.

General lack of famines.

Massive numbers of immigrants and would-be immigrants because where you're living is way, way better than where they're living.

General improvements in the standard of living for all.

General decline in poverty over time.

@hugh @504DR @peteriskrisjanis @HeavenlyPossum @breadandcircuses @mcv Good for them. Did they have prosthetics? The capacity to develop covid vaccines quickly? The capacity to produce antibiotics? Eyeglasses?

@dung_eater @504DR @breadandcircuses @HeavenlyPossum @hugh @mcv @peteriskrisjanis I understand that people CLAIM technological advancement would be faster and more efficient without capitalism. I see precious little proof of that.

@Radical_EgoCom @RD4Anarchy @ciggysmokebringer @HeavenlyPossum @neonsnake @gerrymcgovern @gnutelephony @whatzaname Cronyism is what allows those concentrations of power. Monopolies, for example, are nearly always created and sustained through cronyism. If competition is allowed, monopolies rarely stand for any real length of time.

@Radical_EgoCom @RD4Anarchy @ciggysmokebringer @HeavenlyPossum @neonsnake @gerrymcgovern @gnutelephony @whatzaname "the concentration of power originating from private ownership of the means of production". That doesn't follow at all. Private ownership of the means of production ALLOWS for such concentrations, but does not demand it. And there's not really a more effective way to concentrate power than to collectivize things by law; someone still has to be in charge.