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Dutch governments builds alternative for Microsoft based on NixOS

1021 points · 583 comments · fjfaase

  1. askonomm · · focus · HN ↗
    Any move away from the abusive big tech that exists in USA is a good move in my book. Microsoft just recently made a new patent where they will monitor you via camera and microphone to block your program/game to show you ads, and per ads viewed, you then earn credit to be able to use your program/game. It is absolutely wild to me how a corporation can be so toxic and abusive to its users and still be in business.
    1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
      > Microsoft just recently made a new patent

      Microsoft has done a lot of super shady things, and they are domiciled in a hyper-corrupt, lawless threat to humanity (one that elects quite possibly the stupidest human alive -- a rapist abomination halfwit clown -- to the highest office), however people do make far too much of the patent thing.

      A lot of firms reward groups and employees that get granted patents. It doesn't actually matter if you're spitballing the most absurd nonsense that no one ever asked for and is nowhere on the product map, someone writes the application and gives it a shot. A patent being granted doesn't mean that a single person ever envisions doing this or asked for it implemented, and honestly the idea that they "invented" this is just how farcical the patent system is.

      In this case the patent is held by Microsoft's "Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC", which is their "patent extortion" racket. So they literally wrote this hoping to catch someone doing something found in a single claim so that they can use the legal system to rob from people.

      1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗

        [dead]

        1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
          > but does this add to your point?

          Yes? Donald Trump, and the fact that he is the symptom of a fallen empire that has reverted to being an idiocracy, flailing around and trying to bully its way to a lost dominance that is fading away, is precisely why the Dutch government is doing this. It's quite literally the subtext of this discussion.

          And for that matter, it's why all American companies are going to find their reach shrink. Visa and Mastercard are worldwide systems whose days are numbered, for instance. The US banking system is being ejected everywhere it is found.

          > but you can’t be the stupidest human alive and be president. It’s just objectively false.

          I mean, I guess people actually vote for this pathological liar / megalomaniac who is a lifetime failure in every dimension, so true. They're even worse. But Trump is objectively a profoundly stupid person. It's actually astonishing now how he is basically a simpleton in the White House, lying with every utterance, and it's just another day. It isn't even newsworthy. Oh yeah, his big TrumpTM Arch is now going to have drones and snipers! Also, how about that fantasy deal with Belarus for all that potash that doesn't exist, was farcical nonsense on its face, yet everyone reports it because this foolish liar just makes up stuff endlessly so it isn't even notable. Aren't Americans just unbelievably ashamed at how pathetic this loser is, or that he lies -- usually in the cause of pushing his greatness -- with every other word?

          Seeing Xi mog this pathetic chimp yet again was amazing stuff. The world is yours, China.

          > The US is one of the few (arguably the only) countries holding the barbarians at the gate

          This has to be a joke. There is no way anyone on this planet is so deluded and misinformed.

          1. creaturemachine · · focus · HN ↗
            >> The US is one of the few (arguably the only) countries holding the barbarians at the gate

            >This has to be a joke. There is no way anyone on this planet is so deluded and misinformed.

            No kidding. Donald Trump just opened the gate.

            1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
              I’ll have to respond to the parent OP but on this point - can you explain how the US opened the gate? What are you referring to?
              1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                The US has bombed over a half dozen countries in the past year. The US is led by a vile rapist abomination that openly threatens "annihilation" repeatedly, and has a drunkard, profoundly incompetent "secretary of war" that openly flouts literal war crimes (when US soldiers are being subjected to torture and US cities are glassed, hey, think fondly to when that "germs aren't real" halfwit boasted about how rules don't constrain the US, and "no quarter, no mercy shall be given". That emaciated pathetic little loser is so tough and brave). That casually talks about nuclear attacks like it's nothing.

                Trump stood at the lectern of the UN and in an utterly insane, deranged, self-aggrandizing speech (again, just another day in the insane idiocracy that the US has become, and it isn't even notable, the decline so severe and accelerating), boasted about looting the resources of Venezuela. Boasted about his assault on the ICC.

                The US is repeatedly and proudly engaged in wantonly illegal piracy at sea. It boasts about the textbook definition of terrorism.

                The US has done more to encourage nuclear proliferation in the last two years than in all of history. It has taught that everyone needs to get nuclear weapons, and many of them need to be pointed at the US. It has pushed the notion that might makes right, and if you have the ability you can steal and rampage whatever you want, in a lawless world.

                Your claim that the US is holding the gates is absolutely perverse, and your worldview is most certainly some US exceptional bullshit.

                1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                  > The US has bombed over a half dozen countries in the past year.

                  Which ones? I'm sure there's a very good reason for each so let's walk through them with civility.

                  > The US is led by a vile rapist abomination that openly threatens "annihilation"

                  Trump is probably a rapist but our justice system has failed to prosecute him. But the memory of justice is rather long. He may yet get his day. Separately yea who cares about the annihilation threats. Iran has been doing that for a long time. If they don't like hearing it maybe they should stop too.

                  > The US is repeatedly and proudly engaged in wantonly illegal piracy at sea. It boasts about the textbook definition of terrorism.

                  What examples do you have of wanton piracy?

                  > The US has done more to encourage nuclear proliferation in the last two years than in all of history.

                  I'd argue Russia has done more there by invading Ukraine.

                  > It has taught that everyone needs to get nuclear weapons, and many of them need to be pointed at the US.

                  No nobody has been taught that. But they have been taught that if they step out of line and don't have enough of a deterrent like North Korea, that if they try and build nuclear weapons they'll be on the receiving end of sanctions, and then if that isn't a good enough incentive we'll come bomb them and stop them. You are welcome.

                  > It has pushed the notion that might makes right, and if you have the ability you can steal and rampage whatever you want, in a lawless world.

                  Might does make right though. International law is just some stuff made up largely by western nations and backed by American military power. If you have no will or ability to enforce international law, like, idk, stopping Iran from building a nuclear weapon, then the law is pointless.

                  > Your claim that the US is holding the gates is absolutely perverse, and your worldview is most certainly some US exceptionalism bullshit.

                  No, it's not perverse. I just disagree with your point of view.

                  > This sort of idiocracy garbage utterly infects all corners of the US, and it keeps sloshing to the surface.

                  Isn't it embarrassing that all these idiots are the dominant force on the planet and you have to cry to them to help you against Russia and they make much more money than your citizens? If you're going to insult Americans like this you should at least have something worth insulting us over. I do think biking culture is way better than driving, but I'm not sure about much else.

                  1. microtonal · · focus · HN ↗
                    I'd argue Russia has done more there by invading Ukraine.

                    Nope, nobody was talking about getting nukes after the invasion in 2022.

                    Everybody started talking about getting nukes after: (1) Trump has been threatening to leave NATO and casting doubt about upholding Article 5, so nobody is really sure if the nuclear umbrella extends to Europe anymore; and (2) Trump has threatened to invade Greenland.

                    Basically, nobody here trusts the US anymore, but politicians are keeping up appearances to race to scale up production capacity of arms, etc.

                    Trumpists will typically say "but why should the US provide the nuclear umbrella for Europe?" Which is woefully ignorant of history, the whole NATO nuclear sharing arrangement, etc. exists, because the US didn't want European countries like (West-)Germany to have their own nukes.

                    1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                      > Nope, nobody was talking about getting nukes after the invasion in 2022.

                      That's not what I recall. And I also recall a lot of hand-wringing over how it was a shame that Ukraine gave up its nuclear weapons (in a manner of speaking).

                      > Basically, nobody here trusts the US anymore, but politicians are keeping up appearances to race to scale up production capacity of arms, etc.

                      That's not true. Internet commentators don't trust the US, but they don't represent all peoples or governments. Even the Danes trusted us enough to sign an agreement giving us perpetual military access to Greenland even if the Greenlanders declare sovereignty.

                      > Trumpists will typically say "but why should the US provide the nuclear umbrella for Europe?" Which is woefully ignorant of history, the whole NATO nuclear sharing arrangement, etc. exists, because the US didn't want European countries like (West-)Germany to have their own nukes.

                      I think you are somewhat off the mark here. Nuclear weapons are of course important, but France and the United Kingdom have them too. I guess a question you want to ask Europe is the details and history about France and the United Kingdom's own nuclear umbrellas. If they have them, why do you need American nuclear weapons? Not that I'm personally opposed to also extending ours.

                      For Americans (and I have various levels of agreement and disagreement) it's less about the nuclear umbrella and more about the placement and utilization of conventional forces. As you can tell with the Iran war and the early days of the Ukraine war, the United States (thanks in part to Europe) has been brow-beaten so much about (what was it, 14 countries someone said we bombed this year?) how bad America is and how awful and racist and "colonizer" America is and all that stuff that many Americans are just fed up with utilizing our military for much of anything or dealing with the problems of other countries.

                      I'm not, personally, because I think it would be beneficial for us to stop Russia in Ukraine, stop Iran in the Middle East, and avoid a war with China while maintaining the status quo regarding Taiwan, but you know when someone like some posters in this thread want to spend all day talking about how your country is full of idiots eventually people say, well, maybe you guys should take care of your own problems, even if it ends up worse off for everyone.

                      1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                        "Even the Danes trusted us enough to sign an agreement giving us perpetual military access to Greenland"

                        "Trusted". Christ, I guess you subscribe to the Dennis Reynolds "implication" style of coercion. Recall that Denmark readied blood supplies and literally prepared troops for a US invasion. From an ally. "Trusted". Good god.

                        No one "trusts" the US. It is a worldwide danger, where a pedophile rapist kleptocracy tries to export its profound stupidity to better nations.

                        In the end, Denmark reaffirmed an existing agreement from 1951. The one that already saw the US having military bases on Greenland per the alliance. They not only broadened it from just the US, they explicitly restricted it such that the US can only maintain such bases if they remain in NATO.

                        They took an existing agreement and reaffirmed it with new conditions. So Trump, Mr. We're Pulling out of NATO, basically redoubled on NATO just to have a win, where the win is just the status quo. Hilarious stuff. And this actually sells to some Americans?

                        When they played "Send in the clowns" for Marco Rubio to sign this new "agreement" was just poetic.

                        Where do you get your news from? Twitter? Because wow, every one of your take is straight from America exceptional land, and it's bizarre (I didn't respond to your other comments out of mercy, but good god you simply have no idea). The fact that Trump celebrated this agreement is because the midterms are coming up and this pathetic loser, having literally nothing to show but failure from his reign of idiocy, needed a "win".

                        > If they have them, why do you need American nuclear weapons?

                        You seem to have missed their point. There was a detente and a worldwide "order". Russia stepped out of line and almost the entire world punished them for it. The order mattered. Might does not make right, and in the rule of international law you can't just steal land or resources.

                        Suddenly Trump not only heralds Putin and wants to cement his battlefield wins, through his incompetent family reps Kushner (jesus christ) and Witkoff, he continually praises Putin and justifies his aggression, constantly repeating Russia's absurd justifications for this foolish war. Then Trump engages in the same behaviour on behalf of the US, stealing the resources of Venezuela, and openly threatening Cuba. And I guarantee that Trump has repeatedly talked to his drunken halfwit SecWar about invading Canada. They openly threatened invading Greenland, just because they want it.

                        Right now, every capable country should be getting nuclear weapons. Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Spain, and on and on. Putin tested the waters and Trump redoubled them and affirmed that there is no international rules, and everyone should be willing to murder billions of people. Any Americans -- having lived a life of peace, security, comfort and affluence -- who think this improves their lot is impossibly fucking stupid. All of history says uncountable Americans are going to die because of this foolish imbecile.

                        1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                          > "Trusted". Christ, I guess you subscribe to the Dennis Reynolds "implication" style of coercion. Recall that Denmark readied blood supplies and literally prepared troops for a US invasion. From an ally. "Trusted". Good god.

                          Yea interesting how they're so much more ready to go fight the US than fight Russia. But if you want to argue there's no trust there then you certainly can't trust our military being in Europe or backstopping NATO so if your goal is to dissolve NATO because of some arguing over, frankly, a lack of European defense investment in an area that is critical to American security (you own it you need to secure it) then well that's up to Europeans to decide.

                          I'm ignoring all the other stuff because it's boring and uninteresting. No I don't get my news from Twitter. I don't use social media.

                          > You seem to have missed their point.

                          No I'm debating their point. There's a difference.

                          > Suddenly Trump not only heralds Putin and wants to cement his battlefield wins, through his incompetent family reps Kushner (jesus christ) and Witkoff, he continually praises Putin and justifies his aggression, constantly repeating Russia's absurd justifications for this foolish war.

                          There are two large problems with this.

                          First, Europe has no ability to engage with Putin, and if Kushner and Witkoff are the people he will see then we should try for some manner of diplomacy even if the people that are sent aren't the ones you would prefer.

                          Second, while I fully support Ukraine regaining all of the territory it has lost, if Ukraine is unable to re-take the territory and Russia is unable to progress, it's stupid for all these soldiers to just go and die for no reason. If we can stop the war completely, for example, with Ukraine ceding this land, that's up to them but we should at least explore options and try to bring an end to the war.

                          > Then Trump engages in the same behaviour on behalf of the US, stealing the resources of Venezuela, and openly threatening Cuba. And I guarantee that Trump has repeatedly talked to his drunken halfwit SecWar about invading Canada.

                          I don't agree with how we've approached Canada.

                          Venezuela and Cuba are entirely separate things. Happy to discuss why if you want.

                          > They openly threatened invading Greenland, just because they want it.

                          It was a dumb negotiating tactic but it's important to us that it is defended to our satisfaction.

                          > Right now, every capable country should be getting nuclear weapons. Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Spain, and on and on.

                          If you're in favor of nuclear proliferation then sure. But it doesn't include just the "good" countries. It also means Israel gets to ramp up its nuclear forces, Saudi Arabia gets nuclear weapons, Argentina can get nuclear weapons, and anyone else on your naughty list. So we will further double down on a more dangerous world and you're advocating for further breakdowns of international law.

                          1. microtonal · · focus · HN ↗
                            Yea interesting how they're so much more ready to go fight the US than fight Russia.

                            Ehm, Russia didn't invade Danish territory. The US was threatening to invade Danish territory.

                            First, Europe has no ability to engage with Putin, and if Kushner and Witkoff are the people he will see then we should try for some manner of diplomacy even if the people that are sent aren't the ones you would prefer.

                            Putin only wants them because they are weak and can be played.

                            It was a dumb negotiating tactic but it's important to us that it is defended to our satisfaction.

                            It was not a negotiation tactic. They already had an agreement for over half a century that they could scale up US military presence as they would like. The US has reduced presence over the years.

                            Trump wanted to add land like every pathetic little (wannabe) dictator. But the EU showed some teeth suggesting that the trade bazooka could be employed, country moved troops to Greenland (so it wouldn't be a clean invasion without blood). So Trump TACOed out.

                            If it was a negotiation tactic it is bloody stupid ("art of the deal" I guess). Aside from getting a worse deal then before, as a side-effect many European countries that were planning to buy US arms are now switching to European options.

                            If you're in favor of nuclear proliferation then sure. But it doesn't include just the "good" countries. It also means Israel gets to ramp up its nuclear forces, Saudi Arabia gets nuclear weapons, Argentina can get nuclear weapons, and anyone else on your naughty list. So we will further double down on a more dangerous world and you're advocating for further breakdowns of international law.

                            Yes, and that was exactly my point earlier, the Trump and the US opened pandora's box. He disturbed the equilibrium by threatening to leave the NATO/not respecting article 5, by threatening to attack its own allies, by yelling Zelensky out of the White House. This sends ripples all over the world and Europe, Canada, and East Asian countries get the message "we cannot trust the US as an ally anymore", which leads to proliferation and probably more wars. It's very likely that Putin will try some sort of attack on NATO countries soon, just to test how firm Trump's commitments are. This would never have happened if he didn't weaken NATO. It's understandable that Poland gets nervous and wants to be able to MAD Russia.

                            1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                              > Ehm, Russia didn't invade Danish territory. The US was threatening to invade Danish territory.

                              Can you invade a territory in which you already have a dominant military presence? I appreciate Denmark’s bark loud approach but the country is militarily irrelevant. I think it was more of an awful negotiation tactic. We weren’t in the room. Maybe the Danes simply needed a reminder to take US concerns seriously and this was the crappy way of doing that.

                              > Putin only wants them because they are weak and can be played.

                              Either way they’re in the room at least trying something. Why aren’t European leaders in Moscow trying to get the war to end? Because they’re strong? Sorry that doesn’t pass the smell test.

                              > It was not a negotiation tactic. They already had an agreement for over half a century that they could scale up US military presence as they would like. The US has reduced presence over the years.

                              I disagree. Guess we can agree to disagree here. The new agreement protects American bases even if Greenland declares independence and also establishes formal, legal rights for America to prohibit hostile nations from mining or establishing military infrastructure on the island.

                              > Aside from getting a worse deal then before, as a side-effect many European countries that were planning to buy US arms are now switching to European options.

                              Well the deal is better. That’s an objective fact. Nobody in the US is threatened by or cares if Europeans are buying local. We led the way on that and we are happy that Europe is investing more in its defense and defense industrial base.

                              > This sends ripples all over the world and Europe, Canada, and East Asian countries get the message "we cannot trust the US as an ally anymore", which leads to proliferation and probably more wars.

                              That doesn’t reflect reality though. Japan and Korea for example haven’t lost trust. Putin by attacking Ukraine sort of forced the issue and to get countries thinking about whether the US would use nuclear weapons I guess in these wars? But the same is true for the EU. Even the language you are using doesn’t make sense to me. If Putin attacks a NATO country why is he all of a sudden testing how firm Trump’s commitments are? He would be testing how firm the EU’s commitments are instead. How fast do you think Spain or Italy will tap out when their kids are off dying in the cold to defend Estonia? What will to fight does France have when its economy is so heavily indebted? Poland and the United Kingdom will fight, the baltics would too since their lives are at stake. You can read for yourself survey results out of Germany where some large majority of German citizens said they wouldn’t fight to defend Germany. You’re going to read this as an attack on Europe. Nothing is further from the truth. I love Europe, but folks need to have a sober assessment of themselves here instead of hiding every possible problem behind Donald Trump.

                              Poland specifically said they did not want to host nuclear weapons by the way. <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reuters.com&#x2F;business&#x2F;aerospace-defense&#x2F;poland-does-not-want-nuclear-warheads-its-territory-deputy-defence-minister-says-2026-08-27&#x2F;" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.reuters.com&#x2F;business&#x2F;aerospace-defense&#x2F;poland-do...

                        2. microtonal · · focus · HN ↗
                          So Trump, Mr. We&#x27;re Pulling out of NATO, basically redoubled on NATO just to have a win, where the win is just the status quo. Hilarious stuff. And this actually sells to some Americans?

                          &quot;Art of the deal&quot;

                          You seem to have missed their point. There was a detente and a worldwide &quot;order&quot;. Russia stepped out of line and almost the entire world punished them for it. The order mattered.

                          Exactly this. It seems that the US has forgotten what soft power, alliances, rules-based world order means. You have the power because you have allies, because you can hold others to rules (and mostly keep up the appearance that you obey the rules yourself), etc. Initially, you can benefit from abusing that position, but it is short-term only. Your allies will form new alliances (e.g. Canada getting closer to the EU), stop buying your weapons, wean themselves of your products (this very news item), etc. The problem with incompetent people like Trump and his administration is that they only see the benefits of the short-term abuse, but not the terrible harm they do to themselves and the rest of the world long-term.

                2. drnick1 · · focus · HN ↗
                  &gt; Boasted about his assault on the ICC.

                  The US does not recognize the ICC. There is no such thing as supranational law that isn&#x27;t enforced by military power.

                  1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                    &gt; The US does not recognize the ICC.

                    This American exceptionalism answer has always been amazing to me.

                    No other country gives two shits if the US &quot;recognizes&quot; the ICC. As a serial warcrime committing nation, of course the US doesn&#x27;t want it having legitimacy. And of course they also want to protect their serial warcrime best pal Israel in the process.

                    See, the thing about the ICC is that the countries that do recognize it carry out its warrants. Netanyahu can covert around warcrime nations like the US, but he can&#x27;t visit Europe, for instance.

                    How is this remotely the US&#x27; say? I have yet to hear an American explain their belief that they get to force others to not have the ICC that doesn&#x27;t sound like devolved horseshit.

                    1. drnick1 · · focus · HN ↗
                      &gt; No other country gives two shits if the US &quot;recognizes&quot; the ICC.

                      That&#x27;s irrelevant. What is this &quot;other country&quot; going to do about it?

                      1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                        &gt; What is this &quot;other country&quot; going to do about it?

                        Wow, sounds toothless. Pretty weird then the extraordinary lengths the US is going to in efforts to destroy it, right? I mean, these two things almost seem incredibly stupid to claim simultaneously.

                        &gt; America isn&#x27;t exceptional at all in that regard.

                        Oh, it absolutely is exceptional. Ignoring that Russia is also a universal shitheel problem for the planet, and there are clear reasons why it doesn&#x27;t like such civilization, China and India have done nothing to thwart or attack the ICC. Nothing. China has overtly stated that they support its mission and disagree with attacks against it. Because China is an infinitely more civilized country that the US is. Which is why the US is flailing and grasping as a fallen empire shithole relegated to the dustbin of history.

                        1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                          &gt; Pretty weird then the extraordinary lengths the US is going to in efforts to destroy it, right?

                          Maybe the current American administration just hates the ICC and disagrees with some of their rulings and is casually destroying it without so called “extraordinary efforts”.

                          1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                            &gt; and is casually destroying it

                            It...hasn&#x27;t destroyed it at all. In all likelihood China will join the group just to fully take the mantle as leader of the world.

                            &gt;without so called “extraordinary efforts”

                            The US administration has burned enormous political goodwill attacking the ICC on behalf of Israel. But more importantly they have set the gears in motion for enormous financial consequences as well.

                            Do you know why Europe is fast-tracking replacing Visa and Mastercard? Because the pedo-kleptocracy in power in the US used those systems to punish ICC judges. Do you understand how profound the consequences of this will be?

                            See, the US has decades of goodwill and inertia and entrenchment in place. These things don&#x27;t change overnight. But it again elected a criminal pedo that is pushing garbage polices, so the whole world is being de-US&#x27;d. The consequences are going to be enormous for Americans.

                            1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                              &gt; It...hasn&#x27;t destroyed it at all.

                              Well not yet but if the US proceeds with sanctions that will likely spell the end. But if the US can’t destroy it then who cares?

                              &gt; In all likelihood China will join the group just to fully take the mantle as leader of the world.

                              I don’t see how China allegedly joining the ICC makes it the “leader of the world”. Seems like a stretch to me.

                              &gt; The US administration has burned enormous political goodwill attacking the ICC on behalf of Israel.

                              Well some of that (perhaps most) is well-placed.

                              &gt; But more importantly they have set the gears in motion for enormous financial consequences as well.

                              Because of the ICC? No I don’t think so.

                              &gt; Do you know why Europe is fast-tracking replacing Visa and Mastercard? Because the pedo-kleptocracy in power in the US used those systems to punish ICC judges[1]. Do you understand how profound the consequences of this will be?

                              That’s not happening. First even standing up a “European” platform has challenges because not all European countries agree on how this would be implemented. Second, Americans have and will for the foreseeable future have a shit load of money. Europeans want that money, so they’ll continue to accept Visa and Mastercard. I see American Express accepted more and more too on my regular visits to various European countries. By the way, you know that Europe can stand up payments systems and still accept cards issued in other countries? Tell me, do you think Americans are walking around worried Europeans are not going to take Mastercard or something? Please have some pride and stop acting like random things like this are your political Super Bowl or something. Americans just do not give a shit about this lol and nobody is worried.

                              &gt; as a fun fact, any business operating anywhere in the world should be kicked out or fined enormous amounts if it ever applies sanctions that aren&#x27;t locally recognized.

                              You should be careful not to confuse what you want the world to look like with how the world actually works. I think it’s clouding your judgement and ability to make good decisions.

                              &gt; If the US abuses the fact that post-WWs the West centralized business in the largest &quot;safe&quot; country among the cohort, it should very quickly be removed from this position.

                              Good luck or sorry that happened or whatever. Let us know.

                              1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                                &gt; I don’t see how China allegedly joining the ICC makes it the “leader of the world”. Seems like a stretch to me.

                                It&#x27;s a process. The US is a busted shithole, and everyone is moving on. Well I guess you have the Board of Peace.

                                &gt; Because of the ICC? No I don’t think so.

                                PRECISELY because of the ICC and the US abusing sanctions.

                                &gt; Americans just do not give a shit about this lol and nobody is worried.

                                I mean, yes the whole world knows this. Americans are profoundly stupid and uninformed, generally, and sorry but almost all of your comments are just hilarious to this ends. The original claim that the despotic, terroristic US is holding the barbarians back is just the chef&#x27;s kiss of insane nonsense.

                                The US is effectively bankrupt. Bond rates are spiralling. Yeah, friend, revisit this thread in 5 or 10 years. You, and so many like you, have absolutely no idea how the world works and it&#x27;s amazing.

                                &gt; You should be careful not to confuse what you want the world to look like with how the world actually works.

                                Never has self-deception been more blatantly stated. Actually amazing.

                                1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                                  &gt; It&#x27;s a process.

                                  What’s a process? Didn’t the poster above already tell you China isn’t a member of the ICC? 2&#x2F;3rd of the world doesn’t care about the ICC or its dictates.

                                  &gt; PRECISELY because of the ICC and the US abusing sanctions.

                                  So you want us to stop sanctioning Russia?

                                  &gt; The US is effectively bankrupt. Bond rates are spiralling. Yeah, friend, revisit this thread in 5 or 10 years. You, and so many like you, have absolutely no idea how the world works and it&#x27;s amazing.

                                  Remind us about debt and bond rates in countries in Europe. Perhaps you can speak to the UK, Italy, Spain, and France for starters.

          2. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
            &gt; the fact that he is the symptom of a fallen empire that has reverted to being an idiocracy

            America isn&#x27;t a fallen empire (if indeed it ever was an empire), nor does Donald Trump existing all of a sudden make everyone else stupid or something. Just because you disagree with someone&#x27;s politics doesn&#x27;t make their entire country an idiocracy, nor does it all of a sudden lower the IQs of everyone else.

            &gt; is precisely why the Dutch government is doing this

            They are just following Trump&#x27;s lead in decoupling from dependencies like we are from China (and a few others).

            &gt; And for that matter, it&#x27;s why all American companies are going to find their reach shrink. Visa and Mastercard are worldwide systems whose days are numbered, for instance. The US banking system is being ejected everywhere it is found.

            No that won&#x27;t happen. Also your assertion about Visa and Mastercard are just incorrect. They may be disrupted by technology if they fail to adapt, but it&#x27;s not because Europeans don&#x27;t want American money for example. I go to Europe all the time, at a minimum once&#x2F;year for about two weeks and my wife and I spend $20,000 or $30,000 or something and believe me you guys love it when I swipe my credit cards. In fact, every time I go to Europe I see American Express more and more accepted.

            Nobody is rejecting or ejecting the US banking system except maybe some bad actors but nobody cares about them.

            &gt; But Trump is objectively a profoundly stupid person.

            I don&#x27;t think you can be a profoundly stupid person and still be the president. There&#x27;s a minimum amount of not being stupid you have to have in order to run a campaign, hire people, make decisions, and more.

            &gt; Aren&#x27;t Americans just unbelievably ashamed at how pathetic this loser is, or that he lies -- usually in the cause of pushing his greatness -- with every other word?

            Maybe you should question why you feel so strongly about this yet the citizens of the wealthiest country in the world with many of the best companies and institutions in the world feel differently. You should maybe question why groups like the AfD are gaining shares in election. You can coddle yourself by chalking it up to just Russian propaganda or something, but that isn&#x27;t going to do you any good.

            &gt; Seeing Xi mog this pathetic chimp yet again was amazing stuff. The world is yours, China.

            It&#x27;s a lot easier to say stuff like this when you are coming (I assume though if not the point will change slightly in form but not substance) from a place of safety and have no stake in the fight. If the US and China were to go to war it would be devastating for both countries. Tens or hundreds of thousands might die. Maybe a little pomp and diplomacy can help avoid that confrontation? It&#x27;s not like the Dutch are going to be dying on beaches in Taiwan so maybe let&#x27;s let the folks who have a stake actually do the talking yea?

            1. epihelix · · focus · HN ↗
              Not to get involved in this argument, but just noting that Trump likely now has MCI (mild cognitive impairment), which has developed over the last two years. He was in better mental shape when he was reelected. Both you and the person you&#x27;re arguing with can be right on this one.
              1. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                No, Trump has always been incredibly stupid. His intellect has only ever convinced people dumber still.

                Trump grew up wealthy, surrounded by handlers and supplicants obliged to glaze every statement or utterance. This led this utter dunce to believe his idiotic thoughts are pearls of wisdom offered up to an ungrateful world. Did you know there is a &quot;B&quot; in the word dumb? Have you ever heard of the old-timey word &quot;groceries&quot;. Affordability is a hoax. Super intelligence!

                He is a spectacularly stupid idiot, and he always has been. This isn&#x27;t new. Dementia doesn&#x27;t explain it.

            2. Vaushite · · focus · HN ↗
              &gt; You should maybe question why groups like the AfD are gaining shares in election.

              When life sucks and there&#x27;s no hope, people vote for parties that promise to shake things up, not for parties that promise more of the same. That comes in two flavours: far left and far right.

            3. enaaem · · focus · HN ↗
              I think Trump is smart, but like conman smart. In fact I think he is brilliant in that regard. He is not a food statesman. He wouldn’t even be a good autocrat, because of his untrustworthiness. So yeah Trump is not profoundly stupid, like down syndrome stupid.
              1. ericmay · · focus · HN ↗
                He’s probably one of the best all-time conmen
              2. llm_nerd · · focus · HN ↗
                &gt; I think Trump is smart, but like conman smart

                The guy has accomplished the extraordinary, and it&#x27;s easy for loads of people to see that as some sort of intentional, purposeful brilliance.

                But I just don&#x27;t see it.

                Instead I see someone who just breaks people&#x27;s brains. People cannot comprehend someone that immoral, who lies so effortless with every word, and so utterly shameless. They just can&#x27;t. So when Trump declares that he&#x27;s going to cut trillions from government spending and eliminate the deficit and pay off the debt, it&#x27;s impossible for many people to understand that he has no fucking idea what he&#x27;s talking about, and the little bit he does understand he simply lies about.

                Like I keep seeing articles from left wing sources talking about Trump being &quot;humiliated&quot;. Trump is utterly incapable of humiliation. When caught in the most outrageous lie, he redoubles on it, which again, tens of millions of people just cannot comprehend someone so utterly immoral and busted, so immediately they think &quot;oh okay...I guess somehow he must be right? I mean, no functioning human could lie so egregiously&quot;.

                He is so thoroughly a garbage human that many are caught out by him.

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