overview for moderatecentrist

Analysis: The Epstein storm could topple a world leader — but it’s not Trump | CNN Politics by moderatecentrist in c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 2 points 20 hours ago

I’m not sure it will do much good, the numbers are very close when it comes to CON + “reform” , compared to LIB + LAB. (~10mil v ~12 mil, favouring left).

Fair point. The latest YouGov poll shows 44% of British voters favouring Reform and the Tories so I guess a majority are against the Tories and Reform. But yeah, due to being split between different parties, Reform look likely to win the next election. We really should have proportional representation.

Analysis: The Epstein storm could topple a world leader — but it’s not Trump | CNN Politics by moderatecentrist in c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 22 hours ago

Speaking of left-wing purity tests, when the next UK election comes, I wonder if anti-Reform voters will be able to unite around a single party to keep Reform out of power, or whether they'll be spread into factions between Labour/LibDems/Greens/SNP/Plaid and even the Tories.

If anti-Reform voters can't unite behind a single party then Farage will surely be the next prime minister.

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 1 day ago

True. They could be fined more for certain practices.

38

Zero net migration would shrink UK economy by 3.6%, says thinktank (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 day ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

11 comments fedilink

The article says this:

Jump of £37bn in budget deficit by 2040 would force government to increase taxes, NIESR predicts

If you were prime minister, would you cut immigration even if it reduces GDP and requires tax rises, or would you keep current levels of immigration?

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 1 day ago

Yeah regulation is important. Previously you mentioned European democracy. Ideally European companies will be accountable to Europeans through a democratic European parliament. Whereas Americans could elect a government (perhaps the current one) who will tell AWS to seize private data of European governments on AWS servers.

European sodas? by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

I've heard good things about Kofola. I'll try to remember to buy some if I find myself back in central Europe.

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

Sure, ideally any European tech companies wouldn't replicate the enshittification of America's big tech companies. Still, I think it would be good if Europe had larger tech companies, who can provide what Europe's companies and governments need. At the moment Europe relies on Microsoft Windows, Oracle, AWS, etc. If European companies could serve those needs then those companies would be accountable to European law. It could avoid a situation where Trump decides he wants to spy on European government data stored on AWS servers, for example.

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

I don't want monopolies or enshittification. I think it would be good though to have a European tech sector which can meet Europe's needs, instead of companies and governments in Europe relying on Google, Microsoft, Meta, etc. The (now more unpredictable) US government could compel those companies to give info from European government customers to US authorities, for example. I read a story about this the other day: "Euro firms must ditch Uncle Sam's clouds and go EU-native".

EU has ‘open mind’ on UK customs union talks, says official by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 2 points 2 days ago

Farage would probably trigger the clause and spend massive sums of taxpayers' money to cut ties with the EU. Anything to satisfy his 19th century vision of the world.

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

I guess when people talk about Europe they mainly mean the EU and countries allied with it (UK, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, etc). Russia is Eurasian anyway: some territory traditionally considered to be within the historical borders of Europe, and lots of territory within Asia.

Why there’s no European Google? - And why it is a good thing! by moderatecentrist in c/buyeuropean@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 1 points 2 days ago

Maybe Europe should have more integration so it can better stand up against the US, China, and Russia, all three of whom would probably love to tear apart Europe for themselves

The world is trying to log off U.S. tech by moderatecentrist in c/technology@lemmy.world

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 21 points 3 days ago

I was reading an opinion piece about this sort of thing earlier today, "Euro firms must ditch Uncle Sam's clouds and go EU-native". It opens by saying:

I'm an eighth-generation American, and let me tell you, I wouldn't trust my data, secrets, or services to a US company these days for love or money.

Kinda sad the flagship instance is the biggest turnoff to wider adoption. Also, I gotta try / switch to Piefed. by moderatecentrist in c/fedimemes@feddit.uk

[-] moderatecentrist@feddit.uk 5 points 3 days ago

The de facto most important instance is surely Lemmy.world. So I guess Lemmy.ml can be mostly ignored

6

MP expected to step down potentially paving way for Burnham's return (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 2 weeks ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

0 comments fedilink

If the Gorton and Denton seat becomes available, Burnham would need approval to run from Labour's National Executive Committee (NEC) a body which is generally seen as being supportive of Sir Keir.

Several Labour sources said they expected the NEC to object on the grounds that Burnham standing for Parliament would in turn trigger a by-election for the Greater Manchester mayoralty, which would be seen as a drain on party funds as well as politically risky.

Thoughts? Should Andy Burnham try to challenge Sir Keir? Would this help the country at all?

156

In the face of Trump’s threats, Britain’s best path is clearer than ever: hurry back to Europe (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

46 comments fedilink

Regarding defence:

The conclusion is inescapable: now is the time for the UK to reinforce, not wreck Europe’s security relationships, both through the European pillar of Nato and through cooperation with the EU. That means developing its own military capabilities as the US pulls back, as well as exploring a UK role in potential decision-making bodies such as a European security council.

Regarding the economy:

Labour should be open to renegotiating all barriers to cooperation – including integration with the single market in a Swiss-style deal.

Thoughts?

98

Europe may need to adopt Trump’s brass-knuckle methods to save Greenland (us.cnn.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/europe@feddit.org

19 comments fedilink

Maybe Europe should follow the example of China, the only nation to force Trump into a serious capitulation in his second term. Beijing wielded its dominance over rare earth minerals, which power the US tech industry, to force him to suspend his trade war with China.

Europe might be a military paper tiger. But, with the US, it’s one half of the world’s biggest trade relationship. Millions of American jobs in a US economy that’s giving Trump political trouble may rely on European trade.

“Inevitably, if Donald Trump persists, a showdown is necessary,” France’s top newspaper, Le Monde, wrote in an editorial. “Donald Trump seems to respect only those who stand up to him. The European Union does not lack weapons, provided it finally decides to use them.”

A descent into a full-blow trade war with reciprocal US tariffs could be a disaster for both sides and might finish off NATO.

But if it needs to hurt Trump, Europe may have no choice... Will Europe really follow through?

Thoughts? Should Europe add tariffs to US trade to hurt the US economy, hoping it will make Trump back down over Greenland, even if this means economic pain for Europe?

29

‘Go back home’: Farage schoolmate accounts bring total alleging racist behaviour to 34 (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 weeks ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

4 comments fedilink

Thoughts?

How would you react if Farage becomes the next UK prime minister?

22

What Trump's vision of the new world order means for Europe (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 3 weeks ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/europe@feddit.org

2 comments fedilink

Field Marshal Lord Richards, who... was the head of the UK's armed forces from 2010 till 2013... issues a stark warning: "[Europe] risks falling between the cracks."

"The EU cannot be a Great Power, nor can any of its constituent nations," he argues. "[So] the UK/EU must decide under whose sphere of influence they should shelter?

"The answer is they are likely to remain in the USA's - and within a reshaped Nato."

Thoughts?

398

Xi Jinping vows to reunify China and Taiwan in New Year’s Eve speech (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 1 month ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/world@lemmy.world

268 comments fedilink

Thoughts?

Is this imperialism by China, a country which is supposed to be left-wing? Leftists are normally anti-imperialism. Wouldn't it be better to let Taiwan democratically decide whether they want to be part of China or not?

31

Jamie Carragher blames Brexit for 'divisive' feeling in Britain (www.lbc.co.uk)

submitted 2 months ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

3 comments fedilink

I will be supportive of anybody who leads the Labour Party because where I come from we vote Labour and that will always be the case...

...So if it's Keir Starmer. I will vote for Keir Starmer. If it's Andy Burnham, I'll vote for Andy Burnham. If its Wes Streeing, I'll vote for him or whoever it could be in the future...

...I thought that was a big mistake, Brexit. And I think it's probably been proven correct.

Thoughts?

303

GTA VI developer accused of union busting in mass firings (www.theverge.com)

submitted 3 months ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/news@lemmy.world

14 comments fedilink

“Rockstar has just carried out the most blatant and ruthless act of union busting in the history of the games industry,” IWGB [trade union] president Alex Marshall said in a statement provided to The Verge.

Alan Lewis, head of global corporate communications at Rockstar parent company Take-Two Interactive, responded, telling The Verge the firings were “for gross misconduct, and for no other reason,” without elaborating further.

Thoughts?

121

Javier Milei hails ‘tipping point’ as his far-right party wins Argentina’s midterm elections (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 3 months ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/news@lemmy.world

27 comments fedilink

The victory of Milei's party comes after Donald Trump threatened to cut US aid to Argentina if Milei's party lost the election.

This is despite Trump previously being critical of "foreign interference" in the 2024 US presidential election, when members of the UK's ruling Labour party assisted (in a personal capacity) the campaign of Kamala Harris.

Rules for thee but not for me, I guess.

7

Lucy Powell wins Labour’s deputy leadership contest beating Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson (www.bbc.co.uk)

submitted 3 months ago by moderatecentrist@feddit.uk to c/uk_politics@feddit.uk

5 comments fedilink