How's the 😜 World Going? Ukraine et al.

Well, here we are, a day and week where it's become obvious that there's still a bit too much crazy out there.
Interesting, though I do wonder when that spike happens. Is it 2020? Before that? Could be 2017 for all I know from that.  
So Ukraine. Looks like it's out there, plenty of manufacturing consent going on. I know I wrote about this a year ago. Adding to this I've listened to this podcast. it's worth listening to. Think it brings up lots of good things that aren't usually brought up in this discussion (or scream session, online). It does seem to underplay the strength of the Nazi-adjacent movements in Ukraine (and at the start of the protests in 2014, there was certainly far right, fascistic elements involved, though I agree to say it was all fascists, or that it was all American led, is going a little too far[1] and indeed the current Ukrainian president is Jewish, so that seems to point away from the fact that what remains of Ukraine is itself a wholly right wing state).
Manufacturing consent on the inter webs. 


But that podcast does seem pretty solid. The lecturer also has the annoying tic of calling anyone on the left as far left, dovish, and leftist tank, Putin apologist etc etc never once actually taking in what the points taken are. And he does list a lot of good possibilities (missing out on the raised tensions between nuclear states not being a good thing, and not taking into account other things like the usual American State Dept view that Russia just needs to learn its place, "eat its spinach" sorta of stuff that Russia really bristles at (and any leader would, so making this about Putin, no matter the cult of personality there, seems to miss the point). Also doesn't mention why we don't just say, yeah Ukraine doesn't get into NATO, while getting some non-invasion agreement from the likes of Putin. [2]
Kind of a subset of propaganda, but a fair point. I do think there were plenty of excess deaths there and that plays into Putin's acts. But what this doesn't deal with is the US and its million+ excess deaths and thus a similar need to distract the population.  [3]

A better discussion is here. Points to Putin posturing (there was an essay he wrote that was concerning, but from which he's backing off right now, and saying just that NATO wouldn't get into Ukraine) because of his lack of popularity (definitely true, especially with Covid). And the people here are smarter as they know that this game of chicken (again, with nukes) simply increases tensions and isn't good for anyone. Anyone who's sane. 
Indeed, the podcast looks into Putin's essay that kind of dismisses the possibility of Ukraine as a state. And how Russian behavior itself does drive its neighbors into NATO's arms (no one mentions how Putin actually asked to join NATO).
Solid podcast, so I highly recommend it. 


[1] All the literature points to this being a thing, even if it wasn't the only factor at play, yet it's rarely mentioned in the podcast or elsewhere. Haven't seen much evidence otherwise, though I think the west fanned the flames and overthrew a democratically elected government, corrupt as it may have been, and few people are mentioning how there was an economic crisis in Ukraine and they were trying to get a good deal from the West, before turning to Putin (better deal from what I've heard))
[2] Again, don't care for Putin, but the hysterics are getting too far about him. I do not agree with his idea to break Ukraine for no other reason than to prove a point (just like the US breaks many countries, usually far easier than others cause.... you know the dollar). 
[3] funny thread, this, apparently plenty of liberals think that we have anti-vaxxers because of Putin. Just no. Same with 2016. Show some proof, stop being xenophobic and blaming everyone but our own crazy right wing movement. 
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