Element here all the way!

You misunderstand. Elon is retired from US politics now, obviously, and will return to being a force of good!

I definitely disagree we’re seeing as terrible rise of fascist ideology; oligarchs controlling the flow of information on the internet is the biggest threat towards human existence.

I wouldn’t even say I’m a regular right-winger, or any kind of wing really, I mainly simply don’t believe in the effectiveness of extremes.

What nations would you consider “properly” socialist? Isn’t a prerequisite for achieving acommunist society a period of socialist government preparing the people’s spirits? Also, even 'socialism" is a spectrum; if any government with progressive taxes is “socialist” then yes, you have plenty of states you can include. Mind you, I’m from Scandinavia - a region often mentioned as an example of socialist policies - but the system is fundamentally capitalist for better and worse.

Sorry if I’m projecting a bit too much onto you! I don’t like capitalism, but I don’t find it realistic or achieveable to rid yourself of it in a meaningful way; history has shown that a new upper class emerges once the heads of the former have been cut off. Power. It’s human nature and it always will be. The best bet is to compromise and pressure capitalist systems as much as possible. Which camp am in?

I don’t know who “you guys” are; I’m not American at least. I have a more specific definition of “socialism” than just living under a system that taxes the rich and has a degree of national control over the means of production

Most moderate anything government doesn’t even begin to come anywhere close to the control of a “radical” leftist state.

What is your basis for “radical” leftists standing for human rights? Radical leftists are rarely liberally minded. I don’t disagree that many left-wing parties stand for decency, environmental protection, and various rights - but “radicals” do not.

Of course fascists are bad and can go fuck themselves - but not all “right wingers” are fascists.

Socialist regimes are inherently fond of surveillance. Indiviuals can have any given stance on it. Politically involved people - minus fascists - tend to have stances against surveillance and for data protection.

There’s a lot of nuance inbetween “capitalist” and “anti-capitalist”. I’m not here to defend capitalism but this black-and-white worldview often held by self-proclaimed left-wingers is offputting to the very masses that they claim to represent to such a degree that the working class would rather shoot themselves in the foot by voting for fascists and fascist-adjacents rather than support “crazy leftists”. In the modern age it’s an ideology of a lot of talk and studies and very few results.

And how do you ensure that the “radical left” doesn’t support surveillance measures? Not like the ideology has a good track record on that matter.

“No true Scotsman”.

We don’t have to think in political leanings following the left-right paradigm. Parties and persons considered “leftist” aren’t inherently good, nor is the other side inherently bad. Don’t limit yourself by identifying with just one ideology. In case you didn’t realise, socialists tend to like surveillance as well

What “ethical” car brand do you buy then?

It’s not that I don’t understand your argument, or sympathise with prioritising EU products, it’s just quite a far reach to claim that Switzerland is “not a real country”. I’d choose a Swiss company over a Hungarian one - so EU membership isn’t the only determinant.

The way forward, imo, is full EU integration - also for Switzerland - but even with Trump threatning us too this is too far a reach from happening…

So, I’ll welcome products from any European country that generally cares about data protection, neutrality, and a non-American future.

That adds a bit more context to your stance, although it’s quite narrowminded imo.

Europe is filled with tax havens from Monaco to Andorra to Ireland to the Netherlands to Luxembourg, and British overseas territories. It’s not only a Swiss sport to have unfair tax systems. Other current EU members have traditionally been neutral such as Sweden, Finland (although forced), Austria etc…

Then talking about “taxes to the EU community” and mentioning Germany in a reality where German fiscal policies have dictated those of most everyone else - until they now decide it benefits them to change their own - German policies towards Russian energy, Meloni’s flirtation with dictators and fascism, Spanish friendship with China, and increasing anti-EU and anti-Ukraine sentiment in most countries.

Now tell me why I should have a particularly hard stance on Switzerland? Choosing EU companies first is completely fair, but don’t justify it with some holier-than-thou attitude.

All countries are “made up”… modern Italy was fully unified in 1870 and Germany in 1871.

What is a real European country in your opinion?

Yup, gonna have some trips around Southeast and East Asia as well as Australia and NZ… probably Canada one day as well.

Especially Chile has some incredible landscapes I’d love to experience as well

I do what I can for blue states and liberal values and institutions - but I’m absolutely not travelling to a country ruled by idiots who hate me and might throw me in a cell for no reason. As if I’d want to stay in their version of USA permanently anyway…

Paving the way for Reform next time… The Tories are evil and incompetent… Labour is evil and… well, a bit less incompetent but even more Big Brother… Reform is evil, and probably incompetent. “Probably” being the key word here

Was actually gonna plan a visit for 2027. Obviously won’t now.

Much of this 2025 number is even people who probably bought their trip sometime last year (as I guess, on average, people plan their trips at least 6 months ahead?) I wonder what the impact will be during the end of 2025 and next year.

Do what exactly? Seems to me like EU leaders are working overtime behind the curtains. Better than also introducing stupid tariffs. Don’t fight stupid with stupid.

Hahahah cute

People are stupid. Never gonna argue against that

And Russia spent 40 years violently oppressing east Germans - and every one else around them for the past five decades. Essentially Russians are like chihuahuas

Russia had some kind of chance during the wild 90s, before Putin and his fellow chekists retook all control. In some ways the West should’ve had a different approach to Russia during this period of time and in the early 00s. Not that anyone or anything but Russian pride and megalomania, and Putin’s ambitions, are to blame for the current situation. At this point Russia has to be defeated and their overblown self-understanding changed.

Russia was kind of the drunk uncle before Putin’s intensification, filled with vodka drinking bear wrestlers, insane driving, and comrade jokes. This personified especially in Jeltsin’s behaviour