Gilbert
@admetus71.bsky.social
I am a walking cliché. But only when the narcissism strikes. Which is just about all the time.
Слава Україні! Героям слава! 🇺🇦🌻
Слава Україні! Героям слава! 🇺🇦🌻
Pinned
Gilbert
@admetus71.bsky.social
· Nov 15
Two things I know:
1. When a modern society collapses, it does so fast, with a violence that surprises no matter the level of intellectual preparedness.
2. However bad things get, somebody is going to make bank.
1. When a modern society collapses, it does so fast, with a violence that surprises no matter the level of intellectual preparedness.
2. However bad things get, somebody is going to make bank.
Reposted by Gilbert
remember to read Kalecki as well as Keynes. if your class is defined by "control of the means of production" then production is a nice to have but control is a got to have.
It is not and has never been about wealth or prosperity in an objective sense. It's about control of human beings and the wealthy have more control and power in a desperate, shrinking economy than they do in a prosperous and wealthy one.
April 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
remember to read Kalecki as well as Keynes. if your class is defined by "control of the means of production" then production is a nice to have but control is a got to have.
Reposted by Gilbert
I'm not surprised that American democracy is being dismantled in the interests of a car company, I'm just surprised they didn't hold out for a decent car
March 12, 2025 at 1:48 AM
I'm not surprised that American democracy is being dismantled in the interests of a car company, I'm just surprised they didn't hold out for a decent car
Reposted by Gilbert
"Car dealership that disappears political dissidents" really does feel like the form America has been building to this whole time.
March 12, 2025 at 2:48 AM
"Car dealership that disappears political dissidents" really does feel like the form America has been building to this whole time.
2024 me (which was, ooh, three months ago now) would have bet the house on the Russian Federation breaking up before the USA.
Today me see-saws from one to the other.
Which is perhaps less a reflection on the pace of change than of my geopolitical nous, or lack thereof.
Today me see-saws from one to the other.
Which is perhaps less a reflection on the pace of change than of my geopolitical nous, or lack thereof.
March 8, 2025 at 9:41 AM
2024 me (which was, ooh, three months ago now) would have bet the house on the Russian Federation breaking up before the USA.
Today me see-saws from one to the other.
Which is perhaps less a reflection on the pace of change than of my geopolitical nous, or lack thereof.
Today me see-saws from one to the other.
Which is perhaps less a reflection on the pace of change than of my geopolitical nous, or lack thereof.
Or in defence of Canada against the US 🤯
A wider war in Europe within the next twelve months is not inevitable. But in just a few short days, the dial has shifted from possible to probable. And I am not prepared for it. Not at all prepared.
March 8, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Or in defence of Canada against the US 🤯
You can quibble about the data plotting or the visualisation. That's just tinkering at the edges. "The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia... than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west)." The US is aligned with the values of Putin's Russia.
NEW: The actions of Trump and Vance in recent weeks highlight something under-appreciated.
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia, Turkey and in some senses China, than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west).
My column: www.ft.com/content/3046...
March 8, 2025 at 12:03 AM
You can quibble about the data plotting or the visualisation. That's just tinkering at the edges. "The American right is now ideologically closer to countries like Russia... than to the rest of the west (even the conservative west)." The US is aligned with the values of Putin's Russia.
Reposted by Gilbert
If the Trump-Putin Pact exists, Europe has to pre-empt its execution.
If it doesn’t exist, but Europe can’t be sure enough of that, it still has to pre-empt.
Even if Trump assured Europe that it didn’t exist, he couldn’t be believed, so Europe would still have to pre-empt. /7.
If it doesn’t exist, but Europe can’t be sure enough of that, it still has to pre-empt.
Even if Trump assured Europe that it didn’t exist, he couldn’t be believed, so Europe would still have to pre-empt. /7.
March 6, 2025 at 11:27 PM
If the Trump-Putin Pact exists, Europe has to pre-empt its execution.
If it doesn’t exist, but Europe can’t be sure enough of that, it still has to pre-empt.
Even if Trump assured Europe that it didn’t exist, he couldn’t be believed, so Europe would still have to pre-empt. /7.
If it doesn’t exist, but Europe can’t be sure enough of that, it still has to pre-empt.
Even if Trump assured Europe that it didn’t exist, he couldn’t be believed, so Europe would still have to pre-empt. /7.
Reposted by Gilbert
Somehow, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, the first country to surrender was America.
March 2, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Somehow, in the war between Russia and Ukraine, the first country to surrender was America.
"et ses mains ourdiroient les entrailles du prêtre, à défaut d'un cordon, pour étrangler les rois," Meslier via Diderot (1772), paraphrased as early as 1791 already as: "quand le dernier roi sera pendu avec les boyaux du dernier prêtre célibataire, le genre humain pourra espérer être heureux."
With all this talk of Kings, I’ll just leave this here
“Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.” —Diderot
“Man will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.” —Diderot
February 27, 2025 at 8:28 AM
"et ses mains ourdiroient les entrailles du prêtre, à défaut d'un cordon, pour étrangler les rois," Meslier via Diderot (1772), paraphrased as early as 1791 already as: "quand le dernier roi sera pendu avec les boyaux du dernier prêtre célibataire, le genre humain pourra espérer être heureux."
The current US Administration is capable of two things only: breaking everything and spewing lies with a side of gleeful performative cruelty. Nothing else. Picking on just this one example because Ebola is terrifying. 🧵👇
So - I've actually led Ebola outbreak response at USAID.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
This is bunk from Elon. They have laid off most of the experts, they're bankrupting most of the partner orgs, have withdrawn from WHO, and muzzled CDC.
What's left is a fig-leaf effort to cover their asses politically.
Elon Musk: "We will make mistakes. We won't be perfect ... so for example, with USAID, one of the things we accidentally canceled very briefly was ebola prevention."
February 27, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The current US Administration is capable of two things only: breaking everything and spewing lies with a side of gleeful performative cruelty. Nothing else. Picking on just this one example because Ebola is terrifying. 🧵👇
Evergreen.
All we need for peace in Ukraine is for Russian soldiers to return to Russia.
February 26, 2025 at 8:08 AM
Evergreen.
Reposted by Gilbert
Usually political risk people write stuff about like the threat of armed group attacks or piracy or whatever but it's wild the #1 wild card factor is "we literally don't know what the most powerful empire that is the pillar of the world order is going to randomly decide to do tomorrow"
February 26, 2025 at 4:24 AM
Usually political risk people write stuff about like the threat of armed group attacks or piracy or whatever but it's wild the #1 wild card factor is "we literally don't know what the most powerful empire that is the pillar of the world order is going to randomly decide to do tomorrow"
I know I should be concentrating on real concrete things actually happening, for both pragmatic and mental health reasons, but, seriously... wut?? 🤯
Woke up to see Donald Trump sharing a video on Truth Social about turning Gaza into a holiday resort with a giant gold statue of Trump, ending with a final shot of Trump and Netanyahu enjoying the beach together. Absolutely unhinged.
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...
February 26, 2025 at 7:35 AM
I know I should be concentrating on real concrete things actually happening, for both pragmatic and mental health reasons, but, seriously... wut?? 🤯
Begs the obvious question: will that include Trump?
February 24, 2025 at 8:31 AM
Begs the obvious question: will that include Trump?
Reposted by Gilbert
I’ve maintained since the initial invasion of Crimea in 2014 that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is as clear-cut as international relations gets. This is the first rung on the moral ladder. If you’re equivocating on this issue, you should not be allowed to turn on the stove by yourself.
February 23, 2025 at 3:04 PM
I’ve maintained since the initial invasion of Crimea in 2014 that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine is as clear-cut as international relations gets. This is the first rung on the moral ladder. If you’re equivocating on this issue, you should not be allowed to turn on the stove by yourself.
Reposted by Gilbert
Trump the self-appointed peacemaker is increasing the likelihood of war, not decreasing it. Putin is being given a licence to kill, not a one-way ticket to The Hague. It’s even more than a licence to kill, it’s an invitation.🧵10/17
February 22, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Trump the self-appointed peacemaker is increasing the likelihood of war, not decreasing it. Putin is being given a licence to kill, not a one-way ticket to The Hague. It’s even more than a licence to kill, it’s an invitation.🧵10/17
Reposted by Gilbert
My oath is to the Constitution of our state and of our country.
We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one.
I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.
We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one.
I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.
February 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
My oath is to the Constitution of our state and of our country.
We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one.
I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.
We don’t have kings in America – and I don’t intend to bend the knee to one.
I am not speaking up in service to my ambitions — but in deference to my obligations.
Reposted by Gilbert
if you were accidentally fired while transporting a nuclear warhead and currently need a place to stay with said warhead please know that i have a sizable backyard and an abiding desire to be a nuclear power
February 19, 2025 at 12:32 AM
if you were accidentally fired while transporting a nuclear warhead and currently need a place to stay with said warhead please know that i have a sizable backyard and an abiding desire to be a nuclear power
Reposted by Gilbert
A quote today from the great Julia Davis. If Europe hasn’t figured out that Trump is bringing our 80-year collective security friendship, which has served us all well, to an abrupt and catastrophic end, you know it today. You are on your own. Act accordingly.
February 19, 2025 at 1:56 AM
A quote today from the great Julia Davis. If Europe hasn’t figured out that Trump is bringing our 80-year collective security friendship, which has served us all well, to an abrupt and catastrophic end, you know it today. You are on your own. Act accordingly.
Reposted by Gilbert
Trump being a creature of pure id also means he has much better and more basal survival instincts than Musk. Musk’s conviction that he is a unique genius walks him first into the rat trap where Trump’s rodent brain has him stand back.
February 18, 2025 at 8:28 AM
Trump being a creature of pure id also means he has much better and more basal survival instincts than Musk. Musk’s conviction that he is a unique genius walks him first into the rat trap where Trump’s rodent brain has him stand back.
Reposted by Gilbert
Never thought that saving Europe from fascism would mean praying for German rearmament. But here we are.
February 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
Never thought that saving Europe from fascism would mean praying for German rearmament. But here we are.
"the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must"
OTOH, at some moment in a world where only we still play by the rules abandoned by everyone else, we will be forced to relearn the lesson Thucydides relates regarding the fate of the Melians.
When the US, Russia and China align, Europe has no choice but to opt for hard-headed Realpolitik. 2/2
When the US, Russia and China align, Europe has no choice but to opt for hard-headed Realpolitik. 2/2
February 16, 2025 at 10:25 AM
"the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must"
Reposted by Gilbert
What needs to happen to avoid this all-too-likely disaster? My hope lies with Europe, with the appearance of a leader with Churchill’s resolve, the spirit to say we will never surrender, we will defend all of Europe, from Ukraine to Portugal.🧵15/17
February 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
What needs to happen to avoid this all-too-likely disaster? My hope lies with Europe, with the appearance of a leader with Churchill’s resolve, the spirit to say we will never surrender, we will defend all of Europe, from Ukraine to Portugal.🧵15/17
A wider war in Europe within the next twelve months is not inevitable. But in just a few short days, the dial has shifted from possible to probable. And I am not prepared for it. Not at all prepared.
February 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM
A wider war in Europe within the next twelve months is not inevitable. But in just a few short days, the dial has shifted from possible to probable. And I am not prepared for it. Not at all prepared.