Chris Funch
@chrisfunch.bsky.social
BA in social psychology I worked with at risk teens and disabled workers. I moved on to jack of all trades home construction. Now I keep 40 honey bee hives, and pursue my Ski Mountaineering, Mountain bike and Hiking dreams with my lady, 48 years together.
History shows that backing authoritarian regimes for short term strategic gain often leads to long term instability and blowback. Why do we (lead by Dems or Reps) repeat the same pattern and expect a different result?
Power to the people, left, right & middle to serve our needs, not the puppets.
Power to the people, left, right & middle to serve our needs, not the puppets.
May 18, 2025 at 5:37 PM
History shows that backing authoritarian regimes for short term strategic gain often leads to long term instability and blowback. Why do we (lead by Dems or Reps) repeat the same pattern and expect a different result?
Power to the people, left, right & middle to serve our needs, not the puppets.
Power to the people, left, right & middle to serve our needs, not the puppets.
result of trusting corrupt regimes with a veneer of democracy (South Vietnam) (Iran's Shah) or thinking a dictator would successfully do our bidding (Iraq's Hussain). Usually the result is a lot of dead American heroes & wasted tax payer dollars serving the military industrial complex.
May 18, 2025 at 5:31 PM
result of trusting corrupt regimes with a veneer of democracy (South Vietnam) (Iran's Shah) or thinking a dictator would successfully do our bidding (Iraq's Hussain). Usually the result is a lot of dead American heroes & wasted tax payer dollars serving the military industrial complex.
King David & Solomon weren’t corporate partners in global tech & arms deals. We’re not talking about ancient monarchs, we’re talking about modern regimes with poor human rights records that are now being trusted with sensitive investments & military power.
In my lifetime I've seen the
In my lifetime I've seen the
May 18, 2025 at 5:25 PM
King David & Solomon weren’t corporate partners in global tech & arms deals. We’re not talking about ancient monarchs, we’re talking about modern regimes with poor human rights records that are now being trusted with sensitive investments & military power.
In my lifetime I've seen the
In my lifetime I've seen the
How about we put America and the needs if it's people FIRST. American companies should invest in America and control it's output. Supplying weapons to authoritarian regimes never seems to work out for us no matter how good it is for the military industrial complex & the politicians in their pocket.
May 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM
How about we put America and the needs if it's people FIRST. American companies should invest in America and control it's output. Supplying weapons to authoritarian regimes never seems to work out for us no matter how good it is for the military industrial complex & the politicians in their pocket.
if we ignore that they operate within repressive systems. Ignoring that context is wishful thinking.This isn’t about demonizing anyone it’s about truth. Pretending these regimes are somehow “Western-style” or fully aligned with democratic values doesn’t make it true.
May 18, 2025 at 4:44 PM
if we ignore that they operate within repressive systems. Ignoring that context is wishful thinking.This isn’t about demonizing anyone it’s about truth. Pretending these regimes are somehow “Western-style” or fully aligned with democratic values doesn’t make it true.
In Saudi Arabia, a tweet can land you in prison. The UAE uses mass surveillance. Qatar bans political parties. Friendly to the U.S. does not equal democracy.Calling this out isn’t “paranoia” or “pipe-dreaming”,it’s reality. We can’t honestly assess megaprojects like NEOM..
May 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
In Saudi Arabia, a tweet can land you in prison. The UAE uses mass surveillance. Qatar bans political parties. Friendly to the U.S. does not equal democracy.Calling this out isn’t “paranoia” or “pipe-dreaming”,it’s reality. We can’t honestly assess megaprojects like NEOM..
Let’s not confuse friendly diplomatic ties with shared values or democratic governance. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, & Qatar are all authoritarian regimes. That’s not a fringe opinion.
These are monarchies where dissent is punished, & civil liberties are limited.
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/d...
These are monarchies where dissent is punished, & civil liberties are limited.
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/d...
The American PR firm helping Saudi Arabia clean up its image
Edelman signed $9.6m in deals with the Saudi government over the past four years to sanitize the Islamic kingdom’s image
www.theguardian.com
May 18, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Let’s not confuse friendly diplomatic ties with shared values or democratic governance. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, & Qatar are all authoritarian regimes. That’s not a fringe opinion.
These are monarchies where dissent is punished, & civil liberties are limited.
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/d...
These are monarchies where dissent is punished, & civil liberties are limited.
www.theguardian.com/world/2022/d...
over their people, and place restrictions on what we consider "our rights".
May 18, 2025 at 4:14 PM
over their people, and place restrictions on what we consider "our rights".
Remember China’s economic opening? Remember NSA’s mass surveillance? Promises of progress often mask deeper control.Tech without transparency is a recipe for abuse,no matter how shiny the PR. Being an ally doesn’t make a regime democratic, they are still authoritarian regimes maintaining control
May 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Remember China’s economic opening? Remember NSA’s mass surveillance? Promises of progress often mask deeper control.Tech without transparency is a recipe for abuse,no matter how shiny the PR. Being an ally doesn’t make a regime democratic, they are still authoritarian regimes maintaining control
I wouldn’t say I believe every word,caution isn’t the same as paranoia.History shows us that utopian visions often have authoritarian undercurrents,especially when massive surveillance tech is involved. I’m simply asking should we trust any regime, ally or not, with unchecked power over these tools?
May 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
I wouldn’t say I believe every word,caution isn’t the same as paranoia.History shows us that utopian visions often have authoritarian undercurrents,especially when massive surveillance tech is involved. I’m simply asking should we trust any regime, ally or not, with unchecked power over these tools?
On the surface all that investment looks good and I'm sure the wealthy will once again benefit from our labor, our energy infrastructure, and land resources. But do we really want to get in bed with more authoritarian regimes while sharing advanced tech?
thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles...
thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles...
Digital Authoritarianism in the Middle East — The Security Distillery
Over the past 10 years, governments of the Middle East have employed digital information and communication technologies as a tool to reinforce control over their citizens. Middle Eastern governments h...
thesecuritydistillery.org
May 18, 2025 at 1:31 PM
On the surface all that investment looks good and I'm sure the wealthy will once again benefit from our labor, our energy infrastructure, and land resources. But do we really want to get in bed with more authoritarian regimes while sharing advanced tech?
thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles...
thesecuritydistillery.org/all-articles...
No need for preemptive insults. I'm more interested in constructive dialogue.
I appreciate the effort you put into sharing that essay. It reads as optimistic speculation to me, but time will tell. So far it feels like, Military-Industrial Complex 2, Humanity 0
I appreciate the effort you put into sharing that essay. It reads as optimistic speculation to me, but time will tell. So far it feels like, Military-Industrial Complex 2, Humanity 0
May 18, 2025 at 6:36 AM
No need for preemptive insults. I'm more interested in constructive dialogue.
I appreciate the effort you put into sharing that essay. It reads as optimistic speculation to me, but time will tell. So far it feels like, Military-Industrial Complex 2, Humanity 0
I appreciate the effort you put into sharing that essay. It reads as optimistic speculation to me, but time will tell. So far it feels like, Military-Industrial Complex 2, Humanity 0
I am curious what your answer to my simple question would be?
May 18, 2025 at 5:31 AM
I am curious what your answer to my simple question would be?
Neither. I don’t think the U.S. should be aligning itself too closely with authoritarian regimes like Iran or Saudi Arabia. Both have horrific human rights records. I’d rather see US grounded in principle,supporting peace, & democracy. Not just transactional alliances, especially weapons sales. So,
May 18, 2025 at 5:30 AM
Neither. I don’t think the U.S. should be aligning itself too closely with authoritarian regimes like Iran or Saudi Arabia. Both have horrific human rights records. I’d rather see US grounded in principle,supporting peace, & democracy. Not just transactional alliances, especially weapons sales. So,
2) principled stance may have helped empower someone even more indifferent to Palestinian suffering.
May 18, 2025 at 12:41 AM
2) principled stance may have helped empower someone even more indifferent to Palestinian suffering.
1) Goodwill toward others doesn’t come from governments, it comes from people. Many Americans do oppose the military-industrial complex & stand in solidarity with humanity everywhere. Sadly, some who were rightly outraged by Biden's Gaza policy rejected Harris entirely without realizing that their
May 18, 2025 at 12:39 AM
1) Goodwill toward others doesn’t come from governments, it comes from people. Many Americans do oppose the military-industrial complex & stand in solidarity with humanity everywhere. Sadly, some who were rightly outraged by Biden's Gaza policy rejected Harris entirely without realizing that their
Thanks for the reply.
Yes it mattered to me that Joe Biden used his influence to get Hunter a job that even he admitted he wasn't qualified for. Did the Biden admin supplying weapons support and political cover for the atrocities committed in Gaza play into your decision to vote for Trump?
Yes it mattered to me that Joe Biden used his influence to get Hunter a job that even he admitted he wasn't qualified for. Did the Biden admin supplying weapons support and political cover for the atrocities committed in Gaza play into your decision to vote for Trump?
May 17, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Thanks for the reply.
Yes it mattered to me that Joe Biden used his influence to get Hunter a job that even he admitted he wasn't qualified for. Did the Biden admin supplying weapons support and political cover for the atrocities committed in Gaza play into your decision to vote for Trump?
Yes it mattered to me that Joe Biden used his influence to get Hunter a job that even he admitted he wasn't qualified for. Did the Biden admin supplying weapons support and political cover for the atrocities committed in Gaza play into your decision to vote for Trump?
Even if true, does that justify a man assaulting a woman?
May 17, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Even if true, does that justify a man assaulting a woman?
Just seeking understanding. You must know Trump is a 34 count convicted felon and had pay a multi-million dollar civil penalty for sexual assault. Did that matter to you at all when you, I assume, voted for Trump?
May 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Just seeking understanding. You must know Trump is a 34 count convicted felon and had pay a multi-million dollar civil penalty for sexual assault. Did that matter to you at all when you, I assume, voted for Trump?
Brother, if I could go back in time, I'd recommend to the indigenous population, in what Europeans called the Americas, to stop the European white men from landing on their shores.
May 16, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Brother, if I could go back in time, I'd recommend to the indigenous population, in what Europeans called the Americas, to stop the European white men from landing on their shores.
I’m not asking you to be a straw man or sacrifice yourself. I’m saying, protect yourself fiercely, but don’t let hate shape you.That’s not about MAGA racism, it’s about your soul. You don’t owe racists kindness. But you deserve to remain whole, not twisted by what they are. Trump needs us to hate.
May 16, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I’m not asking you to be a straw man or sacrifice yourself. I’m saying, protect yourself fiercely, but don’t let hate shape you.That’s not about MAGA racism, it’s about your soul. You don’t owe racists kindness. But you deserve to remain whole, not twisted by what they are. Trump needs us to hate.
I hear your pain and respect your fight for justice. My point isn’t to be “friendly” to hate, but to refuse becoming it. We share the goal of ending racism and injustice, let’s focus on that. I’m not the straw man you’re building.
May 16, 2025 at 3:48 PM
I hear your pain and respect your fight for justice. My point isn’t to be “friendly” to hate, but to refuse becoming it. We share the goal of ending racism and injustice, let’s focus on that. I’m not the straw man you’re building.
Please don’t put words in my mouth. I haven’t told Black people how to feel toward racists. I’ve only spoken from my own values. And I share MLK’s words to guide myself, not to excuse racism. Also, I try not to make assumptions about any group, I’d appreciate the same in return.
May 16, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Please don’t put words in my mouth. I haven’t told Black people how to feel toward racists. I’ve only spoken from my own values. And I share MLK’s words to guide myself, not to excuse racism. Also, I try not to make assumptions about any group, I’d appreciate the same in return.