August 2020 - cypherpunks - lists.cpunks.org

unpacking modern Marxism -- Re: Cryptocurrency: The Breaking Point and Death of Keynes
by Zenaan Harkness 22 Aug '20

22 Aug '20

Unpacking modern Marxism, for those who've ever felt "done over" and/or would like to get a handle on some tools to turn the tables: Exposing The Challenge Of Marxism Yoram Hazony via Quillette.com, https://quillette.com/2020/08/16/the-challenge-of-marxism/ https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/exposing-challenge-marxism … IV. The flaws that make Marxism fatal … while Marxism proposes an empirical investigation of the power relations among classes or groups, it simply assumes that wherever one discovers a relationship between a more powerful group and a weaker one, that relation will be one of oppressor and oppressed. This makes it seem as if every hierarchical relationship is just another version of the horrific exploitation of black slaves by Virginia plantation owners before the Civil War. But in most cases, hierarchical relationships are not enslavement. Thus, while it is true that kings have normally been more powerful than their subjects, employers more powerful than their employees, and parents more powerful than their children, these have not necessarily been straightforward relations of oppressor and oppressed. Much more common are mixed relationships, in which both the stronger and the weaker receive certain benefits, and in which both can also point to hardships that must be endured in order to maintain it. The fact that the Marxist framework presupposes a relationship of oppressor and oppressed leads to the second great difficulty, which is the assumption that every society is so exploitative that it must be heading toward the overthrow of the dominant class or group. But if it is possible for weaker groups to benefit from their position, and not just to be oppressed by it, then we have arrived at the possibility of a conservative society: One in which there is a dominant class or loyalty group (or coalition of groups), which seeks to balance the benefits and the burdens of the existing order so as to avoid actual oppression. In such a case, the overthrow and destruction of the dominant group may not be necessary. Indeed, when considering the likely consequences of a revolutionary reconstitution of society—often including not only civil war, but foreign invasion as the political order collapses—most groups in a conservative society may well prefer to preserve the existing order, or to largely preserve it, rather than to endure Marx’s alternative. This brings us to the third failing of the Marxist framework. This is the notorious absence of a clear view as to what the underclass, having overthrown its oppressors and seized the state, is supposed to do with its newfound power. Marx is emphatic that once they have control of the state, the oppressed classes will be able to end oppression. But these claims appear to be unfounded. After all, we’ve said that the strength of the Marxist framework lies in its willingness to recognize that power relations do exist among classes and groups in every society, and that these can be oppressive and exploitative in every society. And if this is an empirical fact—as indeed it seems to be—then how will the Marxists who have overthrown liberalism be able use the state to obtain the total abolition of class antagonisms? At this point, Marx’s empiricist posture evaporates, and his framework becomes completely utopian. When liberals and conservatives talk about Marxism being “nothing but a big lie,” this is what they mean. The Marxist goal of seizing the state and using it to eliminate all oppression is an empty promise. Marx did not know how the state could actually bring this about, and neither have any of his followers. In fact, we now have many historical cases in which Marxists have seized the state: In Russia and Eastern Europe, China, North Korea, and Cambodia, Cuba and Venezuela. But nowhere has the Marxists’ attempt at a “revolutionary reconstitution of society” by the state been anything other than a parade of horrors. In every case, the Marxists themselves form a new class or group, using the power of the state to exploit and oppress other classes in the most extreme ways—up to and including repeated recourse to murdering millions of their own people. Yet for all this, utopia never comes and oppression never ends. Marxist society, like all other societies, consists of classes and groups arranged in a hierarchical order. But the aim of reconstituting society and the assertion that the state is responsible for achieving this feat makes the Marxist state much more aggressive, and more willing to resort to coercion and bloodshed, than the liberal regime it seeks to replace. ...

1 0

In Memory of Hal Finney, RIP — Builder of a More Trusted World
by Stefan Claas 22 Aug '20

22 Aug '20

<https://medium.com/asecuritysite-when-bob-met-alice/in-memory-of-hal-finney…> Regards Stefan

1 0

Yahoo Sports: In a major twist, prostitution case against Robert Kraft may protect citizens from unchecked police surveillance
by jim bell 22 Aug '20

22 Aug '20

Yahoo Sports: In a major twist, prostitution case against Robert Kraft may protect citizens from unchecked police surveillance. https://sports.yahoo.com/in-a-major-twist-prostitution-case-against-robert-…

1 0

TechRepublic: IBM finds vulnerability in IoT chips present in billions of devices
by jim bell 22 Aug '20

22 Aug '20

TechRepublic: IBM finds vulnerability in IoT chips present in billions of devices. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/ibm-finds-vulnerability-in-iot-chips-p…

1 0

how would you un-spend €75,000 from Google?
by Debian Community News Team 21 Aug '20

21 Aug '20

https://civs.cs.cornell.edu/cgi-bin/vote.pl?id=E_d3dc3d38ca6d3512

1 0

yet another repugnant feature of US 'culture' (aka fascism)
by Punk-BatSoup-Stasi 2.0 21 Aug '20

21 Aug '20

this one is both repugnant and mildly entertaining https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA A Girl Scout keeps herself pure A Girl Scout obeys orders A Girl Scout is thrifty Sounds familiar eh? And look what a 'cute' 'logo'! https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/91/Girl_Scouts_of_the_USA… The logo includes a white, red, and blue piece of cloth useful for whiping asses and a carrion eating predator which no doubt symbolizes the US 'soul' pretty well. A carrion eating animal. "A Girl Scout obeys orders"

1 0

Should Snowden And Assange Pardon The US Government?
by Zenaan Harkness 21 Aug '20

21 Aug '20

Should Snowden And Assange Pardon The US Government? Jacob Hornberger via The Future of Freedom Foundation https://www.fff.org/2020/08/19/should-snowden-and-assange-pardon-the-u-s-go… https://www.zerohedge.com/political/should-snowden-and-assange-pardon-us-go… President Trump is saying that he might issue a pardon to Edward Snowden. For some reason, he hasn’t said the same thing about Julian Assange. But a pardon suggests that the person being pardoned has done something wrong. Neither Snowden and Assange has done anything wrong - at least not in a moral sense. It is the U.S. government - and specifically the national-security state branch of the federal government - that has engaged in terrible wrongdoing - wrongdoing that Snowden and Assange revealed to the American people and the people of the world. Therefore, the real question is: Should Snowden and Assange pardon the U.S. for having destroyed a large part of their lives and liberty? Oh, sure, the two of them technically violated the federal government’s national-security laws, rules, and regulations against revealing the dark-side, sordid policies and practices of the national-security establishment. Big deal. Those laws, rules, and regulations are illegitimate, at least in a moral sense. Why should the dark-side, sordid policies and practices of a government be immune from disclosure? ...

1 0

Japan is our ally - war and peace - [andrew@andrewhastie.com.au: Lest We Forget] - [PEACE]
by Zenaan Harkness 21 Aug '20

21 Aug '20

To the bigots among us, Japan is our ally, having carried themselves now for 75+ years in the utmost dignity and peace, and see more below. To the hippies among us, sometimes war comes knocking on your door, and those who value their hides, survive. For better or for worse, our past has had an influence on our present day. We do not glorify war, neither do we ignore the past or ignore words just because they have been (or still are) associated with an obnoxious ideology, but we take stock of ourselves and our present circumstances and make a better future as best we can. Peace muh fellow Souls, ----- Forwarded message from Andrew Hastie <andrew(a)andrewhastie.com.au> ----- From: Andrew Hastie <andrew(a)andrewhastie.com.au> To: Zenaan Harkness <zenandrwhst(a)freedbms.net> Date: Fri, 21 Aug 2020 09:21:17 +0000 (UTC) Subject: Lest We Forget Dear Zenaan, “Fellow citizens, the war is over. The Japanese Government has accepted the terms of surrender imposed by the Allied Nations and hostilities will now cease. The reply by the Japanese Government to the Note sent by Britain, the United States, the USSR and China, has been received and accepted by the Allied Nations. At this moment let us offer thanks to God. Let us remember those whose lives were given that we may enjoy this glorious moment and may look forward to a peace which they have won for us. Let us remember those whose thoughts, with proud sorrow, turn towards gallant, loved ones who will not come back." These words were broadcast to the nation by Prime Minister Ben Chifley on 15 August 1945. Seventy-five years later, we honour and remember the 1 million Australians who served in the defence of liberty. As a boy, I often visited my grandfather in eastern Sydney, himself a decorated veteran of the Pacific War. We’d drive past the Rose Bay RSL and I’d reflect on the words mounted on the brick wall: ‘The Price of Liberty is Eternal Vigilance’. As history shows us, peace is fragile and easily lost. Only twenty years after the end of the Pacific War, Australian troops were fighting in the humid jungles of Vietnam. This week we also remembered the courage and sacrifice of Australia's Vietnam veterans, on the 54th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. South Vietnamese veterans joined us in Mandurah for the ceremony. They are grateful to those Australians who fought and died alongside them in their homeland. Australia will always have an interest in defending freedom in the Indo-Pacific. History teaches us that we must be prepared, if necessary, to defend it with arms. For as the writer Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘I have seen much war in my lifetime and I hate it profoundly. But there are worse things than war, and all of them come with defeat.’ Best, Andrew Hastie MP >From top, then left to right: 1. Pte Inglis and Pte Pie of C Company, 2/8 Infantry Battalion in the Wewak area of New Guinea, 27 March 1945. 2. Flt Lt Edward Manton Christensen, leading a flight of Beaufort Bomber aircraft of No. 100 Squadron RAAF in for a bombing run over the Wewak area, 20 January 1945. Flt Lt Christensen—originally a grocery store manager of Northam, WA—was lost on operations three days later. 3. Two Women's Auxiliary Australian Air Force Auxflight mechanics checking aircraft engine components at No. 7 Aircraft Depot, RAAF Station Tocumwal, NSW. C. 1944. 4. Sailors aboard HMAS Perth. HMAS Perth served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific theatres during WW2. She was sunk fighting superior forces in the Battle of Sunda Strait on 1 March 1942. Former Prime Minister Ben Chifley. Chifley announced the end of the war on Radio on 15 August 1945. Read or listen to Prime Minister Chifley's speech here <https://www.andrewhastie.com.au/r?u=lHfTqlaDqpL0-NBcgSv3lJTQ0xi5qZF3K2NXxn6…>. >From top, then left to right clockwise: 1. A reconstruction of the Battle of Long Tan, 18-19 August 1966, between 'D' Company and Viet Cong and North Vietnamese Army forces. Several events that happened at intervals during the battle are shown here happening simultaneously. 2. Silent homage by three men of the Special Air Service Regiment at a memorial service for the eighteen Australians who died in the battle of Long Tan. The service was held on the former battlefield, in the middle of a rubber plantation, where a simple concrete cross marks the site. 18 August 1970. 3. Three soldiers from D company, 6th battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (6RAR), take a break as they gather Australian weapons left on the battlefield of Long Tan after the action of the previous night. Left to right: Pte Hodder of Ayr, QLD, Pte Burstall of Ballarat, VIC, and Pte Dettman of Tingha, NSW. 19 August 1966. Vietnam Veteran's Day, 18 August 2020, at the Mandurah War Memorial. -=-=- Andrew Hastie MP - Australia This email was sent to zenandrwhst(a)freedbms.net. To stop receiving emails: https://www.andrewhastie.com.au/unsubscribe Authorised by Andrew Hastie MP, Liberal Party of Australia, Mandurah WA -=-=- ----- End forwarded message -----

1 0

fsfellowship.eu subscription/censorship problems
by Debian Community News Team 21 Aug '20

21 Aug '20

After the earlier post, some people tried to subscribe at lists.fsfellowship.eu gmail is bouncing many subscription confirmation emails back to the list admin address (see below) There is also anecdotal evidence that these gangsters have been working away behind the scenes to lobby Hacker News, Slashdot, Twitter and Reddit to automatically flag or censor any links to any article at these sites: * https://debian.community * https://fsfellowship.eu These links are also being censored from all forums and Discourse sites using Akismet anti-spam, site admins sometimes have to manually approve any post or comment containing these links. If all this isn't a fascist conspiracy, what is? These are the people who bent over backwards to fill the web with false rape allegations about Jacob Appelbaum but they do everything to hide discussions about their own acts of harassment and fraud against volunteers. Some ways around these fascists: * stop using gmail * follow the RSS feed https://uncensored.debian.community directly * make stickers: https://fsfellowship.eu/fsfellowship-sticker-set-one-download/ <m.......(a)gmail.com>: host gmail-smtp-in.l.google.com[2a00:1450:400c:c03::1a] said: 550-5.2.1 The user you are trying to contact is receiving mail at a rate that 550-5.2.1 prevents additional messages from being delivered. For more 550-5.2.1 information, please visit 550 5.2.1 https://support.google.com/mail/?p=ReceivingRatePerm n66si1149543wmn.168 - gsmtp (in reply to RCPT TO command) -- ,''`. : :' : Debian Community News Team `. `'` team(a)debian.community `- https://debian.community

1 0

FSFE into Berlin bunker
by Debian Community News Team 20 Aug '20

20 Aug '20

Fragile? https://lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/discussion/2020-August/thread.html https://lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/discussion/2020-August/013113.html https://lists.fsfe.org/pipermail/discussion/2020-August/013114.html -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: Black Ribbon Day & FSFEGoogle Date: Thu, 20 Aug 2020 13:00:33 +0200 (CEST) From: Garfield Europe <garfield(a)tutanota.de> Reply-To: discussion(a)lists.fsfellowship.eu To: Discussion <discussion(a)lists.fsfellowship.eu>, Discussion <discussion(a)lists.fsfe.org> Somebody did all this while I was sleeping? Great work! -- /The cat formerly known as Garfield/ Securely sent with Tutanota. Get your own encrypted, ad-free mailbox: https://tutanota.com Aug 18, 2020, 08:27 by team(a)debian.community: On 18/08/2020 09:57, Johann Gross wrote: How can you write such stupid text in the name of the fellowship? I am also member of the fellowship but I do not agree with what you write. Thank you for your feedback. This mailing list welcomes multiple opinions. Can a blog be stupid and true at the same time? We are happy to be stupid if it helps people use the opportunity to understand what TOTALITARIANISM really means. Fact: Fellows were never allowed to nominate for president or attend the annual meeting of FSFE. Is that more like democracy or dictatorship? Even if it is stupid, which point from the blog is /not/ based on fact? - Gemlich letter (1919) and FSFE minutes (2019) both spread defamation - Nazis stole artworks, FSFE are stealing RMS's trademark (see below, "the framework agreement, as it stands, is not being honored from any side") - Nazis and FSFE claim and pretends to speak for all Europe - Nazis and FSFE both cancelled elections - Nazis and FSFE both censored political opponents - Nazis and FSFE both made experiments on people (look at how they brainwashed somebody after 34C3, more details to come) - when Nazis and FSFE can't control somebody, they try to make them completely disappear Nobody says that FSFE == Nazi Party. This is just a feature comparison that is disturbingly accurate. You really have severe mental problems What about volunteers who work for Google(=FSFE) without getting paid? Most people find that behavior odd. https://fsfellowship.eu/matthias-kirschner-fsfe-nazi-comparisons/ -------- Forwarded Message -------- Subject: Re: FSF asking us to change our name II Date: Tue, 30 May 2017 15:31:39 +0200 From: Jonas Oberg <jonas(a)fsfe.org> To: Bernhard Reiter <bernhard(a)intevation.de> CC: ga(a)fsfeurope.org Hi Bernhard, I largely agree with you, but I would like to ask for a clarification on this part: I don't see why. We should ask them to establish the agreed cooperation. If I take an honest look at the framework agreement, I believe it's phrased rather favourable towards the FSF, and a lot of what we would like to see -- such as joint decision making on important issues related to Free Software -- isn't actually in the agreement aside from an intent to develop such a way in some hypothetical future. And I can truly see why the FSF believes we are in violation of the agreement, at least on parts. Our work on the Radio Directive and other policy work I believe is an example of work that according to the agreement should be carried out by the FSF, and not the FSFE. Our work on standards for cloud services is close to what's reserved for the FSF. On the other part, there are a number of activities envisioned from the FSFE which we don't do, or never did: operate the GNU Business Network, develop new free software, translate FSF position papers, recruit more volunteers for the GNU project, resell FSF merchandise, and so on. So the framework agreement, as it stands, is not being honored from any side. What I understand from you is that you think we can push more on this: We intend, in the future, after we have gained experience working together, to develop a system wherein these decisions are approved jointly by a specific list of several major FSFs. Essentially, our message could be that now, after 15 years, we have the experience of working together. It's not been a pleasurable experience, but we now know what the current tensions and activities are, which makes this a good time to now negotiate what such a system for join decision making would look like. Is that close to what you intend? Sincerely, -- Jonas Öberg, Executive Director Free Software Foundation Europe | jonas(a)fsfe.org Your support enables our work (fsfe.org/join) _______________________________________________ Discussion mailing list Discussion(a)lists.fsfellowship.eu https://lists.fsfellowship.eu/mailman/listinfo/discussion

1 0