All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[hyped78]

Stocks plunge further with Credit Suisse and rate rises in sharp focus

Banking stocks are under renewed pressure as worries intensify over a major European lender's balance sheet and investors ponder what another big rate rise would mean for banks across the euro area.

https://news.sky.com/story/health-of...rries-12834337

[BeastieRunner]

People are going to have kids and that's a good thing in terms of growing and diversifying our species for future survival -- whether here or on other worlds.

The real issue is that we haven't yet shifted our technology towards addressing relatively inevitable population growth -- people should be viewed as more than just human capital, epecially given their individual potential.

Education could also be utilized to stabilize this aspect of society but ensuring that as many human beings as possible rise to the point of economic familial stability could also be effective.

In the (unpublished) stories that I've written humanity teams with AI to determine how to effectively balance out its growth rates as well as to resolve other social issues.

There are solutions out there -- we just have to discover them.

In Hyperion Cantos, AI destroys Earth in order to get us to move to the stars, sees us fuck up planet after planet, and just decides to let us die.

[Dalak]

People are going to have kids and that's a good thing in terms of growing and diversifying our species for future survival -- whether here or on other worlds.

The real issue is that we haven't yet shifted our technology towards addressing relatively inevitable population growth -- people should be viewed as more than just human capital, epecially given their individual potential.

Education could also be utilized to stabilize this aspect of society and ensuring that as many human beings as possible rise to the point of economic familial stability ("middle class") could also be effective.

In the (unpublished) world I've created humanity teams with AI to determine how to effectively balance out its growth rates as well as to resolve other social issues.

There are solutions out there -- we just have to discover them.

Having kids isn't what upsets me, but why some people choose to have them. They won't fix your relationship, they won't be something that automatically loves you, they won't be helpful until after a long time where you have to literally baby them, they won't magically make you more responsible, and they aren't an unexpected blessing you have to keep/raise. They are just offspring. People unready to be parents have fucked up more lives than almost anything else as far as I'm concerned.

"Race" is a social construct. People have different skin tones simply because some settled in the north and then skin tones became whiter to adapt to less sunlight (lighter skin absorbs vitamin D more efficiently) and some settled in the south where darker skin offers more protection from the sun.

On people not having kids because of economic issues, that statistically not entirely accurate, as it's poorer families who have more kids, on average.

On fertility rates, developed countries have very low birth rates right now but underdeveloped/ developing countries have sky high fertility rates, see here by country (2.1 is replacement factor):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...fertility_rate

There have never been so many people living in the world - and that's being entirely fueled by underdeveloped/ developing countries.

I think that one big reason people have lighter skins is due to the cold forcing one inside for long periods of the year & wearing heavy protection outside so didn't need their skins to protect against as much UV.

Why do you think there are so many births in underdeveloped/ developing countries compared to more rich ones?

E: Do infant mortality rates impact things?

In Hyperion Cantos, AI destroys Earth in order to get us to move to the stars, sees us fuck up planet after planet, and just decides to let us die.

A being thinking only on logical lines would kill us off or let us die IMO.

[hyped78]

Why do you think there are so many births in underdeveloped/ developing countries compared to more rich ones?

E: Do infant mortality rates impact things?

Different factors:
- Lower levels of female education - and hence women participating less in the labor market
- Religion
- Children are needed/ used as labor force
- Less access to contraceptives

I think child mortality also plays into it, yes!

Another thing I forgot to mention earlier - it's not just that developing countries are losing population and need young skilled workers. It's also that climate change is and will continue to "force" people to migrate to colder regions.

[aja_christopher]

In Hyperion Cantos, AI destroys Earth in order to get us to move to the stars, sees us fuck up planet after planet, and just decides to let us die.

Fictional AI often reflects the bias of the writer which is appropriate as AI is a reflection of its creators.

While I understand the constant underlying theme of cynicism that is attached to AI I likewise think that these are the views of a generation that has grown up with a complex view of technology and the ways that it has changed society.

The next generation(s) will likely view these fears as unfounded and unnatural as they are seeing the benefits (and detriments) of utilizing this technology from a very young age and will likely adapt accordingly.

Research shows that they are lot more humane towards others than previous generations -- perhaps due to observing them directly via social media rather viewing them through media that caters to sensationalism and stereotypes.

Said growing concern -- "empathy" -- for others bodes well for addressing the more common issues that plague humanity in the future.

------

"Aside from the unique set of circumstances in which Gen Z is approaching adulthood, what do we know about this new generation? We know it’s different from previous generations in some important ways, but similar in many ways to the Millennial generation that came before it. Members of Gen Z are more racially and ethnically diverse than any previous generation, and they are on track to be the most well-educated generation yet. They are also digital natives who have little or no memory of the world as it existed before smartphones.

Still, when it comes to their views on key social and policy issues, they look very much like Millennials. Pew Research Center surveys conducted in the fall of 2018 (more than a year before the coronavirus outbreak) among Americans ages 13 and older found that, similar to Millennials, Gen Zers are progressive and pro-government, most see the country’s growing racial and ethnic diversity as a good thing, and they’re less likely than older generations to see the United States as superior to other nations.

A look at how Gen Z voters view the Trump presidency provides further insight into their political beliefs. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in January of this year found that about a quarter of registered voters ages 18 to 23 (22%) approved of how Donald Trump is handling his job as president, while about three-quarters disapproved (77%). Millennial voters were only slightly more likely to approve of Trump (32%) while 42% of Gen X voters, 48% of Baby Boomers and 57% of those in the Silent Generation approved of the job he’s doing as president."

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-t...en-z-so-far-2/

Having kids isn't what upsets me, but why some people choose to have them. They won't fix your relationship, they won't be something that automatically loves you, they won't be helpful until after a long time where you have to literally baby them, they won't magically make you more responsible, and they aren't an unexpected blessing you have to keep/raise. They are just offspring. People unready to be parents have fucked up more lives than almost anything else as far as I'm concerned.

Agreed, which is another reason why the conservative anti-abortion policy makes no sense and should not be forced on those who don't want children.

As was stated previously however, traditionally poorer families have more children as they see them as future "breadwinners" -- something that has also contributed to rampant misogyny throughout history as male children were (and still are in many places) viewed as more valuable than female children. In an era of science, knowledge and technology however this makes even less sense than it did in the past -- we should instead be educating and elevating women, who make up half of the human population, as much as possible if only because this is what we should be doing with all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, or gender if we want humanity to achieve it's full potential.

Educated people tend to make better choices in life and one of those is choosing not to have kids until one knows one is ready and able to raise them in the best environment possible.

These are likewise poltical issues we have to resolve -- conservative policies to cut education spending vs. liberal policies to increase education spending.

Add to that the fact that many conservative politicians are now simply taking over educational facilities, government functions and businesses that they disagree with and the problem becomes even clearer.

[godisawesome]

That's the whole problem right there









"Race" is a social construct. People have different skin tones simply because some settled in the north and then skin tones became whiter to adapt to less sunlight (lighter skin absorbs vitamin D more efficiently) and some settled in the south where darker skin offers more protection from the sun.

On people not having kids because of economic issues, that statistically not entirely accurate, as it's poorer families who have more kids, on average.

On fertility rates, developed countries have very low birth rates right now but underdeveloped/ developing countries have sky high fertility rates, see here by country (2.1 is replacement factor):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_o...fertility_rate

There have never been so many people living in the world - and that's being entirely fueled by underdeveloped/ developing countries.

The "superior" race of America has always been an evolving term because its a social construct that expands in reaction to the possibility of being a minority.

At first, it was the "right type" of Protestant Englishman, then it was the right type of Protestant with British heritage, than it became the right type of Protestant with British or French heritage and maybe some allowable French Catholic heritage if they stopped holding onto it but certainly not the German or the Irish, then the Germans were allowable but still not the Irish and certainly not the Italians, than the Irish were allowable but the Italians were still no-go, then the Italians were accepted but if you had Latino heritage you still weren't counted, then it was okay if you were a pale Latino who spoke fluent American English...

Race is an inherently slippery, self-serving concept for those who use it to make their lives easier at other's expense - and it can often include tolerance for "good ones" of select members of other "races" as long as they play along and allow the exploitation of others to continue.

[AnakinFlair]

You gotta love this...

Ron DeSantis hit with an ethics complaint from Trump super PAC

The primary pro-Trump super PAC is filing a complaint with the Florida Ethics Commission over what it says is the governor's "shadow presidential campaign."

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Donald Trump’s allies are stepping up their battle with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, formally accusing him of violating state ethics and election laws with his “shadow presidential campaign.”

Make America Great Again Inc. is filing a 15-page complaint Wednesday with the Florida Commission on Ethics, a draft of which was obtained exclusively by NBC News.

It asks the commission to probe whether pro-DeSantis super PACs, his "personally lucrative book tour" and a continued wave of state-level campaign contributions, among other things, "are unlawful because they serve his personal political objectives, are in furtherance of his personal financial gain at the expense of Florida taxpayers, and are intended to influence his official decision to resign from office."

[Dalak]

You gotta love this...

Ron DeSantis hit with an ethics complaint from Trump super PAC

To modern conservatism, Ethics are only something to cudgel the enemy with when convenient and ignored otherwise.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

You gotta love this...

Ron DeSantis hit with an ethics complaint from Trump super PAC

Oh, that’s rich. Lawyers representing THE most unethical man ever to sit in the Oval Office bitching about someone else’s ethics, or lack of same. The hypocrisy is beyond staggering.

[Username taken]

The "superior" race of America has always been an evolving term because its a social construct that expands in reaction to the possibility of being a minority.

At first, it was the "right type" of Protestant Englishman, then it was the right type of Protestant with British heritage, than it became the right type of Protestant with British or French heritage and maybe some allowable French Catholic heritage if they stopped holding onto it but certainly not the German or the Irish, then the Germans were allowable but still not the Irish and certainly not the Italians, than the Irish were allowable but the Italians were still no-go, then the Italians were accepted but if you had Latino heritage you still weren't counted, then it was okay if you were a pale Latino who spoke fluent American English...

Race is an inherently slippery, self-serving concept for those who use it to make their lives easier at other's expense - and it can often include tolerance for "good ones" of select members of other "races" as long as they play along and allow the exploitation of others to continue.

Exactly this.

It's interesting that Italians and Greek people weren't considered "white" in the US some years ago.

The definition of "white" has actually changed over time which really does speak to race being a social construct.

[hyped78]

Exactly this.

It's interesting that Italians and Greek people weren't considered "white" in the US some years ago.

The definition of "white" has actually changed over time which really does speak to race being a social construct.

The goal posts will move to include white latinos in future census in the US

[aja_christopher]

To modern conservatism, Ethics are only something to cudgel the enemy with when convenient and ignored otherwise.

So long as there is no accountability there will be no change -- Trump is proof of that but then so were Bush, Cheney and Rumsfield as well.

The solutions lie elsewhere -- it could be something as simple as Gen Z establishing automatic voter registration and certified online voting due to their comfort with technology.

At this point it's reasonably doubtful anything outside of complete failure can save the GOP from itself so it's clear that we are going to have to look outside of their party for answers.

If the last few elections are any indication then the next generation is not going to tolerate the same kind of nonsense from Republicans as we do because -- due to voting power alone -- they won't have to.

[Dalak]

So long as there is no accountability there will be no change -- Trump is proof of that but then so were Bush, Cheney and Rumsfield as well.

The solutions lie elsewhere -- it could be something as simple as Gen Z establishing automatic voter registration and certified online voting due to their comfort with technology.

At this point it's reasonably doubtful anything outside of complete failure can save the GOP from itself so it's clear that we are going to have to look outside of their party for answers.

If the last few elections are any indication then the next generation is not going to tolerate the same kind of nonsense from Republicans as we do because -- due to voting power alone -- they won't have to.

As long as GoP voters who don't like where things are going refuse to do anything about where their party is going and call it Rude to suggest how they can when they ask "What can we do other than Vote?", I believe you are right. They've committed war crimes without being held accountable, openly embraced hate without being held accountable, and attempted a coup without being held accountable yet. I worry about what they will do next thinking they can get away with it like everything else.

[aja_christopher]

As long as GoP voters who don't like where things are going refuse to do anything about where their party is going and call it Rude to suggest how they can when they ask "What can we do other than Vote?", I believe you are right. They've committed war crimes without being held accountable, openly embraced hate without being held accountable, and attempted a coup without being held accountable yet. I worry about what they will do next thinking they can get away with it like everything else.

It's important to view it in context -- despite the coup attempt our democracy has held together and the American people voted out a potential despot.

The Republicans likewise did poorly in the midterm elections and their current behavior does not bode well for them doing any better in the future given demographic trends and their lack of success with young voters.

The Supreme Court will likely rule with a conservative slant but further abuse (such as the overturning of Roe vs Wade) could very well lead to those same voters changing the rules for not only the Court but Congress as a whole.

Gen Z is trending very progressive and very politically engaged -- if anyone should be concerned about their future, it's the modern Republican party.

------

"To be tolerant of differences has always been the default position of generation Z – while their politics varies and can tend towards the economically conservative, they think that being socially liberal goes without saying and are often horrified that anyone could think otherwise. Partly this is motivated by the fact that generation Z are themselves a very diverse generation; they’re the generation whose parents met people from all over the world through cheap flights and the internet, and as a result, they’re more likely to be mixed race and hold more than one nationality than their predecessors. They’re also more likely to know people – including their peers – who are openly transgender.

Theirs is a heterogeneous generation, and that’s the way they like it."

https://www.oxford-royale.com/articl...-generation-z/

[hyped78]

Whites are becoming a minority in America if only due to lower birth rates and more interracial marriages and bi-racial children -- it's a natural demographic shift and not due to immigration or any "conspiracy" on the part of others.

The real question is why should this be a concern to anyone who isn't racist but the historical reality is that it's because there is an underlying unspoken belief amongst many that "white" people are superior and therefore should maintain power even if they become the "minority".

The truth however is that diversity is not a zero-sum game but an opportunity to evolve as a species -- we will all benefit when we eliminate our prejudices and learn to work together regardless of race or background.

Idealistic, yes -- but true.

I was reading the previous posts and I need to comment on something - "not due to immigration". That is not correct.

Between 1970 and 2020, the foreign-born population in the United States increased from 9.6 million to 44.9 million. This increase is due to both legal and illegal immigration. According to the Pew Research Center, about 43% of the foreign-born population in 2020 was Hispanic, and another 27% was Asian. These groups have higher birth rates than whites, which has contributed to the decline in the white population's percentage. So yes, immigration has played a big factor in this demographic shift.

For the sake of comparison, the US Census Bureau reports that the number of people who identify as two or more races has increased from 6.8 million in 2000 to 33.8 million in 2020. This increase is due to a combination of factors, including an increase in interracial marriages and a greater willingness of people to identify as mixed race. This is lower than the immigration numbers above and it can be reasoned that immigration eventually leads to higher interracial marriages.

Immigration is also a driver behind the gap in birth rates between white people and non white people as, over time, the birth rates of 2nd generation, 3rd generation etc. immigrants converge towards the birth rates of the overall population.

Still no conspiracy though!