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It’s more than an emotional overreaction - it’s a massive own goal. The globally connected internet (in addition to the many of the other American companies sto

It’s more than an emotional overreaction - it’s a massive own goal. The globally connected internet (in addition to the many of the other American companies stopping operations in Russia) is a major source of soft power for the US. This is literally doing Russia’s work for them - they have been trying to partition networks and services for years so that they can be independent of American tech companies and what they consider their control and propaganda - and now at a critical point for data flows and Western media operations, the US is going to help them build the wall. It feels unreal.

forum_ghost 5y ago
Indeed, this is amazing. First, destroy confidence in property rights by seizing central bank reserves (US debt). Why should anyone invest in US Govt debt after this, without a hefty political risk premium? Then, try to disconnect Russia from the internet. Why should anyone trust American tech after this? All this does in the end, is just hurting the regular people, who don't even have any input on the situation whatsoever. So, apparently Putin is a dictator, therefore we must punish people who didn't even elect him....? Is this sound logic? Meanwhile let's make sure with all sorts of carve outs that oligarchs still have their billions, but also make sure the Russian hoi polloi don't even have access to Western media. It seems to me, it's far simpler mentally to directly blame the vendors pulling out, rather than "Putin did something the West does all time, but it's only OK when they do it, not us. Then the West pressured their vendors into pulling out and reneging on contracts, which is only for our own good, therefore we must rise up and re-make Russia's political setup to Western preferences, so that we can use Apple Pay again". The conclusion of all this isn't going to be "We must rise up against Putin", but it will be simply "IKEA bad".

forum_ghost 5y ago

Indeed, this is amazing. First, destroy confidence in property rights by seizing central bank reserves (US debt). Why should anyone invest in US Govt debt after this, without a hefty political risk premium? Then, try to disconnect Russia from the internet. Why should anyone trust American tech after this? All this does in the end, is just hurting the regular people, who don't even have any input on the situation whatsoever. So, apparently Putin is a dictator, therefore we must punish people who didn't even elect him....? Is this sound logic? Meanwhile let's make sure with all sorts of carve outs that oligarchs still have their billions, but also make sure the Russian hoi polloi don't even have access to Western media. It seems to me, it's far simpler mentally to directly blame the vendors pulling out, rather than "Putin did something the West does all time, but it's only OK when they do it, not us. Then the West pressured their vendors into pulling out and reneging on contracts, which is only for our own good, therefore we must rise up and re-make Russia's political setup to Western preferences, so that we can use Apple Pay again". The conclusion of all this isn't going to be "We must rise up against Putin", but it will be simply "IKEA bad".