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This sort of story illustrates why I think so poorly of the mainstream news media. Smuggling of small, high-value goods was old when President Nixon declared a
by bell-cot 2y ago
This sort of story illustrates why I think so poorly of the mainstream news media.
Smuggling of small, high-value goods was old when President Nixon declared a "war on drugs" in 1971. It was old when the US gave up on Prohibition (of alcoholic beverages) in 1933. It was old when King Edward I of England was trying to collect his duty on the export of wool in the late 1200's. It was old when Rome was still a one-horse town.
Bloomberg is supposedly a real business publication - not "Noob Newz, for Today's 10K". When the Western sanctions and export restrictions on Russia were announced, all the grown-ups understood that they were performative politics, and would only add some costs and friction to Russia's supply chains.
If mainstream journalists don't want to be viewed with contempt and distrust by the public, then why are they working so hard to earn those sentiments?
- cleanerbob 2y ago[dead]
- Sabinus 2y agoAdding costs to Russia's military procurement isn't performative, but I do broadly agree with your sentiment. Pretending that Russia would acquire none of what was restricted was/is foolish.
- touisteur 2y agoMoreover, informing about the actual realities of export restrictions doesn't seem useless or condescending (I'm not commenting about the actual article here, which... seems hacking in technical savvy ... to be generous - but news about the topic in general). Supply chains are complex, rife for corruption at many levels and giving some understanding how it happens seems a worthy news item for me, especially to understand the effectiveness of such sanctions, and as an educated citizen, either clamor for tighter supply-chain control, or be OK with the status quo, or ask for less control or for alternatives.