Vlad's sociopolitical update

Good evening, fellow Bulbers :) 

From today, I am starting "Vlad's sociopolitical update" articles regarding developments worldwide. I am interested in different topics, and if you have some favorite topic, please write to me about it, and I will try to publish about it later. Here are some of my recent reads. What is your favorite part of the update and why? 
 
Refugees International: Tunisia has become a major departure point for migrants and refugees attempting to reach Europe by sea, leading to challenges in managing the substantial displaced population from Sub-Saharan Africa. Under pressure from Europe to address irregular migration, the government of Tunisia abused in its attempts to manage the situation. Security forces, including those cooperating with EU countries and the United States, have been implicated in serious and systematic abuses against refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants. Refugees International's investigation reveals evidence of routine corruption and collusion between smuggling networks and Tunisian security forces, who profit from smuggling operations while mistreating migrants. 
 
French Dispatch: A large anti-antisemitism march is scheduled across France, with the main event in Paris. Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s La France Insoumise will be absent, opting for an event in Strasbourg. The Paris march, led by the Presidents of the Assemblée National and the French Senat, features participation from various parties except for Marine Le Pen's Rassemblement National and far-right figures Zemmour and Marion Maréchal Le Pen’s Reconquête! Party. Despite far-right parties attempting to improve their image, skepticism remains. La France Insoumise cites historical and current antisemitism as a reason for non-participation. Other left-leaning parties attend while maintaining a "republican cordon" against the far-right. The efficacy of the march in combating antisemitism is uncertain, and concerns persist about potential counter-protests and political disagreements during the event. The pervasive antisemitism is attributed to stereotypes, conspiracy theories, and the dissemination of misinformation, emphasizing the need for improved education, critical thinking, cultural understanding, and empathy to combat these issues.
 
Bryan Caplan: Historian and classical liberal intellectual Johan Norberg argues against pro-socialism arguments and how the Scandinavian welfare states perform better on well-being indicators than the United States. The argument faces challenges in establishing causation due to numerous variables. For example, comparing economic freedom rates between the US and Scandinavian countries reveals a nuanced picture, with Scandinavia compensating for higher taxes with freer markets in other areas. The author disputes the characterization of Sweden as a socialist country, emphasizing strong property rights, private companies, and little resemblance to Soviet Russia or Venezuela. While public spending in Sweden is higher than in the US, it is not dramatically so. The funding of Scandinavian welfare states involves lower corporate taxes, no taxes on property and wealth, and a regressive value-added tax. The author notes that Sweden's tax system is less progressive than the US, a result of lessons learned from the 1970s and 80s when Sweden experimented with socialist ideas, leading to economic difficulties.
 
Open Global Rights: In a groundbreaking decision on September 29, 2022, the Supreme Court of India (SCt) significantly broadened abortion rights in the case of X v. NCT Delhi. The ruling, interpreting the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971 as a constitutionally protected "reproductive right," extended protections to unmarried women and transgender individuals. The case involved X, an unmarried woman seeking an abortion at 23 weeks, facing societal stigma and harassment. Majority judgment redefined the term incorporating societal changes in family structures, thereby granting unmarried women and transgender individuals the right to terminate pregnancies. The SCt based its decision on constitutional principles, emphasizing the right to reproductive autonomy, a dignified life, equality, and privacy. Abortion in India is criminalized, and the MTPA provides exemptions under specific circumstances. The lack of uniformity in high court decisions and the reliance on registered medical practitioners (RMPs) as gatekeepers create challenges. RMPs' decisions can be influenced by factors unrelated to the individual's health, creating a conflict of interest. The SCt's decision, while transformative, falls short of deeming abortion a constitutionally protected right due to the criminalization framework. Nevertheless, the ruling marks a crucial milestone in reproductive justice, extending rights to non-binary genders and victims of marital sexual violence, paving the way for future advocacy efforts.
 
Persuasion: As Argentina heads to the polls for a presidential runoff, the electorate faces a challenging choice between two polarizing candidates: Javier Milei, a libertarian Trump enthusiast known for his extreme proposals, and Sergio Massa, a center-left finance minister associated with the Peronist establishment. The election has captured international attention due to its stark contrasts, and the global fixation on Trump-like figures has influenced perceptions of the candidates. Despite decades of economic turmoil and scholarly critiques, Peronism persists in making similar policy mistakes, leading to a continuous decline in Argentina's economic standing. As the sitting finance minister, Massa bears responsibility for recent populist spending decisions resulting in soaring inflation and rising poverty levels. Javier Milei, on the other hand, proposes a libertarian shock therapy, advocating for radical measures such as privatizing state-owned companies, slashing government spending, abolishing taxes, adopting the U.S. dollar, and dismantling the Peronist welfare state. While appealing to those frustrated with the status quo, Milei's extreme proposals raise concerns about the potential for self-defeating policies and destabilization.
 
Wisdom of Crowds: In a November 3 speech at the Novitate Conference, billionaire investor Peter Thiel presented a captivating yet unsettling perspective on the apocalypse, urging listeners to reject what he dubbed the "peace and safety of the Antichrist"—a metaphor for a one-world totalitarian state. Thiel, known for his influence in Silicon Valley, criticized the current "zombie period" of neoliberal modernity, highlighting what he sees as dysfunctional modern gender dynamics and a nihilistic obsession with memes and TikTok videos. Thiel's speech, titled "Nihilism is Not Enough," delved into a broad array of references, from sixteenth-century scientist Francis Bacon to Weimar-era political theorist Carl Schmitt. The conclusion of his talk envisioned a cosmic collapse, describing a moment where "silence has descended upon the earth as if an angel were about to open the seventh and last seal of an apocalypse. Known for his eclectic and somewhat esoteric ventures, Thiel's public speeches often need more straightforward policy proposals. His political stance, described alternately as "reactionary" and "libertarian," defies easy classification. 
 

Pay Pal — lauvlad89@gmail.com
Algo — NCG6LBALQHENQUSR77KOR6SS42FGK54BZ5L2HFDSBGQVLGYIOVWYDXFDI4
ADA — addr1q9vfs6nqz4xmtnpljwhv4tukyskd2g7enxd87rpugkwwvfun5pnla5d5tes2mvurrc77e7837yd0scrfk063qlha8wgs8d4ynz
Bitcoin 3HbxyDXE9MhNQ8RqsirqgYvFupQzh5Xby2
ETH — 0x8982cdb97bd23f092f78a16a4fc93c5c4607a285
Seeds — vladlausevic
Skycoin — ZxjhWMJRbTNCRQzy5MekZzH4fhdWFCqBP8
Tezos — tz1QrRzkTAKuPKF8dmGW6c1ScEHBUGvoiJBM