Was this proven in one way or another? You speak of it as it's 100% sure it happened, but I haven't seen anything but rumors about this, you wouldn't spread hearsay on HN right?
Given that the CCP frequently "disappears" its nationals that it has some problem with, I think giving the CCP the benefit of the doubt is unwise and harmful. Given it's demonstrated pattern over many years, I think we can safely assume malintent.
Nothing is 100% sure, anyway, and the CCP does these things in secret to provide it deniability.
The methods definitely aren’t great but the effects may be. Although some of the goals the government has are not really about the populous and more about limiting private sector power vis a vis the government and not the populous.
One idea: PG&E has killed lots of California residents through neglect, not to mention all the damage caused by fires that were their responsibility. Someone ought to pay for that other than the tax payers, if only to make an example.
Let’s get to the bottom of the barrel, why not abolish all modern technology which has a will independent of humanity and leads to all those bad outcomes?
Did he do something criminal or was this a bad accident? Would you prefer if your government could just decide who to toss in jail (which is what the CCP does). I'd prefer I had the right to a trial. Also a judiciary that is separate to from the rest of government to protect the population from politically motivated prosecutions.
In general I don't have much sympathy for the CEOs of multi-multi-billion-dollar companies, if at all. And considering the current dire political and economic climate, including in many Western countries, I think that that view of mine is shared by many.
People like paganel are why you should keep an eye on politics even if you hate everyone or are basically satisfied with the status quo. There’re always those who has no problem with political violence as long as the violent are on their side. Be watchful.
I’m going to quote Chateaubriand, talking about the French of his time: “the French instinctively go where the power is; they don’t love freedom at all; equality alone is their only idol. And equality and despotism have secret connections between them. Seen under that light, Napoleon’s rule drew its power from the very hearts of the French people” (badly translated by me on a small iPhone while reading Compagnon’s The Antimoderns)
As such, it isn’t me or people thinking like me that you should fear (i.e. people who quote Chateaubriand to a total techie stranger on the web), you should fear the “quintessential” French (or Westerner, in today’s age) that goes “where the power is” by instinct (on this La Boetie was right centuries ago). That is if you people really care about your freedom.
A billionaire is still a human being with the rights and dignity that come with being a person. It's very concerning to see someone essentially say "if you have x amount of money then I don't really care if you are kidnapped or killed." I don't particularly care for that level of wealth either, but I want laws to pass to remedy the funneling of money upward. I don't want to see them killed.
