this post was submitted on 22 Jun 2024
495 points (99.2% liked)

World News

39364 readers
4608 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News [email protected]

Politics [email protected]

World Politics [email protected]


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] SkunkWorkz 94 points 6 months ago (6 children)

Many rich Indians in the west still treat people of lower castes like this. Even the “liberal” ones. Like in Silicon Valley there are Indians from higher castes who try to uphold the caste system and they look down on their Indian colleagues who were born in a lower caste. Even when the person of lower caste has a higher position in the company.

And Switzerland can you also go after the rich Arabs who have Filipino slaves in their mansions in Europe.

[–] [email protected] 40 points 6 months ago (1 children)

almost like the caste system was an artificial social construct invented by the elites to ensure they stay on top

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I wonder how many people know that the CEO of Google participates in the caste system

[–] [email protected] 16 points 6 months ago

Can you elaborate?

[–] thesporkeffect 14 points 6 months ago

My opinion of him hit a negative buffer overflow when I learned he came from McKinsey, I would have been skeptical to learn he wasn't classist

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago

They will try to behave like that with others too, can't let shit like that slide. Got to educate them ;)

[–] Neon 2 points 6 months ago (5 children)

can you also go after the rich Arabs who have Filipino slaves in their mansions in Europe

maybe. If the Filipinos are in Switzerland. If there is a assumption of breach of basic human rights we can also go after them if the Filipinos are not in switzerland.

But we would first need proof or at least reasonable suspicion that something is happening so we can start a investigation and get a search warrant.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 6 months ago

Proof of suspicion in many jurysdictions is only needed for search warrant. There are things they can do without it. Like request from water company how much water is used when no people supposed to be there.

load more comments (4 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] [email protected] 82 points 6 months ago (2 children)

I’m shocked, but happy, that they actually got jail time.

4.5 years for the parents and 4 years for the son and his wife respectively. I think jail time for people like this is the only way we can make sure they don’t do it again, a fine is no use when you’re richer than god.

[–] Neon 9 points 6 months ago (5 children)

you really shouldn't be shocked. We are one of the few countries that actually doesn't fuck around.

Idk if it's because our neutrality makes us feel morally superior, because our Neutrality makes us feel invincible, because we are so rich we can afford to be moral or just because, and that's my favourite theory, the germanic honor-culture has survived here and we value doing the right/honorable thing more than anything else.

Either way: If you wanna commit crimes, please don't commit them here. Prison Accommodations are expensive and paid by our taxes.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (2 children)

Thanks for sharing.

Although, I abhor your countries neutrality. Take WWII for instance, being neutral kind of says yeah we are cool with both sides.

Also, your banking laws are a cancer on the rest of the world, but I shouldn’t throw stones from my glass house in the UK since we are also very good at offshoring money for deplorable people.

I will say I am fond of your progressive policies on terms of drug use and help for those that want it.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife 9 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Take WWII for instance, being neutral kind of says yeah we are cool with both sides.

Being literally surrounded by the Third Reich meant their choices were neutrality or actually joining up with Hitler, so they really can't be criticized for choosing neutrality. They can be criticized for their actions during and after the war in helping the Nazi leaders squirrel away the wealth they stole from the Jews, something that was not necessary for a neutral nation to do.

I'd rather rip on Sweden which at least had some possibility of joining the Allies but instead supplied Germany with the high-quality iron ore they absolutely needed to keep their war machine running - the exact same thing they did in WWI. They also supplied Germany with much-needed ball bearings, but at least they sold them to the Allies as well.

[–] Neon 1 points 6 months ago

They can be criticized for their actions during and after the war in helping the Nazi leaders squirrel away the wealth they stole from the Jews, something that was not necessary for a neutral nation to do.

It actually was kinda necessary. We were strategically very important as the Gotthardtunnel was the main Link between the Germans and the Italians, the two main Allies. So we had to offer them something that was even more valuable than conquering the Gotthardtunnel. We concluded that the opportunity to turn their "spoils of war" into Money was the one thing that was more valuable to them.

I would also like to break a lance for my Swedish compatriots. The Nazis conquered Norway and Denmark in a few weeks because they were positioned strategically along the trade routes. If Sweden stopped exporting the Iron, it was very obvious, that the Nazis would invade Sweden for the Iron if they ever stopped exporting it.

And: Sweden did cooperate with allied intelligence during the war. So there's that. And before someone comes in: While Switzerland didn't directly cooperate with allied intelligence, we did willfully turn a blind eye to them. Tacit cooperation if you want so.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Side note - I can't wait for AI to fix autocorrect. Shirts getting old

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

I just noticed some of the typos in my comment.

I hate iPhone predicative text changing my words and offering silly suggestions.

[–] ChickenLadyLovesLife 3 points 6 months ago

Nothing drives me as crazy as my phone constantly putting in "thus" instead of "this". Nobody fucking ever uses the word "thus" in a text message.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

the germanic honor-culture has survived here and we value doing the right/honorable thing more than anything else.

If you were the Swedish kind of neutral I'd accept that, but you're the Swiss kind of neutral. You may have stopped selling weapons to both sides of a conflict, you may have even stopped providing offshore accounts for both sides of the conflict, but the overall attitude of "eh it's not in Switzerland it doesn't matter" is still around. Heck, you still harbour Nestle. At least you had the sense to go after Steinmetz, though.

load more comments (1 replies)
[–] Apollo42 5 points 6 months ago (1 children)

the germanic honor-culture has survived here and we value doing the right/honorable thing more than anything else

Hahaha

[Except ](http://www.the.com/ germanic honor-culture has survived here and we value doing the right/honorable thing more than anything else) for when they didn't

[–] Belastend 4 points 6 months ago

that's my favourite theory, the germanic honor-culture has survived here and we value doing the right/honorable thing more than anything else.

i gotta take one look at your banking laws and who is banking in Switzerland to laugh that one out of the room.

[–] Aceticon 1 points 6 months ago

It's my impression that at least in the German-speaking cantoons the Swiss are the most "rules are rules are rules" of the German-speaking people.

Had this happened in Britain, it would've been swept under the rug since over there de facto and probably since forever, the rules apply very differently depending on the "importance" of people. (In fact I wouldn't at all be surprised if this was also happening in Britain and in there it was simply swept under the rug).

I don't think "rules are rules are rules" is a generic "honor" thing, rather it's the more specific norms of "social responsibility" (i.e. responsibility towards others).

[–] [email protected] 7 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Will they serve it though? They weren't even present at the sentencing due to "poor health".

[–] Treczoks 6 points 6 months ago

Will they serve it though?

There is a thing called "international arrest warrant". Of course they are rich enough to hide somewhere where the Swiss have no contract with, but I don't think they would enjoy that...

[–] Buffalox 46 points 6 months ago

Putting the filthy in filthy rich.

[–] solrize 31 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Saw reddit thread about this. Apparently the jail sentence is all but symbolic, since the defendants are currently outside Switzerland. As long as they don't go back, they will never see the inside of a jail.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

sucks we won't see it happen but also delightful they have a mansion they can't use

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Can they sell the mansion from abroad?

[–] mojofrododojo 2 points 6 months ago

it's switzerland, I imagine they can sell it to abroad or adude

[–] [email protected] 21 points 6 months ago* (last edited 6 months ago) (1 children)

While them getting a jail sentence is good, the term is a joke, especially since they're not likely to actually serve it all or even any of it (house arrest, time served, "good behaviour", bribes, they aren't short of ways nor money to get around it), and are probably the most likely to re-offend out of anyone who has ever stepped foot in a jail..

I would be much more excited if they were made to pay their earnings for the duration that they kept slaves, to the people they enslaved (never mind all the other people they have and continue to exploit to get to be the richest people), and were then kept under constant supervision to make sure they don't start doing it again as soon as they possibly can. (I am well aware this will unfortunately never happen)

[–] ours 3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Bribes aren't exactly a thing in Switzerland. I'm not saying there isn't corruption but it's not common.

That said they have to pay nearly a million dollars to the victims.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 6 months ago

Bribes aren’t exactly a thing in Switzerland. I’m not saying there isn’t corruption but it’s not common.

Ba ha hahahaha... Thanks, I needed a good laugh...

Having you, a random citizen think there are no bribes and little corruption (I can't even type it without laughing) doesn't mean there aren't any.

Switzerland, the country that claims "neutrality" but acts as the world's best known financial, and physical, haven for not only the "anonymous" filthy rich like this family (who still have more influence on society as a whole than you can imagine), but actual dictators and war criminals, past and present, too IS corruption, in its entire essence. Its economical and political existence relies heavily on some of if not the dirtiest and most ill gotten money on the planet (the least dirty of which comes from wage theft on a global scale). Being discreet and polite about bribes and corruption is why. Maintaining favour with the evil people whose assets they protect will always be prioritised over anything else, including their local population (who are generally happy to look the other way as long as the dirty money keeps them in a relatively high standard of living, which is why they are kept in a relatively high standard of living), never mind the poor and or enslaved people overseas who are the ones actually paying the price.

That said they have to pay nearly a million dollars to the victims.

That IS a bribe, they're literally throwing pocket change at the problem to make it go away. Going on their net worth of $70.8b, if they spent a whole million dollars a day, they wouldn't notice it missing for nearly 200 years. And I say again - 4 of those years are categorically not going to be spent in prison, because they are never going to serve their entire sentence (and whatever part they might serve will undoubtedly be in greater comfort than they ever provided to those they enslave, and I deliberately use present tense because this isn't going to stop them), which was already a corrupt and pathetic slap on the wrist to begin with.

This isn't how you stop the filthy rich from enslaving people, this is how you put on a show for the poors to pretend to care while you continue to enable the exploiters and oppressors, because your government and economy depend on it (and because all of those "corruption scores" you see out there are based on perception, not fact).

And you're buying the act.

[–] bizarrocullen 19 points 6 months ago (1 children)

You remember when a international crisis happened after the Swiss police apprehended Gaddafi's son when he beat hotel staff?

[–] ours 11 points 6 months ago

Gaddafi called for Switzerland to be split between its neighbors.

Who has the last laugh now? Don't need with the Swiss and their dark, devious ways

[–] Ensign_Crab 13 points 6 months ago (8 children)

TIL there are richer Britons than the Windsors.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 6 months ago

The Windsors hide behind a technicality. The crown corporation is rich, not the family.

load more comments (7 replies)
[–] [email protected] 10 points 6 months ago (1 children)

britains wealthy elite exploiting indians? tale as old as time

[–] [email protected] 34 points 6 months ago (3 children)

The "wealthy elite" in this case are Indian. Goes on to show that it's not a matter of race/origin but of class, the sooner we collectively realize this the better off we'll be.

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] [email protected] 8 points 6 months ago

Fuck em! Rich family, I mean. Not indians.

[–] veni_vedi_veni 4 points 6 months ago

Some of them even got raises

Let em go. Clearly role model employers

load more comments
view more: next ›