[_npid]

Right-wing groups like the Republicans in the U.S. or the AfD in Germany promise concrete solutions to the problems and fears of the majority of voters. Even if people know they’re being lied to, the slim chance these groups might fix some issues often feels more appealing than the vague promises of their opponents. It’s also clear that endorsements from random wealthy individuals don’t sway voters.

I hope this election is the final wake-up call the EU needs to truly advance its own technological portfolio. A good start would be to significantly increase funding for FOSS projects, as the alternative, investing in closed startups, hasn’t proven effective over the past decades.

[flessner]

Most of the "funding" that Germany does usually goes to companies that can "play" the bureaucratic process instead of the ones that would actually deliver anything of value - so it probably won't be an effective strategy to accelerate FOSS.

A good starting point would be to require all government software to be OSS in the EU - similar to what Switzerland started a couple months ago.

[flanked-evergl]

I think Germany and Europe has invested enough into Europeans. I think it would make more sense to mandate all government software to be developed by black and brown indigenous people of colour. Now is the time for Europe to pick up the DEI commitment that the United States has failed to deliver on.

[flanked-evergl]

No, we have to look to Iran or China, Europe cannot stand on its own. The future is multipolar. We have to invest in Iran and China, Europe has "invested" in itself enough on the backs of black and brown people.