Exclusive: US could cut Ukraine's access to Starlink internet services over minerals, say sources
neuters.de
Ukraine's access to SpaceX-owned Starlink was brought up in talks between U.S. and Ukrainian officials after Ukrainian President Zelenskiy turned down an initial proposal from U.S. Treasury Secretary Bessent.
  • US negotiators told Ukraine US could shutoff Starlink if minerals deal not reached
  • SpaceX-owned satellite internet service vital for Ukraine
  • Zelenskiy says U.S. and Ukraine working on an agreement
  • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
    3·
    11 hours ago

    No we don’t. Trump deserves to be kicked to the curb, but Americans are absolutely fine, if a bit short sighted.

    A country is not its leadership, it’s the people. And it’s incredibly hard for the people to replace their leadership outside of election season, and even then, there’s a lot of pressure to make poor choices on your ballot.

    • OutlierBlue@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      9 hours ago

      it’s incredibly hard for the people to replace their leadership outside of election season

      What have you tried? Have you written any letters? Protested? Marched? Gone on strike?

      There’s a whole lot of defeatism in your comment and I’m getting major “we’ve tried nothing and we’re all out of ideas” vibes.

      • Pika@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        3 hours ago

        letters aren’t going to do anything, neither will striking.

        The current System does not legally give many ways to impeach an elected official.

        It is impossible to legally remove a president from power outside of election season without the legislative branch.

        Furthermore, there is no federal level system in place to allow for a recall of anyone in the legislative branch, some states have successfully implemented state level recall laws to revoke their elected officials but this is not a universal thing). Disciplinary functions in the legislative branch is predominantly decided by the branches themselves, which works fine if you have a functional branch, but if you have a branch that really doesn’t care then no punishments get done

        The most the everyday citizen can really do is:

        1. if you are in a state that has an elected official that is being toxic/against what your state actually wants, try to encourage a state recall petition (if you are in one of the 36(12 of which need specific actions to occur to trigger it) states that allow for it AND something has occurred that was ground for your states requirements for it)
        2. try to add such a system to your state if one does not exist (which would likely have to be on the ballot as well so would take awhile)
        3. or further educate yourself on what is going to be available on the 2026 midterms and vote accordingly.

        I don’t think there is much else anyone can immediately do that might actually get anything done.

      • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
        1·
        5 hours ago

        I’m in a red state with GOP reps. I really don’t think any of those will go anywhere.

        And not sure what going on strike would accomplish. My company isn’t based in the US, my boss isn’t American (and likes Trump), and 2/3 of my team are outside of the US anyway. I like my company and my boss, and going on strike would just get me fired for no reason. Why would I do that? My company didn’t donate to him or anything, so how would pissing my boss off accomplish anything?

        The only effective measures I have would put my family at risk, and those have a remote chance of working. Why would I do that? It’s illogical, especially when the chances of Trump actually becoming a dictator are slim to none.

        I’m not going to screw up my life just for some internet cred. I’ll do what I did in the last three elections: vote against him and urge those around me to do the same. Not that it matters, because the Republican will always win my state and district, but it’s something.

        The most effective use of my time is to largely ignore him. Anything else is illogical IMO.