Paul Buitink talks to former Greek Minister of Finance (2015) and author of several books like ‘Technofeudalism, What Killed Capitalism’ about the risks of modern technofeudalism in which cloud capitalists extract rents from the public and distort public discourse. He says we need to tax big tech to the hilt since privatizing wouldn’t work. Also he proposes how cities should create their own tech alternatives.
The gentlemen also talk about the euro, why Bulgaria shouldn’t join and Greece should exit. The Netherlands should perhaps try to reform it or join a union with other hard currency countries. Yanis would like to federalize the EU but realizes it’s maybe time to dismantle it. Also he laments Europe’s military Keynesianism and thinks it’s not wise to spend all that money on defense. The EU has taken the wrong turn and each path since 2014 when it comes to the war in Ukraine Yanis believes.
Yanis is an even better Russian ambassador if he appears with Jeff Sachs.
Btw, Russia’s budget deficit is up fivefold in May, much higher than expected.
The reason for the financial turmoil: the war in Ukraine.
Should we dismantle the Russian Federation now? Russia’s military Keynesianism doesn’t seem to work. It’s not wise to spend all that money on military. The Kremlin has taken the wrong turn and each path since 2014 when it comes to the war in Ukraine.
What does Yanis say?
I think this is completely besides the point and wild whataboutism.
Varoufakis doesn’t repeat Russian talking points in any way, although the interviewer has a clear bias. If Varoufakis was a Russian citizen, you can be certain that he would have argued against the war to the point of going to a Gulag.
Here is my take on his many interviews: He explains his view from his perspective as a European, which is completely valid. The problem is, that he always sees everything mostly in monetary terms. He doesn’t concentrate on the value of peace that the EU brought or widespread human rights that were also propagated to other non-members because of conformity of businesses within the Union. Financially, many members could benefit from having there own monetary and trade policies, speaking purely about economic success. The benefit of going to the neighbour country for shopping and not thinking about tariffs, currency and such, is neglected.
Regarding Ukraine he says that we should have marched from the start if we really oppose Russias imperialism and not just deliver "a few " weapons here and there. But that the populace needs to be on board and that there is a nuclear threat is, again, not mentioned.
Altogether I think the man has very valid points, like the problem of big tech destroying the economic basis that the EU was founded on, and his insights about the 2008 financial crisis are invaluable, but he really focusses on money too much.