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submitted 5 days ago by genfood@feddit.org to c/yurop@lemm.ee

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[-] starlinguk@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

Sadly a lot of MEPs are in cahoots with Russia and hell bent on destroying the EU.

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 9 points 4 days ago

Cahoots is a strong word. They're all ethnic nationalists who sympathize with the wave of anti-Muslim hysteria echoing through the continent.

But when push comes to shove, they'll start shooting at one another over the border happily enough.

[-] hyves@feddit.nl 3 points 4 days ago

At least for the Dutch alt-right party Forum voor Democratie there's definite proof that they get money from Russia

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago

Henk Otten is a multi millionaire who made his mint as an apparatchik of Dutch finance capital. I'm sure you can draw lines back to a dozen different countries in the region, but these calls are coming from inside the house.

Might as well claim Jaime Diamon or David Solomon is a Russian foreign agent.

[-] uienia@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

No, it isn't a strong word at all. They are literally being paid by Putin. They exploit racism and bigotry, right wing populism, in their campaigns, but they aren't necessarily doing that out of personal conviction.

[-] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

or they just like money and power and ride the racism wave

[-] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 4 days ago

Part of the problem is that - between mass media and the industrial exploitation of foreign workers - there's enormous profit to be made in bigoted social policies.

The money feeds the media cycle. The media cycle generates economic growth for misery profiteers. You can blame this on The Russians if you like, as United Russia has cemented itself in the foundation of this cycle of misery. But (until very recently and even then still kinda) they're bound up in the same web of systematized ethnic-nationalism as their neighbors.

The Saudis, the Turks, the Italians, the Israelis... vast economic empires are predicated on the profitability of hate.

[-] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 1 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago)

I ~~generally~~ agree yes. I would go so far as to say that most people in politics be them conservative like or democrat like are in politics for the seat. Sure their perspective may vaguely align with their party but most will jump ships without reservations if their seat is in jeopardy. The very few who are in really to defend their ideals or democracy, it is harder for them to go far if their ideals don't align well with power and deception both of which are currently entrenched in politics in many countries like Russia, Turkey, USA etc etc. And you said yourself actors with money also interject into this to make the relation between money/power and politics are self feeding cycle so that those without are forced to remain outside mostly.