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Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

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Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#421

Post by aleph_minus_one »

gnfargbl wrote: post #236
reeredfdfdf wrote: post #84

Most educated Iranians hate their government. The problem is that a revolution isn't easy when the government has all the guns, and the military & revolutionary guard remain loyal, and have no problem with shooting masses of innocent civilians to retain their power. Sanctions that worsen things for ordinary people really isn't going to change much in countries like this. It would be much more productive to try turn t…

The primary intent of sanctions isn't to foment revolution -- policymakers are well aware of the reality you outline. The actual intent of sanctions is to cause economic damage. In that respect this is an account of the sanctions working exactly as intended: they are making it harder for OP to work as a software developer, which makes it harder for the Iranian regime to benefit (directly or indirectly) from the effor…

> they are making it harder for OP to work as a software developer, which makes it harder for the Iranian regime to benefit (directly or indirectly) from the efforts of software developers in Iran.

A shower thought:

Wouldn't it make more sense if country A that considers sanctions against country B provided very "cushy" immigration laws for highly educated people from country B so that country A profits from these people's efforts while country B will suffer from a brain drain?

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#422

Post by School-Cotton »

Xelbair wrote: post #348
bradlys wrote: post #244

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Who is "you"? The US government doesn't reflect the majority of Americans, at all. It reflects capital interests - which the majority of Americans are not. Majority of Americans are laborers.

it was voted in by majority, no matter what mental gymnastics you do. People either voted, or decided that their vote was worthless enough.

Whether to have sanctions against Iran has never been on the ballot in the US.

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#424

Post by School-Cotton »

Xelbair wrote: post #390
kelnos wrote: post #384

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Out of available US presidential, House, and Senate candidates, there is essentially no realistic electoral outcome where the people put into power will lift Iranian sanctions. Representative democracy doesn't mean that every possible policy could be enacted by some realistic configuration of elected representatives, even if any particular policy is supported by a majority of the electorate.

>Representative democracy doesn't mean that every possible policy could be enacted by some realistic configuration of elected representatives, even if any particular policy is supported by a majority of the electorate. that is only true if you flatten your system to two parties.

> that is only true if you flatten your system to two parties.

Again with the "you". "We" did not flatten anything into anything; we were born into an unfair and broken system that we have no power to change.

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#425

Post by gnfargbl »

holowoodman wrote: post #391
johncolanduoni wrote: post #362

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The occupying powers very much did not assign collective responsibility to Germans after WW2. Material reparations were massively reduced in scope compared to WW1 (and the norms of the previous century), and the Allies actually poured substantial resources into Germany’s reconstruction (far in excess of the reparations). Also, collective punishment is literally as old as written history. I’m not sure if there are wri…

> The occupying powers very much did not assign collective responsibility to Germans after WW2. Material reparations were massively reduced in scope compared to WW1 (and the norms of the previous century), and the Allies actually poured substantial resources into Germany’s reconstruction (far in excess of the reparations). Mostly because the USSR was the new enemy and Germany had to be an ally after WW2. While the wa…

There was also a more general worry that depriving Germany would push the country towards communism. General Clay is reported as having said that "there is no choice between being a communist on 1,500 calories a day and a believer in democracy on a thousand."

The Morgenthau plan was also unpopular in Britain. Churchill only really considered it because he knew he had to keep the Americans happy to win, and Eden hated it. Remember that humiliating the defeated enemy had been tried before in 1918, and it didn't end well.

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#426

Post by surgical_fire »

notjosh wrote: post #47
adastra22 wrote: post #20

OP, some context from the other side might be helpful. Yes, there are fines for American companies if they do business with Iranians. That's how sanctions work as I'm sure you're aware. But the story doesn't stop there. If an American finds out they are transacting with a sanctioned individual, or citizens of a sanctioned country like Iran or North Korea, the stakes go up: $1M USD fine and up to 20 years in federal p…

your comment is helpful context, especially as a foreigner. but would you be able to edit the "pounding in the ass" phrase out in future when referring to prison? thank you <3

It's a reference to Office Space, one of the all time best movies ever made.

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#428

Post by wartywhoa23 »

ajuc wrote: post #311
chabska wrote: post #221

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Nobody should be expected to take that risk I've seen this sentiment so many times from westerners. You all say this, and yet at the same time you levy economic sanctions on countries like Iran, Cuba, and North Korea, with the justification that by making their citizens lives horrific, you encourage them to rise against their government. Their authoritarian militaristic government that doesn't care for human rights…

You misunderstand the goal of the sanctions. Sanctions are there to cut off 1-2% of GDP each year from the dictatorships' economies. Over 30 years that turns countries into harmless (to the West) backwater shitholes. The consequences towards the local populations are just a side-effect (sometimes wanted, sometimes not). You cannot expect people outside of your dicatorship to prioritize your well being over their own…

[dead]

Re: Delete FROM users WHERE location = 'Iran';

#430

Post by klntsky »

chabska wrote: post #221
adastra22 wrote: post #20

OP, some context from the other side might be helpful. Yes, there are fines for American companies if they do business with Iranians. That's how sanctions work as I'm sure you're aware. But the story doesn't stop there. If an American finds out they are transacting with a sanctioned individual, or citizens of a sanctioned country like Iran or North Korea, the stakes go up: $1M USD fine and up to 20 years in federal p…

> Nobody should be expected to take that risk I've seen this sentiment so many times from westerners. You all say this, and yet at the same time you levy economic sanctions on countries like Iran, Cuba, and North Korea, with the justification that by making their citizens lives horrific, you encourage them to rise against their government. Their authoritarian militaristic government that doesn't care for human rights…

> with the justification that by making their citizens lives horrific, you encourage them to rise against their government.

I dont't know what is this based on, but no, sanctions are needed to stop the other party from benefitting from economic activity, not to punish.

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