I don't really care what they've done. All that I know is that the parties I've voted for generally vote in my interests, and that actual noticeable change comes from it. As a result I enjoy high standards of living. The impression I get from my government is that they're genuinely trying to make things better for their citizens (even if it doesn't always work out). That's all I really need to know.

If corruption/lobbying is somehow rampant, it hasn't stopped many legislative measures to protect my interests. A good recent example is the many actions the EU has taken against anti-consumer tech giants. I lobbying was a thing here, do you think that would've happened? God knows these companies have the money.

I'm not omniscient, but I think we're doing quite alright.

[–] redtea@lemmygrad.ml 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

So by the same standard, if China, for example, were to lift 800 million people out of poverty, a little corruption would be okay?

As lobbying is a fact throughout Europe, yes, I think the fact of gains and the fact of corruption can happen at the same time.

For another look at a contradictory unity of opposites, here's a look at how the corrupt EU is willing to fund research into combatting excessive PFAS in water while at the same time allowing companies to pump excessive PFAS into the water: https://www.uva.nl/en/content/news/news/2023/02/pfas-in-drinking-water.html?cb

[–] N1cknamed 1 points 2 years ago (1 children)

So by the same standard, if China, for example, were to lift 800 million people out of poverty, a little corruption would be okay?

If the Chinese government acted in the interests of their people I wouldn't care where they got their money from. Unfortunately, they do not. Luckily, I do not live there. And I will fight any attempts to make my country more like China.

[–] redtea@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 years ago

I look forward to the day when the Chinese can be freed from the tyranny of collective wealth so that Europeans can feel more comfortable with Chinese corruption.