Society ‘may not survive’ Putin’s war, says billionaire George Soros https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/24/economy/george-soros-davos-world-economic-forum/index.html Russia’s invasion of Ukraine may have marked the start of “a third world war,” and Russian President Vladimir Putin must be defeated “as soon as possible” if the world wants to preserve civilization. That was the stark message that Hungarian-born billionaire and philanthropist George Soros delivered on Tuesday to attendees at the 2022 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “Even when the fighting stops, as it eventually must, the situation will never revert” to where it was before, warned the 91-year-oldSoros. “Other issues that concern all of humanity – fighting pandemics and climate change, avoiding nuclear war, maintaining global institutions – have had to take a back seat to that struggle. That’s why I say civilization may not survive.” The former hedge fund manager, who is chair of Soros Fund Management LLC and founder of the Open Society Foundations, is famous for using his wealth to help foster open societies and create inclusive democracies with governments that are held accountable. But after the events of September 11, he noted, the tide began to turn against open societies. As a result, “repressive regimes are now in the ascendance and open societies are under siege,” he said Tuesday. “Today, China and Russia present the greatest threat to open society.” Open societies have governments that are diametrically opposed to governments in closed societies, Soros noted. “[In an] open society, the rule of the state is to protect the freedom of the individual. [In a] closed society, the role of the individual is to serve the rulers of the state.” Speaking about Putin and China’s leader Xi Jinping, Soros said: “They rule by intimidation, and as a consequence they make mind-boggling mistakes.” He pointed to China and Russia as the greatest threats to open societies aided by the development of digital technologies and especially artificial intelligence. “In theory, AI ought to be politically neutral – it can be used for good or bad. But in practice the effect has been asymmetric. It is particularly good at creating instruments of control that help repressive regimes and endanger open society,” Soros said. The billionaire also criticized China’s “zero Covid” lockdown policy, saying it has had “disastrous consequences, pushing the Chinese economy into a freefall since March,” with “negative results” for the global economy. On a more uplifting but still somber note, he commended Ukraine for fighting for the western world’s values. “I think Ukraine today is rendering a tremendous service to Europe and to the western world and to open society and our survival because they are fighting our fight,” Soros said. “They have a really good chance of winning…[W]e must give them all the support that they ask for.”
Unfortunately the large majority worldwide does not understand that. The outcome of the Russian-Ukrainian war will have a huge impact on the entire world population and the quality of their life. People who say that this war has nothing to do with their country so why should they help, only show their ignorance (or stupidity) about what is happening. George Orwell described in his book Animal Farm 75 years ago already what is happening in Russia and China during the last two decades. In a few years you should read again this text from Soros. If we are lucky we will confirm he was right. If we are not lucky it would mean that Russia and ¨Putin won and the outcome will be disastrous. "I think Ukraine today is rendering a tremendous service to Europe and to the western world and to open society and our survival because they are fighting our fight," Soros said. "They have a really good chance of winning...[W]e must give them all the support that they ask for."
The problem with Soros, as always, is that he is working his own agenda under the guise of saving the world. Soros's biggest issue is that there are some countries in the region- notably Hungary and Poland that might not be as tight with the EU and with Soros's far left agendas there as he likes. In other words that want him to get out and stay out of his meddling there. Some countries - in fact most- are okay if Russia just stays the fuck in Russia and leaves the civilized world alone. Some- in fact most- would have been and would be okay with having an arms length relationship with Russia as long as they behaved themselves- a rule which they have violated. But Soros wants Putin taken out because he has influence in some countries who are jittery about both both the EU and Soros's meddling in those countries. His concerns and goals are several steps above just keeping the peace. Doesn't mean that WW3 is not a possibility and needs to be guarded against. I would out for Putin, but I would also watch out for Soros. Both of them are moving to global and a personal agenda. I am not willing to go to war just because Victor Orban in Hungary is to tight with Putin and has blocked all sorts of Soros lefty plans for Hungary. But I am quite sure that Soros thinks that would be a great idea. Move Putin out who has influence with Orban and so on down the line. Because I am flexible kind of guy, I am going to just say not to both Putin and Soros.
How is giving people voice and factual information, and looking to hold authorities to account, serving his own agenda? Unless, of course, that agenda is genuine altruism.
The man is a genuine philanthropist. He no longer manages outside money. He's 91 years old. He has more money than god. And you think he has some kind of an evil agenda? WTF? As of March 2021, he had a net worth of US$8.6 billion, having donated more than $32 billion to the Open Society Foundations, of which $15 billion have already been distributed, representing 64% of his original fortune. Forbes called him the "most generous giver" (in terms of percentage of net worth). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Soros#:~:text=As of March 2021, he,of percentage of net worth).
Well, we can agree that he funds things. I will let others here bring up to speed with examples of what he has funded in this country for example. I am not able to start from scratch with you right now. In the meantime, I am not willing to see this or any country go to war upon George Soros prompting. There could be other reasons. But his views would not be a deciding factor.
No one has to give me examples. He is about holding authority to account. That's what separates true democracies from authoritarianism masquerading as something else. As for Putin, Soros sees him for the cancer that he is. Ignoring him won't make him go away. Meanwhile, how do you like Putin's excursions thus far, along with his efforts to destabilize western democracies around the globe?
I don't like it. I think that point has been established. Also, as established, I said his views are not part - nor are they necessary or foundational - for me to arrive at that view. Soros is working his own agenda.