Its value is equal to its usefulness as a propaganda organ. Twitter wasn’t purchased to make money. A megaphone is more of a tool than an investment.

counterpoint: nobody poops but you

its not like the us wasn’t getting anything in return

Thing is, what the USA was buying with its expensive umbrella over Europe was a disarmed Europe. At the time, the USA felt it was in their interest for EU to be weak.

For a variety of reasons, the rise of China perhaps being at the forefront, the USA no longer believes its in their interest to keep EU toothless.

Juche.

I wish I was kidding.

They’re doing a North Korea. Building a completely isolated war economy.

this sounds like what Google wanted to be since its inception: ask a question, get an answer

somewhere along the journey, the reality of needing to make money drove the enshitification of search results: ask a question, get offers to sell you an answer

this seems like a step in a better direction

Right wing ideologies are a symptom of brain damage.
Q.E.D.