• humanspiral@lemmy.ca
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    ·
    1 day ago

    White house meeting ended up with a “morally binding” agreement to be more generous to communities/states considering data centers.

    Apparently, its cheaper to spend $1B on “toxic sludge is good for you” lies than it is to offer community benefits.

    • Jax@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      3
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      1 day ago

      I think it’s well past time we all stop treating oligarchs like they don’t have something to gain by supporting each other. 1 billion from Amazon dissuading people from believing data centers are bad for the people around them = more money for health care companies when those people inevitably get sick. Those companies likely use AWS, which means some of that money gets funneled back into Amazon.

      I’m sure I’m simplifying how things will actually work but this doesn’t seem entirely outside the realm of possibility. Not to mention that 1B Amazon is spending is, essentially, investing in a disinformation/ propaganda machine - which has benefits down the line. Not to the people, of course.

      • humanspiral@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        3
        ·
        24 hours ago

        toxic sludge is good for you

        This is perhaps obscure, but a reference to a famous PR book from the 1970s. Datacenter harm is mostly about electricity scarcity pricing for rest of US, noise and sometimes water use, and financial loss. There can be pollution/global warming associated concerns, but its not a major health care issue.

        stop treating oligarchs like they don’t have something to gain by supporting each other.

        This is indeed the core issue in America. Israel first rulership is part of the support circle, and much more so, since 2024.

        That $1B budget is unlikely to be TV advertisements for datacenters. It’s likely to be bribes that get all of the pre-election candidate opposition to projects go quiet after election.

        • upandatom@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          2 hours ago

          Anecdotal but I absolutely hear radio ads for a data center brand and the entirety of the ads are propaganda about how this particular brand of data center cares about the surrounding neighborhood. None of the ad is about how the data centers this company builds are used, just an ad talking about how they don’t do the typical negative things associated with data centers.

          Propaganda.

  • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    46
    ·
    2 days ago

    They can’t spend that fucking money on making this shit in a way that’s compliant instead?

  • dan1101@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    23
    ·
    2 days ago

    If they want data centers so damn bad we can be sure they will not be good for us.

  • tidderuuf@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    14
    ·
    2 days ago

    That’s $1B+ that could have increased paychecks or benefits or bathroom breaks.

    Holy shit, why would anyone still work there after moves like that?

    • ExcessShiv@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      12
      ·
      2 days ago

      Amazon seems to be riding on the desperation of poor uneducated people. When you can choose between starving homelessness for you and your kids and working at amazon, your ideals tend to take a backseat. And Amazon works hard to break your spirit and perpetually keep you that desperate.

      I much more blame the people willingly using their services. Stop buying shit from amazon.

      • YeahToast@aussie.zone
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        23 hours ago

        I refuse to buy anything from Amazon. Means at times I have to pay more, get something slightly different or not at all. IDGAF, it’s the only way to have an impact on them

      • Jax@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 day ago

        Amazon offers education to their employees as well, it isn’t like they aren’t investing in their people - they just do it in a soul sucking manner.

  • badgermurphy@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    18
    ·
    2 days ago

    Nothing says “we’re the good guys” quite like having to lavishly bribe the public not to hate and obstruct your every move.

  • MonkderVierte@lemmy.zip
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 day ago

    and that if the common folk don’t get in line and support their development, the nation could be left in the dust.

    The oh so important race to higher computing numbers again? While not giving the infrastructure to scientific research?