Vitalik Buterin on Warpcast

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Vitalik Buterin

Interesting thread on UK vs France from the other app. I am curious, do locals of either country agree? https://x.com/bswud/status/1804899087197564950

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Thomas pfp

@aviationdoctor.eth

French here (though living abroad for long). I was surprised by the characterization of France. I wouldn’t have explained the toll highway system through independence and freedom, for instance, which aren’t top of mind in this somewhat collectivist nation (arguably halfway between Asian and Anglo-Saxon cultures in that regard). For me, those highways are the expensive remnants of a centralized planning state that had grandiose plans for national infrastructure during “Les Trente Glorieuses” (1945–1975) and launched both ambitious road and rail projects to better connect Paris to the rest of the country. As for innovation… it was mostly a matter of national pride and independence vis-à-vis the US in the postwar period, leading to subsidized or nationalized corps (SNCF, Bull, Aérospatiale, etc) lunching the TGV, Minitel, nuclear plants, Ariane launcher, etc But actual grassroots/organic innovation is far more subdued due to the amount of red tape and the punitive taxation of running a business

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Leo pfp

I don’t log into twitter any more but as a Brit, this feels a very unintuitive way to refer to the differences between UK and France Specifically, UK is surely less solidarity than France. No way would gilet jaunes happen in Britain. And France is much more redistributive re equality Safety I get, eg drunk driving and alcohol and cigarettes: France is much more pro liberte here. But that’s more because it’s seen as a specific national culture thing. You could regulate different things, which are relatively more important in Britain, and it’s the Brits who would look more libertarian

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miro𓆣 pfp

Mostly agree but the use of "solidarity" for the UK instead of France is wild! The UK has had almost no mass social movement and protests in the past 25 years other than against war. Their civil society and political solidarity has fizzled out at an alarming pace. In contrast, France, for all its issues, has mutual aid and solidarity baked into its identity. Old people pensions getting cut? Everyone in the streets. Farmers getting undercut? Everyone in the street. Students financial aid cut? Everyone in the streets. And everyone in the streets is not just a pass-time as some might like u yo think. Its a huge costs for those participating and yet they do so even when its not a cause directly impacting them. Not to mention that historically the western world has taken the french revolution as a guide to how a people can and should seek its liberation while espousing fraternity

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Mo pfp

Hard disagree, motorways are a weak proxy for a whole country. France is stuck with bloated state, high taxes, and a low tolerance for risk and innovation (excluding small bubble of visible entrepreneurs), and a public discourse that hates on the wealthy. Re: motorway example. In the US, everyone maintaining similar speed is more important than respecting speed limit. Therefore police won’t arrest. In France, if everyone is going the same (over the limit) speed, it’s the person in the nice car that gets stopped. Lots of positive things about this country, but it needs a major institutional refactor and rebuild vs the incremental changes of the last decades

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Jeff Lau pfp

As a brit, I think the roads definitely feel like that. I’d never drive through the centre of London unless I wanted it to take longer. The UK has always been described as a nanny state even by those in it.

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PhiMarHal pfp

Tolls in France were sold in the 60s as a temporary deal. Highways were meant to be free forever. State selling exploitation rights to private sector in the 2000s has been hot topic ever since. Amusing to characterize the French as willing to pay for good things. Almost a perfect 180° of actual French culture.

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Nico🦊 pfp

You know you can't sort UK and France in simple boxes. You know it and then you still do it V... You naughty little troll😅

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Cake One 🎩🔵🎭🔴 pfp

Cake One 🎩🔵🎭🔴

@theonlycakeone

Being French and just coming back from the UK, I will not say this is entirely false but I will also state that what is always shocking me in the UK is the “big brother is watching you” constantly, everywhere, and all the posters to incentivise people to report on other people: “See it, say it, sorted. “

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@miguelgarest.eth

Immediately bothered when I saw in the same sentence kmh and mph 🤦

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kevin mfer 🎩

i agree, i wish you lovely sunday

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Leo Simon pfp

The thread is heavily biased French gov have been slowing down every road & making ppl pay for them for the past 20 years - and everyone is angry about it And I had a big laugh at "no traffic" in Paris

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Ξric Juta pfp

UK is actually a nanny state we'd like to be like Singapore under a guise but there's no backbone sadly

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Special Agent Royo

It’s sad. England pre-brexit was ahead of all innovations.. and taking high way speeds as example of solidarity and equality is strange… Pre-Brexit London has always been at the architectural forefront vs Paris.. France has always been into transportation because it has borders with all main European countries and is a major agricultural player. Uk is back to be an island but their ethos is no more based on equality nor risk aversion… it left the EU and lost their edge. France social net is pretty egalitarian with health care and unemployment benefits and can’t innovate fast because of it. France can’t afford to be innovative and disrupt things. If France appears innovative it is just the UK that’s slowing way down..

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Nicky pfp

Good food in Kyiv @vitalik.eth ?)

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Ethan666.eth🎩🍖🔵🧾🟣 pfp

Ethan666.eth🎩🍖🔵🧾🟣

🎁 for you on jam.so

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@toasterboyz.eth

Quite interesting when flashed against localized national identity in the UK. Given Welsh and Scots nationalists bemoan rule from Westminster for so many years I'd be very interested to see how each aspect of the UK would turn out with a touch more independence. Conservatism in the UK feels very English to me but that's probably my bias showing.

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Nicolas Mas pfp

French here, in Singapore for the last 15 years. Are we talking about the UK or England? These are very odd comparisons points, as if both sides of the channel just met for the first time..

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JoeChamp pfp

Will check it out.

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