This is what happens when successive US governments fail to tackle inequality. While millions of people live in poverty, a handful grow unimaginably rich. Wealth begets wealth, and they acquire political power to match. It was inevitable that one of them – now the richest man on Earth – would launch what looks like a bid for world domination…
I liked that in ancient Roman Republic, the rich at least competed with each other by seeing who could provide the best stuff to the poor, like baths, arenas, temples, aqueducts, roadways, etc.
And if you weren’t helping, you’d be shamed and later on they could just kill you and take your money.
Charity is a cold grey loveless thing. If a rich man wants to help the poor, he should pay his taxes gladly, not dole out money at a whim.This is what should be, at this point I’d take the Roman way though. Fucking hell I’d take Carnegie, Vanderbilt, and Rockefeller over the current oligarchs that seemingly want to cull us all
“Charity is the drowning of justice in the craphole of mercy.” - Pestalozzi
The modern rich are so uncreative, it’s quite sad.
Considering he’s visibly losing it already, I should think so. I originally thought it was a midlife crisis but it’s been like 4 years.
You ever see a dude buy a sports car during a midlife crisis? That shit’s his baby for years. I’ve got a neighbor who’s been waxing his Miata for decades… Keeps it under a tarp and never drives it.
Revoke his citizenship, deport him to South Africa, seize his companies, refuse all future visa applications.
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At least we live in a time when evil dumb rich guys are still mortal.
We never had a democracy. It was just white liberals pretending it was for 250 years.
We have had and continue to have a democracy. It may not be the form of democracy you like but no need to pretend otherwise.
And at least there’s a statement about a more perfect union in the founding documents. The nation says it has a goal of making things better.
We have had and continue to have a democracy. It may not be the form of democracy you like but no need to pretend otherwise.
- slave owners addressing their “uppity” plantation workers
What makes a democracy a democracy?
Free and fair elections, rule of law, stable governmental institutions, individual freedoms, and a free and independent press. Just to give a few academic measures.
Free and fair elections,
Manipulated by advertising, marketing and propaganda paid by the wealthiest contributors to influence the population. Creating an environment where money and wealth get to decide who gets elected.
rule of law,
That can be side stepped, controlled or manipulated by those with wealth and used as a weapon against those with little or no money
stable governmental institutions,
That are heavily lobbied, influenced and controlled by those with wealth or corporations and seldom represent the actual will of the people
individual freedoms,
Which are constantly challenged or questioned by those with power in an effort to control and manipulate everyone into conforming into inequalitable classes of people.
and a free and independent press.
My favorite on this list … free and independent press which are all owned and controlled by the wealthiest billionaires or corporations who allow their media to speak freely as long as they don’t affect their bottom line.
I strongly agree that all of these are under threat or direct attack in the U.S., if that’s your point. But these are some of the measures by which academics evaluate whether governments are “democratic” nonetheless. The U.S. in particular was much stronger on these measures twenty years ago than it is today.
Let’s just start with not having slavery. And no calling it something else like prison sentences doesn’t change that. Especially when you have States like Alabama practicing chattel slavery
In the case of America we are a government by popular election and control in its composition through this vote.
Whatever Wikipedia says if you go look it up.
“The appearance of legality must be maintained.”
It required a failed democracy for him to accumulate that much wealth in the first place. He’s a symptom that has become a cause.
Every day I try to remember to be grateful that, even though he’s evil, Elon Musk is also pretty dumb.
Well I guess we could boot him from the country.
If Kamala wins it can.
For a little while longer.
Yes…because WE also have HIM in OUR sights…way more of us. I expect a Indira Gandhi type ending to these billionaires if we’re lucky.
I call betteridge’s law on this one
They way most democracies are now, they are helpless against rich people buying press and lobbying for politicians
I hope the necessary change comes fast enough
What’s a denokratie?
Regularity capture about to catch em all out here.
It’s hardly the first time the richest man in the world has hated democracy.
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What sequel is this?
