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>Wyss told Swiss reporter Giorgio V. Müller in a 2011 interview that “as a non-American" he was only barred from donating money in federal elections. “Otherwis
by daenz 4y ago
>Wyss told Swiss reporter Giorgio V. Müller in a 2011 interview that “as a non-American" he was only barred from donating money in federal elections. “Otherwise,” he said at the time, “as a foreigner, everything was possible for me.”
Can someone explain in simple terms why wealthy individuals who are not US citizens can become so hell bent on influencing American politics? If you're so invested, just become a citizen!
- woodruffw 4y agoThe short answer, from an American perspective: we love influencing the rest of the world, so they'd like to return the favor. Plus, this way you don't have to pay US income tax.
- daenz 4y agoSo they're trying to improve America as revenge?
- woodruffw 4y agoI don't see a revenge motive. More like "I believe my country/business/whatever is unduly influenced by this superpower, so I'm going to influence the superpower directly."
- gpm 4y agoAs a Canadian this is a good description of why I make a fair number of comments about US politics on the internet. I'm not sure I'd call it unduly though, it's somewhat inevitable that superpowers influence foreign politics.
- deleted 4y ago[deleted]
- olivermarks 4y agoAmericans love to think they 'influence the rest of the world'. The reality is that a powerful cabal of billionaire offshore oligarchs such as Hansjörg Wyss effectively manipulate planetary politics to their ends. Given Wyss's altitude it seems likely he is meddling in many other sovereign state's politics too
- woodruffw 4y agoThe null hypothesis is that both dominate the world's politics. No need to be picky.
- olivermarks 4y agohttps://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/Article/2031922/mercenaries-and-war-understanding-private-armies-today/ https://ndupress.ndu.edu/Media/News/Article/2031922/mercenar...
- spangry 4y agoBecause America influences the world we live in. When you live in the empire, keep one eye on Rome.
- next_xibalba 4y agoInfluencing the U.S. gives you the best leverage on your dollars. The U.S., for better or (more probably) worse, is the leading country of the West. It has the largest population, the largest economy, the dominant culture, and, most importantly, the largest military. This is also why Israel lobbies and exerts such outsized influence the USG.
- coliveira 4y agoBecause the US loves to meddle in the policy of foreign countries. That's reason enough for powerful people in other countries to try to do the same in the US.
- michael1999 4y agoTLDR; America rules the world’s financial system, and much more. So the world has good reason to be interested in American politics. American senators run shakedowns on whole countries.
- emilsedgh 4y agoMost probably because United States influences them so much. As an Iranian, United States politics have brought so much misery upon my country, I feel like we should get a vote in U.S elections at this point. Or I don't know like half a vote. Or 1/10 of a vote. I don't know somehow let us be heard our country which once was on the path of reforms and whatnot is being crushed under the weight of senseless sanctions! Disclaimer: Current U.S. resident, rant over!