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Every, and I mean _every_, successful revolution was due to the governments/rulers/aristocrats/elites thinking they could successfully quell a revolution with f

Every, and I mean _every_, successful revolution was due to the governments/rulers/aristocrats/elites thinking they could successfully quell a revolution with force and distance themselves from the mobs. In the French revolution, which took place in Paris, the elites all lived outside the city. The royal family lived in Versailles. No one went into the city for any day to day business. When the revolution happened, the nobility fled, and they directed their armies to seize and starve the city. They were using all their wealth and power to quell and flee. Much good that did them. Putting the present elite at an even stronger disadvantage, though, is that Western billionaires only have power because the people allow them to -- land, money, stocks, it's all owned on paper. If a revolution is successful, there is no reason a billionaire's wealth or power couldn't be wiped away at the swipe of a pen. Elon Musk does not have enough of a private army nor his wealth in gold to defend his claim to anything.

runnerup 4y ago
I somewhat disagree with your premise but worth noting some American billionaires do in fact have their own armed forces: https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/technology/news/sergey-brin-secret-disaster-relief-team-with-ex-us-military-516282.html https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/technology/news/sergey-brin-s...
- thebradbain 4y ago
  I should have clarified that these men likely do have very qualified and extensive personal security teams. However, they wouldn't stand a chance against the resources of a sovereign nation.
ChuckNorris89 4y ago
>Elon Musk does not have a private army nor his wealth in gold to defend his claim to anything. People like Musk are not the world's ruling elites though. He and other tech billionaires are the richest people who's wealth is in public companies, so that's why they get all the visibility and media attention, but they're not the richest people in absolute terms, nor are they ruling elites, quite far from them. The ruling elites, the richest and most power people in the world, are the likes of the British monarchy, Vladimir Putin, Saudi family, and other such monarchs and dictators who basically own nearly entire countries in both land and valuable resources and also control militaries to defend their assets and their position. They never appear in Forbes riches people because, unlike tech billionaires, most of their wealth is highly secretive and well hidden from the rabble, and for good reason too. Putin is estimated to be worth way more than Musk. And he also has an army at his disposal. Same with the Saudi family, they have an army and their wealth could probably make Musk look like he should be put on social security.
danans 4y ago
> Elon Musk does not have enough of a private army nor his wealth in gold to defend his claim to anything. In principle you are right, they don't have armies per se. But don't let the "everyman" persona put on by Musk or even Buffett fool you. Billionaires must have extensive (and probably armed) security operations protecting them and their families. It would be irrational for them not to have that. Agreed that they might not be able to prevent their factories or other industrial assets from being seized (Just ask the oligarchs who fell afoul of Putin and fled).

runnerup 4y ago

I somewhat disagree with your premise but worth noting some American billionaires do in fact have their own armed forces: https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/technology/news/sergey-brin-secret-disaster-relief-team-with-ex-us-military-516282.html https://www.indiatimes.com/amp/technology/news/sergey-brin-s...

thebradbain 4y ago
I should have clarified that these men likely do have very qualified and extensive personal security teams. However, they wouldn't stand a chance against the resources of a sovereign nation.

ChuckNorris89 4y ago

>Elon Musk does not have a private army nor his wealth in gold to defend his claim to anything. People like Musk are not the world's ruling elites though. He and other tech billionaires are the richest people who's wealth is in public companies, so that's why they get all the visibility and media attention, but they're not the richest people in absolute terms, nor are they ruling elites, quite far from them. The ruling elites, the richest and most power people in the world, are the likes of the British monarchy, Vladimir Putin, Saudi family, and other such monarchs and dictators who basically own nearly entire countries in both land and valuable resources and also control militaries to defend their assets and their position. They never appear in Forbes riches people because, unlike tech billionaires, most of their wealth is highly secretive and well hidden from the rabble, and for good reason too. Putin is estimated to be worth way more than Musk. And he also has an army at his disposal. Same with the Saudi family, they have an army and their wealth could probably make Musk look like he should be put on social security.

danans 4y ago

> Elon Musk does not have enough of a private army nor his wealth in gold to defend his claim to anything. In principle you are right, they don't have armies per se. But don't let the "everyman" persona put on by Musk or even Buffett fool you. Billionaires must have extensive (and probably armed) security operations protecting them and their families. It would be irrational for them not to have that. Agreed that they might not be able to prevent their factories or other industrial assets from being seized (Just ask the oligarchs who fell afoul of Putin and fled).