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As Mao once noted, at the end of the day, political power grows from the barrel of a gun. Billionaires certainly have significant influence over policy decision
by science4sail 3y ago
As Mao once noted, at the end of the day, political power grows from the barrel of a gun. Billionaires certainly have significant influence over policy decisions, but the tools of violence are still controlled by the politicians. Money can't protect you from the army or the secret police, as Jack Ma discovered in China.
- pohl 3y agoEven were it the case that the US military could be used against a US citizen, your observation would still be cold comfort in our world where billionaires can buy politicians. Worse, the Citizens United SCOTUS decision equates such control with speech, and is tacitly protected by the government.
- science4sail 3y agoBillionaires aren't a monolithic block though (beyond core issues like low taxes). If you sell out your country, then other oligarchs can use that as an excuse to order their pet politicians to confiscate your fiefs^H assets. Just see all the speculation about nationalizing SpaceX in this discussion. The only way money can protect you is if you literally buy out the entire government, in which case you're basically a monarch. But yes, that is cold comfort to us plebians.
- fragmede 3y agoElon Musk has firing control of 16 rockets that are trivially convertible to ICBMs. It's not a standing army, but it's one helluva gun.