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How do you think "the rich controlling our government" would look? I can think of two possibilities: either someone rich and corrupt being elected and using the
by saghm 2y ago
How do you think "the rich controlling our government" would look? I can think of two possibilities: either someone rich and corrupt being elected and using the office to their own advantage and that of other rich people, or the rich influencing the government to enact the policies they want despite the people in control not also being rich. I'm not sure about you, but watching "worlds richest people line up to kiss the ring" of the new Trump administration is impossible for me to differentiate from either of those scenarios, let alone both of them.
Yes, most Trump voters are not nearly as wealthy as him (or the other executives kissing the ring), but when taxes are lowered and government services are cut due to the reduced budget, they're the ones losing more than the rich compared to a higher progressive tax rate. If the theory you're trying to disprove is that the government couldn't possibly be caused to enact policies that benefit the rich to the expense of everyone else, the fact that someone is elected by a large number of non-wealthy people doesn't demonstrate anything that would make your argument more convincing.
- fallinghawks 2y agoYou're assuming that those non-wealthy people have objectively studied both candidates, weighed their platforms, and chosen the one they have determined will make their lives better. As opposed to, say, the one who promises to hurt they people they want to see hurt, or the one who claims they will protect them from whatever out-group they consider dangerous.
- saghm 2y agoHow am I assuming that? If those non-wealthy people haven't objectively studied both candidates, how does that make it less likely that the wealthy are able to exert outsized influence on government policy (either by directly taking part or lobbying)? Trying to distract people by redirecting their unhappiness towards convenient targets that are unrelated to wealth is pretty much exactly what I'd expect from someone wanting to enact a pro-wealthy agenda that doesn't actually help the average voter at all.