this post was submitted on 02 Nov 2024

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345

Can democracy survive now the world’s richest man has it in his sights? | George Monbiot | The Guardian (www.theguardian.com)

submitted 4 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

40 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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...

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[–] [email protected] 71 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

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.

-- Clement Attlee

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

"Charity is the drowning of justice in the craphole of mercy." - Pestalozzi

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 weeks ago

The modern rich are so uncreative, it’s quite sad.

[–] [email protected] 62 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 53 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago) (1 children)

it’s been like 4 years.

I think it's pretty obviously been more than that: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/03/media/elon-musk-testifies/index.html

On July 15, 2018, Musk tweeted “pedo guy” in reference to Vernon Unsworth

For the worlds richest man, and CEO of multiple companies to tweet like that, you'd have to be pretty far gone already.
Musk has probably "had issues" most of his life, but at this point he obviously lost control publicly, and was unable to contain it.

Musk is a spoiled brat who thinks his behavior has no consequences to him. This continues to be mostly true, so his behavior gets steadily worse, because he has no shame and no reason to believe he will be held accountable.

[–] [email protected] 23 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

God, I’m getting old. I could have passed a lie detector test saying the pedo guy incident was in the 2020s, at least.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 weeks ago* (last edited 4 weeks ago)

The Tesla model S came out in 2012. I just remember that when Musk made that tweet, I'd already identified Musk as a conman.
But I don't remember anything in particular that stood out as much before that tweet. Except he had already failed on his promise on FSD, with little to show it was even close. I also remember identifying him as an introvert narcissist. Which is kind of an oxymoron, but nonetheless describes his public social conduct.

If you are old, do you remember Lee Iacocca (Chrysler)? Or Jack Tramiel (Commodore)?
Those were stellar businessmen and CEOs, that were geniuses without being narcissistic sociopaths.
Those were true role models. 😀

[–] [email protected] 13 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Meanwhile musk crashed his McLaren trying to impress Peter Thiel

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/elon-musk-spent-1-million-213715650.html?guccounter=1

Lacy asked Musk whether there was a parallel between the dramatic crash and how he builds companies. Musk’s response was, “I hope not. That could be awkward with a rocket launch.”

[–] [email protected] 25 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Revoke his citizenship, deport him to South Africa, seize his companies, refuse all future visa applications.

[–] [email protected] 17 points 4 weeks ago

At least we live in a time when evil dumb rich guys are still mortal.

[–] [email protected] 16 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

The Curtis Yarvin / Peter Thiel "Dark Enlightenment" was overtly anti-democracy and had some dollars behind it, but has been a clown show of an ideology from the start (over 15 years ago) and has only withered more in daylight.

Whether it's morally right, there's a wide canyon between proposing an entire alternative political system, and deplatforming people on X or Starlink.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

It's like they're trying to make it the next step from neoliberalism but people are starting to even see the flaws in neo liberalism.

[–] jaemo 9 points 3 weeks ago

The richest, most inept, out-of-touch, needs to be put in his fucking place douche.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 4 weeks ago

Well I guess we could boot him from the country.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 weeks ago

Every day I try to remember to be grateful that, even though he's evil, Elon Musk is also pretty dumb.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

If Kamala wins it can.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

For a little while longer.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] Bakkoda 3 points 3 weeks ago

Regularity capture about to catch em all out here.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

What sequel is this?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

It's hardly the first time the richest man in the world has hated democracy.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 4 weeks ago (2 children)

We never had a democracy. It was just white liberals pretending it was for 250 years.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 4 weeks ago (3 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago (4 children)

What makes a democracy a democracy?

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 weeks ago (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (1 children)

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.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

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.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 weeks ago

In the case of America we are a government by popular election and control in its composition through this vote.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 4 weeks ago

Whatever Wikipedia says if you go look it up.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 3 weeks ago

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

[–] [email protected] 4 points 4 weeks ago

"The appearance of legality must be maintained."

[–] [email protected] -3 points 4 weeks ago

The Guardian - News Source Context (Click to view Full Report)

Information for The Guardian:

Wiki: reliable - There is consensus that The Guardian is generally reliable. The Guardian's op-eds should be handled with WP:RSOPINION. Some editors believe The Guardian is biased or opinionated for politics. See also: The Guardian blogs.
Wiki: mixed - Most editors say that The Guardian blogs should be treated as newspaper blogs or opinion pieces due to reduced editorial oversight. Check the bottom of the article for a "blogposts" tag to determine whether the page is a blog post or a non-blog article. See also: The Guardian.

MBFC: Left-Center - Credibility: Medium - Factual Reporting: Mixed - United Kingdom

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