I think there is a difference in mentality between people who chase power and people who chase money. Bull Gates certainly chases money, but he’s not trying to take over a country somewhere.
I’m saying that buying insane amounts of agricultural land gives him and his family a permanent rent-seeking position over a basic necessity, so yeah, he is taking over a part of the world.
A billionaire chases what gets them the most money. The public can manipulate them by making them lose money. A dictator wants power, which really can only be countered with mass violence.
Musk has lost a tremendous amount of money between X and his negative effect on Tesla sales. Do you feel this has “manipulated” him into being a better person? 🤣
Even with all the losses, he is still the richest man in the world by more than $50 billion. Musk dumped more than half of his Tesla stock and is focusing more on SpaceX now.
That’s better than a dictator who only wants to protect his own power. At least a billionaire can be bought.
.
What the heck do you think a dictator is? A billionaire running a country.
I think there is a difference in mentality between people who chase power and people who chase money. Bull Gates certainly chases money, but he’s not trying to take over a country somewhere.
That may be so, but nonetheless they overlap often enough.
This Bill Gates?
https://lemm.ee/pictrs/image/c21026c4-c9df-48ca-b2de-eada505a58d7.jpeg
Are you saying he is trying to take over the country by buying all the land? Seems like he’s just using land as an investment.
I’m saying that buying insane amounts of agricultural land gives him and his family a permanent rent-seeking position over a basic necessity, so yeah, he is taking over a part of the world.
Owning land is not the same as governing land.
It’s not my problem you don’t understand the concept of the “ruling class”.
Owning vast capital (and land is capital) does give a degree of undemocratic power over government policy.
But go ahead and keep letting billionaires buy up everything until we live in a feudalist society. I’m sure nothing will go wrong.
I’m more worried about billionaires who have literal armies like Erik Prince.
A billionaire can’t be bought, they got billions. It’s the dictator that can be bought.
A billionaire chases what gets them the most money. The public can manipulate them by making them lose money. A dictator wants power, which really can only be countered with mass violence.
Musk has lost a tremendous amount of money between X and his negative effect on Tesla sales. Do you feel this has “manipulated” him into being a better person? 🤣
Even with all the losses, he is still the richest man in the world by more than $50 billion. Musk dumped more than half of his Tesla stock and is focusing more on SpaceX now.
Yes, that’s my point. Losing money didn’t “influence” him.
My point is that he didn’t lose a significant amount of money.
🙄
If you are running in the Olympics, it doesn’t matter if the 2nd place guy is 5 seconds or 10 seconds behind you. You still get the gold.
Is Musk doing anything to help people living in dictatorships access information? Or is this just happening in Brazil?
Starlink launched in Africa in 2023, so that covers a few oppressive governments.