this post was submitted on 12 Sep 2023
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Elon Musk's financial interests put him in a position of having his own personal foreign policy, but new reporting shows that whether it's manufacturing in China or the Starlink network being used in Ukraine, Musk’s decisions can run counter to stated US policy.

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[–] Blaiz0r@lemmy.ml 190 points 10 months ago (54 children)

This is why billionaires shouldn't exist they are treasonous

[–] Lexam@lemmy.ca 92 points 10 months ago (5 children)

They should exist, but we are not utilizing them correctly. Once someone has reached a billion dollar networth then they are thrown a big party and then sacrificed to a valcono. I believe this would curb emissions and fix climate change.

[–] Blaiz0r@lemmy.ml 35 points 10 months ago

There was a native American tribe that every ten years had individuals return all personal wealth back to the tribe and the threw a big party, then start it all over again

[–] doggle@lemmy.dbzer0.com 14 points 10 months ago (4 children)

Maybe we just seize all their assets, nationalize them and make them start over with nothing. Call it new game +.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 9 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

They just need to make a point system. The incredibly wealthy don't care about money itself, those are already just points to them. So once you get to say 100 M, you get a trophy saying you won capitalism. After that amount 99% is taxed, you get a penny on the dollar. But all of that taxed money gets you Capitalism points. Capitalism points have no real value and can only be exchanged/traded/gambled with other winners of capitalism. Those with most points will be published each month in the top 100. And the top 10 each year get the prestigous title if honorary economic leader. They can get a medal and a pat on the back by the president.

You can also donate extra money for more capitalism points at a 10:1 exchange rate to get people to play the game even harder and further drive down wealth.

(I believe there are slightly less than 10,000 people in the US who would currently get their capitalism trophy. There are >140,000 people worth more than $50M, is 100 to high?)

Oh and the 100M amount is pegged to minimum wage. Any increase to the capitalism cap has to be matched to the same percent increase to minimum wage.

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[–] Ferris@infosec.pub 6 points 10 months ago

Wealth Piñata monetary policy

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[–] jonne@infosec.pub 67 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Just too much power for one person. Even if they're not in charge of a global internet provider, your average billionaire can singlehandedly affect the lives of millions of people (employees, customers, bystanders) with no democratic oversight at all. It's just not something that should exist.

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[–] s20@lemmy.ml 71 points 10 months ago (3 children)

What the hell? Look, man, I hate the guy but he's remarkably consistent: he works for his interests. Even when he does dumbshit things like buy Twitter, the thinks he's operating in his interests.

He's not complicated. He's a self absorbed piece of shit. That's really all you ever need to know about the fucker.

[–] dingus@lemmy.ml 37 points 10 months ago (1 children)

"Elon desperately wants the world to be saved. But only if he can be the one to save it," Altman added.

From an interview with Sam Altman. It's grandoise narcissism, plain and simple.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 11 points 10 months ago

He is the main character.

[–] vzq@lemmy.blahaj.zone 21 points 10 months ago (1 children)

But he’s also a contrarian asshole.

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[–] arc@lemm.ee 43 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (10 children)

He posted the other day about being proud American etc. and yet he's actively giving comfort to hostile adversaries like Russia and screwing US allies. I think if I were the US federal government I wouldn't touch SpaceX or Starlink with a shitty stick given the mercurial, manchild in charge of them with his own agenda.

[–] zik@lemmy.world 5 points 10 months ago (4 children)

A proud American who takes money from the US military to provide Starlink service to the military in Ukraine and then deliberately defeats US military interests there when it comes to the pinch. There's a word for that - a couple actually. Traitor. Treasonous.

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[–] Burn_The_Right@lemmy.world 41 points 10 months ago (2 children)

He's juggling fire. His money can only do so much to protect him if he makes enough mistakes fucking with these dangerous governments.

[–] taladar@sh.itjust.works 28 points 10 months ago (5 children)

I disagree. Every other billionaire out there also has a shared interest in governments leaving the super-rich alone and not punishing them. That is a powerful lobby.

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[–] cantstopthesignal@sh.itjust.works 5 points 10 months ago

Very dumb to position oneself against the geopolitical interests of the United States while living there.

[–] ShaggySnacks@lemmy.myserv.one 35 points 10 months ago (5 children)

Remember folks, the rich only care about one thing and one thing only, getting richer. A bunch of these shit heads got together and started actively planning on overthrowing the US government because the election of FDR was going to affect their interests.

The Business Plot

[–] chiliedogg@lemmy.world 8 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago)

Prescott Bush (the father of George and grandfather of W) was their liaison with the Nazis.

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[–] lanbanger@kbin.social 22 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Then he'll have to be sanctioned. Which would be a shame.

[–] Noerttipertti@sopuli.xyz 8 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Sanctioned or...

Dramatic pause

"Sanctioned"?

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[–] LucidNightmare@lemmy.world 7 points 10 months ago

Shocking. Truly shocking.

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