Elon Musk and the Rise of the Alt-Oligarchy
The power wielded by Donald Trump’s renegade band of billionaires should concern any democrat.
The US is increasingly a country ruled by oligarchs who pour cascading levels of funds into the competing parties. In 2024, election spending was two-to-three times what it was two decades ago in real terms.
To see historic parallels, you have to go back to the Gilded Age in the late 19th century, where great money men and monopolists lorded over the political class, particularly in the Republican Party. This golden age of oligarchy was eventually dimmed by progressive reform and, later, by the New Deal. Today, according to Jacobin, some 40 per cent of all political contributions once again come from the top one per cent of the top one per cent.
Ever since the US Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United ruling, which essentially blocked any real attempt to control campaign spending, the situation has worsened. This has generally benefitted Democrats, which is perhaps surprising given the GOP’s traditional ties to the ultra-rich. Wall Street and big-spending oligarchs like Bill and Melinda Gates, Reid Hoffman and Marc Benioff helped Kamala Harris raise well over $1.5 billion, the highest figure in history, for her losing campaign.
Politics
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Is American Nationalism Still Creed-able?
We are not there now, but there is reason to worry that the United States is in danger, if we are not careful, of ceasing to be a nation with the principles of 1776 at its core.
National Civitas Institute Poll: Americans are Anxious and Frustrated, Creating a Challenging Environment for Leaders
The poll reveals a deeply pessimistic American electorate, with a majority convinced the nation is on the wrong track.
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A Permission Structure for Violence
It is not enough to personally eschew violence. As a society, we must condemn and punish it as well, wherever it comes.
Xi Can't Have Taiwan
Taiwanese history is not easily distilled, making it ripe for the CCP to manipulate in support of its goal to annex the island.
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