• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    “Oh, those rich people better look out. Something real bad is going to happen to them” is a thing I’ve been hearing since the 90s.

    The only “bad thing” I can think that’s remotely qualifying is that US billionaires are being left behind by their East Asian peers, as their home country is run into the ground. And idk if “feel bad because you’re not in first place anymore” is the thing being implied.

    • TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today
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      4 days ago

      The only “bad thing” I can think that’s remotely qualifying is that US billionaires are being left behind by their East Asian peers, as their home country is run into the ground.

      Nah, billionaires have class solidarity that transcends nationalist sentiment. Which is why they are so afraid of anyone trying to gather class solidarity amongst the lower classes, they know how powerful it is.

      Billionaires from East Asia and billionaires from the West all vacation in places like Dubai, have their own private islands, and multiple homes and banks all over the world. Nationalism to them is just a tool to keep class consciousness away from their employees.

      • mfed1122@discuss.tchncs.de
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        3 days ago

        Not to mention, a billionaire is no longer a citizen of any country in any way that truly matters. They can easily go elsewhere, be safe from whatever is going on in their “home”, and so on. The only country I know of that has ever actually thrown its power at its billionaires is China. So unless the billionaire currently lives and works in China, they essentially have no nationality.

        • 0x0@lemmy.zip
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          3 days ago

          The only country I know of that has ever actually thrown its power at its billionaires is China.

          Iceland did good punishing bakers after 2008, although i wouldn’t call those billionaires.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        Nah, billionaires have class solidarity that transcends nationalist sentiment.

        In America, at least, we’re seeing a rising tide of white nationalism among the mega-rich. There was a point in which I’d agree with you. The Clintons would break bread with anyone whose checks didn’t bounce (Donald Trump, for instance). But your Musks and Thiels and Lutnicks and McMahons are going in a very different direction.

        Billionaires from East Asia and billionaires from the West all vacation in places like Dubai

        Even Dubai ain’t what it used to be. Consider the kidnapping and murder of Rabbi Zvi Kogan.

        • TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today
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          3 days ago

          But your Musks and Thiels and Lutnicks and McMahons are going in a very different direction.

          Eh, I think that’s mostly just crowd work. They’re just the types who use the right as a vehicle because they know they’re easier to control and they hate taxes.

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            Certainly.

            But these aren’t simply Bush / Cheney climbers. They’re true believers who think Trump’s win is a sign of Divine Providence.

              • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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                2 days ago

                I wish. It’s more the reverse. The whole reward of getting a seat at the table means whispering a new flavor of madness into Trump’s ear.

                • TranscendentalEmpire@lemmy.today
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                  2 days ago

                  Eh, it’s the same old same old. When people like musk and thiel are in his good graces they stand to make hundreds of millions in graft and even more by manipulating regulatory bodies in their company’s favour.

                  They may project crazy beliefs or even truly hold them, but all of their beliefs fall away when compared to their underlying belief in profit.

      • qarbone@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I’d think it’s more like horse racing. They want to see their “horse” “win” but aren’t that fussed at the end of the day. Because they’ll all be glue eventually, and what matters is the fun they had.

    • bier@feddit.nl
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      3 days ago

      Yeah even after Luigi shooting a CEO nothing happened. Even if a revolution happened these people would just go to their luxury underground bunkers to wait it out.

      • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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        3 days ago

        I mean, looking a bunch of billionaires in a luxury basement for the rest of their lives would be something resembling a consequence. I would actually be fine with that.

        Would I prefer they get the Jack Ma or Hui Ka Yan treatment? Absolutely. The Louis XVI treatment? For a few of them, definitely.

        But it’s so far away from “Renting out Venice to celebrate my marriage to my favorite concubine” that I’d take it

      • hector@lemmy.today
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        3 days ago

        For them the near-term danger is coming from inside the house so to speak. The political monster they created that is now seizing absolute power will turn on them, first the disfavored that will be prosecuted and have their assets seized. Before long seizing assets will be the end initself.

        The judiciary will be owned by the accusers, and the parasitical parts of our economy will be in league with the government.

        Our productive companies will fall. Which will further damage the economy, further encouraging taking of assets from others.

        When Society fully collapses Security Services will continue on in this vein and in the highway robbery.

        • bier@feddit.nl
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          2 days ago

          How is it turning on them? They get tax cuts and less business regulations. Who has had his assets seized?

          • hector@lemmy.today
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            2 days ago

            We are still at consolidating power phase with a propped up economy, after the economy falters when they are fixed in power that will start in earnest.

            If they keep bringing the military into domestic affairs they will subbordinate civilian leadership at some point as well.