It is a convenient response. Label anyone and anything you do not like as the anti-Christ. My generation was raised on that in music lol. It is a major line in every right wing playbook. I am now wondering if having access to billions of dollars makes one mentally ill? It seems to cause all sorts of psychosis.
Chicken-and-egg. Sociopaths are disproportionately overrepresented in the billionaire class… and studies show that increasing affluence correlates to decreasing empathy.
But also: acquiring billions of dollars for yourself —while those around you, [the people of the society which has enabled & fueled your wealth accumulation] starve, suffer, and die from preventable diseases they cannot afford to prevent or treat— all while you shriek about “communism” and the “unfairness” and “tyranny” of those same victims whom you’ve economically & technologically tyrannized, stolen from, and hijacked & wrecked their democracy and their very same Rule of Law which protected you & your egregious wealth accumulation …that antisocial behavioral pattern [and its incapacity for the basic human empathy that makes society possible] requires an in-born level of sociopathy / psychopathology to begin with, as a prerequisite.
You’re absolutely right. They are nothing more than addicts. Addicted to money and the power. Just much more dangerous. What are addicts? Selfish. Their brains are no longer normal. It would take about a year to return to normal if they lost everything.
I learned in a criminology class that more psychopaths major in business than any other major. So that makes sense.
We do have a problem with lack of empathy in much of society. Maybe they are the loudest so we hear and see them more? I know good emphatic people and I know some that are too put it kindly, less than that. Of course none of them are billionaires.
He has lipodystrophy wasting on his arms, cheeks and head and temporal wasting which happens on certain HIV drugs, which makes me think he may be on therapy for that.
We allowed our public schools to disintegrate under Christofascists and racists. Our government is founded on the principles of the Enlightenment. Humanism and individualism. The enemies of religion and corporate Capitalism.
Those Liberal Arts and Sciences have been ripped out of our education system. Instead of educating citizens, we train worker bees.
It’s an ongoing struggle that can be won. The attack on education and basic rights is a key part of the next phase of Trump 2.0. They, like Theil have no argument, so let’s continue to point that out!
Yes, let's point that out. Since the beginning of Trumpy’s grasp of what he could get out of the American public, his mind-numbing speeches have included derogatory comments about education and his supposed love for those who are uneducated, only because he can con these people into following his ideas and thoughts. He admits to these comments; Trumpy was recorded admitting to loving his uneducated (aka stupid) followers. Continuing to admire someone like him is proof of conning people with your words. Repetition three times in a speech, wherever he spoke, was how he roped in his followers. We’ve got to be better. Educate yourself. Not all learning comes from written words—observation, learning from others' mistakes as well as your own.
I did not know the history of Aspen, so the original infusion of the humanities at its core and then the dismissal of said core is not surprising. We have witnessed the degradation, dismissal and dumbing down of the humanities throughout our education system over the past decades. That billionaires would denounce it by shunning it, is a product of our times.
Thiel chooses not to understand the Palantir. Yes, Aragorn was able to resist Sauron’s gaze through it. But he could not have defeated the ultimate evil, and he knew it. Only the lowliest of hobbits — Sam — could do so in the end.
Thiel thinks he is Aragorn. But he is only Sharkey.
Wow Mike. This is one of the most powerful and succinct pieces you have ever written. Thank you for remaining so dedicated and diligent. The world needs you. 👏
Scary assessment of the powerful correlation of forces lining up behind closed doors in warm, wood-paneled rooms. I wonder whether the great potential energy of the DSA ++ in the streets will be in a position to take them on and face them down. NPCs of the world unite!
Well revealed and said, Mike. You called out the Aspen conference for how it has allowed itself to degrade to a very low Peter Thiel common denominator. I remeber it differently from the 60s and 70s. Thanks for this article!
Photos of this guy should come with a trigger warning. It’s interesting to keep learning how he is as ugly on inside as his face clearly illustrates. And Yarvin has been described as a walking oil spill
I've been in a number of conversations lately with good people who say that the current trend towards ecological and social destruction under "neo-liberal, late-stage capitalism" shows that "capitalism" in any form is no longer tenable. My side of these discussions is that some form of capitalism can still be viable, and even essential to rectifying current crises. I suspect that those saying "democratic socialism" are largely preferring some such highly-reformed capitalism, with the "capitalism" brand so tarnished they're preferring just about any other name for it, despite that they'd favor the fascistic forms of "socialism" as little as they do the fascistic "capitalism" beloved of our oligarchs.
As something of a political philosopher, I don't really share the notion that "capitalism" is a distinct ideological category. I prefer it as a description of political economy.
I don't think liberal democratic capitalism and democratic socialism are even articulately different descriptions of a polical economic theory.
If you are allowed to own a business, and re-invest the profits (after tax) into the business to grow the business (generate increased capital) — that's capitalism. Even if you have universal income, free healthcare, universal housing, etc.
That's a world democratic socialists want. And that world exists within the definitional boundaries of democratic capitalism and democratic liberalism.
A lot of why people reject this convergence across the ideological traditions is tribal and aesthetic.
A true socialist political economy would not allow the private ownership of capital. Decisions to open new businesses, improve them, etc. would be subject to some other form of community control. All experiments with this model have failed in the past century, and I don't think we're ever going back to that.
An individual owning a small business is one place to start the analysis. Yet the larger problem is how to handle capital formation and investment at scale -- the sort of scale necessary to build out new ventures. Once you have joint-stock companies such as the Dutch or British East India Companies operating, different questions arise than in an economy purely of farmers and crafts people. And once you have Ayn Rand disciples like Alan Greenspan successfully promoting the neo-liberal misreading of Adam Smith to encourage utter corporate devotion to the bottom line, monsters like Thiel and Musk are inevitable -- unless seriously constrained by government and society ("socialism," in their book, and in Mamdani's).
I mean, we have the Sherman Antitrust Act, the powers of the Federal Trade Commission, the Defense Production Act. If Democrats sweep the presidency, House and Senate, they can JUST DO these things with largely existing powers. It's merely political will. We did it twice before. During the Progressive era, and then against during the New Deal. This will the third time in US history that we smashed corporate power, massively raised taxes on the rich, and invested in the working glass, if Dems decide in 2029 to take up the occasion to do it.
One can hope you're right, Mike. The mere fact that tRump (and his minions) continue to frame democratic socialism as the "red menace", as done in the 50s, confuses many voters, makes them afraid of regulation, fuels mistrust in fair play, and the existing powers you mention. The entire attitude of what I call "I got mine ~ WTF is your problem?" has been venerated by too many for the last 40+ years.
In my opinion, these and the fear of their inability to escape their perception of personal poverty and lack of choice in their lives cause them to vote against themselves. The majority of us ARE the "working class" - something that is conveniently forgotten. Makes no real sense to me.
This is a simple one: greedy people like to stick with greedy people so nothing interrupts their greed These rich greedy people do not care if they are seen as greedy villains because the enforcement mechanism which could control their grade do not exist. This means these people do not have to care if their actions harm other people… like Congress and insider trading, accepting large corporate and private donations, expensive gifts etc,
Superb!...Aspen is now a place for decadence and entitlement...Wealth does not foster intelligence and aptitude, it kills it, especially when the wealth is handed down...Legacy wealth leads directly to an idiocracy
It is a convenient response. Label anyone and anything you do not like as the anti-Christ. My generation was raised on that in music lol. It is a major line in every right wing playbook. I am now wondering if having access to billions of dollars makes one mentally ill? It seems to cause all sorts of psychosis.
Chicken-and-egg. Sociopaths are disproportionately overrepresented in the billionaire class… and studies show that increasing affluence correlates to decreasing empathy.
But also: acquiring billions of dollars for yourself —while those around you, [the people of the society which has enabled & fueled your wealth accumulation] starve, suffer, and die from preventable diseases they cannot afford to prevent or treat— all while you shriek about “communism” and the “unfairness” and “tyranny” of those same victims whom you’ve economically & technologically tyrannized, stolen from, and hijacked & wrecked their democracy and their very same Rule of Law which protected you & your egregious wealth accumulation …that antisocial behavioral pattern [and its incapacity for the basic human empathy that makes society possible] requires an in-born level of sociopathy / psychopathology to begin with, as a prerequisite.
You’re absolutely right. They are nothing more than addicts. Addicted to money and the power. Just much more dangerous. What are addicts? Selfish. Their brains are no longer normal. It would take about a year to return to normal if they lost everything.
I learned in a criminology class that more psychopaths major in business than any other major. So that makes sense.
We do have a problem with lack of empathy in much of society. Maybe they are the loudest so we hear and see them more? I know good emphatic people and I know some that are too put it kindly, less than that. Of course none of them are billionaires.
Peter Thiel does not look well, on any level. A sad, sad man.
Working on behalf of evil can do that.
How true! He looks evil!
He has lipodystrophy wasting on his arms, cheeks and head and temporal wasting which happens on certain HIV drugs, which makes me think he may be on therapy for that.
I wondered if that as the case as well.
We allowed our public schools to disintegrate under Christofascists and racists. Our government is founded on the principles of the Enlightenment. Humanism and individualism. The enemies of religion and corporate Capitalism.
Those Liberal Arts and Sciences have been ripped out of our education system. Instead of educating citizens, we train worker bees.
Ignorance is destroying America.
It’s an ongoing struggle that can be won. The attack on education and basic rights is a key part of the next phase of Trump 2.0. They, like Theil have no argument, so let’s continue to point that out!
Yes, let's point that out. Since the beginning of Trumpy’s grasp of what he could get out of the American public, his mind-numbing speeches have included derogatory comments about education and his supposed love for those who are uneducated, only because he can con these people into following his ideas and thoughts. He admits to these comments; Trumpy was recorded admitting to loving his uneducated (aka stupid) followers. Continuing to admire someone like him is proof of conning people with your words. Repetition three times in a speech, wherever he spoke, was how he roped in his followers. We’ve got to be better. Educate yourself. Not all learning comes from written words—observation, learning from others' mistakes as well as your own.
I did not know the history of Aspen, so the original infusion of the humanities at its core and then the dismissal of said core is not surprising. We have witnessed the degradation, dismissal and dumbing down of the humanities throughout our education system over the past decades. That billionaires would denounce it by shunning it, is a product of our times.
Great piece, Mike.
Thiel chooses not to understand the Palantir. Yes, Aragorn was able to resist Sauron’s gaze through it. But he could not have defeated the ultimate evil, and he knew it. Only the lowliest of hobbits — Sam — could do so in the end.
Thiel thinks he is Aragorn. But he is only Sharkey.
So true!
And he resembles Gollum!😝
Wow Mike. This is one of the most powerful and succinct pieces you have ever written. Thank you for remaining so dedicated and diligent. The world needs you. 👏
Scary assessment of the powerful correlation of forces lining up behind closed doors in warm, wood-paneled rooms. I wonder whether the great potential energy of the DSA ++ in the streets will be in a position to take them on and face them down. NPCs of the world unite!
The laughter was because the line was ludicrous. The audience was saying Thiel is an ass.
Incumbents are losing because Thiel’s man is President and must be opposed far more energetically than heretofore
Well revealed and said, Mike. You called out the Aspen conference for how it has allowed itself to degrade to a very low Peter Thiel common denominator. I remeber it differently from the 60s and 70s. Thanks for this article!
Photos of this guy should come with a trigger warning. It’s interesting to keep learning how he is as ugly on inside as his face clearly illustrates. And Yarvin has been described as a walking oil spill
I've been in a number of conversations lately with good people who say that the current trend towards ecological and social destruction under "neo-liberal, late-stage capitalism" shows that "capitalism" in any form is no longer tenable. My side of these discussions is that some form of capitalism can still be viable, and even essential to rectifying current crises. I suspect that those saying "democratic socialism" are largely preferring some such highly-reformed capitalism, with the "capitalism" brand so tarnished they're preferring just about any other name for it, despite that they'd favor the fascistic forms of "socialism" as little as they do the fascistic "capitalism" beloved of our oligarchs.
As something of a political philosopher, I don't really share the notion that "capitalism" is a distinct ideological category. I prefer it as a description of political economy.
I don't think liberal democratic capitalism and democratic socialism are even articulately different descriptions of a polical economic theory.
If you are allowed to own a business, and re-invest the profits (after tax) into the business to grow the business (generate increased capital) — that's capitalism. Even if you have universal income, free healthcare, universal housing, etc.
That's a world democratic socialists want. And that world exists within the definitional boundaries of democratic capitalism and democratic liberalism.
A lot of why people reject this convergence across the ideological traditions is tribal and aesthetic.
A true socialist political economy would not allow the private ownership of capital. Decisions to open new businesses, improve them, etc. would be subject to some other form of community control. All experiments with this model have failed in the past century, and I don't think we're ever going back to that.
An individual owning a small business is one place to start the analysis. Yet the larger problem is how to handle capital formation and investment at scale -- the sort of scale necessary to build out new ventures. Once you have joint-stock companies such as the Dutch or British East India Companies operating, different questions arise than in an economy purely of farmers and crafts people. And once you have Ayn Rand disciples like Alan Greenspan successfully promoting the neo-liberal misreading of Adam Smith to encourage utter corporate devotion to the bottom line, monsters like Thiel and Musk are inevitable -- unless seriously constrained by government and society ("socialism," in their book, and in Mamdani's).
I mean, we have the Sherman Antitrust Act, the powers of the Federal Trade Commission, the Defense Production Act. If Democrats sweep the presidency, House and Senate, they can JUST DO these things with largely existing powers. It's merely political will. We did it twice before. During the Progressive era, and then against during the New Deal. This will the third time in US history that we smashed corporate power, massively raised taxes on the rich, and invested in the working glass, if Dems decide in 2029 to take up the occasion to do it.
One can hope you're right, Mike. The mere fact that tRump (and his minions) continue to frame democratic socialism as the "red menace", as done in the 50s, confuses many voters, makes them afraid of regulation, fuels mistrust in fair play, and the existing powers you mention. The entire attitude of what I call "I got mine ~ WTF is your problem?" has been venerated by too many for the last 40+ years.
In my opinion, these and the fear of their inability to escape their perception of personal poverty and lack of choice in their lives cause them to vote against themselves. The majority of us ARE the "working class" - something that is conveniently forgotten. Makes no real sense to me.
Capitalism is an idea that could be tried, after contemporary kleptocracy
Yes Mike! Yes I’m listening and doing what I can to preserve our liberal democratic experiment. 🙏🏻
Excellent. Thank you for unpacking this.
This is a simple one: greedy people like to stick with greedy people so nothing interrupts their greed These rich greedy people do not care if they are seen as greedy villains because the enforcement mechanism which could control their grade do not exist. This means these people do not have to care if their actions harm other people… like Congress and insider trading, accepting large corporate and private donations, expensive gifts etc,
Superb!...Aspen is now a place for decadence and entitlement...Wealth does not foster intelligence and aptitude, it kills it, especially when the wealth is handed down...Legacy wealth leads directly to an idiocracy
How can they all be the smartest man in the room? Yes they are stupid. And afraid.