The predictive power of speculative fiction.
Category: propaganda
What Is This, Russia?
The recent events surrounding the continuing resolution have brought to the forefront the alarming influence of Elon Musk and other plutocrats on the US political landscape. Their actions, particularly in the context of the current spending bill, have raised serious concerns about their commitment to democratic values and made clear their kleptocratic intentions.
As reported by Newsweek, Elon Musk’s opposition to the spending bill, which was followed by Trump’s similar stance, has led to a potential government shutdown. This move has been seen as a power play by both individuals, with Musk being hailed as the “President” by some Democrats in a tongue-in-cheek manner. However, this labeling is not entirely unfounded, given Musk’s significant influence on Trump’s policy decisions.
The New Republic notes that Trump is now rushing to remind the media that he is the captain of the GOP, not Elon Musk. However, this attempt to reassert his authority only highlights the blurred lines between the two individuals’ interests. Musk’s involvement in the spending bill debacle has been seen as a manifestation of his own self-interest, rather than a genuine concern for the welfare of the American people.
Furthermore, the fact that Musk has been tapped by Trump to head the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an extra-governmental body with no legal authority, raises serious questions about the potential for corruption and cronyism. As reported by Wikipedia, Musk’s appointment to this position was a reward for his loyalty to Trump, and the millions in campaign contributions that came with it, rather than any sort of merit-based selection.
The behavior of both Musk and Trump is reminiscent of post-Cold War kleptocratic regimes, where Putin and others used their political influence to accumulate wealth and consolidate their grip on power after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In this case, Musk’s vast wealth and cult of personality have given him an disproportionate amount of sway over Trump’s policy decisions, which in turn have significant implications for the country.
The Independent reports that Musk’s meddling in the spending bill has led to a pre-Christmas chaos for lawmakers, with a government shutdown looming. This is a stark example of the danger of ceding power to these two individuals, who routinely pursue their own without regard for the consequences of their actions.
While hardly a new phenomena, the recent events surrounding the continuing resolution have highlighted the deeply rooted kleptocracy embedded in the US political system. The influence of moneyed interests such as Musk, like the Rockefellers, Koch brothers, and countless others before him, over Congress and the Presidency, and thus over the country’s policy decisions, is a cause for concern. As the country moves forward into this uncharted territory of blatant kleptocracy, what will be done to ensure that the democratic values of transparency, accountability, and representation are upheld, and that the interests of the American people are prioritized over the self-interest of these powerful individuals?
5 Citations
Elon Musk Called ‘President’ as Trump Follows in His Footsteps on CR Bill – Newsweek
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-elon-musk-spending-bill-cuts-pass-difficult-2003330
Views of Elon Musk – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Views_of_Elon_Musk
Trump Sure Seems Pissed at Elon Musk Over the Spending Bill | The New Republic
https://newrepublic.com/post/189580/trump-reaction-pissed-elon-musk-spending-bill
President Musk: Dems Troll Trump by Saying Elon Is in Charge
https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/president-musk-dems-troll-trump-elon-1235211922/
Elon Musk slams Justin Trudeau after prime minister calls Trump’s victory a setback for women’s progress | Daily Mail Online
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14184093/elon-musk-justin-trudeau-prime-minister-donald-trump.html
US Elections are Functions of Money
Leaders of neither political party want to regulate political money or their own stock transactions in any serious fashion.
Thomas Ferguson, Director of Research at the Institute for New Economic Thinking
For realignment to occur, you need a government that really wants to restructure the system, solidify new configurations, and bring forward more radical demands.
Insouciance
insouciance – the state of not being worried about anything
Anthem of the Winners
“πππππππππ, ππ π’ππ ππππ π πππ πππ πππππππ, π’ππ πππ ππ ππ π ππππππ.” ~ πππππ πΌπππππππππ
Rebel Against This Future
Power
Indigenous Peoples’ Day
The Anarchist Charter
The fact is we must accept our anarchist state. There can, and should, be associations, individuals banded together in common cause, but anarchy is the default, so this is where we must begin. Not βyou are a citizen of this country or thatβ or βyou belong to this political system or thatβ, no. Our starting point is, you are a human being, and you are accountable to yourself.
Certainly, there is the family into which you are born, your tribe, your community. These hold and shape you until you achieve your majority. But they should not make any claim to your sovereignty. βPledge allegiance to the flag.β Such demands are atrocities.
No individual or association can make a sovereign claim to the Earth or portion thereof. Any such claim is unsubstantiated, bordering on, not other nations, but the ridiculous. The oceans of air and water that encircle the globe affirm this truth. The inhalation of Asia is taken in conjunction with the exhalation of America. We are all inhabitants of the same world. The full extent of the Earth is held in common trust, for the good of all.
All nations, then, from this point forward, are rendered null and void. They remain, as voluntary associations, for as long as their constituents deem appropriate, but they hold no sway over the emigration and immigration of peoples. Any person or group of persons retains the right to reside wherever they may desire, so long as there exists in that place the means to do so.
Abolished and rescinded is the privilege of any individual or association, national or corporate, to the private ownership and control of the natural resources of the Earth. Those who make use of these Commons must recompense their fellows for any said use. This holds as much for their instauration as their extraction. Payment for such use of the Commons will be entered into a global trust, and a share of these proceeds paid to every member of society on a regular basis.
All land will be relegated to its highest and best use, as indicated by the best available science. Soil, its conservation and regeneration, and the agricultural use thereof, will be the primary determinant in further land use decisions. Organic production, carbon sequestration, and the quality of air and water claim paramountcy, with all other concerns subservient to these considerations.
Of our current associations β social, politic, and economic β their sights must be set on realizing this state, and their agenda likewise. They shall not, for now, be disbanded, for over time self-determination will properly establish their reconstitution. They are, in fact, necessary to our cause, else they would not exist, a prerequisite of continued evolution. However, to them applies the above directive, and nothing less will be accepted.
The lives of the people are theirs, and their right to live freely shall not be impeded, in so far as the exercise of that right does not impinge upon the rights of others to do the same.
Let us set forth, clearly, the basic principles that guide us. That all are created equal, with equal right to assume responsibility for their own lives, to exercise that right to achieve their highest possibility, and, in doing so, contribute to the greater social welfare. That all have equal stake in the use of the Commons, which is the whole of the Earth, for their provision and subsistence. That our use of the Earth and the natural resources that comprise it be guided by their own organic articulation, which may be understood through observation, measurement, and deliberate reflection. That we minimize entropy while promoting diversity and regeneration in all our ways and practices. That we find joy and meaning while realizing our purpose as the stewards of life on Earth.
Let no individual or institution come between us and this intention.
We’re Living in a Dictatorship
You Have NO Choice
Join the Rebellion.
Anarchy now.