First, those of us still living on Earth One need to refer to the attack on Mr. Pelosi for what it was: an assassination attempt on the Speaker of the House which ended up putting her husband in the hospital. We need to reject the right-wing framing of 'an attack on Paul Pelosi.' He was not the intended target. The Speaker was. And …
First, those of us still living on Earth One need to refer to the attack on Mr. Pelosi for what it was: an assassination attempt on the Speaker of the House which ended up putting her husband in the hospital. We need to reject the right-wing framing of 'an attack on Paul Pelosi.' He was not the intended target. The Speaker was. And the deranged individual who carried it out was fueled by hate and conspiracy theories promoted by right-wing media and its enablers in the elected class.
Second, off hand I can't name one tech billionaire who's made life better for anyone once he steps outside his lane. Not one. Anyone who thought an overgrown 8-year-old like Elon Musk would do anything except make Twitter more of a cesspool than it already is probably believed that Donald Trump would rise to the dignity and seriousness of the office he held.
The best we can hope is that Musk being Musk causes an exodus of advertisers, loses every penny of Musk's investment and sends Twitter into the outer darkness from whence it came.
"Anyone who thought an overgrown 8-year-old like Elon Musk would do anything except make Twitter more of a cesspool than it already is probably believed that Donald Trump would rise to the dignity and seriousness of the office he held."
Absolutely. I regret I can only give this one Like. He failed the test hardly within 24 hours of his takeover.
Completely agree with your first point on the attack.
Regarding the second, I must say that Steve Ballmer has used his financial resources to create good things such as USA Facts and his support for Michigan, his home state. Also, McKenzie Scott is putting the Amazon money in good use.
Yes! I believe you're right! What's weird is the good billionaires are so low profile compared to assholes like tRump and Musk... and they get swept up into the same trash bin in the public's minds.
Billionaires are, after all, just humans. Some are good some are garbage. And the garbage is very stinky, loud and irritating!
Being rich doesn't make a person "bad"... but when bad people become uber-rich, they do a LOT of damage, and good people die... or at least have assassination attempts, or won't wear masks, or are anti-facters! (worse than anti-vaxxers)
I must say there are some very bad billionaires that are also low profiled, including the Uihleins, where we consume a ton of packaging products without knowing how scary they are, or the Mercers (of Cambridge Analytica fame) but somehow still are under the radar.
All true, but keeping in mind that money is power and that power corrupts....
I'm always going to bet on the billionaires being shittier on average in deeds than the average person. Especially the ones who either make or inherit the wealth. Credit for 'making' it, but that kind of success is an addicting and corrupting drug. For the inheritors, all the rationalizations that feed into them not being only the winners of a cosmic birth lottery lead to all kinds of shitty thinking.
Agree on calling it an assassination attempt. We should use this framing in the same way we call January 6 a coup attempt or insurrection.
Regarding tech billionaires, there is actually one who has made life better for millions after stepping out of his original domain - Bill Gates. But he is the lone exception.
Tech billionaires always seem to be called "genius" and "visionary" but are usually just grabbing beyond their reach... what is that quote about being out over one's skis? Their rise and fall almost seem to be a well worn tragedy of ego.
People forget that Bill Gates had to be shamed into becoming a philanthropist. There was news stories about how he gave so little to charity. That's when Gates decided to be more generous with his money.
Actually, what motivated him was his awesome wife Melinda. She's an amazing human. Along with Bezos' ex-wife. Both these women are billionaires now in their own right (thanks to divorce settlements), and both women are profoundly wise and generous.
No, Melinda was on Team Bill Gates when the shaming began because of a lack of philanthropy. She might have encouraged him post-shaming, but the shaming came first.
First, those of us still living on Earth One need to refer to the attack on Mr. Pelosi for what it was: an assassination attempt on the Speaker of the House which ended up putting her husband in the hospital. We need to reject the right-wing framing of 'an attack on Paul Pelosi.' He was not the intended target. The Speaker was. And the deranged individual who carried it out was fueled by hate and conspiracy theories promoted by right-wing media and its enablers in the elected class.
Second, off hand I can't name one tech billionaire who's made life better for anyone once he steps outside his lane. Not one. Anyone who thought an overgrown 8-year-old like Elon Musk would do anything except make Twitter more of a cesspool than it already is probably believed that Donald Trump would rise to the dignity and seriousness of the office he held.
The best we can hope is that Musk being Musk causes an exodus of advertisers, loses every penny of Musk's investment and sends Twitter into the outer darkness from whence it came.
"Anyone who thought an overgrown 8-year-old like Elon Musk would do anything except make Twitter more of a cesspool than it already is probably believed that Donald Trump would rise to the dignity and seriousness of the office he held."
Absolutely. I regret I can only give this one Like. He failed the test hardly within 24 hours of his takeover.
Thanks, cheerio! I agree that he failed the test right out of the gate.
Amen!
Completely agree with your first point on the attack.
Regarding the second, I must say that Steve Ballmer has used his financial resources to create good things such as USA Facts and his support for Michigan, his home state. Also, McKenzie Scott is putting the Amazon money in good use.
Yes! I believe you're right! What's weird is the good billionaires are so low profile compared to assholes like tRump and Musk... and they get swept up into the same trash bin in the public's minds.
Billionaires are, after all, just humans. Some are good some are garbage. And the garbage is very stinky, loud and irritating!
Being rich doesn't make a person "bad"... but when bad people become uber-rich, they do a LOT of damage, and good people die... or at least have assassination attempts, or won't wear masks, or are anti-facters! (worse than anti-vaxxers)
The cream and the scum both rise to the top.
I must say there are some very bad billionaires that are also low profiled, including the Uihleins, where we consume a ton of packaging products without knowing how scary they are, or the Mercers (of Cambridge Analytica fame) but somehow still are under the radar.
Yes of course, both good and bad billionaires do that.
Some even hire PR agencies to keep their name and photos out of the media.
They simply eschew fame. More as a personality trait rather than strategy.
Which is understandable.
I wish tRump/musk would stfu forever.
All true, but keeping in mind that money is power and that power corrupts....
I'm always going to bet on the billionaires being shittier on average in deeds than the average person. Especially the ones who either make or inherit the wealth. Credit for 'making' it, but that kind of success is an addicting and corrupting drug. For the inheritors, all the rationalizations that feed into them not being only the winners of a cosmic birth lottery lead to all kinds of shitty thinking.
Thanks! That's some uplifting news.
Agree on calling it an assassination attempt. We should use this framing in the same way we call January 6 a coup attempt or insurrection.
Regarding tech billionaires, there is actually one who has made life better for millions after stepping out of his original domain - Bill Gates. But he is the lone exception.
Thanks for the edit, Charles. You're right about Gates. Sadly, I think he's the exception that proves the rule.
Buffet's not a tech billionaire. More of a proto-hedge fund manager.
In a conversation explicitly about tech billionaires, that someone is not a tech billionaire would seem to be germane.
agreed.
Tech billionaires always seem to be called "genius" and "visionary" but are usually just grabbing beyond their reach... what is that quote about being out over one's skis? Their rise and fall almost seem to be a well worn tragedy of ego.
Hasn't Buffet donated very heavily to the Gates foundation?
Yes... very heavily... Buffet's okay.
People forget that Bill Gates had to be shamed into becoming a philanthropist. There was news stories about how he gave so little to charity. That's when Gates decided to be more generous with his money.
So? I don't particularly care why people do things, so long as they get done.
Actually, what motivated him was his awesome wife Melinda. She's an amazing human. Along with Bezos' ex-wife. Both these women are billionaires now in their own right (thanks to divorce settlements), and both women are profoundly wise and generous.
No, Melinda was on Team Bill Gates when the shaming began because of a lack of philanthropy. She might have encouraged him post-shaming, but the shaming came first.
His father (who has always been a good and honorable man) also played a role.
Well, that's true.
So, naturally, he too is demonized by the RW conspiracy enthusiasts.
They need it, since thats how much they handed to Jared the Traitor.