• RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Oh? What about internet controlled by a billionaire who makes sure his toxic website featuring his version of “free speech” is always available to protect his profits and spread his bullshit while undermining the policies of a sovereign state?

    So much better than the evil government.

    • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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      2 months ago

      That’s better than a dictator who only wants to protect his own power. At least a billionaire can be bought.

      • InFerNo@lemmy.ml
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        2 months ago

        A billionaire can’t be bought, they got billions. It’s the dictator that can be bought.

        • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          A billionaire chases what gets them the most money. The public can manipulate them by making them lose money. A dictator wants power, which really can only be countered with mass violence.

          • WoahWoah@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Musk has lost a tremendous amount of money between X and his negative effect on Tesla sales. Do you feel this has “manipulated” him into being a better person? 🤣

      • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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        2 months ago

        Is Musk doing anything to help people living in dictatorships access information? Or is this just happening in Brazil?

        • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          I think there is a difference in mentality between people who chase power and people who chase money. Bull Gates certainly chases money, but he’s not trying to take over a country somewhere.

            • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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              2 months ago

              Are you saying he is trying to take over the country by buying all the land? Seems like he’s just using land as an investment.

              • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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                2 months ago

                I’m saying that buying insane amounts of agricultural land gives him and his family a permanent rent-seeking position over a basic necessity, so yeah, he is taking over a part of the world.

                  • Todd Bonzalez@lemm.ee
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                    2 months ago

                    It’s not my problem you don’t understand the concept of the “ruling class”.

                    Owning vast capital (and land is capital) does give a degree of undemocratic power over government policy.

                    But go ahead and keep letting billionaires buy up everything until we live in a feudalist society. I’m sure nothing will go wrong.

      • irreticent@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Good question. He definitely seems like the type that would have a dungeon with captives.

      • gnomadic@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        He got his wealth because his parents owned a slave-powered diamond mine.

        Also, as he hides his money and doesn’t pay taxes the US government is overburdened and one of their tools is relying on prisons for free labor.

        Soooo actually quite a lot.

      • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        Let everyone incarcerated go and see how that works out for you. Not saying everyone deserves to be in there, but go on. Give it a try.

        You also forget that billionaires are wealth, and so is any dictator. They both seek to protect that wealth, so it doesn’t matter in the end. A billionaire buys his politicians and you get the same result. You start threatening their money and power and they’ll come after you, whether you want equal rights or sometimes just clean water.