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Tuesday, May 24th, 2022

America’s billionaire class is funding anti-democratic forces

Author:     Robert Reich
Source:     The Guardian (U.K.)
Publication Date:     Mon 23 May 2022 06.16 EDT
 Link: America’s billionaire class is funding anti-democratic forces
Stephan:   America's obscene wealth inequality is allowing a handful of billionaire fascists, who don't want to be taxed or restricted in what they want to do, to fund the christofascist cult that was once the Republican Party. These are the men, almost all middle-aged or older White men, who are paying their Congressional whores to dismantle America's democratic republic and create an anocracy. They rely on the fact that most Americans are too stupid or simply not interested enough to defend the system that allowed them to accumulate their wealth.
Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech financier who is among those leading the charge, once wrote, “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”’ Credit: Rebecca Blackwell/AP

Decades ago, America’s monied interests bankrolled a Republican establishment that believed in fiscal conservatism, anti-communism and constitutional democracy.

Today’s billionaire class is pushing a radically anti-democratic agenda for America – backing Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was stolen, calling for restrictions on voting and even questioning the value of democracy.

Peter Thiel, the billionaire tech financier who is among those leading the charge, once wrote, “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”

Thiel is using his fortune to squelch democracy. He donated $15m to the successful Republican Ohio senatorial primary campaign of JD Vance, who alleges that the 2020 election was stolen and that Biden’s immigration policy has meant “more Democrat voters pouring into this country.”

Thiel has donated at least $10m to the Arizona Republican primary race of Blake Masters, who also claims Trump won the 2020 election and admires Lee Kuan Yew, the authoritarian founder of modern Singapore.

The […]

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