Summary

Elon Musk, having endorsed and campaigned for Donald Trump, is now acting as a “shadow president,” advising on policies and personnel, and joining Trump on calls with world leaders.

This unprecedented relationship between the world’s richest man and the leader of the free world raises concerns about the influence of wealth on government.

While both Trump and Musk have incentives to continue their partnership, their volatile personalities and differing expertise may lead to a breakup in the future.

    • Krono@lemmy.today
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      4 hours ago

      2016?! My brother in christ, the corporate takeover of American government was finalized with Reagan back in the 80s.

      We may be entering a new phase of Fucking Around with fascism, but most of these modern problems are just us Finding Out how a corporatocracy functions.

      • ziggurat@lemmy.world
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        3 hours ago

        I have to age my self and say that I am a year younger than the end of the Regan precidency…

        But I can distinctly remember people in the 90s gushing over wanting to have green cards, and getting hand made dolls and dresses from America.

        And if I reflect on recent history, Nixon probably did more than Regan did to turn the helm of the ship strictly towards all the icebergs

        I really like your comment, but I think Trump did what the other bafoons couldn’t. Get normal people not interested in politics to understand this point. And thus both our comments have merit

  • Dry_Monk@lemmy.world
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    5 hours ago

    This unprecedented relationship between the world’s richest man and the leader of the free world raises concerns about the influence of wealth on government.

    Raises?! Where have y’all been?

    • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
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      6 hours ago

      Musk hasn’t made a reality show yet, and Trump hasn’t become rich, despite multiple attempts. Maybe that’s the expertise they’re talking about?

  • enbyecho@lemmy.world
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    6 hours ago

    The constant talk of Musk’s power in the new administration must irritate the fuck out of Trump. How terrible.

  • Kecessa@sh.itjust.works
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    9 hours ago

    “leader of the free world”

    Coming from someone outside the USA: lulz, you guys don’t know shit about freedom

  • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
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    9 hours ago

    This unprecedented relationship between the world’s richest man and the leader of the free world raises concerns about the influence of wealth on government.

    The only change is that Liberals are apparently becoming aware of the power dynamic that has always existed — that democracy cannot exist with massive wealthy inequality and money equal to speech. I’m also positive that if Trump/MAGA fails to implement fascism (this time around), Liberals will believe the current system works, and completely ignore the reality that their system was almost destroyed by a small number of wealthy sociopaths.

    • Bakkoda@sh.itjust.works
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      9 hours ago

      Yeah it’s a bullshit take. There’s always been a bunch of money up every presidents ass. It’s just public. Very very public now.

      • WhatAmLemmy@lemmy.world
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        8 hours ago

        You’d think they’d get the memo after several decades of “corporations get most of what they want, without objection” while “the people can’t even get basic healthcare or a minimum wage comparable to poorer countries”, yet here we are… Fascism is knocking down the door, financed by the wealthiest capitalism can muster, and they still have their heads firmly planted in the dirt, blaming the left for not voting, without evidence … when the millions of people who didn’t vote may very well be just as oblivious as Trump voters, don’t know how the government works, don’t know the danger they’re in, and don’t pay enough attention to care 99% of the time.

      • FlowVoid@lemmy.world
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        6 hours ago

        For one thing, the Netherlands has nearly the lowest wealth inequality in the world, yet it is a democracy.

        • Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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          5 hours ago

          I think you misunderstood.

          democracy cannot exist with massive wealthy inequality and money equal to speech

          Is supposed to be the affirmative statement afaict.

          The Netherlands having low wealth inequality and not equating money with speech (or giving corporations all the rights of people but none of the responsibilities and restrictions) makes it much MORE democratic than it would otherwise be.