Our perverse respect for immense wealth allows Musk and Zuckerberg to run riot | John Naughton
The megalomaniacs who control X and Facebook are only able to pollute the public sphere and undermine democracy because of our deference to money
There are two kinds of aphrodisiac. The first is power. A good example was provided by the late Henry Kissinger, who could hardly be described as toothsome yet was doted upon by a host of glamorous women.
The other powerful aphrodisiac is immense wealth. This has all kinds of effects. It makes people (even journalists who should know better) deferential, presumably because they subscribe to the delusion that if someone is rich then they must be clever. But its effects on the rich person are more profound: it cuts them off from reality. When they travel, writes Jack Self in an absorbing essay: “The car takes them to the aerodrome, where the plane takes them to another aerodrome, where a car takes them to the destination (with perhaps a helicopter inserted somewhere). Every journey is bookended by identical Mercedes Vito Tourers (gloss black, tinted windows). Every flight is within the cosy confines of a Cessna Citation (or a King Air or Embraer)… The ultra-rich never wait in line at a carousel or a customs table or a passport control. There are no accidental encounters. No unwelcome, unapproved or unsanitary humans enter their sight – no souls that could espouse a foreign view. The ultra-rich do not see anything they do not want to see.”
Continue reading...Topics
-
World - The Guardian
As Silicon Valley eyes US election, beware Elon Musk and the tech bros with political nous | John Naughton
6 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Michael Keaton: Trump, Musk don't respect supporters
2 days ago -
World - The Guardian
The podcast Kill List doesn’t reflect badly on the internet – it reflects badly on us | John Naughton
October 19 -
Top stories - NBC News
Meta bans jet-tracking accounts that post updates on Trump, Musk and Zuckerberg
4 days ago -
Politics - The Hill
Jet-tracker who watched Zuckerberg, Trump, Musk says Meta has banned his accounts
4 days ago -
Business - Financial Times
Musk gives $75mn boost to Trump’s presidential run
October 16 -
Business - MarketWatch
Elon Musk’s wealth sees record two-day swell as Tesla’s stock surges
15 hours ago -
Business - CNBC
These 5 portfolio stocks outperformed the market's incredible run since our September Monthly Meeting
October 16 -
Politics - The Hill
Bacon urges 'respect' for election
6 days ago
More from The Guardian
-
World - The Guardian
Joe Biden says he hopes latest Israeli strike on Iran will end escalation
7 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Iran-Israel’s shadow war is out in the open and will only escalate unless causes addressed
9 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Iran mocks Israel’s ‘weak’ attacks as hardliners call for reprisal
12 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Georgia’s ruling party leading in pivotal election ahead of pro-EU opposition
9 hours ago -
World - The Guardian
Japan’s new PM in precarious position as country votes in tight election
4 hours ago
Latest in World
-
World - ABC News
Japan's ruling party braces for a blow to its comfortable majority in the lower house in elections
4 minutes ago -
World - The New York Times
Israel’s Retaliatory Attack on Iran Appears Carefully Calibrated
18 minutes ago -
World - ABC News
Middle East latest: Trump, Harris address Israeli airstrikes on Iran amid US presidential campaigns
59 minutes ago -
World - ABC News
Israel's first open attack on Iran targets missile sites and apparently spares oil and nuclear ones
59 minutes ago -
World - The New York Times
Republic of Georgia’s Ruling Party Claims Election Victory
1 hour ago