@aldente @godpod the power is the most worrisome, although I can theorize about a benevolent dictatorship, I have yet to see an example of one in all of history. The lack of transparency and accountability is definitely a major concern of mine. Although I can imagine, and have seen examples of state secrets that should remain secret.

@JonKramer @godpod I am slightly confused and curious about the ideology behind your statements.

1. Reduced power of the state points towards anarchist or libertarian ideas.
2. Trust in billionaires sounds like AnCap.
3. Distrust in "benevolent dictatorship" contradicts Ancapistan.

Which is it? How would you label these ideas?

@aldente @godpod , I don't label them. I think most labels are constricting, and often used to cast shade. I further feel that all forms of government and social interaction have their time and place, and are the most effective or fair in those times and places. Although that requires the idea that the only goal is species survival over all else.

@aldente @godpod furthermore, I don't trust billionaires any more than I trust any random person. I just don't trust them LESS. I do not trust a government with billions of dollars more than an individual. I feel it is blatantly obvious why I don't. It is not blatantly obvious why others don't see this. But, as some have pointed out, it could be an American thing. We seem to love spending billions bombing brown people around the world. I do trust Soros, for example, far more with billions.

@aldente @godpod , I just remembered, in the past I would use a label for myself: "Libertarian-communist". I hope that helps. :)

@gzuckier @aldente @godpod you asking me?

It isn't. That was the point of my original question.

@gzuckier @aldente @godpod No. I mean because those billions don't spontaneously generate, and require income to maintain. If you want to see what happens to 44 billion bucks when the public turns against a billionaire, go check out Twitter.

@JonKramer @gzuckier @aldente @godpod most billionaires don’t make their money selling goods we use. Most of them make their money off investments, much of which do nothing to support the economy. In fact, most of them make *more* money when the economy tanks. And refusing to tax them allows them to maintain this while we suffer. Most jobs are created by middle-class entrepreneurs, but our economy has gotten to the point where people can’t afford entrepreneurship.

@cadenza @JonKramer @gzuckier @aldente @godpod as one of the "middle class entrepreneurs" I have yet to be able to expand my business. It seems every time I think I am secure enough to hire additional people (since late 2019), something else happens to destabilize the situation. And I don't want to expand by taking on debt I can't forecast paying back.

@cadenza @gzuckier @aldente @godpod what do you think investments are or do?

@JonKramer @gzuckier @aldente @godpod investments used to support job activities but no longer now that we are in the era of casino capitalism. Hedge funds make their money off derivatives and other financial instruments that do nothing to actually support the market, but take a lot of money out of the economy when it tanks. (Just like crypto!) Most of the money billionaires make is put in offshore accounts never to be seen by the economy again.

@JonKramer @gzuckier @aldente @godpod most investments now bear little resemblance to reality and certainly do not provide a way for cash-strapped corporations to raise funds. It was, at one time, but no longer.