• plyth@feddit.org
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    2 days ago

    Why would US billionaires hand over control of their country to Russia? They can’t be that incompetent and elections are not free enough that it could happen against their will.

    It’s not coincidence, but I doubt the Russian influence.

    • floofloof@lemmy.ca
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      1 day ago

      They can’t be that incompetent

      Have you seen these billionaires? They absolutely can. The myth of their competence is pure propaganda.

      Also, they like corruption because it offers many opportunities for those with enough money to pay. And they like oppression of workers because it provides a ready pool of cheap labour to exploit.

      They’ll be looking at Russia and liking what they see, because they don’t see themselves being the ones working for pennies and being sent to die in Ukraine. And they all think they’re the smartest guy in the world (“why else would I have so much money?”) so they don’t see themselves being fucked over by Putin either. For them Russia is the promise of doing whatever you want, taking advantage of whomever you want, and getting whatever you want.

      • plyth@feddit.org
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        1 day ago

        Have you seen these billionaires

        Only videos, but they don’t seem to be stupid.

        They’ll be looking at Russia and liking what they see

        Even if they do, why hand over the country? They control the US.

        For them Russia is the promise of doing whatever you want, taking advantage of whomever you want, and getting whatever you want.

        What can’t be done in the US?

        • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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          20 hours ago

          Only videos, but they don’t seem to be stupid.

          Elon Musk and Donald Trump have proven that intelligence, competence, and charisma are not important factors in someone becoming obscenely wealthy.

            • CileTheSane@lemmy.ca
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              14 hours ago

              Yes, most billionaires keep quiet. Doesn’t change the fact that just because they are billionaires that doesn’t mean they can’t also be complete idiots.

              • plyth@feddit.org
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                13 hours ago

                Some are, but without hard evidence I don’t believe that they knowingly have let a Russian asset come to power who hands over the US to Russia.

                Other things are happening and Trump’s Russia connections are a distraction.

    • -RJ-@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Because a) he’s a Russian asset (apparently) and b) they have incriminating evidence on him and probably a bunch of other billionaires. Also, if they could spend a few billion in return for control of pretty much they would, they’d be willing to pay for it.

      • plyth@feddit.org
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        2 days ago

        a) he’s a Russian asset (apparently

        Apparently. It must be part of Flooding the Zone. Everybody has an explanation that is useless because it hides the real motives. Why would the elite accept a known Russian asset? It’s a rumor since the 80ies.

        incriminating evidence

        Against all billionaires? As in the KGB could have won if they would have had it 10 years earlier? The US billionaires own the media. What could happen if something comes out?

        if they could spend a few billion in return for control of pretty much they would, they’d be willing to pay for it.

        True, but how could they outspend US billionaires?

        • Brave Little Hitachi Wand@feddit.uk
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          2 days ago

          You might have sense on your side, but it can be very difficult for a reasonable person to make sense of the influence Putin seems to have on Trump. The man is clinically disloyal, but he takes Russia’s side more often than not.

          There could be compromat, but that alone would strongly arouse his ego defense mechanisms. The whole thing might be entirely predicated on flattery. It’s the most disappointing possibility, and we discount it at our peril.

          • plyth@feddit.org
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            2 days ago

            it can be very difficult for a reasonable person to make sense of the influence Putin seems to have on Trump.

            That’s the point. Flooding the Zone, to paralyze the voters. The political fabric is remade but people only watch and don’t know who is responsible or whom to support to regain influence. Putin is out of reach unless people are ready for WW3. So all thoughts end there.

              • plyth@feddit.org
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                1 day ago

                War is inevitable unless the US step down voluntarily. China is outpacing western innovation. If the US wants to remain the hegemon they have to break China soon.

                Russia is a piece in that puzzle, nothing more.