r/technology • u/Logical_Welder3467 • 18d ago

Society Google cofounder Sergey Brin has spent $102 million to fight California’s proposed billionaire tax—he could owe $13 billion if he loses

https://fortune.com/article/how-much-has-google-cofounder-sergey-brin-spent-to-oppose-california-billionaire-tax-102-million-owe-13-billion-if-loses/
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u/yomamaisasnowblower 17d ago

How is that even a thing? Stop and think about that. Paying lobbyists, buying ads to sway public opinion, “donating” to corrupt politicians. Is this democracy? Is this how government serves the people or just the wealthy?

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u/SuggestionPrize304 17d ago

It's basically been an oligarchy for a while now. We just don't call it that because we're "different".

Seems like every road ends at the same place

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u/Dave5876 16d ago

The difference between an American billionaire and a Russian oligarch

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u/SoochSooch 17d ago

This is the result of allowing those trends to grow over time instead of stomping them out. Everyone saw it coming, but the ones making the decisions decided their personal wealth is more important than society

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u/Significant_War720 17d ago

Read about downfall of rome. Its a tales old as time.

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u/Catymandoo 17d ago

In many ways the servant (Gov) has become the master. It is us who now serve.

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u/MurhOSRS 17d ago

It's democracy with microtransactions, but only micro to them.

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u/SL1200mkII 17d ago

We can all thank the right wing Supreme Court for this. Citizens United decision.

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u/FeijoadaAceitavel 17d ago

Communists call this the bourgeois democracy. Sure you vote, but the system belongs to the bourgeoisie.

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u/fx2600 15d ago

It’s a voter referendum so I imagine more ads than contributions to politicians. I’m sure you could look it up.

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u/yomamaisasnowblower 15d ago

Look up rhetorical questions

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u/fx2600 15d ago

Rhetorical doesn’t mean off-topic. 

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u/LandRecent9365 15d ago

It's capitalism