So just a quick reminder of the acts of cowardice from some of our rich and influential people and to serve as an example of what will happen when Trump is back in office.
What these people did, in my view, to earn the monicker of cowardice was to cede their agency to autocratic pressure even before the autocrats have taken power. This is called anticipatory obedience and if you want to learn more about how it works and how democratic governments fall into autocracies, like we are so close to doing it’s insane, please check out Timothy Snyder’s book On Autocracy. But I think you get the general gist, when influential people see the writing on the wall they actually cede power before they have to because they’re cowards and they’re trying to make sure that they make out ok instead of pitching in with the rest of us to avoid disaster. The fact that they did this means that they believe that a Trump regime will be as vengeful as many of us are saying.
So who are some cowardly guilty parties this week? Here’s a short list. Now a quick disclaimer, what I mean is these people know better and they don’t necessarily want to end Democracy, but given the choice between being on the good side of the autocratic regime or the bad side, they’re making sure that they’re not on the naughty list. This is especially easy for them because they know a Harris presidency won’t take revenge on them for their actions, because a Harris presidency, unlike a Trump regime, will obey the rule of law. So they’re hedging their bets. That’s how weak and uncaring of others they are. I mean take a moment to think about the decision-making they had to have gone through. Other people? Or me? Oh, me, of course, it’s me, it has to be me. Well, I guess it’s not that complicated.
OK, quick list.
Joe Rogan – Joe Rogan is a jagoff, I’ve written about that aspect of him when he was spreading COVID conspiracy theories. But he also knows better. He had both Trump and Vance on his show this week and did 3-hour interviews with each of them. In both interviews, he went down every unbelievable conspiracy theory and let Trump and Vance explain, without any pushback, to his millions of Bro followers why those bullshit conspiracies should be entertained. Why did he do it? Because Trump wanted to be on his show, Rogan is the king of the Bro’s and Trump wants to reach these knuckleheads and get them out to vote because they’re sexist and they’re not inclined to vote for a woman. But also, they don’t usually vote, they’re too busy being Bro’s. So Rogan figured, I mean this is my guess anyway, that he should just do a nice interview with Trump and stay on his good side, just in case. I mean why not, nothing will happen if Trump loses, but a lot could happen if Trump wins and he’s not on Trump’s good side. See how that works?
Moving on.
Elon Musk – Ok I know, people will say but Elon’s crazy, you can’t say he doesn’t actually believe what he says when he claims that it’s the Democrats that are a threat to Democracy and not Trump. No, I can say that, he’s crazy but he’s not that crazy. He’s hedging his bets. Trump will bring him into the regime and he can keep getting all these fat cat government contracts. He’s just trying to get his and to hell with the rest of us. And besides, as he always says, his main goal is to get to Mars and make sure that humans become an interplanetary species. So on the crazy spectrum, he’s that crazy, but not democrats are the real threats to Democracy crazy.
Okay, still here?
Jeff Bezos – Have you seen this guy lately? My god, how much insecurity do you have to have to be the second-richest guy on the planet and still shoot yourself up with steroids? Well, Jeff Bezos, as we all know, completely kissed the Trump ring and killed an editorial in the Post endorsing Harris. And when given the opportunity to say he was wrong or overreacted, or something, he doubled down to make sure that he’s on the good list. He could have said they wouldn’t endorse a candidate months ago, but apparently, he just realized that this Trump train may very well happen and the more likely it became the more willing he was to capitulate to it in advance. Because he knows that if he didn’t it’ll be too late to do anything to get in on Trump’s good graces after he wins.
So this is how it happens. And it is happening, we’re watching it in real-time. Some of the most influential people around us are already making sure they have a decent slot in the coming autocratic regime. So if you’re still thinking we can’t fall into autocracy in America, well, just keep in mind, that Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk, and Joe Rogan and many many more, are already hedging their bets because they believe it can happen. And all they want to do is make sure they land on the right side of power.
If you can, canvass, phone bank, talk to your friends, do whatever to make sure we don’t become the generation that let Democracy slip through our fingers. In five days it’ll be too late.