America’s Billionaire Puppeteers: Who’s Really Pulling the Strings?
Ah, dearest readers, while President Trump may hold the golden scepter of the Oval Office and be the only one whose precious bum can rest on the leather chair behind the desk, one cannot help but notice that the true rulers of America’s fate seem to gather not in Washington but in Silicon Valley boardrooms and private jets crisscrossing the globe.
Yes, I speak of the crème de la crème of American society, the billionaire boys’ club, those masters of the universe whose wallets are deeper than the Mariana Trench and whose wealth and influence makes even seasoned politicians look like rookies in a schoolyard game of marbles. It seems these titans of industry have taken a keen interest in the lofty goal of Making America Great Again—or, perhaps, making America the perfect playground for their own pursuits.
Elon Musk: Rocket Man or Kingmaker?
Mr. Musk, that darling of disruption, has a finger in every pie and an eye on every prize. He thinks big and his dreams are nothing short of intergalactic—Mars colonies, AI breakthroughs, and a global fleet of electric vehicles turning highways around the globe into playgrounds for his electric chariots. But let us not forget his takeover of Twitter, now renamed “X,” where free speech appears to be redefined as whatever aligns with his vision of the world. Conveniently, this vision also happens to boost his Tesla stock and SpaceX contracts.
And if his cozy relationship with government subsidies is anything to go by, Musk knows exactly how to play the Washington fiddle, or have them play to his fiddle. One wonders if his vision for America’s greatness includes a launch pad for his ambitions—or merely the launch codes for his next business decisions. He could, however, make everyone´s life a lot simpler by streamlining extensive policies and cutting down on bureaucracy dictating our fates. But should the man benefitting most of the relaxed regulation be in charge of that regulation?
Mark Zuckerberg: From Likes to Lobbies
Meanwhile, Mr. Zuckerberg, that enigmatic overlord of the metaverse, is busy reshaping the very fabric of our digital lives. While the rest of us are left clutching our wallets and cursing interest rates and even food prices, Zuckerberg dreams of a virtual utopia where we can all escape reality—assuming, of course, we can afford the entry fee. But don’t let his hoodie fool you; Zuck is no ordinary techie. His empire extends far beyond social media, with efforts aimed squarely at keeping pesky regulations out of his hair. And fact checking does not get a Like from him anymore, as the user mob is to judge and correct any mistakes that float their way. Like my uncle Bob, who is certain he has proof of how the government controls the weather…after all, it always rains the day after he has his Kingswood detailed. There is reliable fact checking for you!
And when “Mr. Sugarmountain” is not busy building the digital future, he’s reportedly eyeing the real-world political arena, a move that could turn the American dream into a dystopian newsfeed. Not that I do not savour my Facebook feed to see what my friends have been up to but why are we allowed to spread digital lies and insults if in the real world we would not only be pulled by the ear but be sued? Is that the modern definition of Freedom of Speech, the emergence of the Eleventh Commandment? Thou shall not insult thy neighbour-unless Thou do so in social media!
Jeff Bezos: Prime Minister of Profit
Then there’s Mr. Bezos, the undisputed czar of retail, whose Amazon empire has turned shopping into an addiction more powerful than tobacco, alcohol and sugar combined. Bezos has redefined consumerism, ensuring you can have everything from dog food to drones delivered faster with 1-click than you can say “late-stage capitalism.” Combine that with Amazon Web Services (AWS) computing and data services and the real power of Bezos starts to emerge. Let us just say that AWS hosts thousands of sites of American government agencies, even critical ones.
But behind the shiny veneer of Prime memberships and same-day delivery lies a far less glamorous reality: warehouse workers complaining how they are pushed to their limits and antitrust allegations piling up. And let us not forget that Bezos has in his portfolio also the famed Washington Post newspaper. In the Presidential race of 2024 the Washington Post refrained from endorsing any candidate, something that has not happened for 36 years. And as the owner of rocket and space tech firm Blue Origin less regulatory oversight would be more than a visit to a candy store.
A Nation Built for Billionaires?
But, dear readers, these men aren’t merely content with their gilded fortunes and sprawling empires. No, they see that America is flawed with extensive red tape, and unnecessary bureaucracy that causes grey hair both to businesses and individuals. But do we want a country where regulations are but an inconvenience, taxes are a quaint suggestion, and the average citizen exists only as a data point to harvest or a paying customer?
The billionaire club is now openly stretching its influence on Capitol Hill, weaving a web of power that could ensure their ambitions remain unchecked. And with President Trump’s second term, one cannot help but wonder if these billionaires are whispering sweet nothings—or policy directives—into his ear.
The Real Game of Thrones
As America tunes in for the second season of The Trump Show, one thing becomes clear: the real power players aren’t just in Washington. They’re on private jets, in corporate boardrooms, and on the cutting edge of technology, shaping the nation not only through votes but also through dollars. Will this billionaire class steer the whole of America toward greatness—or simply use it as a sandbox for their own ambitions? Will profit margins and conversion rates be used as the deciding factors on social security and other sensitive policies? Only time will tell, but rest assured, dear readers, I’ll be here to chronicle every twist and turn.
Yours with a knowing smirk,
Lady Wombat
