Slate Money Money Talks: Capitalism Extremists In the Trump 2.0 Era
Feb 4, 2025
Quinn Slobodian, a historian at Boston University and author of "Crack-Up Capitalism," dives into the drastic intertwining of capitalism and politics in today's climate. He reveals the alarming ambitions of Silicon Valley elites during Trump’s second term and their vision of a democracy-free capitalist society. The discussion broaches topics like the rise of a startup-like governance model, the impact of big tech on political allegiance, and the tension between economic freedom and democratic values in contemporary policy-making.
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Seasteading and Democracy
- Peter Thiel believes democracy and freedom are incompatible.
- He funds projects like the Seasteading Institute, aiming to create autonomous societies.
Transforming the US
- The Silicon Valley elite's vision has shifted from creating new states to influencing the US government.
- They aim to adapt the US to their interests, potentially decentralizing power.
Centralized Power and Unequal Distribution
- Trump's centralized decision-making can create unequal distribution of resources.
- This aligns with the Silicon Valley approach of using the state to direct investments.
