Tech’s Plan to ‘Ethnically Cleanse’ San Francisco w/ Gil Duran
May 23, 2024
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Gil Duran discusses Balaji Srinivasan's 'tech Zionism' plan in SF and Silicon Valley's threat to democracy. They explore tech billionaires' political influence, media manipulation, and the push towards post-democratic sovereign mini-nations. The podcast delves into false crime perceptions, funding imbalances, and the controversial tech city project proposal in California.
Tech billionaires are wielding power to govern cities and potentially reshape political systems to serve their interests, as highlighted in podcasts. With a focus on creating network states, these billionaires aim to establish sovereign territories within existing countries, leveraging their amassed wealth to buy property and influence politics. This shift towards network states signifies a desire to disrupt traditional democratic processes and gain control over governance.
Extreme Vision and Ethical Concerns
A disturbing vision outlined in the podcast reveals a future San Francisco controlled by tech-aligned citizens, segregating residents based on reds, blues, and grays. The plan involves ethnically cleansing the population, pushing out blues (Democrats and leftists), with tech figures having authoritarian control. The extreme measures and propaganda tactics raise ethical alarm bells, pointing to a troubling direction in tech-driven ideologies.
Social Impact and Contradictions
The tech elite's victimization narrative and push for extreme solutions contrast with societal realities. Despite the wealthy portraying themselves as victims and instilling fear, the true suffering lies with marginalized and addicted populations. Their focus on punitive measures over evidence-based solutions for addiction highlights contradictions in their professed progressive values and scientific alignment. The disconnect between their proclaimed ideals and actual societal impact reveals deep ethical and social concerns.
Media Narratives and Political Strategy
Media narratives perpetuate blame on progressives for societal issues, fueling a misguided political strategy of targeting progressive leaders like Chase Aboudin in San Francisco. The billionaires' anger and victimization narrative serve as tools for consolidating power and justifying extreme measures. By distorting narratives and vilifying progressives, they seek to advance their own political agenda, demonstrating a concerning trend of leveraging wealth and influence for political control.
Political Ideologies in San Francisco
In San Francisco, there is a discussion about the concept of 'moderate' and its alignment with right-wing political positions. The term 'moderate' is seen as a misnomer as it often refers to Democrats who have embraced right-wing policies. This challenges the perception of moderation as a middle ground stance and highlights the complexities of political ideologies in the city.
Tech Industry's Influence in Local Politics
In San Francisco, tech figures like Bellagie and Gary Tan have been pushing back against critical media coverage and attempting to reshape journalism to serve tech interests. The tech industry's engagement in local politics, including funding political organizations and shaping narratives, reveals a trend of company activism that challenges traditional journalistic values and democratic principles.
Paris Marx is joined by Gil Duran to discuss Balaji Srinivasan’s plan to implement “tech Zionism” in San Francisco and the threat posed by Silicon Valley's growing opposition to democracy.
Gil Duran is an independent journalist and former editorial page editor for the Sacramento Bee.
Tech Won’t Save Us offers a critical perspective on tech, its worldview, and wider society with the goal of inspiring people to demand better tech and a better world. Support the show on Patreon.
The podcast is made in partnership with The Nation. Production is by Eric Wickham. Transcripts are by Brigitte Pawliw-Fry.
