I have often said that I owe George W. Bush an apology. I was very critical of him as he appeared to have so few of the intellectual tools needed to be president of the United States.
And then Trump came along—with so few of these tools he made Bush seem like a great leader, I aimed another of my complaints back then at the turn of the 21st Century at the rich. I argued at the time that the wealthy class, which pushed Bush for the presidency, was playing a dangerous game, putting the future of the country at risk just to have one of their boys as president so he could keep the money flowing their way.
Frankly, I thought the system was stacked sufficiently their way that they could accomplish the same thing with a person who might know a bit more about running the country.
I overestimated the rich. I thought they might have an interest in saving the country as it was so they could continue to rake in the riches in this gilded age. But no, I have come to understand that they are supremely greedy and want to continue expanding this gilded age. Consequently, they do not care to preserve the United States as a democratic capitalist system.
These people do not care about democracy. Look at how they are funding Trump.
As Robert Reich puts it, billionaires are lining up to fund Trump’s anti-democratic agenda.
“The more disturbing Trump’s public proclamations become, the more U.S. tycoons seem to want him to win . . .As more and more wealth concentrates at the top, the moneyed interests rationally fear that democratic majorities will take it away though higher taxes, stricter regulations, enforcement of anti-monopoly laws, and pro-union initiatives.”
Consequently, many superrich provide some of their wealth to anti-democracy candidates. As Donald Trump pushes fascist plans for his second presidency, he gains more billionaire supporters.
Yes, many in Trump’s so-called base provide small contributions; however, he is receiving big bucks from some of the wealthiest people in the country. Phil Ruffin, casino and hotel mogul, gave several one-million-dollar donations. Charles Kushner, father of Jared, contributed one million. Robert Johnson, co-owner of the New York Jets, gave one million.
And the list continues with Kelcy Lee Warren ($2.25 million); casino owners Steve Wynn ($1.5 million) and the late Sheldon Adelson ($1.16 million); and oil developers Jeffrey D. Hildebrand ($955,000) and Harold Hamm ($300,000).
Nikki Haley, who is trying to replace Trump with Trumpian ideologies, is also receiving support from the billionaires, including, especially Charles Koch.
The loyalty that Trump receives from his followers and supporters reached a new point last week when Bernie Marcus, the billionaire co-founder of Home Depot, said he would continue to fund Trump even if Trump gets indicted. Marcus has already provided over seven million dollars.
We know that big money has recently brought political corruption to a new level, but the superrich is aiming higher—or lower. They are pushing the country toward autocracy, which presumably they would control.
The bottom line is that the superrich tends not to be fans of democracy. One of these superrich donors, PeterThiel, who gave $35 million to political campaigns in the last cycle, is quoted as saying, “I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible.”
In the face of all this fascist movement, what do we do? Fighting for real democracy is still the answer, all the while understanding that Trump and others, including the superrich, are against us. We must explain to the public over and over and over again what the country will look like if they win.
