• Maeve@kbin.earth
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      1 month ago

      I thought about that; then I thought what that guy makes in a few minutes’interest on his offshore accounts is probably more than all of Brazil, in a year, and since taxes fund the government and a host of other things, idk

      • hope@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        The country of Brazil makes something like 20x Musk’s total net worth, but every year.

          • aesthelete@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Leveraged buyouts specifically should be outlawed.

            EDIT: And billionaires should be taxed on the money they receive as loans.

            The “buy borrow die” tax strategy should either be completely outlawed or the government should be able to get portions of those loan payments back as tax money.

        • The Quuuuuill@slrpnk.net
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          1 month ago

          Or Brazil. That’s the eight largest economy in the world. They headline BRICS for a reason. Sure, China is the true headliner there, but the fact is that Brazil is included in those 5 countries for a reason (multiple actually). There’s absolutely no way for a single individual to eclipse the value of the world’s 8th largest economy. Pick a country with a lower GDP than Hungary and then we’ll talk

  • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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    1 month ago

    On one hand, fuck Musk. On the other hand, internet from space that can’t be blocked by governments is a net positive in my book.

    • Shdwdrgn@mander.xyz
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      1 month ago

      Don’t forget that Musk is also the one who intentionally blocked paid service from Ukraine during a critical moment in the early days of Russia’s current genocide, because Musk sucks up to Putin. Dude needs to answer for his actions.

          • vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works
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            1 month ago

            Are the Jewish space lasers more dangerous than the Hibernian and Caledonia Rods of god. Im asking incase we need to up our tonnage to match the Jews. I know for a fact we are lagging behind Suomen Helios lance.

      • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        That is the catch. Ideally they wouldn’t automatically cooperate with the dictators on the ground, but that hasn’t been the case.

    • phoneymouse@lemmy.world
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      1 month ago

      How about internet that can be blocked at the whims of a billionaire? At least government is supposed to answer to the people.

      • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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        1 month ago

        Dictatorships don’t answer to the people. It’s absolutely a problem that billionaires are controlling the flow of information, but it’s much worse for a dictator to do it.

        • dustyData@lemmy.world
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          1 month ago

          Oh honey, do you really ignore that a huge chunk of dictatorships do it for the money and most are already billionaires? Why exactly do you think Musk supports the orange cheeto?

          • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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            1 month ago

            Because the orange Cheeto wants to cut his taxes so he gets more money. Dictators want power, not money. That’s why they are famous for blowing it on such exorbitant things. It’s just a means to an end. To billionaires the money is the end.

            • dustyData@lemmy.world
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              1 month ago

              That’s an extremely naïve view of the world. If Musk could sit the chair, he would. What do you think the accumulation of unhinged amounts of wealth is about but increased power? What do you think those opulent displays of wealth from dictators is about but to flaunt that they have all the wealth and power?

              • ChonkyOwlbear@lemmy.world
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                1 month ago

                Musk could easily buy himself a governorship or a senatorial position and work up from there. That’s not his goal. He wants to be the next Thomas Edison. He wants to be admired and remembered.

                Dictator’s opulent displays of wealth are to stoke their egos. They don’t care about the money they spend because they just took it, they didn’t earn it. They care about how much control they have over the people around them. They don’t care if people like them ,only that they fear them.

                • VeryVito@lemmy.ml
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                  1 month ago

                  Musk has already said he welcomes a chance to work in the Trump administration, so…