Seems like a good time to re-up a piece of mine from December where I argue that American oligarchs won't nearly be as constrained as their counterparts in 1990s Russia www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/13/a... - ThreadSky

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szakonyi.bsky.social • 22 days ago

Seems like a good time to re-up a piece of mine from December where I argue that American oligarchs won't nearly be as constrained as their counterparts in 1990s Russia

https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2024/12/13/americas-oligarchs-could-be-even-more-powerful-than-russias-a87328

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szakonyi.bsky.social•22 days ago

I argue much depends on public perceptions

Russian oligarchs also controlled media, but were despised by the public for how they grew rich. That made them vulnerable under Putin.

Just as dependent on political connections, American oligarchs are still seen by many as self-made heroes of capitalism

szakonyi.bsky.social•22 days ago

Second, American oligarchs’ policy goal of limiting the state sadly aligns with much rhetoric in conservative circles. So far their attacks on institutions have been met with shrugs, and even enthusiasm

On the other hand, Russians saw their oligarchs’ goals more clearly: naked, self-serving greed.

szakonyi.bsky.social•22 days ago

That said, the honeymoon of the American oligarchs can fade fast. Turns out the majority of the public doesn’t love the idea of billionaires running Washington, no matter how fancy their tech achievements are

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/poll-trumps-reliance-billionaires-extremely-unpopular-rcna189416

szakonyi.bsky.social•22 days ago

Rather than focusing on which agencies and regulations are being targeted, campaigns should hammer home how rich people running the government almost inevitably makes the poor worse off.

spooley2.bsky.social•22 days ago

Not for long…people don’t like high food gas rent interest rates, just wait!

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