How Billionaires Took Over The World

Summary

The video critiques the growing concentration of power among the wealthy, arguing that central societies are inevitably prone to oligarchy. It suggests that billionaires support right-wing movements, as they strengthen oligarchic control, undermining democracy. The speaker references historical events, like the World Wars, that temporarily reduced inequality, and stresses the importance of revitalizing progressive movements to counteract the rise of oligarchy. They advocate for mass mobilization and organizing around egalitarian principles to dismantle entrenched power structures, warning against waiting for catastrophic events like war or revolution to prompt change.

Takeaways

• 😀 The myth that eliminating right-wing forces will restore normality overlooks the deeper issue of oligarchy as the default state in centralized societies.
• 😀 Oligarchy is the result of extremely wealthy individuals using their economic power to influence political decisions, thus undermining democracy.
• 😀 Billionaires and wealthy elites support figures like Trump, Nigel Farage, and Marine Le Pen because these leaders help accelerate the shift from democracy to oligarchy.
• 😀 Centrist politicians like Keir Starmer and Joe Biden are often ineffective in opposing oligarchy because they try to appease both the elites and the general public.
• 😀 Attempting to please both sides ultimately leads to losing popular support, as the political program fails to meet the needs of the people.
• 😀 History shows that oligarchic power can be rolled back only through major forces like total war, violent revolution, state collapse, or massive plague.
• 😀 The world wars in the 20th century disrupted oligarchic power by necessitating large-scale state intervention and high taxes, which were later used to fund social programs.
• 😀 The U.S. occupation of Japan after WWII is an example of successful oligarchic dismantling, where the U.S. government implemented land reforms, union rights, and welfare policies.
• 😀 After WWII, the shift from warfare state to welfare state led to the most redistributive and progressive era in the West, but that progress is now being reversed.
• 😀 To resist the resurgence of oligarchy, it is crucial to build large-scale progressive movements that mobilize millions of people and utilize strategies for peacefully overthrowing oligarchic power.
• 😀 The mainstream media, largely owned by oligarchs, is not a reliable force for fighting oligarchy, which is why platforms like Double Down News are necessary for confronting power.

Q & A

What is the central myth discussed in the script?

The myth is that getting rid of right-wing forces, such as Republicans and Toies, will return society to a state of normality, which is assumed to be a democratic progressive state.

What is the 'default state' of centralized societies according to the script?

The default state of centralized societies is oligarchy, where the wealthy use their economic power to gain political influence.

Why do billionaires support figures like Trump, Nigel Farage, and Marine Le Pen?

Billionaires support these figures because they help accelerate the transformation of democracies into oligarchies, benefiting the wealthy elite.

What is the critique of centrist politicians like Keir Starmer and Joe Biden?

The critique is that centrist politicians lack the power to mobilize the people and are trying to appease both the oligarchs and the public, leading to a loss of popular support.

What does the script say is necessary to counter oligarchic power?

The script emphasizes the need for massive counter movements and mobilization of large segments of society, alongside effective strategies to peacefully challenge oligarchic power.

What is 'The Great Leveler' by Walter Scheidel about?

The Great Leveler discusses how rampant inequality and oligarchy in history have been destroyed by four forces: total war, violent revolution, state collapse, and massive plague.

How did World War II contribute to the destruction of oligarchic power?

World War II led to massive resource mobilization, high taxes on the wealthy, and physical destruction of capital, which weakened the power of the ultra-rich and allowed for the development of a welfare state.

What changes did the US occupation in Japan after WWII bring about?

The US occupation destroyed oligarchic power in Japan, implemented land reforms, introduced trade unions, and established democratic and egalitarian policies that transformed Japan into a more democratic society.

What is the current trend observed in the return of oligarchic power?

The script highlights the resurgence of oligarchic power, with the wealthy pouring resources into politics to crush the democratic gains made after World War II and to undermine democracy.

What alternative to war and revolution does the script propose for countering oligarchy?

The script proposes peaceful means through large-scale organizing, using new science like social tipping, and mobilizing millions of people behind progressive ideas to counter the rise of oligarchic power.