He and the other billionaires who have donated a million dollars would have thrown a million dollars at at a Democrat winner's party as well.
It's an oddly not special thing for them to do. It's the equivalent of giving $10 to a homeless person. It's a nod, an acknowledgement, a polite handshake.
Another thought provoking read. Thank you Michael.
The relativity you shared in re: how much $1M is to these people is enlightening. Spot on. I'm always impressed with your reasoning. $1M is "chump change" to them. Less than a tip on a Starbucks caramel macchiato (sp? I don't shop there). To us mere mortals, that much money might mean access to good healthcare or food or the first vacation in decades.
I have long believed that, in general, too many Americans held an entitled attitude. The idea that we're exceptional simply because we're American has helped weaken us and has left us open to autocracy/broligarchy/kleptocracy/[fill-in-the-blank-with-some-other-yucky]cracy.
Traveling domestically or abroad either virtually (reading books, watching movies) or literally (if you can afford it) can help expose the folly of this entitlement thinking. Jingoism, IMHO, is not a healthy thing. Since this country's founding we have been a fragile democracy at best. We are, no doubt about it, sinkable. Most of us were raised believing we had to fight the potential invading enemy that could attack us from the outside. We weren't raised to believe we had to fight the enemy within.
What will come out on the other side is anyone's guess. If enough of us care, we'll fight through the ruins that are coming and emerge smarter and probably even more cynical about billionaires, the political class and more. Maybe we can somehow fix the broken pieces after everything gets smashed to bits and then really move forward.
Watching what is happening in Syria and South Korea is mildly hopeful. Maybe we can get our collective heads out of our nether regions sooner rather than later. Of course it's easier to hunker down, isolate, read a good book and hope that we survive whatever craziness has arrived at our doorstep.
And the regulations that have held these poor men back! I mean now that Trump will deregulate these men’s companies they will finally be able to compete in life. \sarcasm
Michael, while I appreciate your perspective on the billionaires’ million dollar contributions to Drump’s inauguration fund (a wonderfully nuanced explanation), it is still a FU to democracy and to all US citizens. It was bad enough that JB, along with the billionaire owner of the LA Times, capitulated to DT by shutting down their editorial boards’ endorsement of Harris/Walz. But by donating now, even before DT takes office, a sum that is beyond most people’s family income, they are signaling loud and clear to us all that they don’t care about anything but their own wealth and portfolio. I remain Disgusted, Angry and Will continue to advocate for our country, its citizens and our planet. We have to step up now more than ever before. We certainly can’t rely on those who have “celebrity“ status, including many politicians, and especially the tech bros who you wrote so pointedly about recently. No, this time we need “average” Joes and Janes. There is much we CAN do, like be a thorn in their sides……writers and publishers are essential, lawyers and scientists, educators, organizers, artists too, etc. Thank you for keeping up the dialogue!
While I agree with the current assessment of our country (and we’re seeing it in many other democracies as well), I refuse to surrender to the idea that all is lost going forward. History does repeat itself..unfortunately (we humans don’t learn our lessons well) but I do sincerely believe we will rise again, maybe not in this decade but hopefully in our lifetime.
Yes, you're exactly right. I offer no personal opinions on Bezos or his contributions in this piece, only elucidating my thoughts on the fact of his contributions. So many people I know have said since the election, "I guess it's every man for himself." The billionaire class has always heeded to this philosophy. Today is no different. It's just that the veil has been pulled off the rest of our eyes. Now we are explicitly being told that what we believed about our nation was a lie (or, rather, it is currently a lie and is likely to remain so forevermore.)
You know, I wouldn't be so pissed about Besos' dollar if I thought he was handing it over to protect his custmers, his readers, his patients, but he's just doing it to make his own life easier, the rest of us be damned. There's that saying that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Well, the friend of my enemy is my enemy, too.
My naivete regarding "the idea that America is unsinkable" is perhaps the single most painful part of these last 9 years, second only to looking ahead at what's coming up for us vis-à-vis our nation's youth. Conservative politics' long-running assault on public education coupled with social media's deleterious nature neutralizes any optimism for me that positive change is on the way.
PS Fuck Bezos and the other oligarchs. Back in the day, Amazon was thought to be the harbinger of the death of the "Mom and Pop" store...so many hand-wringing articles on the subject! Funny how the real danger turned out to be suppression of the Free Press, yet there is so little outcry at an obvious political play. What a world.
Something would be helpful is to know how much actual dollars (or crypto) these guys have in the bank. I mean isn't a lot of trump's worth in business assets and not something he could pay his McDonald's bill with?
Please seriously consider running for office! We see how even school board members can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be a high level position; local office seats can make a huge impact! Water board in drought areas, supervisors/mayors in municipalities and small towns. If you’re 40 years or younger contact Run for Something….they will help you figure out what might be best for you, match you with a mentor, help you with the process and fundraising tips, etc. They have an amazing track record of success: over 40% of their candidates win ! Yes, they are true blue….founded early 2017 in reaction to DT’s first election.
In the end, Bezos bought one million dollars worth of pudding.
He and the other billionaires who have donated a million dollars would have thrown a million dollars at at a Democrat winner's party as well.
It's an oddly not special thing for them to do. It's the equivalent of giving $10 to a homeless person. It's a nod, an acknowledgement, a polite handshake.
I wonder if Trump gets to rub his bald head for luck?
Another thought provoking read. Thank you Michael.
The relativity you shared in re: how much $1M is to these people is enlightening. Spot on. I'm always impressed with your reasoning. $1M is "chump change" to them. Less than a tip on a Starbucks caramel macchiato (sp? I don't shop there). To us mere mortals, that much money might mean access to good healthcare or food or the first vacation in decades.
I have long believed that, in general, too many Americans held an entitled attitude. The idea that we're exceptional simply because we're American has helped weaken us and has left us open to autocracy/broligarchy/kleptocracy/[fill-in-the-blank-with-some-other-yucky]cracy.
Traveling domestically or abroad either virtually (reading books, watching movies) or literally (if you can afford it) can help expose the folly of this entitlement thinking. Jingoism, IMHO, is not a healthy thing. Since this country's founding we have been a fragile democracy at best. We are, no doubt about it, sinkable. Most of us were raised believing we had to fight the potential invading enemy that could attack us from the outside. We weren't raised to believe we had to fight the enemy within.
What will come out on the other side is anyone's guess. If enough of us care, we'll fight through the ruins that are coming and emerge smarter and probably even more cynical about billionaires, the political class and more. Maybe we can somehow fix the broken pieces after everything gets smashed to bits and then really move forward.
Watching what is happening in Syria and South Korea is mildly hopeful. Maybe we can get our collective heads out of our nether regions sooner rather than later. Of course it's easier to hunker down, isolate, read a good book and hope that we survive whatever craziness has arrived at our doorstep.
"I don’t mean those far-flung rinky-dink nations which have always been bought and sold by powerful, colonizing forces."
Or, as Moe Szyslak put it, "one of them loser countries."
It’s cheaper than paying tariffs.
And the regulations that have held these poor men back! I mean now that Trump will deregulate these men’s companies they will finally be able to compete in life. \sarcasm
Michael, while I appreciate your perspective on the billionaires’ million dollar contributions to Drump’s inauguration fund (a wonderfully nuanced explanation), it is still a FU to democracy and to all US citizens. It was bad enough that JB, along with the billionaire owner of the LA Times, capitulated to DT by shutting down their editorial boards’ endorsement of Harris/Walz. But by donating now, even before DT takes office, a sum that is beyond most people’s family income, they are signaling loud and clear to us all that they don’t care about anything but their own wealth and portfolio. I remain Disgusted, Angry and Will continue to advocate for our country, its citizens and our planet. We have to step up now more than ever before. We certainly can’t rely on those who have “celebrity“ status, including many politicians, and especially the tech bros who you wrote so pointedly about recently. No, this time we need “average” Joes and Janes. There is much we CAN do, like be a thorn in their sides……writers and publishers are essential, lawyers and scientists, educators, organizers, artists too, etc. Thank you for keeping up the dialogue!
While I agree with the current assessment of our country (and we’re seeing it in many other democracies as well), I refuse to surrender to the idea that all is lost going forward. History does repeat itself..unfortunately (we humans don’t learn our lessons well) but I do sincerely believe we will rise again, maybe not in this decade but hopefully in our lifetime.
I choose to agree!
Yes, you're exactly right. I offer no personal opinions on Bezos or his contributions in this piece, only elucidating my thoughts on the fact of his contributions. So many people I know have said since the election, "I guess it's every man for himself." The billionaire class has always heeded to this philosophy. Today is no different. It's just that the veil has been pulled off the rest of our eyes. Now we are explicitly being told that what we believed about our nation was a lie (or, rather, it is currently a lie and is likely to remain so forevermore.)
You’re such a wonderful writer! This is perfect.
You know, I wouldn't be so pissed about Besos' dollar if I thought he was handing it over to protect his custmers, his readers, his patients, but he's just doing it to make his own life easier, the rest of us be damned. There's that saying that "the enemy of my enemy is my friend." Well, the friend of my enemy is my enemy, too.
dear michael,
enjoyable post, as always!
i always enjoy a breakdown of what millions and billions are really like.
my favorite illustration of that concept is that a million seconds is between 11 and 12 days and a billion seconds is between 31 and 32 YEARS.
thanks for sharing!
love
myq
My naivete regarding "the idea that America is unsinkable" is perhaps the single most painful part of these last 9 years, second only to looking ahead at what's coming up for us vis-à-vis our nation's youth. Conservative politics' long-running assault on public education coupled with social media's deleterious nature neutralizes any optimism for me that positive change is on the way.
PS Fuck Bezos and the other oligarchs. Back in the day, Amazon was thought to be the harbinger of the death of the "Mom and Pop" store...so many hand-wringing articles on the subject! Funny how the real danger turned out to be suppression of the Free Press, yet there is so little outcry at an obvious political play. What a world.
Something would be helpful is to know how much actual dollars (or crypto) these guys have in the bank. I mean isn't a lot of trump's worth in business assets and not something he could pay his McDonald's bill with?
Their bank? Their bank is now Fort Knox.
I need to quit paying attention to the news. Either that or run for office. All this bad news that I can do nothing about is affecting my mindset.
Please seriously consider running for office! We see how even school board members can make a big difference. It doesn’t have to be a high level position; local office seats can make a huge impact! Water board in drought areas, supervisors/mayors in municipalities and small towns. If you’re 40 years or younger contact Run for Something….they will help you figure out what might be best for you, match you with a mentor, help you with the process and fundraising tips, etc. They have an amazing track record of success: over 40% of their candidates win ! Yes, they are true blue….founded early 2017 in reaction to DT’s first election.