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0 pointsmissedthecue5y ago0 comments

How much political influence do you think someone like Bezos really has? Everyone in washington hates him. No one wants to do favors for him. They drag him in front of congress do get a bunch of soundbites to play next election cycle.

They win elections on shutting down his headquarter plans. They want to break up his company, raise his taxes on unrealized capital gains, they want to force him to divest his personal investments like WaPo.

Same goes for other billionaires. You think there's a lot of love for Ken Griffin? Or the Google founders? Or Jamie Dimon? Of course not.

Billionaires are a common bogeyman for the populists that have ruled the capitol for the last 10 years or so.

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AlexandrB5y ago

On the flip side, there were municipal governments literally giving Amazon powers over taxation and spending[1] to get them to set up their headquarters in their city. I think this is quite a bit of political power myself.

[1] https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/amazon-city-benefits-sec...

missedthecueOP5y ago

I wouldn't call someone with sway over municipal governments an oligarch though.

rchaud5y ago

> Everyone in washington hates him.

In public, sure. Behind the scenes, they're taking meetings with his lobbyists, and somehow the tax raise never happens despite politicians talking about ad nauseam.

Part of modern politics is running a kabuki theatre of performative populism on the campaign trail. Not much happens once they are in office, because you need quick wins ahead of the next election.

varjag5y ago

You write this on the same day the President called for Amazon workers to unionize.

rchaud5y ago

Which is a performative act of solidarity with warehouse workers. What happens if those in right-to-work states unionize and get sacked? Biden isn't shouldering any of the risks they are.

Actions matter more than words. At this time, it's not even clear if Biden will go to the mat for a nationwide $15/hr minimum. That would do far more to incentivize Amazon to improve working conditions, as its $15/hr starting rates would no longer be competitive.

varjag5y ago

This is some 5d chess rationalization. There would be no calls to unionize Amazon if the govt was in Bezos' pocket.

john20105y ago

+ 1

also note that the Asian billionaires are learning for people like bezos/gates. In public they may be hate figures - but everyone orders from Amazon. Tax breaks for large companies.

(i.e) use thinktank to pass legislation to make everything they do legal.

Daho0n5y ago

>the populists that have ruled the capitol for the last 10 years or so.

So the instant someone is elected they start calling Random Joe for funding their next campaign? Of course not. Politicians talk to people who help fund them, that or they are out. Having a politician's ear is power that Random Joe doesn't have. Using Bezos is disingenious. How about Musk or Bill Gates or one of the many rich oligarch families who have the same name as former presidents? Don't pretend money has less power in US politics than in Russian politics. If anything it is worse.

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AlexandrB5y ago

[1] https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/entry/amazon-city-benefits-sec...

missedthecueOP5y ago

I wouldn't call someone with sway over municipal governments an oligarch though.

rchaud5y ago

> Everyone in washington hates him.

In public, sure. Behind the scenes, they're taking meetings with his lobbyists, and somehow the tax raise never happens despite politicians talking about ad nauseam.

Part of modern politics is running a kabuki theatre of performative populism on the campaign trail. Not much happens once they are in office, because you need quick wins ahead of the next election.

varjag5y ago

You write this on the same day the President called for Amazon workers to unionize.

rchaud5y ago

Which is a performative act of solidarity with warehouse workers. What happens if those in right-to-work states unionize and get sacked? Biden isn't shouldering any of the risks they are.

varjag5y ago

This is some 5d chess rationalization. There would be no calls to unionize Amazon if the govt was in Bezos' pocket.

john20105y ago

+ 1

also note that the Asian billionaires are learning for people like bezos/gates. In public they may be hate figures - but everyone orders from Amazon. Tax breaks for large companies.

(i.e) use thinktank to pass legislation to make everything they do legal.

Daho0n5y ago

>the populists that have ruled the capitol for the last 10 years or so.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse