761
submitted 1 year ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/world@lemmy.world

More than 11% of the world’s more than 2,000 billionaires have run for election or become politicians, according to a study highlighting the growing power and influence of the super-wealthy.

While billionaires have had mixed success at the ballot box in the U.S., billionaires around the world have a “strong track record” of winning elections and “lean to the Right ideologically,” said the study, which is by three professors at Northwestern University.

“Billionaire politicians are a shockingly common phenomenon,” the study said. “The concentration of massive wealth in the hands of a tiny elite has understandably caused many observers to worry that the ‘super-rich have super-sized political influence.’”

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago
[-] MindSkipperBro12@lemmy.world 23 points 1 year ago

People don’t care what the rulers do if they’re well fed and entertained with distractions.

[-] Enkers@sh.itjust.works 15 points 1 year ago

Yeah, the annual inflation rate reached 3500% in France before the start of the revolution. Things have to start looking pretty destitute before people are willing to put their own lives at risk. When they're faced with potential starvation, though, eating cake starts to sound pretty good.

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Yeah... I'd say that ole' trope has been thoroughly disproven... but even if it wasn't, I wouldn't worry about the ruling elites keeping people well-fed any time soon.

[-] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 15 points 1 year ago

It's a term from the Roman empire. Basically it's saying if you keep people well-fed and entertained, they'll let you do anything.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bread_and_circuses

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't put too much stock in that... the internet itself has proven that no matter the distractions, better-informed people will always have a habit of caring about stuff the elites don't want them to care about. And that's just a very recent example.

[-] c0mbatbag3l@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Even if we are assuming those who consider themselves well informed actually are, which is a joke unto itself, as most people are capable of and already are victims of misinformation regardless of what side you're on (believe it or not propaganda exists for both the left and the right) it's just not realistic to think they're a sizable enough chunk to do anything of value.

[-] masquenox@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

propaganda exists for both the left and the right

If you equate the miniscule amounts of narrative that can be called "leftist" with a straight face with the gargantuan pro-status quo right-wing propaganda machines that sucks up next-to uncountable amounts energy and treasure it simply means you, yourself, must be counted as one of those that aren't all that well informed.

it’s just not realistic to think they’re a sizable enough chunk to do anything of value.

And you know this... how?

this post was submitted on 26 Oct 2023
761 points (100.0% liked)

World News

39004 readers
2351 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS