Creative Speculation
Related: About this forumSomething for the American Oligarchs to think about before they write their next political check.
Russian oligarch Alexander Subbotin of the energy company Luckoil was found dead in a basement allegedly used for "Jamaican voodoo rituals" after a "heart attack" following a ritual where he swallowed toad venom.
Sergey Protosenya of Novatek hanged himself in his garden after killing his wife and daughter with an axe.
The day before, Vladislav Avaev of Gazprombank shot his wife and daughter, then himself. Moscow police say there is no evidence of anyone else being involved.
Mikhail Watford. another energy magnate, was found hanging in his garage.
Gazprom's Deputy General Director for Corporate Security, Alexander Tyulyakov, was also found hanging in his garage.
Leonid Shulman, Gazprom's head of transport, was found dead in the bathroom of his cottage. He left a suicide note.
Add the murders of Putin svengali Boris Berezovsky. Alexander Perepilichnyy, Alexander Litvinenko, and others.
The thing is, right now, if you've reached a certain level in the game of American Capitalism, you have enough hit points that no one can challenge you. You can buy an army of lawyers, creative accountants, security, and politicians to protect you and your interests.
No one can tell you what to do.
But in the game of autocracy, you don't have the protections you have in a lawful society. When you put an autocrat, a fascist, a dictator in charge, you will face accountability. If The Donald (or generically, The Boss) orders you from his Tower to hop on one foot for the rest of your life, you best start to hopping.
If you offend The Boss in any way, or if The Boss decides he wants what you have (and he will), or if The Boss sees you as a challenger, he can take what you have, including your life, with an utterance.
The Boss will have people like "Let's Get Medieval!" Steve Bannon, Stephen Miller, Michael Flynn and their ilk whispering in his troubled ears night and day. Do you think your name may come up? If you were The Boss, wouldn't you eliminate and loot the fortunes of your most powerful rivals?
I understand. You've reached the point where you own walled mansions, trophy mistresses, yachts, cars, private planes, servants of every kind. The money is no longer the goal. The Point is power, and money is just a way for you to keep score. You may think that with a kleptocracy of the type conservative Republicans are building that you will have your day in the sun, ultimate power. But will you be able to sleep at night when the country turns into Game Of Thrones?
You are designing a cage of your own making, and when The Boss takes over, you will be his vassal.
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Merlot
(9,696 posts)It's more truth than speculation.