The Enigma of Peter Thiel | Hacker News Reader

The Enigma of Peter Thiel

johnganz.substack.com

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At least one German comedian thinks that Peter Thiel would be a good fit for a Bond villain:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-Jo-djilvo

Before you criticize the first sentence, read the whole article.

Especially the part where he dives deep into all the various conflicting forms of “hyphenated” fascisms

Biased and inaccurate article, but has some useful references.

A Fascist is a corporatist socialist with totalitarian and nationalist tendencies. True Fascists are opposed to both communism and capitalism.

Thiel is no Fascist.

People use “fascist” as an all-purpose way to sling mud.

“Peter Thiel is a fascist.”

yawn. i stopped reading here

"John Ganz is a Stalinist, Marxist, Leninist, Trotskyist and Pol Potist. There’s really no better word for what he is. For some reason, people have a lot of trouble grasping this or just coming out and saying it."

"Where does John Ganz speak from?" (Also a famous Marxist strategy to disqualify the opponent.)

Does this open a debate or disqualify and vilify the author?

Why is attacking the person instead of his ideas getting the norm? Lake of arguments? Standardization of activism? Bolsheviks' tactics (Make them swallow the word, they will swallow the thing.)?

Another essay about why if it isn’t democracy it must be fascism.

We need to stamp out this “democracy for all” mindset. I for one don’t want mob rule.

Edit: I have standup. As much as I enjoy arguing with you all, I’m going to have to leave now.

WTF? What is fascism to you?

Democracy is the least worst option we have.

Constitutional Republic is the best option we have.

Democracy is arguably one of the worst.

Plato ranks democracy only above tyranny in his 5 forms of government.

Oh, well that settles it, right?

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/magazine/plato-got-virtua...

"Democracy for me, but not for thee." Not a good look whether you call it fascism, oligarchy, or technocracy. The "educated elite" do not understand or advocate for the interests of the working class.

Yeah, let’s put a bunch of bus drivers in charge of everything because they “understand their own interests”. I’m sure that’ll work out for us.

Such naked contempt for working people. Everyone deserves to have their voice heard. Ideally, no one group is in charge of everything. But given a choice, I would pick bus drivers over billionaires.

I don’t have any contempt for working people. I think it’s part of my responsibility to help take care of them. But let’s call a spade a spade. If you put the bus drivers in charge of everything the system would collapse.

And you really think it'd be much different if we put programmers in charge of everything?

Why would I want programmers in charge? I dislike them more than most.

It came across as post that was especially skeptical of the ability of those who work relatively unskilled jobs such as driving buses to be able to form a functioning government. And I'd agree, a bunch of bus drivers aren't likely to form an especially competent government. But I'd make the same point about of bunch of any people from a single profession, no matter how skilled or otherwise. Especially politicians.

Sounds like we're on the same page. The only way a government can truly function is by indirect rule by its people.

> I think it’s part of my responsibility to help take care of them.

You clearly think the working people can't take care of themselves. I don't know how to read that as anything other than contempt.

That’s fine. You’re welcome to have your own assumptions about me no matter how false they are.

What a disgusting mindset you have.

Honestly, it’s probably a lot more healthy than yours if we really dug into it.

>probably

That's your assessment what says everything.

It is a common illusion of wealthy people that they are disproportionately carrying a burden for society. In fact many of the ultra-rich aren't contributing their fair share by skirting taxes while they benefit by the infrastructure and government organizations that made their success possible.

how about a reality show tv host? sheesh, no one said anything about bus drivers being in charge of everything (that's a strawman you just created). But, shouldn't people have a voice over the society they live in? Or, would you rather just let the Peter Thiel's of the world decide for you?

People should have a voice and do have a voice. But there are guardrails called the Rule of Law. We literally have all of these things. Nobody is being killed for having a voice, everyone has the opportunity to run for office and if people like what’s coming out of their mouth they can donate.

We’ve had grassroots campaign after grassroots campaign for years now that are very successful.

If you want to talk about strawmen, let’s talk about the one you’re trying to push.

>I for one don’t want mob rule

You seem to think you are above it all. You are not, and I won't explain to you how you and the mob you refer to are one and the same.

> I won’t explain to you why you’re wrong

What are you here for then?

Id be fine with any system that leaves me alone and requires zero attention from the layperson. Also, one that people don't bitch about all the time. A benevolent king/queen/emperor kinda sounds good, like Marcus Aurelius of old.

I actually really like the system that we have. I think it might be a little too chaotic for most people’s tastes, though.

That said, those people will have to deal with the chaos because I’ll fight to the death to preserve it.

It's fine by me, but it was better 10 years ago when people didn't talk politics all the time. Or maybe I just got older.

Merely a transition point, my friend.

I don’t think you can call anybody outside Europe in 1900-1950 a ‘fascist’.

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