At yesterday’s indoor inauguration, there were of necessity a limited number of seats. The first row was reserved for Trump and Vance family members. Tech billionaires and their wives and female companions sat in the second row. Trump’s choices for his Cabinet sat behind the billionaires. Elected officials were not allowed to bring their wives or companions.
Trump tamed the billionaires, who dutifully applauded his ascension, exchanging their independence for his toleration.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Going back decades, studies show that 70% [or more] of communication between members of our species is nonverbal, not oral. Facial expressions and body language. When I was teaching, I paid close attention to my student’s body language. That helped me be a better teacher.
Expressions speak volumes. There’s an old saying that a picture says 1,000 words.
I’m going to describe, using one word for each billionaire, what I think each billionaire’s expression reveals about their thoughts and mood in that moment. From left to right.
A. shock
B. disgusted
C. pleased
D. smug [so self-righteous I wanted to peal the skin from his face, while he’s awake]
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Why are so many liberals upset about ultra rich people supporting Trump? Biden had plenty of rich billionaire supporters such as George Soros and almost every Hollywood actor and actress. Legacy media is no different. The Rachel Maddow and Joy Reid clones are well known multi millionaires but all they do is complain about the “oligarchy”. Is it such a sin to be successful and rich?
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Billy D. I’m done with such talk. If you don’t understand, too bad for you. Go back to your puppet masters. CBK
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Billy D: An undeserved follow up compliment to your note above: I have trouble believing that you are as ignorant as you sound on this blog. CBK
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Regarding being rich and “sin”….
See Matthew 19:24
As in the Bible, the book that would’ve apparently burned FELON47’s hand if he touched it….
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I have no beef with rich people. I wish everyone had the money they need to lead a good life. I am ticked off with billionaires. Who needs that kind of money to lead a good life?
I object to very rich people buying politicians. That’s not fair. They buy them to lower their taxes, to privatize public services, to take away programs from needy people. That’s offensive.
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Usually, when I have something to say in response, you beat me to it in a way that is far more succinct than anything I would have cooked up.
I would add, specifically, that Elon Musk essentially bought the presidency for Trump, pouring millions into swing states to deliver target ads to people who wavered. Musk can do this because he controls computer technology that will perform the market analysis that allows companies to pinpoint markets for greatest effect. All this is because of the electoral college. Until my voice is made equal to some guy in Bucks County Pennsylvania, it will continue to be possible for the oligarchy to pinpoint its market and sell itself to a few decisive voters. Let’s just hope it is not too late.
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What are the odds that after things in the U.S. really unravel, there will another wave of amendments correcting these basic and very destructive, structural problems in our government? (Like the Progressive reforms added a century ago.)
Like, how would a Vegas oddsmaker, a Nate Silver-sort of person, view this possibility? True, effective, thoughtful reform actually coming our way at some point in the not-so-distant future?
The Electoral College, which you cite, Roy, is one of many fundamental inequities.
I guess they’d be called “structural deficiencies” if we were talking about a bridge that could fall down.
Engineers rate bridges, right? A, B, D- etc.. Or, yeah, it’s Good, Fair and Poor.
How does our government rate?
I suppose these billionaires are trying to hedge their bets right now. As always…
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Usually, the super rich give to both parties, to be safe. And then they praise the winner.
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Diane: Exactly that, about billionaires. But instead of helping people, the one’s I complain about only want to manipulate, then denigrate, then criticize because the poor are “weak,” and because they are manipulated and denigrated.
But the massive pushback against Trump and Trumpism is the only way to go. WE need to know that the firehose method works both ways, being woke (awake and intellectually critical) is a good thing; and when they KNOW they are going to have to put up with explaining Trump’s bat-shit activities and Rubick’s cube logic to a vibrant, consistently reasonable, and loud pushback against their degenerate activities, they will get as tired of it as we are and may even give it up piece by piece. Take a breath, all you woke people out there, but don’t stop. CBK
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You might consider looking up the word “oligarch” before entering a post like this. Just sayin’.
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“Is it such a sin to be successful and rich?”
No.
It’s no because there is no such thing as “sin”, a faulty faith belief, however to be successful and rich entails abusing humanity and the earth and it’s finite ecosystem(s).
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I think Billy D, whoever that is, and if it is even human, doesn’t know much about history.
If we learn from history, then we know what’s coming if FELON47 becomes the dictator, king, or emperor he has said he is going to be.
Who brought about the collapse and end of the Roman Republic which lasted for almost 500 years?
ANSWER: a bunch of very wealthy Roman men who ended up fighting each other to see who would come out on top.
The winner was Julius Caesar ,until he was assassinated soon after becoming Rome’s first emperor as the republican ended.
After Caesar was dead, his nephew inherited his wealth and the title as emperor.
When Julius Caesar was assassinated, his grand-nephew Gaius Octavius, later known as Augustus, inherited his wealth and empire as Caesar named him as his heir in his will; effectively becoming the successor to the Roman Empire.
Key points about the inheritance:
According to historical estimates, Julius Caesar’s wealth at the time of his death is believed to be around 100 million denarii, which would be considered an enormous sum compared to other wealthy Romans of his time.
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Someone should send these richies a copy of “Citizen Kane”. They are living, breathing cliches. Fools.
If these are “leaders” of our society, crap, humankind is in really bad shape.
Maybe intelligent lifeforms somewhere out there in the universe will intervene to save us from ourselves?
That or A.I. will jump in, digitally that is…
Meanwhile, I’m hitting the streets and organizing.
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Who’s the loser in that photo with only $1.3 billion?
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Sundar Pichai
from wikipedia: Pichai Sundararajan (born June 10, 1972), better known as Sundar Pichai, is an Indian-born American business executive. He is the chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google.
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From Wikipedia:Sundar Pichai, is an Indian-born American business executive. He is the chief executive officer of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google
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What a broke loser!
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Sundar is “poor” at only $1.3 billion, because he is not a founder. Give him time.
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disagree about who the lapdog is. You have it reversed
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