Silicon Valley, driven by self-interest and strategic calculations, aims to shape the 2024 presidential election. Political scientist Jared Clemons asserts that capitalism won't be our savior.
In America, and globally, real power lies in controlling resource flows—property, money, information. Those who command production levers dictate the future. As the presidential election approaches, Silicon Valley CEOs and investors, including those publicly supporting Donald Trump and his running mate, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, understand this well.
Jared Clemons, a political science professor at Temple University, sheds light on Big Tech's calculated loyalties. "I try not to be hysterical about politics," Clemons says. "It feels like the world is always falling apart, but none of this started overnight."
Identifying as a socialist, Clemons believes in a collective future beyond capitalism, which both Republicans and Democrats cling to. He urges people to move beyond outdated bureaucratic governance.
"The danger in looking back is becoming reactionary," Clemons explains. "Focusing on recovering something from the past stifles imagination. Better futures are possible, but we must be willing to fail."
JASON PARHAM: This week at the Republican National Convention, Trump announced J.D. Vance as his VP pick, supported by Peter Thiel. Elon Musk, Marc Andreessen, and Ben Horowitz also endorsed Trump. Why is Big Tech backing the MAGA movement?
JARED CLEMONS: The economy is best understood through production—what we produce, circulate, and consume. Analyzing politics through this lens clarifies the motives of the wealthy.
Trump's major policy in 2016 was sweeping tax cuts benefiting corporations and wealthy individuals, especially those with stock market wealth. These cuts are set to expire in 2025, driving current support for Trump.
Is Big Tech's support purely a financial play?
It's not just Big Tech; the finance industry and Big Oil also back Trump. They foresee a supportive Congress rubber-stamping favorable policies. Biden isn't hostile to business, but he has suggested letting some cuts expire or raising taxes for higher earners. The wealthy are leveraging their power for policy gains.
Is Big Tech's support for Trump alarming?
It indicates that the wealthy understand the economy's importance better than the average person. News outlets often fail to detail these policies. The wealthy use platforms like the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times to communicate their agendas.
Some suggest Musk bought Twitter to support Trump.
Musk is unusual; most wealthy individuals avoid the spotlight. CEOs of major banks and private equity firms rarely make headlines, yet they shape policies daily. Musk is an opportunist, backing whoever benefits him.
Why have conspiracy theories and propaganda plagued politics, especially since the 2016 campaign?
Humans instinctively seek patterns and causal explanations. When facts are ambiguous, conspiracy theories fill the gaps. America's history with mass media has fueled suspicion, now exacerbated by social media.
Conspiracy theories connect dots for people when straightforward explanations aren't available. Historically, Americans have been skeptical of media. This skepticism, combined with a complex world, drives people to conspiracy theories.
The recent assassination attempt on Trump sparked various theories.
Assassination attempts were frequent in American history until recently. After the Reagan attempt, both parties toned down extreme rhetoric to avoid inciting violence, especially in a gun-centric country. Today, social media amplifies hysteria, making rational political discourse difficult.
Violence has always been part of American history. The current social media landscape magnifies it, causing paranoia and distrust. When people feel violence is imminent, they become distrustful, leading to xenophobia and other biases.
A meme of Miranda Priestly from "The Devil Wears Prada" captured the hysteria, saying: "You took a bullet? In America? Groundbreaking." It highlighted America's violent history in a broader context.
America has a violent past. Claims that there's no place for violence in politics ignore history. While not condoning recent events, it's essential to acknowledge America's violent roots without whitewashing history.
