The next great game: Politicians vs. tech companies

> For skeptics, Bremmer poses this question: Who will do more to influence the outcome of next year’s US midterm congressional elections: The President of the United States or the CEO of Meta? According to Bremmer, since the vote will be influenced by both real-world rules changes and the online flow of information, the answer isn’t obvious.

The question is flawed. Better would be:

- From the perspective of the status quo power (i.e., US government) what is the bigger threat to that power persisting or not, China or Big Tech? (Hint: It's not China).

- Put a slightly different way, on a day to day basis who is better positioned to influence the thoughts and decisions of individuals, some elected official or Big Tech?

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While she doesn't get heavily into gov v tech per se, "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" does a thorough job of framing the massive depth and breadth of tech's power, especially when it comes to tracking and influence.

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https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=hIXhnWUmMvw

Most countries government are currently following health advice from Microsoft founder Bill Gates, an experienced salesman

Billionaires found NGOs, think tanks, buy news papers and TV channels. Mould public opinion, and provide political advice...

Politicians bend to the floor in the USA and other democracies

In the case of Facebook what we have is other billionaires not happy that Zuckerberg doesn't let go his 51%, so they're doing what they do, and advising the politicians they sponsor how outraged they should be

Also finance billionaires that dislike the rise of tech companies billionaires will probably fight to retain power

People make a big deal out of the power of Big Tech but China vs Jack Ma tells the truth - governments are massive powerhouses. They can end anyone. Jeffrey Epstein was a billionaire.

No one, not even Marc Benioff can make SF change policy. Not even Zuckerberg can make them not vilify him even as they take his money to name their hospitals after him.

Billionaires are nothing beside the power of government and we are worse off for that.