Cory DoctorowMar 9

Even if rich people were no more likely to believe stupid shit than you or me, it'd still be a problem. After all, I believe my share of stupid shit (and if you think that none of the shit you believe in is stupid, then I'm afraid we've just identified at least one kind of stupid shit you believe in).

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If you'd like an essay-formatted version of this thread to read or share, here's a link to it on pluralistic.net, my surveillance-free, ad-free, tracker-free blog:

https://pluralistic.net/2026/03/09/autocrats-of-trade/#witness-the-firepower-of-this-fully-armed-and-operational-battle-station

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Show threadCory DoctorowMar 9

The problem isn't whether rich people believe stupid shit; it's the fact that when a rich person believes something stupid, that belief can turn into torment for dozens, thousands, or millions of people.

Here's a historical example that I think about a *lot*. In 1928, Henry Ford got worried about the rubber supply chain.

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Show threadMad EngineeringMar 9
@pluralistic I mean, it's arguably what killed the Roman empire. Rich Romans got fancy indoor plumbing, made of lead for easy maintenance. The lead leeches onto the water, giving them a strange line on their gums and a tendency to believe idiotic nonsense.
Show threadDavid S. ReedMar 9
@madengineering @pluralistic How come when the rich died out, Rome didn't become a socialist paradise?
Show threadMad Engineering

@DavidReed @pluralistic They didn't die, they just developed a real bad case of crazy decision, which made it a really big problem for everyone who wasn't rich also.

Your boss has commanded you to cover the parking lot on gasoline to keep the dragons away.

Mar 9 at 8:51pmWeb