There has been considerable discussion over the last year or so comparing American tech company leaders to Russian oligarchs. Are they similar?
The Russian economy is based on access to natural resources and government spending, both of which are controlled by Putin’s neo-feudal state. The wealth of Russian oligarchs, as a result, is completely dependent on support for Putin. American tech leaders, on the other hand, created their own sources of wealth. Their goals are much more limited; they want low taxes and a light regulatory touch, particularly on antitrust issues, from Washington for the businesses they created. They are also asking for a degree of assistance from Trump with unfriendly international regulatory regimes. Finally, they want to be free from arbitrary decisions from Trump on tariffs and immigration. Sucking up to a president determined to show he is the boss of everything, even though he isn’t, seems like a good way to get to Point B.
It’s not the same thing at all.