[Applejinx]

Accurately observed, but I think they're foolish and are only being used by a particular nation-state with a grudge against the US. Their alliances are pretty obvious, but an empire trying to reclaim its empire does not keep its promises to tech barons.

The Project 2025 people are probably sincere, but wildly impractical. Their impracticality has been indulged by a global adversary which simply intends to destroy the United States on every possible level. There's no reason the tech barons will be given mini states. Why would that happen?

[fzeroracer]

That's my take too. The tech barons are all remarkably stupid and think that if they destroy the federal government they'll be able to swoop in and take everything, but the end result is 50 individual governments that stop paying dues to the feds, many of which are going to be far more hostile to said tech barons.

They're not even smart enough to properly pay off and maintain the military so they could try and enforce the oligarchy.

[mrguyorama]

The best part is this is trivially obvious to anyone who knows their US history. The articles of confederation were torn up and replaced with a strong federal government that could adapt over time in part because the "federated states" system resulted in a bunch of petty tyrant Governors who completely ignored and neglected their federal obligations, ran their states like fiefdoms, and consistently made things shitty for everyone out of their pettiness.

Lots of people insist that the US should be a loose federation of states that are mostly left to themselves, basically like a less bureaucratic Europe, but that's stupid, because if that model worked, the constitution would not exist

[Hikikomori]

They have money, there might be enough corruption in some states to allow them to accomplish this, or since they're in power they could sell federal land?

Not sure if anything but their own incompetence can stop them now, if not that a military coup might happen when trump cracks down on protests with soldiers, like he wanted last time he was president.

[electrondood]

This is the most sensible take I have seen online in months.

[disqard]

Yeah, they all are (immensely rich (for now)) useful idiots.

Their greed is being leveraged to have them dismantle their own nation -- no need for military action.

What happens afterward might surprise these rich plutocrats, but I personally won't be surprised by it.

[xnx]

It feels like they really want to make use of those expensive bunkers.

[mrguyorama]

That's actually the problem. These tech shitlords KNOW there's a chance everything is destroyed in a way that doesn't leave them gods. But they place that chance at like 30%. They're degenerate gamblers basically, betting it all on red.