A "Nerd Reich?" Have many of our technology leaders abandoned democracy?

About this event

The kinda apt but over the top phrase is lifted from a new book, [The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and the War on Democracy](https://www.amazon.com/Nerd-Reich-Silicon-Fascism-Democracy/dp/1668221403/ref=sr_1_1?adgrpid=1338108209213719&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.L52T4ACswglIp355LYdgi2_hB21Gp4CDPSpKKVfRe6Xuw6vYHvuCKY2CvR70udyNiRqnkrpZGGPhIpfh3k0qrCDrI3mhUzkY0uOF9PHplMtTeWHrDSvlGklARvd1yCquC4aZa0GRaoL5bK56GtINalUv8WM2IziUDA4VmkEZyDY.AX-RmO6HzqudvLBBtrXrFgSsitnN36ysfphZ3OgPnpQ&dib_tag=se&gb=2&hvadid=83632047086510&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=77374&hvnetw=o&hvocijid=4705689713654357098--&hvqmt=e&hvtargid=kwd-83632969642491%3Aloc-190&hydadcr=22534_13494416&keywords=nerd+reich+book&mcid=82c74b52d6e336dea93bad5e54d131e8&qid=1786930600&sr=8-1), which was mentioned at last week's mtg (Sorry - I can't remember by whom). It describes what is or should be a well-known new political force in America. There is a deadly serious effort by a group of uber-wealthy and powerful U.S. technology company founders and leaders to fund or help bring about the end of American democracy and replace it with some kind of "superior" tech-based oligarchy. The movement's goal for our society has been called Techbro Authoritarianism, "digital feudalism," and even the funny but not so funny nerd fascism. This group of men has poured untold billions into right wing politics, including to President Trump and his movement's many pockets and partners. This is no longer Libertarianism. These people do not want to be left alone by govt; they want to use the power of AI, surveillance, and other tools to *rule over us.* The movement has its own political philosophers, like today's Curtis Yarvin and yesterday's George Gilder and Friederick Hayek. You've heard of many of these (almost all) guys. Elon Musk (X and SpaceX). Peter Thiel (PayPal, Palantir). Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz (venture capital.). Larry Ellison (Oracle). David Sacks (Airbnb + Uber). Vivek Ramaswamy. The My Pillow guy (that's a…