Billionaire Tech Titans Face Backlash Over Land Grabs and Water Raids

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Columnist Jim Hightower criticizes the growing dominance of right-wing politics by arrogant, super-rich tech billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos. He argues that the richer they get, the more they devolve into "over-privileged crybabies" who threaten to abandon states over proposed wealth taxes. Hightower contrasts these billionaires with examples of wealthy individuals who have used their fortunes to benefit the common good. He also highlights how tech giants are exploiting rural communities, buying up vast tracts of land for data centers that drain local water and power supplies while extracting massive taxpayer subsidies.

Why it matters

This story sheds light on the growing backlash against the unchecked power and exploitation of rural communities by tech billionaires and their corporate empires. It raises important questions about wealth inequality, corporate welfare, and the need to ensure that technological progress benefits everyone, not just the ultra-wealthy.

The details

Hightower argues that the increasing dominance of right-wing politics by arrogant, super-rich "Tech Bros" has led to a concerning trend of wealth inequality and corporate greed. He cites examples of billionaires like Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos who have become "whinier" and more "over-privileged" as they've amassed more wealth. These billionaires have threatened to abandon states that propose wealth taxes, which Hightower says demonstrates their lack of concern for the common good. In contrast, Hightower highlights examples of wealthy individuals like Bernard Rapoport and Ben & Jerry who have used their fortunes to advance progressive causes and support grassroots democracy. The column also delves into how tech giants are exploiting rural communities, buying up vast tracts of land for data centers that drain local water and power supplies while extracting massive taxpayer subsidies. Hightower argues that county officials and lawmakers like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are beginning to push back against this corporate frenzy.

• In recent years, there has been an increasing dominance of right-wing politics by arrogant, super-rich Tech Bros.
• Billionaires have threatened to abandon states that propose wealth taxes.

What they’re saying

What’s next

Lawmakers like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have proposed a national moratorium on the corporate frenzy to impose an AI future that "We the People do not want." Grassroots organizations like Food & Water Watch are also working to raise awareness and mobilize opposition to these land grabs and resource exploitation by tech giants.