This analysis of Pay Pal co-founder Peter Thiel is a bit harsh (I can't vouch for its accuracy), but it touches on political conflicts central to this class. Note the highlight in the following quote from the story:
To describe Peter Thiel as simply a libertarian wildly understates the case. His belief system is based on unapologetic selfishness and economic Darwinism. His most famous quote—borrowed from Vince Lombardi—is, "Show me a good loser and I'll show you a loser." In a personal statement produced last year for the CATO Foundation, Thiel announced: "I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible." The public, he says, doesn't support unregulated, winner-take-all capitalism and so he doesn't support the public making decisions. This anti-democratic proclamation comes with some curious historical analysis. Thiel says that the Roaring 20s were the last period when it was possible for supporters of freedom like him to be optimistic about politics. "Since 1920, the vast increase in welfare beneficiaries and the extension of the franchise to women—two constituencies that are notoriously tough for libertarians—have rendered the notion of 'capitalist democracy' into an oxymoron," he writes.
This is similar to a point we make in the early lectures in 2301, but instead of "democracy" I we use "equality." Since democracy in based on political equality, we could probably use the terms synonymously. The story goes on ask some interesting questions about the role of government in these time. Perhaps you agree with the sentiment.
We will discuss.
