He believes that democracy has run its course (did so in the 2008 crash as well) and believes in the ideas of Curtis Yarvin that think that tech CEOs should reign as feudal lords over small fiefdoms that he calls network states. Essentially the plan is to break the federal government and buy up its assets for pennies on the dollar. If this sounds bad for most people is up to you I guess.
Do you have any legitimate quotes or clips of him saying or writing any of these things? Not you or someone else paraphrasing, but actual, verbatim quotes. Bc as I have said, I've read and watched quite a bit of Thiel and none of this rings true.
The claims made in this thread have elements of truth, but I can't help but conclude that they're made in bad faith. Thiel has said he doubts democracy’s compatibility with freedom. But, his response is relatively non-political: escape, via internet communities, seasteading, and tech ventures. His view on democracy is that it inevitably leads to over-regulation, ever expanding welfare (requiring ever expanding deficits, taxes, or both), slowly eroding the benefits of markets, eventually resulting in a zero sum economy in which collectivism, bureaucracy, and corruption rule. In other words, freedom decays.
The claims about “tech CEOs as feudal lords,” plans to dismantle the government, or to “buy up its assets for pennies”—is not supported by any of his public remarks or writing. He's never endorsed corporate feudalism, asset seizure, or authoritarian rule.
"fate of our world may depend on the effort of a single person who builds or propagates the machinery of freedom that makes the world safe for capitalism."
"Monopolies are good"
He's said the country should be lead by a monarch or "monarch-like figure".
Again, I think you're interpreting a lot of figurative language through the least charitable lens.
> "Competition is for losers"
He didn't actually originate this. The NYT did, in a review of his book. It was so catchy he ran with it. Of course, beyond the provocative headline is the idea that startups should seek green fields, not enter hyper competitive areas where margins are competed away.
> He's said there are "Satanic" components to AI.
Metaphor.
> "fate of our world may depend..."
Keyword here is "may". Clearly a conjecture on his part. And like most things he says, part of a larger narrative he is weaving via symbolism.
> "Monopolies are good"
Bad faith interpretation. A VC/founder achieves a monopoly insofar as they invent or revolutionize a market, typically via breakthrough technology. Facebook and Google rose to dominance bc their products were 10x better than the alternatives.
> He's said the country should be lead by a monarch or "monarch-like figure".
No, he didn't. If you can find a legitimate source for this, I will eat crow.
You may not like his ideas. But I encourage you to not rely on the interpretations of others (i.e. media headlines from left leaning outlets, etc.) and to steelman his arguments when you seek to criticize them.
