this post was submitted on 17 Jan 2025
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Summary

In his farewell speech, President Joe Biden warned of a growing "oligarchy" in the U.S., where extreme wealth and power threaten democracy.

Comparing modern elites to 19th-century robber barons, he called for reforms to hold the wealthy accountable, as done in the past.

Biden also criticized a "tech-industrial complex" concentrating power and spreading disinformation, weakening democracy.

His remarks sparked a surge in Google searches for "oligarchy."

The speech comes amid rising concerns about policies favoring billionaires, like Trump’s tax cuts and potential cuts to social safety programs.

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[–] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 364 points 1 week ago (13 children)

it's been made abundantly clear that a lot of americans have no fucking idea what anyone is talking about

[–] hansolo@lemm.ee 165 points 1 week ago (8 children)

I genuinely can't believe that there is any overlap at all with the maybe 500 people who actually listened to his speech or even read an article summarizing it and those who don't know what the meaning of "oligarchy" is.

How does anyone get engaged enough in the political process to watch a speech from Biden and not recall Bernie Sanders saying this every day of his life for the last 30 years?

[–] Carnelian@lemmy.world 84 points 1 week ago (4 children)

I follow these things closely on my own time, as I assume is common for nearly everyone on lemmy.

But I saw coverage of Biden’s farewell address randomly at the gym. And also at a local restaurant. The media now is putting that word “oligarchy” in front of people's eyes, as a summary of his speech. I would guess most people googling it are checking if “the oligarchy” is a country in the middle east or something

[–] hansolo@lemm.ee 31 points 1 week ago

Lol, that's fair. Maybe I should really feel surprised that people paid attention enough to Google it.

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[–] Blackmist@feddit.uk 112 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Ye's best start believin' in oligarchies.

Yer in one!

[–] WindyRebel@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

What we call laws are more like guidelines than actual rules we abide by…

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[–] novibe@lemmy.ml 81 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Becoming..? The country founded on the principle that only landowners and capitalists should be represented democratically is becoming an oligarchy?

[–] MothmanDelorian@lemmy.world 36 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Yes, because the early USA did not resemble an modern oligarchy but rather a plutocracy which despite its problems still has greater room for a merit based system than a modern oligarchy provides. We are intentionally concentrating a tremendous amount of wealth in the hands of very few people.

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[–] ubergeek@lemmy.today 76 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I think we have definitive proof that the American public, in general, are idiots.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 38 points 1 week ago (1 children)
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[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 29 points 1 week ago (7 children)

Want definitive proof?

There are 244m eligible voters in the United States.

77m voted for Trump. Idiots.

2.6m voted 3rd party. Idiots.

90m didn't vote. Idiots.

90+77+2.6 = 169.6

That means 170m of 244m eligible voters are braindead stupid. That's 69.7%. So we essentially have a 70% failure rate amongst eligible voters for maintaining our democracy.

Yeah, Americans, in general, are STUUUUUUUUUPID.

Yeah, we're in a declining nation and it's probably not going to get better anytime soon.

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[–] khannie@lemmy.world 23 points 1 week ago (5 children)

I actually consider this really positive on a few fronts.

Firstly, people are trying to learn. That's great.

Oligarchy is not a common word if your English level isn't great and that's true for lots of people. Even if you read books a decent amount it's not something I think you'd come across frequently.

Also, for folks who don't know what an oligarchy is, for them to find out they're possibly living in one may change their world view.

I'm sure there are more.

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[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 76 points 1 week ago (4 children)

Some Americans don't even know how to spell it right, so I'm not sure they'll even be able to look it up:

[–] SwampYankee@mander.xyz 39 points 1 week ago

Bruh, he missed the perfect opportunity to call Obama a communist.

[–] DahGangalang@infosec.pub 21 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Wow, he couldn't think of a single c based accusation to level at the Obama presidency?

Wasn't Beck also one of the people who got super obsessed with Obama smoking crack or something in college?

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[–] Snapz@lemmy.world 59 points 1 week ago

Two things are true:

  1. He did a lot and still should have done more - still ends up as probably the most progressive president to hold the office. More of a criticism of this country.

  2. All of you claiming "too little too late" don't think on the scale of history. Those things have never been said by that leader's voice, In that leader's office, broadcast on primetime TV to everyone, everywhere.

This is how progress works. Again, would have been better for him to say it from the start, but would have been fuel for the right (who doesn't even really need credible fuel for the people they talk to) even more obstructionist, bad faith ghouls.

All the above considered, we were fucked as soon as election result came in. Democracy is over, if there was s cashed they wouldn't try to literally draw and quarter Biden on the national mall in the next four years, this likely solidified it. Don't think him saying those words are said without personal risk. I think he failed to live up to the full mandate of his election, but this is an old mmm an whip knows he's about to die saying fuck it and pulling the pin on the grenade knowing he won't outrun the blast. In his reality, that's what this decision was.

[–] DarkFuture@lemmy.world 51 points 1 week ago (3 children)

What is oligarchy?

Something you live in.

Maybe you should have fucking Googled it sooner.

[–] pirating@lemmy.world 20 points 1 week ago (3 children)

To be fair, high school government/civics classes are probably so gutted that I'm happy when people understand the three branches of government.

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[–] makyo@lemmy.world 48 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Huh, this actually seems legit. Compared to my ultra-scientific Google trends comparo it was half as popular of a search as Taylor Swift at its peak, which seems pretty big.

Image

[–] makyo@lemmy.world 48 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] makyo@lemmy.world 90 points 1 week ago (13 children)

Just to add, this proves:

  1. that Americans in general aren't following along on their own
  2. that Biden could have influenced the discourse and been a force for good IF HE HAD BEEN COMMUNICATING LIKE THIS ALL ALONG. Unfortuntately they decided to 'show not tell' and let Trumpism fill the communication void with their lying bullshit for four years. Joe's biggest failure and one we shouldn't forgive him for.
[–] apex32@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Americans in general aren't following along on their own

This was also shown on election day when people googled "did Joe Biden drop out". Many voters had no idea Kamala Harris was even running for president.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/search-interest-did-joe-biden-211913111.html

[–] WhoIsTheDrizzle@lemmy.world 25 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I get a lot of folks are busy, working two jobs, dealing with childcare and healthcare and whatnot, but how deep do you have to bury your head in the sand to be so unaware or disconnected from an American Presidential election? It's unfathomable to me.

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[–] TransplantedSconie@lemm.ee 46 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Jesus fucking Christ. 🤦‍♂️

All these dumbfucks will be Googling "What is a Great Depression?" in about a year too.

May Bird Flu thin the herd.

[–] SendMePhotos@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (2 children)

Don't worry. We'll be defunding public education soon.

[–] catloaf@lemm.ee 21 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Soon? We have been!

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[–] itsonlygeorge@reddthat.com 46 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (7 children)

You might as well search for kakistocracy as well.

kakistocracy /kăk″ĭ-stŏk′rə-sē, kä″kĭ-/ noun

  1. Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens. 
  1. Government by the worst men. 
  1. Government under the control of a nation's worst or least-qualified citizens. 

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition 

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[–] charade_you_are@sh.itjust.works 44 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Bernie's been saying this for a long time. I'm glad Biden understands that it's true and actually said it out loud to people. If someone asked me if Biden would say it some point, I would have said no fucking way.

It's not the worst thing that people are trying to educate themselves even if it's too late.

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[–] Matombo@feddit.org 40 points 1 week ago (8 children)

If only he and his party was in power for some years and could have done something about it...

[–] capital_sniff@lemmy.world 22 points 1 week ago (9 children)

I like blaming Biden and all but let's be real we are in this mess because a bunch of the people that occupy the underclass with us are actively fighting against us and for the rich ass rulers.

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[–] MJKee9@lemmy.world 17 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The DNC is complicit and has been for years.... But betraying Bernie was the inciting incident for the US's most recent foray into authoritarianism.

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[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 40 points 1 week ago (3 children)

So, Joe, Buddy, what exactly did you do in your four years to actually curb the power of the oligarchy?

[–] Viking_Hippie@lemmy.dbzer0.com 24 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

So, Joe, Buddy, what exactly did you do in your ~~four years~~ half century to actually curb the power of the oligarchy?

The answer is that he's been actively working for the oligarchy-beholden establishment since before most of us were even born.

This is like the retiring CEO of Shell warning that extracting and burning fossil fuels might have deleterious effects on the global climate.

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[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 38 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Biden became a good president... in his last month in office.

Or to be blunt: He's being performative now when it doesn't matter

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 28 points 1 week ago (3 children)

Biden was a good president. And then he enabled Israel to go on a spree of war crimes, and also allowed Trump to, uh, live.

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[–] Dupree878@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (2 children)

He’s just as complacent in the oligarchical society we currently have as anyone.

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[–] blindbunny@lemmy.ml 31 points 1 week ago (4 children)
[–] slackassassin@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Love Carlin. Hate this quote.

  1. "Half of them are smarter than that" is just as true but doesn't have the same zing.
  2. The zing is that the regurgitation makes everyone feel as though they are on the right side of the distribution and thus superior.

Truth is, we are all closer to chimps than Einstein. And Einstein still left some lingering questions for us to solve.

That's the distribution. Not "Everyone is stupid except me and you, dear reader."

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[–] POTOOOOOOOO@reddthat.com 29 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Microsoft is pissed, because they are not binging it instead.

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[–] Draces@lemmy.world 21 points 1 week ago (3 children)

This is click baity. People don't exclusively look up things they have no idea about. I'm constantly searching terms to reaffirm my understanding or to get a more precise definition of them. Oligarchy in particular doesn't have a measurable identification which of course people are going to want to dig a little into it. Hell there's a comment on here that made me dig into it since they're stretching it's definition way past it's meaning

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[–] TimeSquirrel@kbin.melroy.org 20 points 1 week ago (5 children)

We desperately need actual political science courses in high school, not just civics.

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[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Probably the same people who were googling why Biden wasn't on the ticket on election day 🙄

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[–] Qwazpoi@lemmy.world 19 points 1 week ago (6 children)

Everyone is so busy asking what is Oligarchy, nobody bothered to ask how is Oligarchy. Truly sad

[–] HawlSera@lemm.ee 16 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I'll do you one better, WHY is Oligarchy?

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[–] aceshigh@lemmy.world 16 points 1 week ago (9 children)

Growing? We’re already there buddy and you helped speed it up.

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