A Modern American Revolution

Throughout history, systemic oppression has often been met with resistance, sometimes in the form of upheaval that challenges the very foundations of power. The French Revolution remains one of the most iconic examples, where a disenfranchised populace rose against the aristocracy, seeking liberty, equality, and fraternity. Today, amid unprecedented wealth inequality, billionaires represent a new global aristocracy. For those who justified property destruction during the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement as a necessary act of resistance, this same reasoning can be applied to challenging billionaire power—a modern Bastille moment.

Wealth Inequality: A New Class Divide

In 18th-century France, the aristocracy enjoyed vast privileges while the common people struggled under crippling poverty and taxation. The chasm between the elite and the masses sparked revolution. Today, billionaires hold a similar role, with their wealth and influence towering over the working class.

The statistics are staggering. The world's richest 1% control nearly half of all global wealth, while billions live on less than $5.50 a day. Billionaires not only hoard resources but also shape policies, often exacerbating inequality. Much like the French aristocracy, they live in a gilded bubble, disconnected from the struggles of ordinary people.

Liberals who supported acts of property destruction during the BLM movement argued that such actions symbolized resistance against systemic injustice. They believed that breaking the windows of a bank, for instance, was an attack not on glass but on an institution perpetuating inequality. By this logic, challenging billionaires—whether through policy or more radical means—represents a stand against an economic system that prioritizes the wealthy at the expense of the majority.

Exploitation and Structural Oppression

The French Revolution was fueled by the exploitation of the lower classes through unfair labor practices and taxation. Today, billionaires maintain their fortunes through similar means: low wages, tax avoidance, and environmental degradation.

Amazon’s founder Jeff Bezos, for example, has amassed billions while his workers report grueling conditions and insufficient pay. The Walton family, owners of Walmart, are among the wealthiest in the world, yet their employees often rely on government assistance to survive. This exploitation mirrors the feudal systems of old, where the peasantry toiled for the benefit of the aristocracy.

During the BLM protests, activists targeted physical symbols of oppression, such as statues of Confederate leaders or corporate storefronts, to highlight their role in perpetuating systemic racism. Similarly, billionaires and their assets could be seen as tangible representations of economic oppression. Challenging their wealth and influence becomes not just a political act, but a moral imperative.

Property Can Be Replaced; Lives Cannot

A central argument during the BLM protests was that property destruction, while regrettable, pales in comparison to the loss of human life and dignity. Advocates emphasized that broken windows and looted stores were temporary, but the systemic violence of racism caused lasting harm.

This reasoning applies equally to the vast inequalities perpetuated by billionaires. While their wealth is often tied up in assets and investments, the broader system they uphold inflicts permanent harm on millions. People die from preventable diseases, endure poverty, and suffer from climate change—crises exacerbated by the greed of the ultra-wealthy.

If property destruction was justified in the fight against racism, dismantling the billionaires’ grip on the economy—even through radical means—can be seen as a necessary step to address systemic economic violence.

The Moral Case for Revolution

Critics might argue that targeting billionaires is an extreme position, but history shows that extreme inequality often demands extreme solutions. The French Revolution did not begin with a desire for violence, but with a demand for fairness. When the ruling class refused to relinquish power, the people acted.

Similarly, modern efforts to rein in billionaires through taxes, regulation, and redistribution have been met with fierce resistance. Wealth continues to consolidate, democracy erodes under the influence of money, and climate change accelerates due to corporate inaction. When peaceful reforms fail, revolution becomes inevitable.

The Social Contract in Crisis: Billionaires, the Social Safety Net, and Populist Backlash

America’s last Gilded Age, at the turn of the 20th century, was a time of immense inequality, where industrialists like Andrew Carnegie, John D. Rockefeller, and J.P. Morgan amassed unprecedented wealth. Yet, despite their excesses, many of these tycoons ultimately contributed to building the foundation of the modern social safety net. Their philanthropy helped fund libraries, universities, hospitals, and even reforms to improve working conditions, fostering a semblance of balance in the social contract.

In stark contrast, today’s billionaires, such as Donald Trump and Elon Musk, have not only failed to uphold this legacy but actively work to dismantle the fragile social safety net that protects millions of Americans. This erosion of the social contract risks igniting a populist backlash that could spiral into violence, including the targeting of billionaires.

The Legacy of the First Gilded Age: Building the Social Safety Net

The industrial magnates of the early 20th century, for all their faults, recognized the need to maintain social stability. Carnegie famously argued in The Gospel of Wealth that the rich have a moral obligation to give back to society. His philanthropy funded thousands of libraries and educational institutions. Similarly, Rockefeller poured millions into medical research and public health initiatives, while Ford revolutionized labor with higher wages and better working conditions.

These efforts didn’t erase inequality but served as a pressure release valve, addressing some grievances of the working class and preventing widespread unrest. Crucially, they helped create a sense of shared responsibility among the wealthy for the well-being of the nation, reinforcing the social contract.

The New Gilded Age: Destroying the Social Safety Net

Today’s billionaires, by contrast, often exploit their power to undermine the social safety net rather than strengthen it. Their actions threaten the balance that keeps society from descending into chaos.

Donald Trump: As president, Trump pushed for massive tax cuts for the wealthy while attempting to cut funding for essential programs like Medicaid, food stamps, and Social Security. His administration prioritized deregulation and corporate interests, leaving vulnerable Americans even more exposed.

Elon Musk: Musk’s relentless focus on privatization, his union-busting tactics at Tesla, and his outspoken disdain for public institutions reflect a broader trend among billionaires who prioritize profit over public good. Musk's advocacy for minimal government intervention often comes at the expense of public infrastructure, labor protections, and social services.

Unlike the philanthropists of the past, today’s billionaires frequently use their wealth and influence to attack the very systems that allow society to function cohesively. This erodes trust in institutions and widens the gap between the ultra-rich and everyone else.

The question thus becomes: should we the people allow oligarchs to continue oppressing us or should we rise up and embrace vigilante justice?

The Fraying Social Contract

The social contract—a tacit agreement between the governed and the governing—relies on a belief that society will provide some level of fairness and security for all. When the rich hoard wealth while dismantling public goods, they shatter this contract.

• Inequality: Income and wealth inequality in America are at historic highs. The top 1% owns more wealth than the bottom 90%, yet billionaires consistently lobby against policies like progressive taxation or universal healthcare.

• Public Perception: Polls show growing resentment toward billionaires. Movements like Occupy Wall Street, Bernie Sanders' campaigns, and the rise of populism on both the left and right reflect a widespread belief that the system is rigged.

• Polarization: With the middle class shrinking and essential services eroding, the sense of shared purpose that binds society together has weakened. This creates fertile ground for populist anger.

The Rise of Populist Movements

History warns us of the consequences when the social contract breaks down. In revolutionary France, unchecked aristocratic greed led to the guillotine. During the Russian Revolution, the czar and his elites paid the ultimate price for ignoring the plight of the masses.

In modern America, billionaires who undermine the social safety net risk triggering a similar backlash. While movements like Occupy Wall Street were largely peaceful, the failure of institutional reforms could give rise to more radical populist actions.

Populist rhetoric has already begun to shift from critiques of systems to targeting individuals. High-profile billionaires, from Jeff Bezos to Elon Musk, have become lightning rods for public anger. If billionaires continue to dismantle public goods while flaunting their wealth, they risk becoming scapegoats for systemic failure.

Preventing the Collapse

The solution lies in restoring the social contract. Billionaires must recognize that their wealth depends on a stable society and invest in its future. This includes:

• Supporting higher taxes on the wealthy to fund public goods.

• Strengthening labor rights and increasing wages.

• Investing in universal healthcare, education, and climate action.

• Fostering a culture of accountability rather than entitlement.

Failure to address these issues could lead to escalating populist movements, potentially turning violent. As history shows, when the people lose faith in peaceful change, they may resort to revolution. Billionaires who continue to dismantle the social safety net are, in effect, lighting the fuse.

The choice is stark: emulate the philanthropy and reform of the first Gilded Age or risk becoming the aristocracy of a second revolution.

The Next American Revolution

We are facing an existential crisis in America. I believe this is the moment America needs to decide: are we going to address the issues we face as a nation?

• Are we going to make the effort and be courageous enough to fight for what is right?

• Are we going to admit that the greed of the wealthy is out of fucking control and that as a moral Christian nation we must address this imbalance?

• Are we going to admit that the corruption of the government is out of fucking control and implement blockchain based accounting and other reforms?

Only time will tell.