Marc Andreessen

And as you know, like, they've descended into their version of a civil war to try to figure that out. I hope, aspirationally, I would like them to come back to the middle. I don't know if that's where that party's going to come, but I think they have a big opportunity to do it. I think they should because it would make them more likely to win.

And as you know, like, they've descended into their version of a civil war to try to figure that out. I hope, aspirationally, I would like them to come back to the middle. I don't know if that's where that party's going to come, but I think they have a big opportunity to do it. I think they should because it would make them more likely to win.

And so I guess I would say my sincere hope for them is that they find their way back to what I would describe as some level of normality and that they themselves decide they look back on this last decade and they're like, yeah, things just went too far.

And so I guess I would say my sincere hope for them is that they find their way back to what I would describe as some level of normality and that they themselves decide they look back on this last decade and they're like, yeah, things just went too far.

Yeah, the metaphor that I use here is we're the dog that caught the bus and we got the tailpipe firmly between our jaws and the bus is dragging us down the street. And then some people think we're driving the bus.

Yeah, the metaphor that I use here is we're the dog that caught the bus and we got the tailpipe firmly between our jaws and the bus is dragging us down the street. And then some people think we're driving the bus.

It is. And then some people think we're driving the bus, right? And we're like, no, no, no, we're being dragged by it. Anyway, so I agree with everything you said. Look, our conclusion is we have to stay involved in the political and policy process for the next, you know, whatever, God willing, 30, 40 years we get to do this. Because, yeah, I think there's no going back on that.

It is. And then some people think we're driving the bus, right? And we're like, no, no, no, we're being dragged by it. Anyway, so I agree with everything you said. Look, our conclusion is we have to stay involved in the political and policy process for the next, you know, whatever, God willing, 30, 40 years we get to do this. Because, yeah, I think there's no going back on that.

And look, there are some really fundamental and critical issues that need to be thought through. And we need to be in those conversations. And we need to have a voice. We need to have a role to play. And so our plan is to, like, from here on out, we're permanently in.

And look, there are some really fundamental and critical issues that need to be thought through. And we need to be in those conversations. And we need to have a voice. We need to have a role to play. And so our plan is to, like, from here on out, we're permanently in.

Thank you, Russ.

Thank you, Russ.

So, the Iron Law of oligarchy basically says democracy is fake. There's always a ruling class, there's always a ruling elite structurally. And he said the reason for that is because the masses can't organize. What's the fundamental problem?

So, the Iron Law of oligarchy basically says democracy is fake. There's always a ruling class, there's always a ruling elite structurally. And he said the reason for that is because the masses can't organize. What's the fundamental problem?

Whether the mass is 25,000 people in a union or 250 million people in a country, the masses can't organize, the majority cannot organize, only a minority can organize. And to be effective in politics, you must organize. And therefore, every political structure in human history has been some form of a small organized elite ruling a large and dispersed majority, every single one.

Whether the mass is 25,000 people in a union or 250 million people in a country, the masses can't organize, the majority cannot organize, only a minority can organize. And to be effective in politics, you must organize. And therefore, every political structure in human history has been some form of a small organized elite ruling a large and dispersed majority, every single one.

And so basically, the presumption that we are in a democracy is just sort of by definition fake. Now, good news for the U.S., it turns out the founders understood this. And so, of course, they didn't give us a direct democracy. They gave us a representative democracy, right? And so they built the oligarchy into the system in the form of Congress and the executive branch, the judicial branch.

And so basically, the presumption that we are in a democracy is just sort of by definition fake. Now, good news for the U.S., it turns out the founders understood this. And so, of course, they didn't give us a direct democracy. They gave us a representative democracy, right? And so they built the oligarchy into the system in the form of Congress and the executive branch, the judicial branch.

But so anyway, so as a consequence, democracy is always and everywhere fake. There is always a ruling elite. And basically the lesson of the Machiavellians is you can deny that if you want, but you're fooling yourself. The way to actually think about how to make a system work and maintain any sort of shred of freedom is to actually understand that that is actually what's happening.

But so anyway, so as a consequence, democracy is always and everywhere fake. There is always a ruling elite. And basically the lesson of the Machiavellians is you can deny that if you want, but you're fooling yourself. The way to actually think about how to make a system work and maintain any sort of shred of freedom is to actually understand that that is actually what's happening.