Kowtowing to the King of Fear
The kowtowing of billionaires like Zuckerberg, Bezos, Altman, Soon-Shiong and even Mickey Mouse to Donald Trump is a chilling indictment of power’s moral decay. Ann Telnaes, a Pulitzer-winning cartoonist, dared to expose this disgraceful subservience in an unpublished cartoon for The Washington Post, only to see her work silenced by the very institution meant to champion free expression—owned by Jeff Bezos. This shameful episode isn’t just a blow to press freedom; it’s a stark warning to the world about the fragility of democracy when the mega-rich prioritise self-preservation over truth.
Billionaires kowtow in gilded shame,
Their power chained by trembling blame.
Not courage, but greed, ignites their plea,
To serve a man who mocks the free.
Ann Telnaes sketched their silent crawl,
Before a Trumpian statue tall.
Zuckerberg, Bezos, Altman, too—
Each figure bent, their spines askew.
Her ink revealed their sordid plight:
Groveling deep to preserve their might.
Yet Bezos, keeper of her stage,
Buried the cartoon, locked the page.
Algorithms hum a servile tune,
While freedom dies beneath their ruin.
Truth is sold in markets grim,
A bargain struck for favour slim.
The towers rise, the people fall,
The world grows silent at their call.
Tech gods cower, false and small,
Their fear the loudest song of all.
What price this cowardice they sow?
What seeds of ruin will tomorrow grow?
For every craven deal they make,
It’s freedom’s heart and soul they break.
To those who cower, here’s the plea:
Stand for truth or cease to be.
For history’s pen will scorn your name,
And write your legacy in shame.
Rolph David
Wed 8th Jan 2025 14:32
Hello Flyntland,
Thank you for sharing these thoughts—they cut straight to the heart of the matter. The erosion of democracy in favor of consolidating personal power is a terrifying reality, one that seems to grow more blatant with each passing day. We are living in a time when decisions that should safeguard collective freedom and justice are being made in backrooms, prioritising profit and control over the well-being of people.
The fear you express is not unfounded. It feels as though the structures we once trusted to protect democracy are being repurposed to serve corporate interests, creating a system that is increasingly unaccountable. This isn't just disheartening; it's dangerous.
Yet, the courage to express fear, as you have, is vital. Naming this reality—however bleak—is the first step in resisting it. I find your words to be a rallying call, a reminder that we must remain vigilant and unyielding in defense of freedom and justice. Silence only strengthens those who would trade these ideals away. Thank you for voicing this so powerfully.