Entrepreneurs, the new radicalists, are trying to capitalize on the changing times by getting a position of power in the government. Some positions are so important that they affect the livelihood of everyday citizens. No American citizen should have the ability to buy their way into such an important position in the government, as the lack of qualification leads to the creation of policies that can negatively affect the lives of millions.
Since Trump was elected president, he appointed his biggest donor, Elon Musk, in charge of the department of government efficiency. Elon Musk’s social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, acts as a form of broadcast for Trump’s plans and spreads propaganda in favor of Trump’s campaign, and has now been used to start advocating for the abolishment of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), a sector of the U.S. government that assists nations in conflict by alleviating diseases, poverty, and other crises.
In a tweet on X, Elon Musk said that USAID was an “evil” and “corrupt organization,” while Trump said that it was run by “radical left lunatics” who were getting away with “tremendous fraud.”
Physics and Chemistry Teacher Andrew Uy states, “What someone like Musk is doing is something that an elected position does. President administrations have some leeway on establishing groups within his office, but not to the point where access to sensitive information is given at the level that DOGE has gotten.” Trump entrusting Elon with government documents is unprecedented in a president’s administration, and as seen in Trump’s recent tariff decisions, Elon’s advice is uninformed and inefficient.
Theology 2 Teacher and Rugby Coach Matthew Fisher states, “You shouldn’t be able to buy your way into government. However, as Plato said in The Republic, ‘all democracy ends in Oligarchy,’ and so the ‘have’s’ controlling society at the expense of the ‘have nots’ through the leveraging of their wealth appears in the history of sedentary populations with large populations.” The system of hierarchies in which some people hold power over those who do not will always be a threat in a democratic system of government, as it is inevitable that the rich oligarchs will gain power and attempt to exploit the poor and the marginalized of their society.
It is the goal of an entrepreneur to exploit any opportunity that may come their way. Capitalism will inevitably build and concentrate wealth through the gradual gain of capital of a businessman’s investments and interests. This is the case for Elon Musk, who exploited American politics and used Trump as a boost to his public authority, subsequently gaining enough political power to obtain control over the highest position of authority in America: the President.
No one should be able to have the opportunity to “buy” their way into the government, as Musk strives only for his own self-interest and personal gain. As Musk’s lust for capital can never be satiated, we will inevitably see policies that actively favor Musk’s business practices. Musk’s rise to power shows other wealthy Americans that enough money can buy governmental and political power, which will ultimately be detrimental to the government as a whole.