Unlike historical fascism which co-opted business, today's authoritarianism is arguably a product of finance capitalism. The concentration of wealth creates oligarchs who merge with the state, trading democratic norms for deregulation and profit in a speculative, symbol-driven economy.

Even billionaires like Elon Musk are controlled because their net worth is not liquid but tied to stock prices. The financial industrial complex can threaten to crash a company's stock, leveraging the billionaire's wealth and fiduciary duties to shareholders to force compliance with its agenda.

Modern conflicts are not fought for clear victories but as a mechanism to funnel wealth from the public to military, financial, and technical industrial complexes. This framework makes seemingly illogical, perpetual wars make financial sense for a select few.

Starlink's ability to grant or revoke its service in a conflict zone directly impacts a military's command and control. By changing its policies, Starlink single-handedly gutted Russia's battlefield communications, demonstrating how private firms now control critical levers of war.

True global power operates at a structural level above daily life. A small group of people (e.g., ~150) influences global economic policy by understanding and manipulating the fundamental mechanisms of society, a reality most are unaware of.

The U.S. government cannot develop leading AI in-house primarily because it lacks the technical talent. Crucially, it also cannot compete with the massive private capital mobilized for building data centers and training models. The commercial applications are so vast that they dwarf the defense sector's budget and influence.

Power is shifting from open participation in a global market to controlling access between siloed communities (e.g., finance, tech, government). Individuals who can bridge these worlds and broker relationships, like operators on a medieval trade route, accumulate immense power and value.

The U.S. military's power is no longer backed by a robust domestic industrial base. Decades of offshoring have made it dependent on rivals like China for critical minerals and manufacturing. This means the country can no longer sustain a prolonged conflict, a reality its defense planners ignore.

The neoconservative movement gained immense influence by creating a symbiotic relationship with the defense industry. Their ideology advocating for numerous wars provided the justification, while defense contractors provided the funding for their think tanks, creating a self-perpetuating cycle of conflict and profit.