The U.S. government is shelling out a whopping $2.7 billion to three companies in an effort to strengthen domestic uranium enrichment, amid surging electricity demand from AI data centers.
The Department of Energy announced on Monday that it will award $900 million each to American Centrifuge Operating and Orano Federal Services, as well as General Matter, a nuclear startup backed by billionaire investor Peter Thiel.
The funding will be distributed through task orders over the next 10 years, under what the department described as a “strict milestone approach.”
Just call it what it is — capitalism.
Some capitalists might argue on ideological grounds that government intervention is not a truly free market (although none would turn down government funds if offered, because they’ve sold their souls to the infinite pursuit of greed).
In reality though, most modern capitalism is crony capitalism. So the distinction loses meaning.
Cronyism implies someone with their hands on the levers of power pulling them to help their friends/accomplices, which this certainly is an example of.
tRump hands out favors to anyone who bows to him. It’s cronyism.
The reality is that never in the entire history of capitalism has there been a free market, and in fact there is nothing capitalists fear more than a truly free market.
The most successful companies inevitably become monopolies, which gives them near total control of the market, and the capitalist at the top trembles at the thought of competition arising that may unseat him. So he bribes a politician to make laws that favor him and allow him to find new ways to control the world and maintain his status. Eventually, inevitably, as is the case now, the state and the capital class become indistinguishable.
The free market is a myth, and I personally would rather have an economy that is planned for the good of the common person than the rich motherfuckers who enslave us.
In essence, I agree with you. Perhaps that just means that all capitalism is crony capitalism. It’s not that big of a distinction to my mind.
And yes, I too would much prefer an economy that’s planned for the good of the common person. Why does that feel more like a pipe dream with each passing day?
I’m sure you mean socialism, where the government picks the winners and losers? /s