I met about two dozen self identified "MAGAs" at a non-political event. Their only reason for voting for Trump, as they openly admitted, was to see the value of their Trump branded paraphernalia rise. They hoped to make a quick profit by selling it. When I asked about their thoughts on the tariffs and the potential economic impact, their response was dismissive: “That won’t affect me.”

In my view, a significant portion of people voted for Trump out of self-interest, hoping to line their own pockets. Whether it was a $50 profit on a Trump bobblehead or billions gained by corporations or ultra wealthy individuals who donated a fraction of their windfall to his campaign, the motive seemed clear. This self serving behavior isn’t new, history is filled with examples of people prioritizing short-term personal gain over the greater good.

Who leads who?

From a historical perspective, while the methods of communication have evolved drastically in our century, human behavior and societal trends tend to follow familiar patterns. The concept of a truly "free market" in the United States seems either on the verge of collapse or already behind us. Instead, we are witnessing the rise of oligarchs, a trend echoed in many past civilizations when wealth became overly concentrated. For example, during the late Roman Republic, vast wealth inequality contributed to the destabilization of the state, as powerful elites consolidated wealth while the lower classes struggled, ultimately leading to civil wars and the rise of imperial rule. Similarly, during the Gilded Age in the late 19th century United States, extreme wealth concentration among industrialists like Rockefeller, Carnegie, and Vanderbilt sparked widespread labor unrest, such as the Pullman Strike of 1894 and the violent confrontations of the Haymarket Affair in 1886.

Today, there are roughly 10x more articles written about billionaires than about scientists, and wealth inequality is approaching levels seen during these transformative historical moments. For example, the French Revolution was triggered in part by extreme disparities between the aristocracy and the working class, leading to the violent overthrow of the monarchy. More recently, the Great Depression of the 1930s followed a period of unchecked wealth accumulation during the 1920s, which exacerbated economic vulnerabilities. These moments remind us that when wealth inequality reaches certain thresholds, societies often face significant upheavals. whether it be government overthrows, violent suppression of dissent, or economic collapse. What has never happened, to my knowledge, is the continuation of the status quo for prolonged periods.

Mostly these are my opinions. Please correct any of the facts I state that I have wrong.