Imagine a world where, as the influence of nation-states wanes, individuals wield power that rivals governments, unfettered by the inconvenient frictions of democratic accountability. That world is already here, and its poster man-child is Elon Musk.
Often lauded as a visionary entrepreneur, Musk is a figure who has amassed significant influence and wealth. It's crucial to dissect the narrative surrounding him, particularly regarding his privilege and the controversies that have followed him: most recently with his interference in international matters, where he has significant direct individual visibility and power over the flow of wars, information, and commerce.
He is post-national, interviewed by world leaders:
One framework to understanding his worldview and dynamic is through the lens of the book “The Sovereign Individual” Which Alister Campbell calls
“The most important book you’ve never heard of”.
Alister Campbell - But What Can I Do?
Written in the late 1990s by an American Libertarian and the Newspaper Editor father of arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees Mogg, it is a visionary book predicting everything from digital currencies to the waning power of nations and the rise of the information age.
Analysing Musk - and other post-national billionaires, through the framework of this libertarian Sibylline scroll gives a terrifying glimpse of the world he is building for us to live in.
Unpacking 'The Sovereign Individual.’
“The sovereign individuals of the information age, like the gods of ancient and primitive myths, will in due course enjoy a kind of ‘diplomatic immunity’ from most of the political woes that have beset mortal human beings in most times and places” -
The Sovereign Individual
"The Sovereign Individual: How to Survive and Thrive During the Collapse of the Welfare State" was a groundbreaking book penned by James Dale Davidson and William Rees-Mogg in the 1990s. Davidson is an American investment writer with a libertarian leaning, while Rees-Mogg was a British journalist and editor of The Times. If that name sounds familiar, it should: James was the father of Jacob Rees-Mogg, arch Brexiteer, whose motives can also be viewed and analysed through the book.
The time to buy is when there's blood in the streets.
It is the third book the two had written together. The first - "Blood in the Streets: Investment Profits in a World Gone Mad was Published in 1987, and delved into the field of investment in times of social and economic turmoil. It draws its title from the Baron Rothschild adage, "The time to buy is when there's blood in the streets." It’s 1993 sequel, "The Great Reckoning: Protect Yourself in the Coming Depression" predicted a forthcoming depression that would radically alter the global economic landscape - a 'reckoning' time of severe financial turmoil where disaster capitalists could profit.
The Sovereign Individual argues, from the point of view of the turn of the millennium that we were on the cusp of a transformational era (one we are now well into) where the Information Age will fundamentally alter societal structures. The authors predicted that technological advancements, particularly the rise of the internet and digital currencies, would empower individuals to a point where they can evade governmental control. These 'Sovereign Individuals' will be economically self-reliant and socially influential, operating almost like mini-states and beyond the power of nation-states.
The book makes 4 key predictions
1. Decline and fall of the Welfare / Nation State:
Davidson and Rees-Mogg predict that the welfare state, as we know it, will collapse, making way for a new form of social organisation that is more individual-centric. Online transactions made outside national jurisdictions will reduce tax revenues while an aging and growing population increases costs making welfare unsustainable. More porous borders will see populations move to seek welfare or avoid tax. Societal breakdown will accelerate as people are less willing to pay taxes for welfare for people they do not feel connected with.
2. Rise of Digital Currency:
They foresaw the advent of digital currencies like Bitcoin, facilitating anonymous transactions and making it increasingly difficult for governments to impose taxes. Banks, transactions, and brokerages will all be done in cyberspace, encrypted and invisible to governments.
3. Meritocracy Over Democracy:
The book suggests that the future will be a meritocracy where the "cognitive elite" will rule, rather than a democracy where everyone has an equal say. Nations will fall, and there will be a rise in sovereign entities as they fracture and balkanise. Power will de-centralise. Enclaves like city-states may re-emerge. The process that created modern nations, which they trace back to the French Revolution, will reverse.
4. Global Mobility:
The authors predict the emergence of a "world superclass" of about 500 million very rich people, of who the top 100 million would be the titular 'Sovereign Individuals,' free to move about and operate globally without being tied to any nation-state. Instead of being subject to national taxation and jurisdictions, they will instead be able to choose, as powerful consumers, which laws and taxes apply to them.
Political Influence
Naturally, the book has garnered significant attention in political circles, especially given that one of its authors, William Rees-Mogg, is the father of prominent British Tory politician Jacob Rees-Mogg. While his father's libertarian ideas significantly shape Jacob Rees-Mogg's Eurosceptic views, the book's influence extends beyond him.
There is a paradox in Brexit in that it was delivered through nationalism but has done great national self-harm - but if we consider aspirational Sovereign individuals as the hidden hands behind the disaster capitalism of Brexit a lot of things fall into place; The book's core tenets could be seen as a blueprint for politicians advocating for more libertarian, tech-driven societies, with smaller governments and little to no welfare safety clearing a path for these technocratic disaster capitalists to build a privileged over class from the rubble of nations.
Silicon Valley of the Damned
“Our politics may be led by conventional thinkers – Bill Clinton, Helmut Kohl, John Major – but our most successful businesses are led by radicals with a keen understanding of the new technological world; the archetype is Bill Gates.”
The Soverign Invididual 1997
The book's emphasis on individual empowerment, decentralisation, and meritocracy aligns closely with Silicon Valley's ethos. Startups often aim to disrupt traditional industries, bypass regulations, and in some cases, even challenge the state's role—ideals deeply embedded in the book.
Brian Armstrong: The Crypto Pioneer
Brian Armstrong, the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, has described "The Sovereign Individual" as "far ahead of its time”.
Armstrong's Coinbase is a platform that allows people to buy, sell, and hold various cryptocurrencies, effectively enabling exactly the kind of financial sovereignty that Davidson and Rees-Mogg predicted. Armstrong's endorsement of the book is particularly noteworthy given that Coinbase is often seen as a tool that empowers individuals to take control of their own financial destiny, free from the constraints of traditional banking systems.
Naval Ravikant: The Philosopher-Entrepreneur
Naval Ravikant, the co-founder of AngelList and an influential thinker in the tech world, has often delved into the philosophical underpinnings of technology and society. He has cited "The Sovereign Individual" as the second-best book he has read after "Sapiens”. Ravikant's own views on individual empowerment, decentralisation, and the transformative power of technology echo the book's themes. He has been a vocal advocate for cryptocurrencies and blockchain, technologies that embody the book's vision of a world where financial systems are not controlled by centralised entities but by individuals.
Peter Thiel: The Libertarian Tech Leader
Peter Thiel, co-founder of PayPal and Palantir Technologies, is one of the most prominent tech leaders to openly endorse "The Sovereign Individual." Thiel is a known libertarian and has often spoken about the transformative power of technology to reduce the role of the state and empower individuals. His venture capital firm, Founders Fund, has invested in companies that aim to achieve these very objectives, from space exploration to artificial intelligence. Peter Thiel and Elon Musk share a history that goes back to the early days of the internet. Both were part of the so-called "PayPal Mafia," a group of PayPal employees and founders who went on to create influential tech companies.
Musk's company, X.com, (no, not that one, an earlier one with the same name he has now given Twitter) was an online payment company that later became PayPal after a merger. Thiel was a co-founder of PayPal, which was sold to eBay in 2002 for $1.5 billion. The sale provided both with the capital to fund future ventures: Musk with SpaceX and Tesla, and Thiel with Palantir and Founders Fund.
Given their shared history and similar ideological leanings, it's not surprising that Musk has also been influenced by "The Sovereign Individual." While Thiel's libertarian views are well-documented, Musk's ventures and behaviours can be mapped against the 12 characteristics of the Sovereign individual.
The 12 Characteristics of the Sovereign Individual
The book describes a Utopia for the new class of people and a Dystopia for most of the population. They see the new aristocracy of "Sovereign Individuals" as characterised by several key traits, which they hold to be virtuous. How does Musk hold up against the characteristics?
Characteristics of a Sovereign Individual
Self-Reliance: A Sovereign Individual is highly self-reliant and does not depend on governmental structures for their well-being.
Elon Musk portrays himself as highly self-reliant, often taking matters into his own hands when he sees inefficiencies or problems that need solving. His ventures into space exploration with SpaceX and electric vehicles with Tesla are prime examples. Yet, while Elon Musk portrays himself as a self-reliant entrepreneur, his ventures have benefited significantly from government subsidies and contracts. For instance, SpaceX has received billions in NASA contracts, and Tesla has benefited from electric vehicle subsidies. This somewhat contradicts the notion of complete self-reliance, but it's certainly what he aspires to.
One of Musk's business sin qua non is “vertical integration” – making things yourself rather than outsourcing to others - so Tesla writes all its own code, for example, while other car manufacturers need other tech companies.
Technological Literacy: Mastery over technology, especially information technology, is crucial for navigating the complexities of the modern world.
From PayPal's online payment systems to SpaceX's reusable rockets and Tesla's electric vehicles, Musk has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation; though he stands on the shoulders of thousands. Musk is undoubtedly technologically literate, but his ventures often rely on the expertise of engineers and scientists who make his visions a reality. His role is often more of a visionary and business leader than a technical expert - although he portrays himself as the genius engineer brains of the outfit. His takeover of twitter also raised questions about how realistic his interpretations are - for example asking all developers to print out the last 30 to 60 days of code they worked on to show to Musk.
https://twitter.com/CaseyNewton/status/1586127052767318016
Musk's educational background and qualifications have recently come under scrutiny. While it's widely reported that he attended Queen's University in Ontario and later transferred to the University of Pennsylvania, where he earned degrees in economics and physics, these claims have been challenged. A viral tweet thread alleges that Musk has lied about his credentials for 27 years, stating he does not have a BS in Physics or any technical field. The thread claims that Musk was accepted into a PhD programme at Stanford University but dropped out, adding that he was in the U.S. illegally in 1995. The allegations suggest that investors later "quietly arranged a diploma" for him. While unproven the fact that this retrospective circumnavigation of border restrictions is plausible fits with the Sovereign Individual ideal.
Global Perspective: Sovereign Individuals are not bound by geographical limitations. They think and operate on a global scale, often leveraging multiple citizenships, residencies, and financial accounts across different jurisdictions.
There’s no doubt Musk thinks and operates on a global scale: and even has post-global interplanetary ambitions to colonise Mars. His reach impacts industries and economies worldwide. His companies like Tesla and SpaceX have global reach, and he has proposed global solutions like the Hyperloop and Starlink, a satellite-based internet service which now accounts for over half of the satellites in existence. (4,500 out of around 8000 in total)
He also has at least two, possibly three citizenships.
Born in Pretoria, South Africa, to a South African father and Canadian mother, Elon Musk initially held South African citizenship. He later acquired Canadian citizenship through his mother and moved to the U.S. for education. After starting his first company, Zip2, investors helped him secure a U.S. green card in 1997. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002. Gaining US citizenship may have lost him his SA citizenship unless he had an exemption from the SA government, but that isn't public knowledge.
Musk's actions on the global stage are a textbook example of a Sovereign Individual. Take his comments on Taiwan, for instance. He brazenly stated that Taiwan is an "integral part" of China[^8^], drawing ire from Taiwan's foreign minister. Musk's audacity to comment on international politics isn't just a PR stunt; it manifests his belief that he can influence geopolitics and that he believes he is right to do so - without reference to the democratic accountability of the little people.
Moreover, Musk's business interests in China, including a large Tesla manufacturing plant in Shanghai, further blur the lines between individual and state. Chinese officials have praised his ventures in China, highlighting how his influence transcends national boundaries: while Musk has admitted that to protect his investments in China, Twitter may be censored.
So much for being a ‘Free Speech Absolutist”.
Financial Independence: They have the means to generate income in a way that is location-independent, often through digital or online ventures.
There’s a case to be made Musk is the most financially independent person on the planet. As of 2023, Musk's net worth is estimated to be around $189.4 billion, though that's down from $300 Billion in 2021 . While Musk's father's wealth was tied to the physical extraction of resources in a specific location - his emerald mines, Musk's fortune is predominantly digital and tied to his stakes in Tesla and SpaceX with the bulk of his wealth tied to his Tesla stake, which is about 23 percent between stock and option. His purchase of Twitter, and converting it to X, is international but said to be costing him money.
Adaptability: The ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances is vital. This includes being open to new ideas and willing to discard old ones that no longer serve them.
Musk is known for his adaptability. He has ventured into various industries, from online payments to space travel, electric vehicles, and even funding tunnel digging with The Boring Company by selling flamethrowers. He's open to pivoting his companies' directions based on new data, changing circumstances and his personal whims. So Musk is adaptable but not without controversy. His impulse decisions and shifts in business strategy, often announced impulsively on social media, have led to legal scrutiny and have been viewed as irresponsible by some investors and analysts. Saying that, he may also be overly focussed on ideas he should let go - his aims to turn twitter into x.com and an ‘everything app’ including payments stem back to it’s pre-paypal iteration.
Critical Thinking: Sovereign Individuals are highly analytical and capable of independent thought. They question conventional wisdom and are not easily swayed by societal norms or government propaganda.
Critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It involves being open-minded, inquisitive, and able to think in a reasoned way. Critical thinking encompasses the evaluation of sources of information, reasoning through problems, and making well-thought-out decisions. It also involves the ability to reflect on the validity and significance of one's own and others' beliefs or opinions. As an engineer you would expect problem solvers to employ critical thinking.
Certainly, Musk often questions conventional wisdom and societal norms. This is evident in his willingness to invest in technologies like reusable rockets when most of the aerospace industry was sceptical. But while Musk is a critical thinker, his questioning of conventional wisdom has sometimes veered into the realm of conspiracy theories. The scientific community has criticised his comments on COVID-19 and vaccines. His takeover of Twitter stemmed from an ill-judged tweet that he was held to, and was marred by poorly thought through impulsive firings and layoffs, a verification impersonation fiasco, and fleeing advertising dollars.
Privacy-Conscious: A high value is placed on personal privacy, and they take measures to protect their financial assets and personal data.
Here there are a number of contradictions. Musk values personal privacy, but his companies collect vast amounts of data, raising ethical questions about user privacy. Moreover, his own use of social media often contradicts this trait, as he shares significant personal and professional updates publicly as he tries to build a cult of personality. While being a very public, and publicity-seeking, figure he is certainly more careful of his own privacy than that of others.
Musk has taken steps to prevent the public tracking of his private jet. Despite this, he did not remove the Twitter account responsible for tracking it. In a rather personal matter, Musk fathered twins with a colleague through sperm donation, a fact he kept secret even from his own partner until the birth. This raises questions about his commitment to transparency and openness, even in his personal life.
Since Musk's takeover of Twitter, the U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) has alleged that the platform has become a "chaotic environment" that may have violated a government order mandating improvements in data security and privacy practices (TechRound, 2023). The DoJ's concerns are rooted in testimonies from former Twitter employees, who questioned the company's adherence to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) orders (TechRound, 2023).
Andrew Sayler, Twitter’s former director of security engineering, testified that Musk requested to grant access to third parties without following the regular vetting process, showing a degree of disregard for security. Approximately half of X Corp's employees were terminated or resigned within weeks of Musk's acquisition, including key executives responsible for privacy, data security, and compliance. While Musk has introduced major new privacy features on Twitter, these actions are seen by some as too little, too late, especially given the platform's history of privacy concerns.
There are also privacy concerns over the possibilities of Neuralink, Musk’s brain-chips. The potential for hacking a brain-machine interface raises significant security concerns. Unauthorized access to someone's thoughts or control over their actions could have devastating consequences, while the ability to potentially read thoughts or access memories poses significant ethical challenges related to privacy and autonomy.
Ethical Flexibility: While they may have a strong moral compass, Sovereign Individuals are also pragmatists who are willing to adapt their ethical guidelines according to the situation.
To me “Ethical Flexibility” reads as a euphemism for a range of characteristics from opportunistic Moral Relativism to Machivellian situational pragmatism. Musk's ethical flexibility is evident in how he approaches business and life. While he claims to aim for lofty goals like making humanity multi-planetary, he can also be unempathetic and exploitative of the workers whose labour has built his massive wealth. Musk's ethical flexibility can sometimes appear as inconsistency or opportunism. For instance, his willingness to work with authoritarian governments for business gains has been criticized, while his willingness to take government subsidies conflicts with his beliefs that governments shouldn’t subsidise other businesses.
Elon Musk's approach to ethics is often guided by situational pragmatism rather than a fixed moral compass. Various sources have delved into Musk's ethical flexibility, painting a picture of a leader who is willing to adapt his ethical guidelines according to the situation. For instance, a Harvard Law School article scrutinises Musk's business ethics across his ventures, including Tesla and Twitter, highlighting the ethical dilemmas and controversies he has faced (Harvard Law School, n.d.).
Musk has been described as a pseudo-transformational leader, a term used to describe leaders who are primarily motivated by self-interest and can be self-aggrandising and exploitative. This is evident in his decision to lay off half of Twitter’s workforce, which led to nearly 1,200 employee resignations. The move was seen as insensitive to the needs of others and rife with unethical behaviour such as manipulative communication (Forbes, 2022).
Musk's interactions with regulatory bodies like the SEC have raised eyebrows. He has been served with a subpoena by the SEC for his social media activities, which have been described as manipulative. His infamous tweet about taking Tesla private at $420 per share led to significant market fluctuations, raising questions about the ethical implications of such a move (Chuck Gallagher, 2020). - not to mention when he tried to get out of the purchase.
His ethical flexibility is evident in his approach to AI ethics. After acquiring Twitter, Musk disbanded the company’s “Ethical AI” team, which was working on making Twitter’s algorithms more transparent and fair. This move was seen as a setback for efforts to improve AI and raised questions about Musk's commitment to ethical technology (Wired, n.d.).
Perhaps most damingly company's self-driving technology has been linked to several fatal accidents, raising ethical questions about the rush to bring such technologies to market, and there are accusations that Tesla cars have grossly overstated their range.
So while Musk may portray himself as a transformational leader with a strong moral compass, his actions reveal a more complex ethical landscape. His willingness to adapt his ethical stance depending on the situation makes him a quintessential example of a Sovereign Individual who exercises ethical flexibility, with contradictions and complexities that can’t be ignored.
Risk Management: They are skilled at identifying, assessing, and managing risks, particularly in financial matters.
While Musk is known for taking supposedly 'calculated risks', his risk-taking has often been viewed as reckless, jeopardizing not only his ventures but also investor money and even public safety in some instances. one biography is even called “Risking it all”. He often strays from conventional risk management practices, raising questions about their calculation and transparency. For instance, Musk's tweets about taking Tesla private led to an SEC investigation, highlighting the potential recklessness of his risk management strategies (CNBC, 2019).
In the early days of his career, Musk invested $12 million into X.com, his second venture, making him the largest shareholder. This was atypical for entrepreneurs of his time, who usually leveraged their success to attract other investors rather than making substantial personal investments (Shortform Books). When SpaceX and Tesla faced financial difficulties in 2008, Musk went to the extent of selling his car and other possessions to keep the companies afloat. While this gamble paid off, it underscores the high-stakes nature of his approach to risk (Shortform Books).
Musk's risk tolerance is further exemplified by his lack of safety nets. He is willing to risk his personal life, money, time, and even health to see his visions come to fruition. This mindset, although it has led to significant rewards, is a double-edged sword. It has given him an edge in his professional life but also exposes him and his ventures to extreme vulnerabilities.
Moreover, Musk's approach to risk is not universally lauded. Critics argue that his risk-taking is not always well-considered or transparent, which can lead to volatile outcomes not just for him but also for his companies and their stakeholders. For example, the Harvard Business School has scrutinised Musk's risk-taking behaviour, questioning whether it aligns with responsible business practices (Harvard Business School).
So while Elon Musk's approach to risk management has often paid off handsomely, it is fraught with potential pitfalls. His willingness to gamble big without conventional safety nets or transparent calculations makes him a polarising figure in discussions about responsible risk management: as long as his risks pay off, does that make him a skilled risk-taker?
Networking Skills: Building and maintaining a network of like-minded individuals for mutual benefit is another characteristic trait.
Musk's networking skills are strong, but his relationships seem to serve his entrepreneurial ventures more than creating a mutually beneficial network. His interactions often appear transactional, aimed at furthering his own interests.
Elon Musk has a knack for building connections with some of the most influential people in both Silicon Valley and Hollywood. His social circle includes tech moguls like Larry Ellison and Jack Dorsey, as well as celebrities such as Joe Rogan. For instance, Larry Ellison, the Oracle founder, has been a close friend and even served on Tesla's board of directors. Ellison's support extended to pledging $1 billion to Musk's Twitter acquisition, showcasing the depth of their relationship (Business Insider, 2022).
However, Musk's networking skills have also been a subject of scrutiny. While he has built strong relationships with industry leaders, some of these connections have been strained due to his business decisions. Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter, had a friendship with Musk that seemed to have soured after Musk's takeover of Twitter. Dorsey had initially supported Musk's entry into Twitter's board but later criticised some of his decisions, indicating a complex dynamic (Business Insider, 2022).
Resilience: They are not easily discouraged by setbacks and view failures as learning opportunities.
Musk is resilient but at a cost. His demanding work schedule and high-pressure environment have been cited as contributing to employee burnout and high turnover rates within his companies.
His ability to bounce back from setbacks, such as the failures of SpaceX's rocket launches or Tesla's production issues, is well-documented. However, Musk's resilience comes at a cost, particularly for those who work under him. His demanding work schedule and high-pressure environment have been cited as contributing factors to employee burnout and high turnover rates within his companies.
While Musk may work up to 100 hours a week and expect the same from his employees, this level of commitment is not sustainable for everyone. The high-stress culture has led to a revolving door of executives and employees, which can disrupt the stability and long-term planning of his ventures.
Reports have surfaced about Tesla factory workers facing harsh conditions, including mandatory overtime and alleged safety violations. This has led to lawsuits and investigations, further highlighting the darker aspects of Musk's resilience. His willingness to push boundaries doesn't just apply to technological limits but also to what is considered acceptable workplace culture.
Long-Term Vision: Sovereign Individuals plan for the long term, often considering how their actions will affect them years or even decades into the future.
Musk's long-term visions are ambitious but lack feasibility and unethically divert attention from pressing short-term issues. For example, he prioritises colonising Mars when Earth-bound problems like climate change and social inequality remain unresolved.
Musk's long-term vision for Neuralink is equally ambitious. He has claimed that the brain-machine interface will cure a wide range of conditions, from mental health issues like depression, autism, and schizophrenia to physical ailments like obesity, blindness, and paralysis. Furthermore, Musk envisions consumer features like web browsing, social media posting, and even telepathy to be possible through Neuralink. However, these claims have been met with scepticism from the scientific community, which questions the feasibility and ethical implications of such a technology.
The lack of peer-reviewed research and the speed at which Neuralink is moving towards human trials have raised concerns about patient safety and data privacy; with an expose about how maqueue monkeys have died in horrific circumstances, suffering for months: yet Musk claims he would install it in his children.
Even Musk's vision for Tesla goes beyond electric cars; according to the PR it's about transitioning the world to sustainable energy. He has plans for solar roofs, energy storage solutions, and even a Hyperloop transport system.
While Tesla has made significant strides in popularising electric vehicles, it has also faced criticism for labour practices and the environmental impact of lithium-ion batteries, for misleading statistics about milage, and safety concerns over the design of the telsa cybertruck.
Musk embodies, or aspires to embody, the ideals of the Sovereign Individual.
If he, and others, are reshaping the world into this image, what does that mean for the rest of us.
Decline and Fall of the Cyberserfs
Published in 1995 around the same time as The Sovereign Individual, Microserfs is a novel by another type of visionary, Douglas Coupland ( who coined Generation-X in an earlier novel) Microserfs were to the 1990s what McJobs were in his earlier work.
"Microserf" encapsulates the tension between the promise of technology as a liberating force and the reality of the tech industry as a new form of exploitative labour. It critiques the corporate culture that treats employees as expendable resources while also exploring the human desires for creativity, meaning, and connection. The novel itself has been credited with capturing the zeitgeist of the early days of Silicon Valley, offering a window into the lives and aspirations of those who built the digital world - the world that birthed Musk.
The term is a portmanteau of "Microsoft" and "serf," it serves as a satirical commentary on the work culture of tech companies during the 1990s. In the feudal system, serfs were agricultural labourers bound to the land and essentially owned by their lords. By coining the term "Microserf," Coupland draws a parallel between these medieval labourers and the software engineers at Microsoft, suggesting that the latter are similarly bound to their corporate lords, despite working in a field often associated with innovation and freedom.
That insight into the neo-feudalistic potential of the new technological paradigm fits disturbingly well with the world the Sovereign Individuals envision.
Characteristics of the Cyberserfs
Dependent on Traditional Structures:
Those who are not Sovereign Individuals are likely to depend more on traditional governmental and societal structures for their well-being: but at exactly the time that these welfare safety nets become unsustainable due to sovereign individuals being able to choose to be taxed away from high-tax high-benefit welfare states.
Vulnerable to Economic Shifts:
The book suggests that these individuals may be more vulnerable to economic downturns and changes in labour markets, particularly due to automation and digitisation. Like a world already on the breadline, with a zero-hours contract.
Limited Mobility:
Unlike Sovereign Individuals, who are often global citizens, the rest of the population will have limited geographical and social mobility. International travel will become prohibitively costly. As States’ borders weaken to the wealthy, Balkanisation and nationalism will try to retain a grip - only succeeding on those without the resources to be sovereign.
Constrained by Jurisdiction:
These individuals are more likely to be subject to the laws and regulations of a specific jurisdiction, with fewer opportunities to "jurisdiction-shop" for more favourable conditions.
Less Adaptability:
The book posits that these individuals may find adapting to rapid technological and social changes more challenging.
Social and Economic Inequality:
The authors suggest that the gap between the Sovereign Individuals and the rest of the population will lead to increased social and economic inequality. We are seeing this trend already with rising
Potential for Resentment and Conflict:
The book warns that this disparity will lead to social unrest, as those who are not empowered may grow resentful of the Sovereign Individuals.
Subject to Mass Solutions:
Unlike Sovereign Individuals, who can tailor solutions to their unique needs, the rest of the population may have to rely on "one-size-fits-all" solutions provided by governments or large institutions.
Lack of Financial Freedom:
Financial options may be more limited, with fewer opportunities for wealth accumulation and more susceptibility to taxation and inflation.
Cognitive Dissonance:
The book suggests that many may experience cognitive dissonance as they struggle to reconcile the changing world with their ingrained beliefs and values.
Speak Truth to Power
So, how do we rein in a Sovereign Individual like Musk? One approach could be international regulations that limit the influence of individuals in geopolitics. Another could be public pressure; after all, Musk's empire is built on public opinion and market forces.
Elon Musk is not just a billionaire entrepreneur; he is a Sovereign Individual whose influence challenges the very fabric of international politics. As we move further into the Information Age, the question isn't whether more Sovereign Individuals will emerge, but how we will deal with the unprecedented power they wield.
It's time to rethink the frameworks that govern power and influence in our world. Read "The Sovereign Individual," scrutinise the actions of influential figures like Musk, and most importantly, engage in the discourse that shapes our future.
Musk is a hypocrite, undermining governments and taxes, while benefiting from government subsidies and tax breaks for Tesla and SpaceX. This adds a layer of complexity to his alignment with the book's anti-government stance. While Musk advocates for less government intervention, his own enterprises have, at times, thrived on it.
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References
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