Service and Sacrifice

Reflections on Memorial Day weekend

Blackstone co-founder, CEO, and chairman Stephen A. Schwarzman has stated that he will support Donald Trump in the 2024 election. With this weekend being Memorial Day, this news made me think of whether or not the billionaire class understand the sacrifice made by American servicemen in defense of the United States and democracy.

Too many ultra-rich are untethered to America. They are laissez-faire about democracy because they have the resources to relocate anywhere and live well (or so they believe).

With their security guaranteed, the government becomes a vessel to preserve vast wealth and the billionaire class’ endless resources to elect candidates that protect the wealth. They feel immune and ultimately don’t care that the U.S. is on the precipice of multiple crises.

In actuality, they are wrong. The absence of American democracy is likely *more* dangerous to them and their wealth. Property rights mean little in authoritarian regimes and instability is bad for business. It must be th…