FTA:
Ever since The Yes Men in the aughts, I’ve thought of LLCs more like a competitive non-human species, that is also trying to gobble up the resources needed by humans - clean air, clean water, etc. This is an interesting take on how LLCs might see us.
The LLCs (and the accelerationist techbro billionaires), may see any future “culling” of humanity by whatever means (war, pestilence, etc) as more like an antibiotic, killing off unwanted bacteria.
LLCs have allowed a lot of sole proprietor businesses to function with some of the legal protections and tax benefits of large companies. Almost all of them remain single-owner/employee, or at most add one or two other employees over time. Blaming the category isn’t helpful. It’s how it’s used – or rather, abused – that makes the poison.
Thank you for saying that. I was thinking something similar as I wrote my bit, but I didn’t have your clarity.
https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/16/weaponized-administrative-incompetence/#kill-all-the-lawyers
Far from than figuring out how to do terrible things without technically violating the law, Trump II is a lawless administration, prepared to violate laws, procedures, norms, and the US Constitution.
There are plenty of people of all political persuasions who respect the law, institutions, procedures, courts, and yes, even norms. Many of these people identify as conservatives – a movement with a long history of insisting that it is the home of rule-followers. Trump is the enemy of anyone who values these intangibles.
For Trump, these things are stupid games played by the weak.
Indeed. My wife’s bakery is structured as an LLC. I don’t think she would fall under “techbro billionaire.” Or if she does, she is hiding it really well.
Ladies and gentlepersons, I give you Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Meta (nee Facebook), an accused monopolist who cannot keep his big dumb fucking mouth shut.
Another great take on the crumbling edifice that is Meta and Zuck’s big flapping, dumb mouth. I wouldn’t mind watching him testify to see if it’s as toe curling as Bill Gates’ antitrust deposition which sent fear in to the hearts of the shareholders.
Just finished Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, which gives a ruthless depiction of many of Zuck’s decisions and inability to control how he interacts with people when it really matters.
https://pluralistic.net/2025/04/19/gotcha/#known-to-the-state-of-california-to-cause-cancer
It’s bad enough when companies do this to us, be they Big Tech, health insurers or airlines. But when the government takes these grifters’ side over yours – when grifters take over the government – hold onto your wallets