The Rise of the Gov-Corp Technate: How Oligarchic Ideologies are Shaping the Future

Unmasking the "Libertarian" Technocrats

Elon Musk and Peter Thiel, influential figures in the Trump administration, are often portrayed as libertarians. However, a closer look at their philosophies reveals a starkly different reality. Their brand of "libertarianism" seems to equate freedom with power concentrated in the hands of the oligarchy, a concept reminiscent of the Venetian Republic where the Doge ruled at the behest of the elite.

This raises questions about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which Musk leads. Is the name a deliberate nod to the Venetian magistrate, or simply a playful reference to Dogecoin, the memecoin Musk has frequently championed? While some attribute it to Musk's cryptocurrency antics, the symbolism of the Doge – a ruler empowered by oligarchs – is hard to ignore.

Beyond Politics: Thiel's Vision of Escape

Peter Thiel's disillusionment with democracy is well-documented. "I no longer believe that freedom and democracy are compatible," he famously declared. His vision, outlined in "The Education of a Libertarian," echoes accelerationist neoreactionary principles, advocating for an escape from politics altogether and a focus on technological advancement.

"The critical question becomes one of means, of how to escape not via politics but beyond it," Thiel wrote, dismissing the "unthinking demos" and championing a "technoplastic" future driven by capitalist innovation under a gov-corp model.

Quoting Thiel: "The fate of our world may depend on the effort of a single person who builds or propagates the machinery of freedom that makes the world safe for capitalism."

Technological Frontiers: Building a New Order

Thiel identified three technological frontiers crucial to realizing his vision: cyberspace, outer space, and seasteading. Cyberspace offers the potential for a new world currency and novel forms of community, while outer space represents the "libertarian future of classic science fiction." Seasteading, settling unclaimed oceans, serves as a stepping stone towards space colonization.

These frontiers, according to Thiel, are essential because "we are in a deadly race between politics and technology." This race, he believes, hinges on the actions of individuals who can build the "machinery of freedom" to safeguard capitalism.

Redefining Equality: The Heart of the Conflict

Technocrats and accelerationist neoreactionaries reject the notion of all men being created equal, misinterpreting the Declaration of Independence. They overlook the fundamental right to "Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness," which are equally endowed to all individuals.

True libertarianism, as articulated by Murray Rothbard, emphasizes the non-aggression axiom: no one may aggress against the person or property of another. This principle stands in stark contrast to the technocratic and neoreactionary vision of an expanded, privatized state, operating under a different name but retaining its authoritarian nature.

The Gov-Corp Technate: A New Form of Tyranny?

While Musk and Thiel criticize "representative democracy," their proposed solutions ultimately empower the state, albeit in a privatized form. Whether it's called a Technate or a gov-corp, their model represents a hierarchical power structure far removed from the principles of individual liberty.