The Social Contract: How Autocrats Stay in Power

[@foulplayer7812]

V for Vendetta summarized the Social Contract best: "He promised you order, he promised you peace, and all he demanded in return was your silent, obedient consent."

[@stanisawzokiewski3308]

And modern leaders dont even provide the order and peace

[@lusiennn]

The fact that they all agreed is representative of their mentality

[@Orandu]

Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus who, after successfully leading the Roman army against a threat, immediately resigned his dictatorship and returned to his farm, showcasing the ideal of selfless service to the republic by relinquishing power once the crisis was over. _This is the ideal._

[@lucasjleandro]

Men like that are always rare

[@Matthew10950]

Societies that demand and support that kind of man are few.

[@SusCalvin]

​@@Matthew10950 Rome supported the growth of large, concentrated land ownership. Smaller landowners are knocked out. Rome doesn't seem to perceive the client-patron relations as corruption, like we would.

[@SadisNic]

Cincinnati is named after him because it was named after Washington who was nicknamed the American Cincinnatus because he could have easily installed himself as king after the revolution.

[@Jack-e5t]

now imagine being dumb enough to reelect the polar opposite of that.

[@MM22966]

I remember when Egypt came apart during the Arab Spring. Mubarak ran the place like his own personal fief for 30 years...but the second they couldn't afford the government subsidized grain dole and gasoline, things went upside down overnight.

[@SusCalvin]

Mubarak fell when the army stopped protecting him. The army itself did not go away. After a time of Brotherhood elected rule, al-Sisi and the army are back.

[@MM22966]

@@SusCalvin I know that. I was talking about the initial spark.

[@alexandru5369]

Yep Government subsidies only work in the short term they always end up backfiring in the end one way or another

[@Anklebreaker9]

Mubarak fell because the autocrats let him fall to appease the ppl, then shortly after took it back from them like candy

[@kukuc96]

Same story for how to Soviet block fell apart. The social contract was that the quality of life will keep increasing at a good rate, in exchange for leaving the status quo of power in place. However the Soviet style economy couldn't perform well enough to keep the wealth and quality of life increasing, and they could only plug the holes with government debt for so long. Once the 80s rolled around, and even through the Iron Curtain it was obvious that the west is leaving the east behind the days for the regime were numbered.

[@sdgsuperstar]

Autocrats often build support by offering economic favors or patronage to key groups-military, political elites, or even parts of the population in exchange for loyalty. In this way, the social contract becomes transactional: individuals or groups are given economic benefits (jobs, subsidies, or protection) in exchange for political support. This system of clientelism helps maintain the ruler's power by ensuring a network of loyal supporters who benefit from the regime's continued rule. This economic dependency creates a form of control where people feel bound to the ruler, not necessarily because they agree with the ideology, but because their livelihood depends on the autocrat’s continued leadership.

[@Anklebreaker9]

Yes this is exactly how the syrian regime was except it added a spice of sectarianism and blood hahaha

[@tomasbickel58]

CGP Grey made a nice Vid about this: The Rules for Rulers kzbin.info/www/bejne/qITXfWqknrdqndU .. hence the dictator can never "work" for the people, it's inherent of the dicatorship.

[@winzyl9546]

Thats not unique to autocrats, thats how power is built. Democratically elected officials promise people policies that would benefit their livelihood in exchange for their support.

[@AdamtheRed-]

The term "gangster handshake" coming from a British person is possibly the most hilarious thing I'll hear all week. Thank you, Simon!

[@Det6x]

Posh

[@jejbsh2191]

Commie go home

[@howhigh0521]

He’s not wrong tho. Dude gives good daps😂

[@MrSteveok2522]

Must be American. Thinking they could be the only ones with gangs😅

[@beanpasteposts]

Top Boy

[@ryanjeanes5253]

Y'all ever notice that that Xi guy looks like Winnie the Pooh?

[@MM22966]

Barely.

[@nikolaideianov5092]

[Comment deleted by CCP national police]

[@negativeindustrial]

@@MM22966 Barely? He looks like he’s filming a live action Winnie The Pooh reboot.

[@EverydayCanadianMan]

-50 social credit

[@Chris_Fer]

Social credit - 1000

[@arcturionblade1077]

You should cover the recent unaliving of the United Healthcare CEO and the deterioration of America's social contract.

[@tealkerberus748]

This. An oligarch who has caused uncounted deaths in order to get rich, got some of his own back. Is it going to be the start of a trend? Who's going to be next?

[@mark.J6708]

​@@tealkerberus748 smells like a warning shot for a trend to me...

[@taln0reich]

yeah, it does feel like the american social contract is unravelling. This should be worrying for anyone interested in a United states that isn't collapsing, because having a widely accepted social contract is kind of the basis of a functional society.

[@MMail1984]

​@@tealkerberus748 one can only hope my dear friend. Not celebrating, but forcing these guys to look over their shoulders before they make any of their horrific decisions has been LONG overdue.

[@SusCalvin]

​@@tealkerberus748I thought this was the reason US billionaires increasingly surround themselves with security details worthy of a minor head of state. By comparison, my PM visited my town and had four visible security police members between them and random people walking right into a community center lobby from a metropolitan bus junction. They kept an eye on the people lining up to shake hands.

[@nnkk7742]

Those in power need to live in fear. When they stop fearing, they need to stop living.

[@pinerider19]

Hello V. It’s been a long time.

[@larkop6504]

Like this take, must remember it.

[@IncontenentiaButtux]

If those in power live in fear, they are to act upon it. If those in power are acted upon in fear, fear will be the one to rule the people.

[@larkop6504]

@IncontenentiaButtux Fear already controls society without the people acting on the leadership. It's because the people live in fear they are afraid to act against leadership which is exactly what leadership wants

[@IncontenentiaButtux]

Don't be so trivial in your thinking.

[@SusCalvin]

To quote Patrick Boyle, definitely not a critic of the crown prince. "The Line, the city that ensures you are always the maximum distance from where you want to be."

[@sumdude4281]

Luigi is trying to wake us up in the U.S. The social contract has broken down here.

[@anotherbacklog]

You don’t get healthcare, but you get democracy You maybe homeless, but you get democracy You can’t afford food and electricity, but you get democracy Ever wonder why democracy in Rome and Greece eventually goes autocratic?

[@DaveE99]

@@anotherbacklog democracy requires sortition not electoral politics otherwise the autocrats and elites just buy influence directly and indirectly

[@DaveE99]

The U.S. itself dosent even spread democracy because democracy was just a useful propoganda game they could manage.

[@Lynn.-_-.]

​@@anotherbacklog The U.S. isn't that much of a democracy....

[@robeagleR]

"The Social Contract" is present in basically every Society , Including the United States.

[@maccurtis730]

The social contract in America is what will happen to the economy if it fails under Trump's watch, and so will Donald Trump.

[@ZhouMama69420]

You are absolutely correct! That being said, I think the point of this video is to illustrate how this contract can be misused to prop up autocrats.

[@BTM666-t7r]

​@@maccurtis730at least make a coherent sentence.

[@pr0xZen]

​@@maccurtis730I dunno man. Great effort has largely succeeded in isolating Trump from any consequence of all social, civil, political and criminal wrongdoing. So there's no real way of telling how this turns out, whether it overall goes decently well involving improper means and process, or it goes to sh1ts. There's not really much presedence if any for this situation, within such a particular context. Possibly the closest related comparison would be Stalin, or Saddam Hussein (please note; talking current points in positions here, not endgame states) - and that alone speaks volumes of how much of this mess is actually, genuinely unprecedented.

[@mr.ch4rli3_]

Hence the current state of the United States of 'Murica

[@kieronparr3403]

Being a dictator seems like a lot of stress.

[@mr.x817]

Better than being a 4yrs to 5yrs president who can’t achieve anything significant without parliament or congress.

[@kieronparr3403]

@mr.x817 I'd just hate to be inside politics. It's just a game you can't win really.

[@makisekurisu4674]

@@mr.x817 Actually that's better since you don't have your neck on the line at least if you fail.

[@SusCalvin]

Retiring as a dictator is hard. How do you take all the power of the state, give it to someone else and hope they don't do you in. Some turn into dynasties, you keep it in the family. Others set up the most loyal party bloke they can find. Or you can just never retire.

[@SusCalvin]

​@@mr.x817As a dictator, you need to fear a palace coup. You can set up your elite Republican Guard to keep you safe, but they will have a lot of ways to undermine you too.

[@checkthestache]

Such important reporting. We need you now more than ever!

[@Twotom1]

Thanks!

[@palundra82]

This is a very realistic and truthful analysis of the political stage in Russia, bravo! Even the younger generation (20-30 y.o.) openly say that politics is a very complex thing and "should be left to handled by the wiser men in Kremlin". Pathetic.

[@zawadmuttaqi5597]

Warographics out here dropping another banger🔥

[@Chillyraider]

Warfronts ❤

[@drbuckley1]

"Freedom of choice Is what you've got. Freedom from choice Is what you want." DEVO

[@matthewharper7333]

Not everyday you see a Devo quote

[@DC-ru5xz]

Love how you make my uni lectures come to life, thanks Simon + team!

[@felman87]

Congrats on hitting a million subs, right as Assad goes down.

[@Grunt-lb7vx]

New rule we need here in USA. Corps can’t engage in politics (like funding anything political like lobbying) then you will see amazingly great things this in USA

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

Too late for this rule. Corporations are literally in the White House slated to run newly minted government agencies and replacing many government branches. 😅

[@SusCalvin]

@@Grunt-lb7vx I prefer open industry interest groups. If a bloke from the chamber of commerce says a thing I can meet it. Then you have a bloke openly speaking for dairy producer interests or something, and everyone can easily understand that this is no neutral voice. But if the chamber of commerce astroturfs a "tax payer movement" that suddenly springs out of nowhere and has fewer members than funding, that's harder to pick out.

[@jvang2293]

It's far too late for that. Corporate control was has been a foundation since the beginning.

[@elchinas]

Citizens United vs. FEC pretty much destroyed any prospects that may happen in the USA. The people elected to legislate in both houses, be they dems or republicans, are essentially bought by lobbyists of corporations and interest groups. People who aspire to run for office who do not fall in line get maligned and outgunned with big money, and any mildest attempts to introduce campaign finance reforms get shut down immediately. The only way this can change is if enough people see through the cultural and identity wars propagated by both parties to divert public attention from real problems, and come to understand that the current state of electoral financing alone causes many of the livability issues in the country. They then have to mobilise en masse to demand campaign finance reforms be implemented. Such reforms will at the very least need to require donations to be capped at a limit, and that all donor identities to be disclosed in the public domain.

[@Grunt-lb7vx]

@@jvang2293 it was not, it started mostly after the fed reserve which of course its anything but federal

[@lokensicarius9347]

Love how with western social contracts its a mutual understanding that violence will happen if it isn't respected, yet when its not pearl clutchers act upset and confused when the peasants lash out. 🤣

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

Ignore them. There’s no pearl clutching and confusion when the poor die. That’s what they feel is acceptable collateral. That’s the status quo. But when people like THEM die, then oh my goodness! They want everyone to lose their minds and be upset and condemn it. Oh please.

[@larkop6504]

As far as I'm concerned the social contract was broken during the plandemic and will never be repaired as they are taking their power grabbing to new depths.

[@ZombiePepperoni]

This is because people have been tricked by propaganda that peace brings change.

[@HoundMonkey]

16:24 The Line is pure fantasy and will never be more than a pipe dream.

[@gandalf_1738]

Love the Philosophy at the first half but definitely didn't expected it

[@saphna2095]

i hope history won't forget Navalny

[@JangoFett148]

Easy, Become chancellor, have a war between 2 factions while being secretly in charge of both, and then become The Senate.

[@bowathand]

Watching Russia's authoritarian social contract slinkying its way down the basement stairs into the abyss of despotism has been informative for the 21st century observer

[@mapratt]

Too bad the USA doesn't appear to be learning from it

[@jvang2293]

​@mapratt so true. How the hell am I supposed to explain to grandkids that Emperor Trump came to power because of Podcasts and the great Hawk Tuah crash of 2026?

[@clocksurfer]

It will happen much faster in the United States under Trump.

[@badart3204]

Russia inherently requires authoritarianism. It is a multiethnic empire akin to Austria Hungary that has managed to remain alive through tanks and blood. It lost much of its Empire in 1991 which bruised the Russian people’s ego which resulted in what we see in Ukraine

[@jvang2293]

@badart3204 So the Russian people are just dumb and need a daddy?

[@SusCalvin]

The CCP has adapted a sort of mandate of Heaven. The party rules wisely it claims, and only through its stable stewardship can the nation continue to prosper. There is still a long upwards road ahead. The party is extremely paranoid about any sort of social movements outside the party. You can be an ineffective, disgruntled individual but not in an independent union, church, party etc. The central government does an old thing where problems are blamed on "bad barons" in local levels.

[@badart3204]

Social contract theory and Mandate of Heaven are identical

[@prw56]

It is so frustrating to see people parrot the fake poverty stat in china, they've redefined the poverty level over there to pretty up the number. Its much higher than 13% if a more honest definition of poverty was used.

[@tgst1-t8m]

How do you define it? I know nothing in China can be trusted, but there is an argument that a very very good chunk of China's population are likely not the types who interact with the economy much in rural areas, and are relatively self sufficient. Those people are "poor", but I don't know if they are poor in the way the honest definition would define them. I doubt many of those people want change. It's higher almost certainly, but with a population like China, spread across such a huge land mass, with almost certainly a hundred different cultures, you have to be careful or else you'll end up like the U.S. did in Afghanistan, not realizing the rural lifestyle is what a good chunk of the population wanted. If you live off of the land and rarely interact with the global economy, your definitely poor, but not in the way I think you are trying o present it.

[@SusCalvin]

​@@tgst1-t8mSubsistence farming is a very typical definition of poverty. Manual agricultural labour is not very nice. China is a bit above that, but the new wealth is largely concentrating in the cities.

[@christopheroliver8762]

To be honest, Western countries have done this too. The UK redefined poverty about 10 years ago, and the then Conservative government boasted at how they had magically reduced poverty, despite having actually increased it by any honest metric.

[@SusCalvin]

@@christopheroliver8762 The party is a lot worse. Even basic statistics are secret. They routinely delay and deny collaboration on SARS, covid etc.

[@elchinas]

If you have any understanding of the concept of PPP (Purchasing Power Parity) then you may begin to comprehend why it has a low poverty rate. Sure, Chinese incomes remain low in nominal terms when compared to countries like the US, Germany etc. but that does not take into account the costs for goods and services needed to maintain a basic living standard there. Chinese citizens are simply able to live decently at a fraction of the cost that is required for, let’s say, an American or someone from Western Europe does. There are good reasons for that - China is the world’s factory. Its capacity to manufacture anything from low end to high end, components to finished products means there is little need for imports. Couple that with highly comprehensive and efficient supply chains that have been honed and refined through the years-buttressed by the vast networks of high speed rail, motorways and other infrastructure systems that were built in the past 30 years-means little costs and time are wasted each step along the way, from product design to the doorsteps of consumers. Just think, a good 90+% of everything we use, from simple plastic tools to home appliances to smartphones to EVs, is made, or at least have a significant percentage made, in China. The Chinese can obtain the same goods without the need to pay for the transportation, tariffs and other costs associated with import/export, which make up a good chunk of the amount one sees on price tags. Then there is the brand premium aspect; the same manufacturing and supply chain infrastructure that makes products for the international brands we recognise can easily be modified and adapted to manufacture for Chinese brands, which usually command only a fraction of the premium that people pay for international brands, which often slap on price premiums multiple times the costs of production. Physical items aside, Chinese citizens also have close to free access to public education, healthcare and social services, all of which are improving by the day. Finally, China does not have the problem of inflation much of the west is dealing with. The country’s massive investments into renewable and nuclear energy production means the country relies less on energy imports; and whatever energy imports required to fulfil remaining demand is acquired from nearby oil and gas producers like Kazakstan, Russia etc., via pathways that are not impacted by war, thus keeping China’s cost for the energy required to keep the economy and industries going low while Europe’s skyrocket. In fact, Russia is forced to sell its gas to China (and other nations that have no beef with the country, like India) more cheaply now as Europe stopped buying gas from it due to sanctions. I will just finish with this - it is difficult for one to comprehend China’s extent of poverty reduction if you do not have a good understanding of the country and its development trajectory -which can be hard to gain for anyone living in the west due to selective reporting and negative portrayal by its governments and mainstream western media. (E.g. this video only quoted negative headlines from sources like BBC and Politico, both sources that are known to parrot narratives of the western ruling elites without offering any other viewpoints and nuances) Only those who had seen China fifteen twenty years ago and recently in person can fathom the scale and pace of the comprehensive improvement in people’s living standards.

[@beagle_uah]

Cannot wait to see part 2 of this guy’s video on the new Syria situation… this is gonna be fascinating

[@leeannmcdermott8313]

Congratulations on 1 million subscribers 🎉🎉🎉

[@Durp-E-Derp]

Daaaaamn bots are quick at striking

[@meickler]

Oh hell yeah they are the (New T-8000) 🤖👽

[@oxylepy2]

Gosh darn bunghole pic bots. Ruining like 80% of channel's comment sections within 2 seconds of a new video

[@user-jg6bd7se8u]

My alarm goes off at the same time everyday. Botty Botman.

[@longdongjon1201]

You're literally the first bot to react...

[@ftffighter]

4:45 out of all the burns Putin has gotten during his reign, that one hit the most. That little girl knew the monster who was standing behind her... P.S. Congrats!! 1k to a Milli baby!!!

[@lordMartiya]

Social contracts have always existed, Hobbes just named them. China was quite explicit with the Mandate of Heaven... That could be revoked if the ruler isn't doing a good job, resulting in the people rebelling and putting someone else on the throne.

[@Bagledog5000]

Good luck doing that in today’s China.

[@lordMartiya]

@Bagledog5000 While peasant rebellions are the starting point, overthrow of the ruling dynasty always involved one or more military insurrections (the fall of the Qin Dynasty, in particular, was spectacular for just how many troops they FORCED into defecting through their murderous laws. One of the people that deserted for his own safety ended up founding the Han Dynasty). So the fall of the PRC just needs to wait until the People's Liberation Army joins in.

[@nickjennings8757]

“A party of crooks and thieves” you talking about any particular party, or all of them? 😂😂😂

[@seanwilson9985]

999k subs almost to 1 million good job dude.(please keep being the host)

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

Over 1 million now!

[@devilpupbear09]

The problem with loyalty to a cause, is that the cause will ALWAYS betray you

[@daftlad526]

Fantastic video. I really enjoyed that, well done

[@simonsteele3312]

My name is simon too! 😂😂😂😂 I enjoy all of the content. Warfronts is one of the only no spin coverages of world events there is.

[@michaelhowell2326]

I thought the World Cup series decided they weren't going to hold anymore tournaments in an alcohol-free desert after the last debacle?

[@SusCalvin]

@@michaelhowell2326 Nope. FIFA can probably not go to Russia as easily due to sanctions. But there are none on the Saudis. It's also easier for dictatorships to host impopular world championships when the population might want other things than a mouldering, empty arena. Building these things is easier when you can pour resources into them or force locals to vacate.

[@michaelhowell2326]

@SusCalvin what do sanctions on Russia have to do with anything about the World Cup? What I was talking about was the last World Cup where the UAE reneged on the alcohol just hours or days before the event when they had told everyone it was cool. Most of the world that went were pretty upset about the lack of booze. At the time, fifa or whoever, said that that weren't going to do another one in dry desert.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

@@michaelhowell2326 UAE? The last world cup was hosted by Qatar.

[@SusCalvin]

@@michaelhowell2326 Russia has tried to host international sport events as well, like in Sotchi.

[@michaelhowell2326]

@@MatthewTheWanderer for all intents and purposes it's the same thing. I don't really keep up with soccer.

[@BrandonDenman]

Damn, that was a pretty gangster handshake

[@douglasvoncannon3073]

The social contract in the US ends if the government can't send out social program checks for 90 days.

[@Theboyfromjupiter]

Soooo basically the "fine print" of a contract...but there is no contract

[@TheStephaneAdam]

Exactly that.

[@DigitalSapient]

As a digital anthropologist I liked how you introduced the social contract concept at the start. Maybe they ought take a Rousseau approach? Oh, right.

[@patrickhenry7721]

Whether explicit, implicit or hypothetical the social contract cannot withstand serious scrutiny.

[@thunderwing2124]

*Singapore has subscribed*

[@systemchris]

Probably the longest running mostly free pseudo democracy, with one party... Japan occasionally gets a change in government but never in Singapore lol

[@TheGolden_A]

Great Video, the examples really bring home the idea.

[@mthdscrd]

REALLY GOOD EPISODE

[@PineappleSquuid]

Almost a million subs! Congrats guys!

[@nickortemeier]

1M… congrats, Simon.

[@experiment8230]

Incredibly well timed video

[@SusCalvin]

Saudi citizens are still promised that they will not have to do hard work. That's for guest workers. The low tax and generous benefits now also apply to foreign investors. Outsiders can place money in the kingdom.

[@TheGelatinousSnake]

Instead of a line city… imagine a Canal. Dig Wide, Dig Deep and Dig Far. Dig it as far inland as you can. Once built, it supports any kind of prosperity pursued. Prosperity on the back of cheap shipping whatever needs to be brought in or shipped out. And the tiny bit of increased rainfall also aids prosperity.

[@highbrass7563]

Cheers from Hamilton Ontario Canada

[@Matthew10950]

Cheers to the mighty Hamiltoe!

[@AfricanSouljaBoy]

Right on time, just as Assad is loosing his grip on power in Syria.

[@MatthewTheWanderer]

And... now he's gone!

[@TrineDaely]

Medvedev blocked me on xitter, I can't directly pick on him now. 😂

[@dunk7073]

Well one things for sure, once u give up your freedom; depending on how strong its population control is, the chances of getting it back are uncertain and indefinite.

[@punkhop23]

Hence why the second amendment was crucial, and why everyone should serve in their national guard.

[@douglasvoncannon3073]

Murica!

[@MayTheOddsBeInYourFavor]

@@punkhop23you ever watched Civil War? I figure that’s where we’re headed with your national guard remark. These people won’t relinquish power easily.

[@vincenthickey8622]

Fascinating. People have to learn to understand this.

[@Jayjay-qe6um]

"In every real democracy, magistracy is not an advantage, but a burdensome charge which cannot justly be imposed on one individual rather than another. The law alone can lay the charge on him on whom the lot falls. For, the conditions being then the same for all, and the choice not depending on any human will, there is no particular application to alter the universality of the law." -- Jean-Jacques Rousseau, The Social Contract or Principles of Political Right. Book IV

[@HillelAlon]

Thanks Simon!

[@BMWE90HQ]

Did he say China is contributing to a reduction in coal use? They start a new coal plant almost every week!

[@Anton43218]

I have question. As I am romanian and our dictator did the same to us in the past, how would this social contract apply to north koreans? They barely get to survive and if even one of them tries to escape the whole family up to several generations gets imprisoned in a labor camp. It's citizens starve while Kim spends lavishly on the military despite no pushes for modernization. What do you think?

[@Bagledog5000]

Kim’s social contract is most likely “I’ll keep you safe from those American bastards!” or something along those lines. It doesn’t matter that nobody in the West is planning on invading N. Korea in the first place, as long as the people there believe it, Kim’s good to go.

[@SusCalvin]

@Anton43218 Juche started out as relatively normal revolutionary marxism-leninism, back with the first ruling generation of Kims. Juche today stresses extreme isolation and autarky. The world outside is full of threats that can only be kept at bay by closing ranks around the benevolent rule of the Kim dynasty. Juche is heavily nationalist, more than the original marxist-leninist ideas.

[@davidrossa4125]

North Korea has a three tier caste society called the Songbun, based on how involved people were in taking power. The upper caste is are around 25% of the population and they do not want to loose their status.

[@Alex-hu5eg]

It doesn't apply. I've been to romania in the late 80-s and there wasn't a contract like that. There was only fear.

[@Anton43218]

@@SusCalvin ok, but what does the ordinary citizen get out of not rebelling? They will live poor lives working with highly outdated and defective tools just to squeeze something out of the ground and maybe feed themselves most of it going to the government.

[@OmegaMTG]

01:00 No thanks on having power. I'd make Temujin look like a monk.

[@SamIAm10262]

At least you're self-aware!!

[@ignitionfrn2223]

0:55 - Chapter 1 - Origins & political theory 3:05 - Chapter 2 - Big bad Vlad ; king of the social contract 10:50 - Chapter 3 - MBS ; crown prince of the social contract 19:15 - Chapter 4 - Xi; chairman of the social contract

[@TheArtofFugue]

Assad fell, we need an update on Syria Simon! This is a huge thing.

[@kingpest13]

Ive been saying this for ten years at least. They tell me that a countries economy cant be run like a household economy...but its not 100% different. When you build a house you build it sturdy enough to last at least a lifetime. You don't then go in and start plucking away anything you are not using at the time. Its been inanimate items that have been neglected and the focus of the "cost cutting" for profit game. Now its the people who are getting the ax. Rents are sky high and pay is slowing dropping for everyone from middle management and below. The glee we see because of the CEO getting murdered shows clearly hiw fed up people are. Thing is the cops are regular people too. Stop looking, your countrymen are ok with it.

[@sethduffey9538]

Good one sir.. And just a side note you seem to be channeling James Bond in the attire and such.. Cheers

[@Ludicanti]

Really. What a nice advice.

[@claireconolly8355]

What about Machiavelli? He wrote all about this, earlier? (Please correct me if I'm wrong)

[@TastySlowCooker]

11:29 how many senses of the word juggernaut are there

[@nickolasthefrog]

How many channels does this guy have and how can I get him off my feed for good?

[@micahistory]

At least we have no autocrats anymore right? Right? (Also feel free to name any below)

[@DansilSchroeder]

The entire united states government is an autocratic system :3

[@roscojenkins7451]

I say to ignore the fact that the presidents are different people. Think of them as the same person. And look at decisions they make. It's almost like regardless WHO is in power doesn't matter and they would just do the same things regardless ​@@DansilSchroeder

[@UniDeathRaven]

Look up all USA presidents bloodline, you will surprised at how deep rabbit hole goes..

[@Nick-gj6je]

What’s crazy about Chinas real estate boom is they technically do not own the land under the property, the CCP does. People can purchase a “lease” on the land from the government which have ~30 year terms.

[@deveshpandey-uc2dd]

Aa rhe hai ya nahi videos bahut dekh liya hai

[@tommiefunk2099]

Another bid for "The Art of War: Geneva Conventions."

[@aodmank21]

Brilliant vid

[@djb3389]

That handshake was lit tho

[@mayoite160]

you should cover some recent dictator downfalls and the aftermath

[@apeiceofgarbage9848]

Damn that was a hella good handshake

[@oomreni5820]

It is important to remember that the social contract extends past autocrats. It is the foundation of the nation state.

[@Hidfhjccbxcbhc]

If Venezuela is so rich on oil and gas, why are they suffering so terrible, the civilian and civil society should unite and toppled the greedy autocrat Nicolas maduro.

[@rennkafer13]

Well there was that removal of firearms from private hands... makes it a lot more difficult to overthrow the folks with a monopoly on arms.

[@Bagledog5000]

@@rennkafer13 I’d be willing to bet a cool million dollars that a person couldn’t Rambo their way through the US Air Force, Army, Navy, and Marines on their home turf, no matter how many ARs they and their buddies have. Remember the “standoff” a while back at the welfare ranchers place.? Two Apaches at night could have routed the whole bunch within a matter of minutes, if the US government had the same policies as China’s did at Tiananmen.

[@tkm238-d4r]

Similar to other countries in the region, it's very much a 50-50 society. These countries had their share of left wing and right wing populists long before Trump. There are no shortage of Chileans and Argentinians defending military rule. So once a regime is established, it can more or less count on the slightly >50%.

[@curiosity_yesiam]

because maduro isnt smart

[@slayer1156]

The social contract has been broken for many years, it's just ol brutal repression and 21st century methods of social control and manipulation.

[@WinterWasteaway]

New Warographics Dropped❗️❗️

[@scottparker1741]

Which one?

[@Jameywells777]

So this is how Simon does it.

[@JoeRogansForehead]

What I don’t understand is how anyone had the money to buy the state assets if they couldn’t have private property

[@SusCalvin]

In Russia? They usually went for cheap. Suddenly gaining control of these raw material companies and other perks catapulted people who had been minor entrepreneurs rapidly.

[@Thestuffonmainstreet]

They basically bought them all on credit from the state. And who got those loans were those who had money to bribe the right officials.

[@gridlock9127]

The money came from the US. Russian names US banks.

[@SusCalvin]

@@Thestuffonmainstreet A lot of these guys started out with a relatively humble business or a position in the "middle class" of the old Soviet system. That's why people joked about Prigozhin being a caterer turned warlord.

[@UniDeathRaven]

USSR had underground economy where a lot of party rulers had shit load of money.

[@Rydonattelo]

The UK as a social contract to keep the monarchy in power. Even if its a parliamentary democracy. The British citizens by popular mandate allow them to remain in power. If that ever changes drastically then the monarchy would be out.

[@rolandohiebert2144]

The UK needs the monarchs back on wheel, considering where democracy has led the country.

[@Rydonattelo]

@rolandohiebert2144 Yes. Democracy is weak and decadent. The party system only allows for short term thinking where most things are reversed once a new party steps in. Direct Democracy is also terrible. Governing through referendum is an awful way to make decisions

[@worldwanderer91]

​@@rolandohiebert2144 You really want Charles and Carmila to directly rule the country?

[@niningsetia4213]

Murdering level primary' Cuaks 😂😂😂

[@IvorySugumar]

Don't work for money; make money work for you. Invest wisely today to create the freedom you desire tomorrow...

[@chryscreech]

Many new tra-ders face challenges without proper guidance. I found success by learning from James Clark's expertise.

[@thesearethefables]

​@@chryscreechexactly that's why I always seek Mr J Clark's guidance in all I do 😊

[@MrJohn-zb2bi]

I recently sold half my tech stock holdings due to all-time highs, leaving me with $400k. Should I invest in ETFs now or wait for a market correction considering potential inflation?

[@AudricEnriquez]

Celebrating a $30k stock portfolio today from a $6k start. Investing wisely has given me time for family and future plans.

[@bayhunter6]

From $37K to $45K that's the minimum range of profit return every week I thinks it's not a bad one for me, now I have enough to pay bills and take care of my family.

[@stancil83]

Imagine it. You already don't know enough to make a solid decision so you take the deal. Now you know even less. Never sacrifice your freedoms. Because anybody who's ever asked for anything has never asked just once.

[@belaythisorder]

Small correction: Vlad is not the diminutive of Vladimir. Vladimir would be shortened to Volodya (3:03)

[@theshi3152]

Should cover capitalism's Social contract.

[@cicichambers3887]

Vision 2030 and project 2025.... I wonder how those two run parallel to each other

[@SusCalvin]

Vision 2030 outlines MBS ideas for a Saudi Arabia emerging as a high tech and industrial power. It does not detail a kingdom without absolute monarchy. It has bits like state investment, tourism, a friendly investor environment, easing out welfare etc.

[@StevenT-33]

There will always will be a ruling class as there always has been. Stratification in civilizations is an element not something to be hated, purged, or to be oppressed by. We must have a healthy relationship with eachother they need us and we need them.

[@joeycampbell940]

Yeah that Chinese poverty level is way higher in reality.

[@SitioLumbia]

Politics is very complex and full of dilemma.

[@SuzkoSuge]

The issue with the Social Contract right now is not in autocratic regimes, it's in systems that call themselves "democratic" and don't give a F about it.

[@mymemesarestale9152]

I think a thorough look through asaads prison is something that need to be publicised.

[@MikeJackson690]

Simon, why are you presenting all of KZbin?

[@BrotherDark]

18:19 the writers cooked mr whistler served

[@DS91284]

As soon as I saw who was doing the VO I stopped. 😂😂😂

[@robb1324]

Released on the night the Assad regime fell 🤣 They had this vid in their pocket just waiting.

[@Teddy143Fresa]

I think the ideas around "the social contract" lose something imperative when framed as Putin's, ect. Perhaps not, however philosophers weren't trying to explain how a government got in power. But why we came up with governing power's.

[@ironeleven]

Fun fact: As of 2022 MBS owns Japanese video game company SNK, of Metal Slug and King of Fighters fame.