this post was submitted on 10 Jan 2025
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Google is the latest California-based tech giant to make a major donation to President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, which will take place on Jan. 20, or Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

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[–] AngryRobot@lemmy.world 16 points 2 days ago

These stopped being donations long ago and have be ome open bribes.

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 125 points 3 days ago (2 children)

So... we're just doing blatant bribery out in the open now?

Cool. Cool, cool, cool.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 82 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

The Supreme Court, who are corrupt and take bribes, ruled that bribes are legal. Also that even if they weren't, the law doesn't apply to the President.

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (1 children)

This still doesn't fall within their rules. The bribe has to be paid after service for it to be legal.

So for example, if you're a purchasing agent for the army and you have to buy new canvas tents. A manufacturer could tell you if you make the award, they will personally pay you $20 per tent purchased. But they supposedly can't come with 20k in hand and say here you go! Now I get the award for 10,000 tents.

[–] kautau@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

You’re correct, this is the even better kind of legal bribery: lobbying. “Donating” to a cause for favorable rulings later

[–] chronicledmonocle@lemmy.world 60 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Anybody who thought any corporation is going to "do the right thing": Exhibit A why we've been telling you that's fucking wrong all this time.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 12 points 2 days ago

Anybody who thought any corporation is going to "do the right thing":

These same bootlickers did not need a union until google started laying them off...

[–] iAmTheTot@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago

A? Surely we've exhausted the alphabet by now.

[–] blattrules@lemmy.world 46 points 2 days ago (1 children)

This many billionaires and big companies grouping together doesn’t seem like it’s going to be good for us.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 17 points 2 days ago (3 children)

always has been.jpeg

I am wondering why they are getting this brazen and in our face about corruption as if they are seeing how far they can push and how much the pedons can take

Narrator's voice:

The peasants took a lot and then said this is fine, and got even more

[–] MysticKetchup@lemmy.world 6 points 2 days ago

I am wondering why they are getting this brazen and in our face about corruption as if they are seeing how far they can push and how much the pedons can take

Because they know they can get away with it. Trump got elected and even won the popular vote despite being the most obviously incompetent and corrupt president we've ever had so now they know there are no consequences

[–] blattrules@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

I think they’re seeing trump as a tool they can use if they play his game, so they’re all falling in line. They’re too big that it’s not going to hit their bottom line much and no one in government is going to stop them, so maybe they’re just going to grab as much as they can while they have the opportunity and that requires them to be brazen.

[–] Disaster@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 days ago

Because they are scared, and hiding behind the skirts of a paper-thin layer of incompetent fascists prior to facing the music from everybody they've hurt.

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 58 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Uh, why? Why does the inauguration need money? Isn't that a thing the state pays for?

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 55 points 3 days ago (3 children)

In Ye Olden Days, minor Lords used to pay tribute to anyone who took up the crown/took over the lands, to get on their good side. That's actually where the Romanian word for "tip" (bacșiș) comes from, it's what they called tribute payments to the Ottoman Empire.

Why should this be any different? I mean, it's Trump...

[–] bjoern_tantau@swg-empire.de 18 points 3 days ago (3 children)

Yeah, I get that. It's just bizarre for me that this is even a thing someone could donate to.

[–] Sterile_Technique@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago

They're purchasing influence over the POTUS. The event itself doesn't matter to them or Trump; it's just one many pathways to get their bribe into his pockets.

Completely legal, cuz our laws are made by folks who are also for sale.

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 12 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Yyyep... I sure wanted to think the XXIst Century would look different, but humans gonna hume, I guess.

I mean, other than improving education just enough to bring workers up to speed with industry requirements, the Powers That Be haven't really changed things around. Those who own rule, the rest of us are just serfs...

[–] Signtist@lemm.ee 8 points 2 days ago

It's America. One of the most common reasons for something to exist here is because it makes money, and this is making a lot of money.

[–] rishado@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Lol bakhshish in Arabic means bribe

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 2 points 2 days ago

That's a neat parallel, we've also started using it as a sort of covert euphemism for "bribe," but it's pretty much only when discussing political contexts (go figure...)!:))

[–] mEEGal@lemmy.world 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

huh, nice to learn a little etymology once in a while !

any idea how the expression "nebunii ăștia chiar nu mai știu cum să-i sugă pula omului portocaliu" came to be ?

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

From what I can remember (and I may be wrong, it's been aeons since then), there was a time when Democracy failed and a massive orange prick got elected as head of state for one of the most powerful nations on the planet.

Fun times, those were!

[–] Kyrgizion@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

Must've been a long time ago, since hardly anyone seems to remember...

[–] wewbull@feddit.uk 5 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

It would be if the administration signed an ethics declaration.

because these assholes need to have their party for rich people

[–] Sam_Bass@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Greed knows no limits where tech is concerned

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago

Can't truly hit the big time in the US without those lucrative government contracts. Everyone knows it.

But, more importantly, these companies have already been filling up with fascist goons and spineless hacks. Trump's giving them an excuse to do what they've been waiting for.

[–] latenightnoir@lemmy.world 21 points 3 days ago

I miss the lockdowns, life was easier back then... Now the big picture just looks like a planet-wide dumpster fire...

[–] cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 11 points 3 days ago (1 children)

reasons why i continue to degoogle my android and my life.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 4 points 2 days ago

Deny the parasite profit and engagement.

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 11 points 3 days ago

~~Google~~

*Gargle

[–] Shawdow194@fedia.io 2 points 2 days ago

Kiss the kings hand 😘 💅🤡