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.

  • Björn Tantau
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    4112 hours ago

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

    • @latenightnoir
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      3812 hours ago

      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…

      • Björn Tantau
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        1311 hours ago

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

        • @Sterile_Technique
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          47 hours 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.

        • @[email protected]
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          59 hours 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.

        • @latenightnoir
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          11 hours 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…

      • @mEEGal
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        412 hours ago

        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
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          111 hours ago

          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
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            210 hours ago

            Must’ve been a long time ago, since hardly anyone seems to remember…

    • katy ✨
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      210 hours ago

      because these assholes need to have their party for rich people