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.

  • @latenightnoir
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    348 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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      128 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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        44 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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        46 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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        8 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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      48 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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        18 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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          27 hours ago

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