A subject I return to periodically is the problem of “philanthropaths.” These are mega-rich sociopaths who are seeking to impose an anti-freedom, global tyranny on the rest of us, deploying their wealth toward their evil agenda in the name of “philanthropy.”
Left-wing political parties across the globe have generally embraced these Bond villains, since their causes tend to align. However, the growing working-class revolt in the western world may finally be causing some people who default to the left to re-think their tribes’ peculiar allegiance to the world’s richest people.
First, a little background. In a 2024 article in The Pipeline I wrote:
So who is funding Just Stop Oil and the Climate Emergency Fund? Its wealthy, left-wing benefactors include Rory Kennedy (daughter of the late Robert Kennedy), Abigail Disney, and co-founder oil heiress Aileen Getty, among others.
A few months ago in a Blaze article titled “Meet the Philanthropaths” I discussed the societal problem of having people with unfathomable wealth seeking to use their fortunes to upend western civilization.
Many of us on the political right once held a principled aversion to telling the ultra-wealthy how to spend their money. If billionaires wanted to build libraries, fund symphonies, or throw lavish parties, fine — they were reinvesting in society, directly or indirectly.
But that was before the rise of the modern “philanthropath,” a new breed of sociopathic billionaire using inherited or self-made fortunes to re-engineer civilization from the top down. These aren’t benevolent stewards. They’re ideological crusaders waging war on tradition, prosperity, and truth.
By their actions, it seems clear to me that Bill Gates, George Soros, the Walton family heirs, and plenty of others are working toward a one-world government that sees everyday people as a pestilence. World Economic Forum guru Yuval Noah Harari stated the ugly truth when he said, “We just don’t need the vast majority of the population.” He’s not referring to himself. He’s referring to you and me. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker and his brother sister sibling Jennifer Pritzker have turned Illinois into a sanctuary state for mutilating children in service to the transgender agenda, stating that it’s “a continuation of my family’s tradition of putting personal philanthropy into service for the public good.”
With all that as a lead in, I was intrigued while driving recently and listening to Sirius’ Outlaw Country station when a song with the title “Philanthropist” by Jesse Welles popped up. Although I had never heard of Mr. Welles, I am a fan of Billy Strings, who contributes instrumentally to the song, which made me even more interested. The song is a blistering condemnation of the people I call “philanthropaths,” with lyrics including:
“If if I got bored or money-weary, I'd try my hand in dabbling in social engineering.”
This song is not conservative by any means, nor is Mr. Welles. He is politically unaffiliated, but he writes in the tradition of populist, left-wing protest singers like Woody Guthrie and Butch Hancock. The music press likens him to Oliver Anthony, who was made famous with his protest song, “Rich Men North of Richmond.” Many conservatives thought a singer mocking the Washington power structure must be Republican, but Mr. Anthony is not.
The good news is that the populist left may be turning on their billionaire benefactors. But much of MAGA’s strength comes from disaffected “deplorables” who have found a champion in Donald Trump. If the RINOs and Republican establishment eventually succeed in purging the GOP of Donald Trump’s blue-collar base, the populist left might be singing a welcoming tune to them.
Anyhow, here is Jesse Welles with “Philanthropist”
My latest piece at The Blaze has been published. “Buc-ee’s Gets Rich by Doing Everything Wall Street Hates” discusses the amazing success story of Buc-ees, which is still owned by its founders. Buc-ees has developed a cult following by employing management practices that repudiate the cost-cutting, poorly staffed, poor-quality ethos that has consumed corporate C-suites and private equity.
Buc-ee's has enormous restrooms that are immaculately clean, cheap gas with often more than 100 pumps, a kitschy-fun shopping experience, and exceptional food — including Texas barbecue and an in-house bakery. In addition, it’s heavily staffed with low-turnover, career employees.
Buc-ee's still understands the power of the previous business model that Las Vegas abandoned: Provide a high-quality “loss leader” or two to get the customers in the door, and then provide high-margin products that entice them to open their wallets.
The piece is behind a paywall, but if you’re a Blaze subscriber, I’d be honored if you’d give it a read.
[buck.throckmorton at protonmail dot com]