A Tale as Old as Time: America Ignored the Warnings, and Here We Are
From George Washington to Joe Biden, presidents have sounded the alarm about unchecked power. Yet, here we stand, knee-deep in the consequences of ignoring history.
America’s presidents have long served as watchmen, peering into the future and sounding alarms about the dangers they see on the horizon. George Washington warned about political factions dividing the nation. Dwight D. Eisenhower cautioned against the corrupting power of the military-industrial complex. And now Joe Biden, in a farewell address steeped in urgency, has issued a warning about the twin threats of oligarchy and disinformation.
Biden’s speech was more than a farewell; it was a flashing neon sign saying, “This is how democracy dies.” He called out the concentration of power, the weaponization of lies, and the erosion of accountability. And baby, if we don’t listen this time, we might not get another chance.
George Washington’s Warning: Division Will Destroy Us
In 1796, George Washington’s farewell address laid bare his fears about the fledgling nation. Chief among them was the rise of political factions. He warned, “The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge… is itself a frightful despotism.” Washington foresaw how partisanship could lead to division, corruption, and ultimately, the erosion of liberty.
Look around today, and you’ll see exactly what he meant. Political parties have become warring tribes, more interested in scoring points than serving the people. This dysfunction creates a vacuum where power-hungry elites can step in and consolidate control. Washington’s words weren’t just a prediction—they were a prophecy.
Eisenhower’s Warning: Power Without Accountability
Fast-forward to 1961, when Dwight D. Eisenhower delivered one of the most famous presidential farewells in history. He coined the term “military-industrial complex” and warned that the unchecked alliance between defense contractors and the federal government could threaten democracy itself. He said, “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”
Eisenhower’s caution against “unwarranted influence” resonates today with the rise of what Biden has dubbed the “tech-industrial complex.” Billionaire tech moguls like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg wield a kind of power that would make even Eisenhower shudder. Their control over communication, commerce, and information isn’t just influence—it’s domination.
Keep reading with a 7-day free trial
Subscribe to Petty AF (Auntie's Files) to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.