Of course it does. Do you think the elites actually WANT massive tariffs putting a brake on GDP growth? Why are tech companies suddenly reversing course on content moderation and/or DEI, after years of pushing in the opposite directions?

Private enterprise will always have some level of corrupting influence over government. And perhaps it sees current leadership as the lesser of two evils in the grand scheme. But make no mistake, government DOES ultimately have the power, when it chooses to assert itself and use it. It's just a matter of political will, which waxes and wanes.

Going back a century, did the British aristocracy WANT to be virtually taxed out of existence, and confined to the historical dustbin of "Downton Abbey"?

I think it's more productive to think in terms of 'owners of public enterprise', rather than elites

There's a theatrical push-pull negotiation narrative that's replayed to us, but do you honestly feel that government could push back strongly on _any issue_ it deemed necessary to?

Public enterprise is so firmly embedded in every corner of Government.

Everything in life involves compromise.

Authority requires the possibility of edict above compromise; which in my mind is no longer possible.

Of course government has the authority to represent the people; if not it, then who or what does?

I didn't say government doesn't have the power to represent the people, now did I?

You wrote:

> Government no longer has the power or authority to constrain private enterprise; especially in highly technical sectors.

Perhaps you meant only this: "Government no longer has the power ..."? It is clear government still has the authority based on the will of the people.

Conceptually, yes.

But I'd argue the legal framework necessary to carry this out doesn't exist.

The strength of private lobbists, keeps power in the hands of private enterprise.

Ok, to synthesize: there is a difference between the legislative branch having some authority (e.g. granted by the Constitution) versus the administrative branch having some legal authority (e.g. based on legislation).

I'm in the UK, but do you feel either is likely to exercise authority to constrain private enterprise for the good of the people underthe current US administration?

In the US, given the current trajectory, I see a frightening and bleak future.* Due to the Trump administration and the people who enable it, the United States is highly degraded and getting worse every day. I'll list what comes to mind...

[x] Authoritarianism. [x] Civil rights abuses. [x] Blatant defiance of the law. [x] Unrepentant selfishness and lack of character. [x] Weaponization of the courts. [x] Loyalty tests at government agencies and in the military. [x] Political prosecutions. [x] Politicization of the Department of Justice. [x] Rampant presidential overreach. [x] The Supreme Court's endorsement and flimsy justification of presidential overreach. [x] Self-destructive trade policy. [x] Ineffective economic policy. [x] Erosion of norms. [x] Concerning presidential cognitive decline. [x] Institutional hollowing-out. [x] Defunding of science. [x] Destruction of USAID. [x] Blatant corruption. [x] Nepotism. [x] Use of the military for domestic purposes. [x] Firing of qualified military leaders. [x] Blatantly self-serving presidential pardons. [x] Firing of qualified civil servants. [x] Deliberately trying to traumatize civil servants. [x] Unnecessary tax breaks for the wealthy. [x] Intimidation of universities. [x] Rollback of environmental protections. [x] Unconstitutional and economically damaging immigration policies. [x] Top-down gerrymandering. [x] Firing of ~19 Inspectors General. [x] Unqualified cabinet members. [x] Relentless lying. [x] Implicit endorsement of conspiracy theories. [x] Public health policies that will lead to unnecessary deaths. [x] A president who 'models' immorality. [x] Tolerance of illegal and immoral behavior of political allies. [x] Prioritization of appearance over substance. [x] Opulent and disgusting displays of wealth. [x] Trampling on independent journalist access. [x] A foreign policy that undermines key alliances. [x] Dismantling of the Department of Education. [x] Undoing key healthcare provisions from the ACA. [x] Negligent inaction regarding AI catastrophic risks. [x] Motive and capability to manipulate voting machines [x] And more.

Positives? It looks like some durable peace deals are in the works.

Overall, things are dark.

* All the more reason to organize and act. No single person (or even group) can solve any of these problems alone. No person or group can afford to wait for other people to act.

We simply cannot afford to let our shock, anger, or fear get the better of us. We have to build coalitions to turn things around -- including coalitions with people that may vote in ways we don't like or believe things that we think don't make sense. We have to find coalitions that work. We have to persuade and build a movement that can outcompete and outlast Trumpism and whatever comes after it.