
In
order to operate, even exist under such a regime, a tycoon must be
pro-government. It’s the government that guarantees them sole source lucrative,
contracts and shelters them from mutual enemies. It’s a Faustian bargain in
which the government secures the tycoon’s silence to their brutal practices of
pacifying the population in order to loot the country’s riches. Despite their
billions, non-conformance to government policies can result in imprisonment,
even execution. The government controls the security apparatus and broadly
‘interprets’ or breaks the law of the land with impunity.
On
the street the citizens decry the tycoon’s silence on discriminatory economic
and humanitarian matters. The citizens can’t materially harm him because he
manages the monopolistic industries that manufacture and provide the basic
goods and services that the citizens need. As a result only the tycoon’s public
image takes a hit, not their bottom line.
As
a result a tycoon is caught in the middle.
He’s nothing more than a wealthy pawn of the government who can easily replace
him on a whim with the preferred next choice. The government conveniently uses a
tycoon as a front to implement unpopular economic policies. And should the
citizenry violently oppose these policies, government media-run propaganda can
placate the citizenry by using the tycoon as a convenient scapegoat.
The
most demanding role of a tycoon is to endlessly curry favor with the right
governmental inner circle of power and influence. Like any large and powerful
organization regardless of their political or ideological belief, these
organizations operate on a particular logic. Tyrannies are not monolithic. Like
any large group they’re composed of layers of various groups within and
peripheral to the inner circle who are constantly jockeying for influence.
Sometimes there are mini-coups in which today’s inner circle is suddenly
replaced which may find the tycoon now on the outside looking in.
In
a worst case scenario, his personal bank accounts can be frozen, passport
confiscated and mini-empire dismantled through an arm-twisting merger at below
market price for no reason whatsoever. The tycoon is nothing more a wealthy
working stiff whose assets can vanish overnight. For him it’s a perpetual
effort to placate the right group of the political Rubic cube and is subject to
the same blackmail as corporate drones whose superiors demand unwavering
exclusivity of their services and loyalty.
Through
equally ruthless and brutal methods of his own, he’s made a choice to sell his
soul to achieve fame and fortune. The cleverer of this breed less bound by ego,
already have options to flee the country, squirrel away their assets overseas,
and even purchase foreign citizenship.
This
proves that tycoons have far less influence on political power and government
policy that is perceived. Just because you’re a tycoon, you’re still answerable
to a higher, more powerful authority. That’s why it’s the concept of becoming a
dictator rather than a tycoon is much more appealing to those who crave total
control. Politically power trumps money.
Available for speaking engagements and workshops. Contact us at:
http://www.indobrazilian.com