Yarvin, Musk, and The End of Democracy

How serious a challenge to democracy is this?

Since Trump’s second term began and Elon Musk’s DOGE became a reality, the reading public’s knowledge of Curtis Yarvin and the Neoreactionaries has skyrocketed as people discover that this previously fringe intellectual/blogger appears to now have significant influence on the Trump administration—so much so that the actions of Elon Musk, when seen through the prism of Yarvin’s ideology, appear far darker and more “Trojan Horse”-like than they otherwise might. That conspiracy view is that a coup is already in progress, driven by the ideology of Yarvin and the Neoreactionaries, implemented by Musk, and enabled by Trump. My view at this point is — not so fast, let’s be cautious, fact-based, look carefully at this with an open mind before reaching conclusions. But let’s do take a deeper look at it.

The Basic “Democracy is Obsolete” Concept

Curtis Yarvin argues that democracy is obsolete because it is inherently inefficient, corrupt, and incapable of achieving long-term stability or competent governance. He contends that democratic systems are ruled not by elected officials but by an entrenched, self-serving bureaucratic elite (which he calls “the Cathedral”) that manipulates public opinion and policy regardless of elections. In his view, democracy leads to perpetual conflict, mediocrity, and gridlock, whereas a centralized, autocratic system—similar to a well-run corporation—would be more effective, accountable, and capable of making rational, long-term decisions. He advocates for a “monarchical CEO-style government,” where a single, highly competent ruler is given unchecked power to restructure society efficiently and decisively.

Yarvin’s Supposed 8 Point Plan

I say “supposed” because it’s attributed to him, but all the research I’ve done thus far suggests this was extracted from various things he has written, but it’s not something he has actually published as an “8 Point Plan”. It does appear he has espoused all of these points, so it certainly has some validity — even if it’s not his specific recipe.

1. Campaign on Autocracy: Advocate for centralized, strong leadership to replace the current democratic framework.

2. Purge the Bureaucracy: Eliminate mid-level officials to streamline government operations and remove potential obstacles to the new regime.

3. Ignore the Courts: Undermine judicial authority by disregarding court decisions that conflict with the regime’s objectives.

4. Co-opt Congress: Align legislative bodies with the new regime, ensuring that laws and policies support the autocratic agenda.

5. Centralize Police Powers: Consolidate law enforcement under federal control to ensure uniformity and loyalty to the central authority.

6. Shut Down Elite Media and Academia: Dismantle institutions that challenge or critique the new order, thereby controlling the narrative and suppressing dissent.

7. Mobilize Public Support: Rally the populace to back the regime, creating a base of support that legitimizes its actions.

8. Introduce Technocratic Governance: Replace traditional political processes with corporate-style management, emphasizing efficiency and centralized decision-making.

This plan has been discussed in various forums, including a Reddit post that summarizes Yarvin’s approach.

Are There Links Between Yarvin and Musk?

This was my first question as I learned about this. Can we realistically connect the dots between Musk and Yarvin? If so, how? I have not found a smoking gun connection so far. The best connection is Peter Thiel, who is a billionaire fan of Yarvin and has significant influence over Musk. But I haven’t yet found direct evidence of a personal relationship between Musk and Yarvin. We are thus left noting the parallels between Musk’s recent political activities and Yarvin’s neo-reactionary ideas . For instance, Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) mirrors Yarvin’s earlier concept of “Retire All Government Employees” (RAGE), which advocates for replacing bureaucrats with loyalists to increase efficiency. Additionally, Yarvin has publicly offered advice to Musk on managing platforms like Twitter/X, suggesting strategies that align with his broader ideological views. While a direct mentorship or collaboration between Musk and Yarvin cannot be confirmed, the ideological similarities suggest that Yarvin’s concepts may have indirectly influenced Musk’s approach to governance and technology, and may provide insight into what he’s doing with DOGE.

I’ll stop there. This will be a continuing inquiry.

I will close by posting a link to the article that got me started down this path — The Plot Against America by Mike Brock. Very much worth the time it takes to read.

COMMENT: Many of you know my background as a CIA officer and, more recently, criminal defense investigator. I believe this is a topic that warrants serious investigation and I’ll keep at it with an open mind until I get to the bottom of it. I welcome your insights, comments, and information. More will follow on this.

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