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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   14272 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of April 20, 2026

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Opening up the discussion on Palantir's CEO 22 points manifesto (original twitter link) which is an excerpt for his new book The Technological Republic.

First impulses when reading through the list, I see that it's melding nationalism and civic responsibility with some kind of tech-elite-ism (?) and culture war critiques.

Anyways, here is what I got from it after thinking about it more and talking with various AI (ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Qwen):

  1. Stop criticizing the elites that actually do something (go away we know what's good for you)
  2. the grunts should share more of the burden (you're not doing your part)
  3. Argues for inclusion, but implies that there should be a defined/national culture for inclusion and assimilate into (this "minority" thought is good, that "minority" thought is bad)(btw, I will tell you which one is good or bad)
  4. Civic religion for everyone! (and remember to be nice to your tech priests)
  5. You all are fat and weak because of all this peace stuff (Although I benefitted, you are going the wrong way btw)

I think I am influenced because I am currently reading through Seeing Like a State, but I get the feeling that Alex Karp believes he is a leader in a vanguard of tech elites that knows what's best (even if many are distracted from the real issues right now) and everyone should listen and just follow this vanguard. Oh and throw in some "woe is me, only I can save the republic, they just don't understand me, so read my book because then you will".

I think this is an interesting view into the CEO of one of the most important companies. My impression of the man has decreased, and increasing my concern for the kind of leaders and elites that is brewing up within American society.

Wait that's just Gaullisme.

Think about it:

  1. Presidential republic centered in military and engineering experts because we know what we're doing
  2. You get a pension, but you will have to work for it and we get to invest your money where we want, that's the deal
  3. Civic mysticism that supersedes other cults through laïc republicanism
  4. A dirigiste economy centered around the "Grands Corps d'Etat" and their engineer leaders with spiritual guidance from the supreme leader ("in [technical] cases French words should be used where appropriate. (That is to say in all cases)"
  5. Constant critique of pacifism and focus on military technology and atom because "the sword is the axis of the world"

The victory of the engineer, the priest, the soldier over the merchant, the professor, the artist. Neo-France arrives from the future.

This is beautiful. You nailed it.

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