Last week, the Washington Post made a surprising decision not to endorse any candidate in the presidential race. This was a first in 36 years and is said to have been ordered by Jeff Bezos, the newspaper's owner and billionaire founder of Amazon. Bezos bought the struggling newspaper in 2013.

The reaction was swift and significant. Within two days, around 200, 000 subscribers canceled their subscriptions, according to NPR. For a newspaper that's been struggling for decades, this loss is alarming. The newspaper's journalists, who had no say in Bezos's decision, are worried about their jobs. Plus, residents in Washington D. C. , Virginia, and Maryland rely on the Post for local news, culture, and sports coverage.

Some people also canceled their Amazon Prime subscriptions to show their displeasure. While this doesn't hurt Amazon much, it's a symbolic gesture. Amazon and Bezos have immense power, often hidden from view. Amazon Web Services (AWS) is the leading provider of computing and data services, used by thousands of government agencies, including the CIA and the Federal Reserve.

Bezos has power because we chose convenience over other values. We clicked him into power by using the internet. His decision not to endorse might be more about protecting his businesses than being cowardly. If Trump wins, Amazon could benefit from federal contracts. If Harris wins, she might increase scrutiny of companies like Amazon.

Bezos also owns Blue Origin, a space company with many government contracts. He might not want Harris investigating him or his companies. So, his decision makes sense. But canceling subscriptions won't hurt Bezos. Billionaires are immune to such pressure.

To curb their power, we need to understand how they influence things and limit their wealth through taxes. We should also support leaders who aren't controlled by billionaires.

The Washington Post's New Direction: A Billionaire's Influence

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