I am asking this sincerely, not sarcastically: who cares? Did he make specific dates/times with his predictions? Did he address the specifics of Apple's situation right now?

If you are studying the art of making a prophecy, leave it open ended and unspecific. It won't be falsifiable, and people will fill in the blanks with their preferred details.

And it doesn't help us with why some people are irrationally rooting against their own self-interest (Apple's contribution to the GDP, high representation in overall national savings), or why we are starting a trade war against the opinion of almost all experts (or what the motivations of the person starting this trade war are).

edit: and I should note, le plus ca change... "noblesse oblige" is an old phrase.

He has got himself a bolt hole in New Zealand (under dubious circumstances) if it all goes wrong, so I guess that’s backing himself. https://www.nzherald.co.nz/indepth/national/how-peter-thiel-...

Yes. Kind of a self-fulfilling prophecy in his case though, so I wouldn't give him points for that.

One thing different is he seemed to be kind of promoting a view of the world, that everyone should try to be some kind of rich asshole and keep other people down to help himself. We don't need laws, other than courts, cause we'll just sue people to protect our rights. But that doesn't really work, only rich people cna afford to do that. all us regular folks have to sign employment agreements forcing us to non-judicial means to settle lawsuits.