Bad omen as Jeff Bezos' tweets signal intent to run for office

When an unaccountable billionaire starts putting himself out in the world as a public policy thinker, alarm bells should ring

For the past week, the centi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been firing off tweets about his policy opinions. Picture: Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty

Jeff Bezos is getting nervous. You can tell because he’s going on Twitter more, the universal activity of those who are channelling their restlessness in an unhealthy way. This should make the rest of us nervous, too. This is a big, flashing warning sign that America’s richest union-buster is about to throw himself more forcefully into politics, an inevitability that could have many bad outcomes but only one good one.

For the past week, the centi-billionaire Amazon founder has been firing off tweets not about his typical, anodyne interests — improved penis-shaped rocket design, luxury head wax — but rather about his policy opinions.