I just wish we here at DU and the media would stop posting/ talking about filthy rich billionaires

[Samrob]

as though they were victims of something. Who the fuck cares what is happening to them in their money deals? They throw away money in a day that some families will never make in two generations. Fuck them and the Tweet they rode in on.

[Initech]

1. Oh I'm totally OK with people like Kanye losing billions for going full Nazi.

[Ocelot II]

2. Yes, while we watch Eloon lose $40B as he drives Twitter right into the ground.

[Initech]

3. How To Lose $40 Billion In 10 Days

[orthoclad]

4. Might be just a tax writeoff

His total wealth was just under $200B last time I looked.

Imagine $44B as play money! I think twice to buy a cheesesteak.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

9. I read the Tesla board is quite concerned.

Can you blame them? His hubris is gonna bit him hard. I hope.

https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2022-11-14/elon-musk-toxic-boss-timeline

[orthoclad]

19. I think Tesla's hurting

Their reputation is damaged, both tech and social. Stock is falling. Competition is getting fierce. I feel bad for their REAL engineers who worked hard to advance the EV.

I know of at least one Tesla/EV fan who got rid of it and swore he'd never buy another. Reich wing boogaloo bois aren't buying EV's. He's playing for the "rolling coal" crowd.

[ProfessorGAC]

10. He Wasn't Paying Much In Taxes Anyway

I read that his effective tax rate on accumulated wealth was under 3%.
He didn't need a tax write-off.
He's simply screwing up.

[orthoclad]

18. Is he just running a childish fantasy,

Or is there a darker current in there?
I think both.
He's certainly thriving on attention.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

20. Kata Swisher is the person I'd like to hear from on him.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2022/11/on-with-kara-swisher-what-are-you-doing-elon-musk.html

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/kara-swisher-calls-elon-musk-004649840.html

[rubbersole]

5. The billionaires rarely pay taxes.

They paid for the tax code to be written to benefit themselves. It's working.

[usonian]

6. Keep working to elect democrats. Never cease. I am on the 2024 case right now.

I would like to see a 2024 unified strategy starting now.
https://democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=17413975

After having had a brief post-midterm respite.

Too often, we have let the crazies set the talking points, but we have won by owning the conversation.

Their craziness and acts of selfishness, cruelty and violence should be seen as ways to turn people away from the cult, and get some good old "Republicans in Disarray" in motion.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/11/27/2138407/-Once-a-Rightwing-center-CO-Springs-now-a-pale-shade-of-purple-GOP-pivoting-from-the-Q-Club-massacre
Once a Rightwing center, CO Springs now a pale shade of purple GOP pivoting from the Q-Club massacre

A smartly orchestrated plan rightly paints the GQP as NOTHING BUT purveyors of obstructionism, oligarchs, twisted myths, treason, violence, insurrection and cruelty



Maestro Arturo Dark Brandonini will conduct as the right-wingers hack themselves to pieces.

Result:
OUT WITH JUDGES STILL CHORTLING OVER THE SALEM WITCH TRIALS AND THE SPANISH INQUISITION.
OUT WITH CITIZENS UNITED
OUT WITH GRIFT AND GRAFT AND CAMPAIGN BILLIONS

Remember, the 30's gangsters did not rub each other out, as some hoped they would, but their extreme violence put many away and turned society against them. Sound familiar?

working on memes.

[Tetrachloride]

7. Some indictments would reorient the players

[Lithos]

8. Your title is a bit of click bait

However, the "as though they were victims" is spot on.

The only billionaire who I think is a victim is possibly Soros. The cause is all the conspiracy theories against him.

[brooklynite]

11. I wish people would stop posting "I wish people would stop posting..." posts

[Orrex]

12. I also have a wish

[Seeking Serenity]

13. Millionaires and billionaires shouldn't be allowed to exist

Not as in shouldn't be allowed to physically exist, i.e. live, duh. I mean there shouldn't be classes of people that are millionaires or billionaires. If your net worth is above $999,999.99, then everything above that goes to helping the poor.

[ironman99]

14. As we say in Minnesota - Yeah, No.

I am one of those whose net worth is >$999,999.99. One third is a house that is completely paid for, the other funds my retirement. Why should I either sell my house or get rid of my retirement for some arbitrary number that you don't like?

[Seeking Serenity]

15. Well, aren't you one of the lucky 1%?

You sleep well with all your wealth while children in this country go to bed hungry and feel good about yourself, y'hear?

[tritsofme]

16. Uh, your net worth would have to be $10m not $1m to land in the 1%

Your arbitrary number is ridiculous.

[DontBelieveEastisEas]

17. everything even

IMO, most believe that there should be more material things for some than for others.
Many, I believe, would say capitalism with some guardrails is the best system yet devised for that.


If you imagine a product that gave you an energy of a 20 year-old into your early 100's, (it's easy if you try), you might imagine how a person could acquire nearly all the wealth for themselves.

I do not think a person will work harder to make another billion dollars of income than they will work for their first billion dollars of income. (or something like that... this last sentence was edited due to perhaps not conveying some good example. and it still fails)

The United States has had a much more progressive tax system in the past.

These are, I believe, the top tax rates, or near to the right figures. I don't think these figures applied to capital gains.

2003 = 35%
1981 = 70%
1963 = 91%


Higher figures, at some non-arbitrary numbers would best allow for a lot of meritocracy, while helping to spread wealth more evenly throughout the entire range.

Capital Gains would also need to be governed, I believe.

[betsuni]

21. What do you mean?