Crumbs for the Hungry but Windfalls for the Rich

[Zorro]

Billions are going to zillionaires under the guise of pandemic relief.

While President Trump and his allies in Congress seek to tighten access to food stamps, they are showing compassion for one group: zillionaires. Their economic rescue package quietly allocated $135 billion — yes, that’s “billion” with a “b” — for the likes of wealthy real estate developers.

My Times colleague Jesse Drucker notes that Trump himself, along with his son-in-law, Jared Kushner, may benefit financially from this provision. The fine print was mysteriously slipped into the March economic relief package, even though it has nothing to do with the coronavirus and offers retroactive tax breaks for periods long before Covid-19 arrived.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island and Representative Lloyd Doggett of Texas, both Democrats, have asked the Trump administration for any communications that illuminate how this provision sneaked into the 880-page bill. (Officially, the provision is called “Modification of Limitation on Losses for Taxpayers Other Than Corporations,” but that’s camouflage; I prefer to call it the “Zillionaire Giveaway.”)

About 82 percent of the Zillionaire Giveaway goes to those earning more than $1 million a year, according to Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation. Of those beneficiaries earning more than $1 million annually, the average benefit is $1.6 million.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/23/opinion/sunday/coronavirus-economic-response.html

[Newest Reality]

1. Although...

Althought trickle down was a myth, gushing up is not. The money is going up faster and in bigger amounts. It seems they have the Cash Hoover set to high and it is going to suck up everything we have left if this continues.

Where does it come from? Well, where do you think, taxpayer?

[Scarsdale]

2. One thing is certain

tRump will get a large "chunk of change" from this. Very large chunk.

[Newest Reality]

3. Of course...

What I take pleasure in, even if I am just imagining it, is that he will not be happy or satisfied with any size of a chunk. There is never enough for a jaded, megalomaniac who has no insight into himself and projects his gruesome persona on the World--one that brings massive suffering, especially from that position.

What a waste of all that when somebody can't really be satisfied and enjoy it or even experience the feelings of sharing it with more people who really are in need? It's ironic.

He lives in a constant, insatiable need. I don't. I can't imagine much real enjoyment, happiness or peace in the pathological syndrome he inhabits. The bliss of simple moments and joys of assisting others without having expectations can be much, much more satisfying and enriching than being addicted to wealth, power, fame, etc. In fact, I wonder if true bliss is at all an available experience for those trapped in the realm of acquisition and extreme cupidity. From my observations, I don't see much of that reflected in their views and behaviors towards the least of us.

Schadenfreude? Oh, a wee bit.

[Celerity]

4. K & R for visibility