A quick reflection on taxing the richest of the rich

[Otto_Harper]

I just looked up a list of the 10 richest people on the planet. Nine of the top 10 are from the US.

I just looked up the price of an aircraft carrier (That being one of the priciest items I could think of) - about $13 Billion

And then I compared the wealth of these people to the price of an aircraft carrier (the US currently operates 11 of them)

Elon Musk, at $218.3B could buy 3 of them for the US and STILL retain his position of the richest person in the world.
Jeff Bezos at $165.5B could buy 2 more of them for the US and STILL retain his position of the 3rd richest person in the world.
Bill Gates at $130.7B could throw another one in and STILL retain his position of the 4th richest person in the world.

Warren Buffet, Larry Page, Larry Ellison, Sergey Brin, Mark Zuckerberg and Steve Balmer, each with $100B+ could easily afford one each aircraft carrier, and there we have replaced all of the US aircraft carriers (plus added another new one), and not have even put a dent in their personal fortunes, nor even changed their positions in the global competition for how many dollars they can stuff into their pillow cases.

The wealth these individuals are hoarding is completely distorting the current economy and needs to end. Ever wonder where the middle class went in the US? Its stuffed into some burlap dollar-sign bags in their back rooms.

[Bayard]

1. Can you calculate what they could buy for peaceful purposes?

Climate change solutions? How many electric vehicles? How many solar panels and windmills?

[niyad]

4. GMTA

[Otto_Harper]

5. If we stick with big ticket items

how about 7,500 major new school buildings (like a substantially sized high school).

[niyad]

2. Or we could think about how many people in the world they could house, feed,

clothe, educate, care for, transport, provide parks, support. . a good life.

[TheBlackAdder]

3. I don't want to tax the rich. What happens if I win the lottery or inherit Nigerian Prince money? 🤣

[Otto_Harper]

6. Consider this factoid about winning the lottery

The largest US lottery jackpots ever recorded were about $1.6B. At that rate, you would have to win about 150 of them in a row before you arrive at the level of money we are talking about for these individuals.

[KS Toronado]

8. We'll just tax the shit out of you, maybe double or triple being a Democrat

I'm guessing you forgot to add the thing-ie.

[TheBlackAdder]

9. No. I had two Nigerian Princes email this past week about sending $20K to get $500 Million.

.

You ought to have seen the clerk at Target when I got all of those Apple gift cards.



.

[KS Toronado]

10. Did the clerk want a cut of the $500 million?

Same here, I've won PCH 3 times a week for at least 6 months now, can't believe they keep calling.

[Chainfire]

7. The rich buy the people who make the laws. You will never tax them in any meaningful way.

American government is just another big business with a few shareholders and with a monopoly on making laws.

[multigraincracker]

11. From my old days....

Cocaine and money, more is never enough. Me think they are addicted.