3 words...

[onecaliberal]

Wealth of Elon Musk
2012: $2,000,000,000
2023: $248,800,000,000

Wealth of Jeff Bezos
2012: $18,400,000,000
2023: $160,900,000,000

Wealth of Mark Zuckerberg
2012: $17,500,000,000
2023: $105,200,000,000

Federal Minimum Wage
2012: $7.25
2023: $7.25

Three words: tax the rich.

[Lunabell]

1. It's foul.

To have so much when little babies and children suffer. It's evil.

[Clouds Passing]

2. They are disgusting human beings

[Yavin4]

3. One of the worst things about billionaires is that they inspire envy.

Being worth $100M is looked upon as being when compared to these guys. So, now you pull out all stops to get to that billionaire class no matter how many people you step on in the process.

[ThePartyThatListens]

4. Yeah

Basically

[Blue Owl]

5. Shhh don't distract the useful MAGAts

The real problem is trans people using the wrong bathroom

[elleng]

6. REID-out VERY depressing tonight.

DE-regulation PLUS.

[MLAA]

7. Right on!

[Cirsium]

8. Sorry

Be practical. You need to be realistic. We are taking baby steps. These things take time. Not all rich people are bad. That will never pass in Congress. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. That will just alienate our big donors. We live in a center-right country. Republicans will call us the "tax and spend" party and other bad names. Don't get me wrong, I agree with you, BUT...

[elleng]

10. I appreciate 'practical' suggestion, and you're right, but 'remedying' the crap they're about to put us through

will take TIME, AT LEAST 2+years and another term.

We're about to feel effects of 'perfect' thanks to Joe Biden, the wreckers are coming, and after THAT, Dems will have to fix things AGAIN!!!

Very sad that so many actually feel alienated.

[ms liberty]

12. This needs a sarcasm smiley. Some people might not get it, lol

[onecaliberal]

23. You're not wrong:

[Cirsium]

37. My bad

You are right. Mea maxima culpa.

[jcanuck]

9. Thing is

The thing I would dearly like to have explained to me, by a Conservative or a Republican voter is; “Why do you think Donald Trump or, Pierre Polievre, is better than you?” Because they claim to know more than you, and so, you put your trust in them. Question is; “Why don’t you trust yourselves?” ‘Cause they ain’t better than you; they just need you. Until, they don’t.

[LT Barclay]

30. I agree. I'm sickened by the fact that we won independence from a monarchy, set up a system that relied on informed

voters making rational decisions and instead we have a bunch of sycophants trying to turn the whole show back into a quasi-monarchy, with whatever label the totalitarian regime will resemble. All because they are too lazy to take an real interest in what is going on and too selfish or racist to help a neighbor up.

[Kablooie]

11. Bill Gates used to be one of those.

But then he decided to try to put his money to good use and started his Foundation.
He donates large amounts to worthy causes to help people around the world.

[LT Barclay]

31. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but we are relying on billionaires to gain a conscience. I believe those decisions

belong in the public sphere, not based on the whims of individuals, many of whom are obviously disturbed.

[progressoid]

36. Sadly, we are also relying on the public to elect people with a concience.

[LT Barclay]

67. The majority of the public has a deep psychosis. But I still think that putting decisions in a place where an election

can make a difference is far better than hoping some sociopathic jacka$$ finally gets a visit by 4 ghosts.

[japple]

13. How much will it take for them to feel like they have enough? Why do they need more than what

they had in 2012? Seems like a whole lotta insecurity going on here.

[Linda ladeewolf]

41. It's not really about

How much they need. It’s a disease, it’s greed and avarice. They want it all. If each one had all they could get, they’d still want what each of their billionaire friends have, they’d be trying to kill each other or beat each other to get what the other has. This alliance is temporary. When they are done with us, they will start on each other. Just my opinion of course.

[Trust_Reality]

43. I agree, it is a disease, an obsession.

I remember one of the Koch brothers when asked how much money/wealth he wanted, said "all of it".

I read earlier today an article by a historian who noted that dating back to the Puritans wealth was associated with being good believers.

My late father-in-law (good riddance), a Southern Baptist minister and adulterer, believed wealth was associated with godliness, or something to that effect.

Incidentally, I really hate the statement "It takes all kinds".

[JI7]

14. Is there any place where they actually pay that low minimum wage ?

that might be the federal number.

But minimum wage actually being offered is higher.

The wealthy certainly need to play higher taxes but people voted for the candidate that have wealthy huge tax cuts while attacking Harris got ignoring the " working class".

[BumRushDaShow]

15. Here in PA, the state's minimum wage is the same as the federal - $7.25

and every state that borders PA has set a state minimum higher -



Many employers obviously offer more but I expect quite a few still hire at $7.25. IMHO, this is why Philly is continually (ridiculously) dubbed "the poorest big city in America".

[JI7]

16. I do think they should still raise it

even if people are actually getting paid more.

I can see situations where someone has to take the lower minimum wage job becsuse of things like not having a car or less time flexibility for jobs that pay more.

[BumRushDaShow]

18. They definitely need to raise it

The last of the phased-in raises to get to $7.25 was in 2007, almost 18 years ago.

[LT Barclay]

32. To me the problem with that is that the minimum wage used to be starter jobs that young people took to get a start and

then work their way up. I believe that many people are now stuck in those jobs almost permanently. Much of that is tied to corporate greed. They don't want to spend a single minute or single dollar to train a worker. They only want someone who can start on day one. For example, career 2 for me was in the environmental field. I would see dozens of jobs requiring an active HAZWOPER (hazardous waste operations) certification. There are a few problems with this. First the course is only $250 dollars and 1 week long. So a company can't spare that much change to get a worker they need. Second, the HAZWOPR certification was never meant to be what it has become. The original idea was for employees to have 40 hours of training so they would be prepared to safely navigate the particular hazards of their job. So employees are not getting specific training because companies don't want to pay someone to have the expertise and experience to train new workers to avoid injuries on the job.
What a bunch of A$$Holes.

[Charmin One]

17. Taxing them isn't enough

The system itself must be changed as well.

[Nigrum Cattus]

19. 2 Words

Good Luck !
It's a great thought, but not what is going to happen soon.

[James48]

21. So, why hasn't the last four years included a dime in min wage?

I hear people say Dems could have raised the wage- even if it was only a buck, and failed to do anything.

Why has no one raised the wage, even a little?

Politics is the art of the possible. It should have been possible to do SOMETHING

[onecaliberal]

24. That is the question isn't it?

[Scrivener7]

22. How does Musk earn 248B? What am I missing? Honda's gross profit is about 32B

per year. I assume Tesla's is not that high. And he bought Twitter for 44B, so presumably it's profit is much less than that per year.

So where did Musk's 248B come from?

[mnhtnbb]

38. No source for the numbers

but "wealth" to me implies net worth, which would be the valuation of all assets, including equity of all stocks, minus liabilities . It's not just earned income.

The Dow Jones Industrial average was at 13,000 this time of year in 2012; yesterday it flirted with closing at 45,000. Timely and prudent investing in the market over the last 12 years has created a lot of very wealthy people, mostly during the tenure of Democratic administrations.

It doesn't change the point that those earning minimum wage are never going to amass the fortunes that these billionaires have.

https://futures.tradingcharts.com/historical/DJ/2012/0/continuous.html

[Polybius]

46. $323 billion (today)

He owns a huge share of Tesla stock, and it has gone up dramatically in 12 years. Also, you didn't mention SpaceX. It too has been massively profitable. Even the US government relies on them when NASA can't get the job done.

[Trust_Reality]

48. I think "It takes money to make money" is pretty much how capitalism works.

It is great that with the internet, there are more exceptions these days.

But as the greedy class succeeds in reducing and altering regulations that would limit their profiteering, they -- the greedy class -- win. Because of money in politics and media, few politicians or journalists are willing to speak out against the greedy class.

And, of course, it is the greedy class that scream and yell about the evils of Social Security and other programs they attack as too much socialism (too much cooperation for the common good).

[FailureToCommunicate]

25. "We can have democracy in this country, or we can have great wealth concentrated in the...

...hands of a few, but we can't have both." -- JUSTICE LOUIS BRANDEIS

[GiqueCee]

26. Instead of commissioning a yacht...

... so large that a bridge had to be dismantled so it could reach open water, couldn't you have done some real good with a minute fraction of such obscene wealth? No... I'm sure the thought never even crossed your mind, did it, Jeff. And Musk is just a grotesque mutation in the human genome. Few, if any, will mourn his passing.

[KPN]

27. You know, Bernie was right. We need a revolution.

I’m convinced that normal two party politics is never going to right this. The big question in my mind? Is the Democratic Party going to lead that revolution … or not.

The next couple years will be interesting. Trumpism will likely implode via its own arrogant over-reach. How our party responds and deals with that will say a lot about whether it is ready and committed to lead the overhaul that will be needed to deal with oppressively gross wealth concentration. Or whether the two party system is a principal part of the problem.

That is where I’m at.

[LT Barclay]

33. Chris Hedges has been saying the same thing. I'm waiting for someone to step into the mantle of leadership, preferably

one who is not currently serving in office. But, I wonder how long they would survive before they had some "accident"?

[Tribetime]

28. Yet Maga thinks its immigrants stealing their jobs and transgender

Their biggest threats.....We need to pound them on this thru eternity and if we need to scare them more with lies than they're scaring us so be it. F going high screw them to hell. STARTING NOW

[Trust_Reality]

50. Distractions that many people fall for.

[Deuxcents]

29. They have everything they could ever want or need including a tax cut TSF promised them.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

34. Massive gulf

Let's talk about wealth inequality !!! been saying this my whole life...It's sad but most people could look and see this massive issue...but most people don't want too

[JR11]

35. If only people could change for the better

The disparity is further defined by how those working for a "living wage" are simply not able to get ahead. All it takes is an accident or illness and hospital bills, and you're in a rut inside of a rut. Many are working themselves into early graves with multiple jobs just to make a barebone living.

There's a lot to say about equitability, and how it's a myth in today's world.

[mopinko]

39. end citizens united.

i dont care how much money someone has, until they try to capture OUR govt.
which musk just did.

[Falcon101]

40. What about charities

One time in out Country, the rich would create charities and spend money for the common good. Today the rich just give money when it leads to power and more money such as giving to Trump. Why the change in the moral compass?

[HarryM]

42. Eat The Rich

[calimary]

44. It'll help them prove their patriotism and sincere love of AND FOR their country.

If ANYBODY can afford to help America to small-D democratic greatness, it’s those three. And they probably wouldn’t even feel the pinch.

[Polybius]

45. Question about Musk

I've seen many post here saying he's not a good CEO or business man, and stupid. Was this out of anger because his politics stinks? Because turning $2 billion into $323 billion (today) sure seems impressive to me.

[TBF]

49. Impressive

"Because turning $2 billion into $323 billion (today) sure seems impressive to me."

You do realize that at this level it is just interest compounding on top of interest (which is mostly held in the market - well, whatever he keeps in this country at least. Who knows how much he has stashed in secure overseas accounts).

Is it really so "impressive"?

This is how we have ended up in the situation we're in w/Trump. Folks living in pre-fab homes thinking they are just one lotto win away from being Musk.

To me, impressive would be rethinking how we tax these folks.

[Polybius]

54. It was far from "just interest"

Tesla and SpaceX went through the roof since 2012. He may become the world's first trillionaire.

[druidity33]

59. Two words... government contracts.

Two more words... tax rebates.

I'll bet the man pays nothing in taxes or recoups all of it from SpaceX contracts. Not to mention PowerWall batteries.

[Polybius]

63. You're not wrong

But why doesn't anyone else who had $2 billion in 2012 have $320 billion now like him? Smart business.

[TBF]

60. Wowee -

now that we're done with our hero worship, maybe we can have a conversation about how we could better allocate these funds.

[Polybius]

64. I don't worship him

But I do admire some of the things he's done for Tesla and SpaceX. He got right-wingers to give up their gas guzzling SUV's. That's a win for all of us.

[TBF]

65. Perhaps in NY; here in TX the gas guzzling SUV's

are still loud & proud. We actually own a Tesla - not a bad commuter car and easy to use when you have your own garage to mount the charger.

That's the type of thing EM could do to actually be useful in Washington - use some public funds to make things like electronic vehicles easier for everyone to use.

[Polybius]

68. I own one too, and don't have a home charger

I charge at the local Supercharging station that's like 2 miles from my house. I usually charge every 12-16 days, as I don't drive a lot.

Musk should spend $50 billion of his own money on adding more Superchargers and into charging research. I heard that in the near future you'll just have to back into the stations. No need to even get out and plug anything in. Plus, range is greatly improving.

[Hotler]

47. 2 words .....

Spending boycott.
74,485,124 dems & libs voted in the last election. As an example; If people cut $25.00 a week from spending (week of Starbucks), multiply by that many voters, times 4-weeks to a month and so on, that's a chunk of change not going into the pockets of the fascist. This can be done safely from home, no chance of being arrested or shot in the street. And you save money.
Votes and consumer dollars are our most powerful tools to fight with. Votes can only be use every 2-4 years. Consumer dollars can be used 24/7-365.
This is easy and doable. it's worth a try.

[Trust_Reality]

56. I'm with you.

If there was some way to organize the effort, focus on one of FOX's advertisers at a time, for example, it seems it would be most effective.

I'm way to old to figure out how to create a "movement".

[Hotler]

58. I'm learning too, this is how it starts, two people, then get a third...... start here in Colorado

Colorado had 1,727,866 dem & lib voters.
Consumers (we/us) are going to feel pain anyway, might as well inflict some economic damage and save some money doing so. keep in mind that to offset our lack of spending they will have to spend $25.00 more of their money.
I see a lot of potential wins here.

[bif]

51. Anything over a billion is obscene.

It's hard to even grasp how much money a billion dollars is.

[spanone]

52. K&R

[TBF]

53. The way to deal with this is the tax code -

and that's exactly why Musk is sitting at Mar a Lago. He is looking out for himself.

We should be doing the same.

[Bluethroughu]

55. 2 more words, CORPORATE WELFARE.

This is a socialist country, the working, middle, and lower classes pay taxes so corporations can get more, pay less, and charge more to get more. Endless cycle.

[Trust_Reality]

57. That doesn't sound like actual socialism to me.

It sound like money in politics, especially "citizens united" which resulted from money in politics. Behold: another
endless cycle. I guess most of us are like hamsters running on a wheel going no place but generating money for the greedy class.

[Bluethroughu]

66. Corporate welfare, "their people my friend", says Romney

And the not so SCOTUS, neither are correct, but since the corporate capture we have ruling after ruling dismantling the rights of natural people for the legal fictions' benefit.

[Evolve Dammit]

61. truly obscene. Who the fuck needs that much, and if you have it, why not use it for good instead of evil??

[alterfurz]

62. 3 words...eat the rich

Probably would only require a couple examples before the rest got the message.