Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Donkees

(33,716 posts)
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 05:53 AM Feb 20

Bernie Sanders 2019: Billionaires should not exist.

Sep 24, 2019
NYT Politics@nytpolitics
Bernie Sanders is unveiling a proposal for a new wealth tax on the richest Americans, including a steep tax on billionaires that could greatly diminish their fortunes



10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Bernie Sanders 2019: Billionaires should not exist. (Original Post) Donkees Feb 20 OP
Tax 'em or eat 'em... EarthFirst Feb 20 #1
That's what I've been saying. Go get'em Bernie. Buddyzbuddy Feb 20 #2
"Every billionaire is a policy failure" Seinan Sensei Feb 20 #3
NOBODY deserves billions Martin Eden Feb 20 #4
Before Ronnie Raygun, taxes, especially corporate taxes were up to 70% UNLESS, it was invested in 3Hotdogs Feb 20 #6
Good people are not billionaires. n/t iscooterliberally Feb 20 #5
"Behind every great fortune lies a crime." - Balzac TheRickles Feb 20 #7
I don't care if billionaires exist SocialDemocrat61 Feb 20 #8
There is much discussion about minimum-wage Seinan Sensei Feb 20 #9
Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 20 #10

Martin Eden

(15,636 posts)
4. NOBODY deserves billions
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 08:15 AM
Feb 20

Such wealth can only be accumulated on the backs of others, most of whom are not paid enough to own a home, send kids to college, and afford a serious medical condition.

Profits are of course necessary to invest in research, new innovations in products & service, and to build manufacturing plants. However, there must be better ways to craft finance & tax laws to enable & encourage such investment without permitting a privileged billionaire class that hoards money and exercises tremendous political power which corrupts our representative democracy.

3Hotdogs

(15,371 posts)
6. Before Ronnie Raygun, taxes, especially corporate taxes were up to 70% UNLESS, it was invested in
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 08:25 AM
Feb 20

research and equipment. The period after WW 2 to Kennedy was also the time of our greatest prosperity. A house was in your reach as was a car and even a chicken in every pot.

Then came the need to pay for the Viet Nam war, followed by the greed to reduce the tax burden on the poor upper class.

TheRickles

(3,398 posts)
7. "Behind every great fortune lies a crime." - Balzac
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 08:45 AM
Feb 20

Turns out that's a simplified version of his actual quotation: "The secret of a great success for which you are at a loss to account is a crime that has never been found out, because it was properly executed". But it's the same idea, and Bernie is right (yet again).

Seinan Sensei

(1,552 posts)
9. There is much discussion about minimum-wage
Fri Feb 20, 2026, 11:53 AM
Feb 20

… as in, how much is too little?

Let’s discuss maximum income
… as in, how much is too damn much?

Response to Donkees (Original post)

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Bernie Sanders 2019: Bill...