I don't want a billionaire president.

[milestogo]

I want a president who understands what it is like to struggle financially, based on personal experience. I want a president who has to ask for my donation because they need it to run ads.

[bdamomma]

1. I still think he should

use his money to eliminate Fox news, and not run for president.

[milestogo]

3. Or how about creating an ethical competitor for Facebook?

That is something we really need.

[virgogal]

2. Me neither....they feel they can just buy their way in.

I also would like a non Ivy League president,but that’s just me.

[George II]

4. If John F. Kennedy were alive today he'd be a billionaire.

[Uncle Joe]

13. If John F. Kennedy were alive today, the tax rates are the same today as 1963

and he was a billionaire, he would be paying a 91% tax rate.

https://www.tax-brackets.org/federaltaxtable/1963

at today's tax rates JFK would be paying 37%

https://www.nerdwallet.com/blog/taxes/federal-income-tax-brackets/

[George II]

15. I was responding to someone who said he/she didn't want a billionaire to be president....

...so I suppose that person wouldn't want JFK to be president.

You don't know what the tax rate would be today if he were alive today. AND, he wouldn't be paying a 91% tax rate, just on anything EARNED over $200,000, if he had INCOME over $200,000. Plus, based on your tax table if you are making $50,000 you'd be paying incrementally on that $50,000 with a top increment of 72% on anything over $44,000.

Here's that tax table:

$0.00+ 20%
$2,000.00+ 22%
$4,000.00+ 26%
$6,000.00+ 30%
$8,000.00+ 34%
$10,000.00+ 38%
$12,000.00+ 43%
$14,000.00+ 47%
$16,000.00+ 50%
$18,000.00+ 53%
$20,000.00+ 56%
$22,000.00+ 59%
$26,000.00+ 62%
$32,000.00+ 65%
$38,000.00+ 69%
$44,000.00+ 72%

Truth and reality are your friends.

[Uncle Joe]

17. That's why I stated the "ifs" in my post and if you're a billionaire the odds are heavily

in your favor that your income is more than $200,000.00.

Having said that, major reductions in our tax rates for the wealthiest since JFK's time coupled with the massive hollowing out of the middle class, our nation's crumbling infrastructure, our cruel and dysfunctional health care system designed more for profit than taking care of our people and a host of other critical issues are precisely what have led to the public diminishment of today's billionaires, so comparing JFK's status to today's billionaires is as comparing apples to termites.

[George II]

18. Again, I was responding to someone who said he/she didn't want a billionaire for president....

....regardless of the side roads you're going down.

A billionaire is a billionaire.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

23. Those taxes are a little higher than today.

I think annual income of $8000 would be pretty good in '63. Middle or Upper-middle class. That would put many in the 30%-34% tax brackets.

[George II]

24. $100 in 1963 is equivalent to $841 today. Here's what the tax table would look like:

$- 20%
$16,820.00 22%
$33,640.00 26%
$50,460.00 30%
$67,280.00 34%
$84,100.00 38%
$100,920.00 43%
$117,740.00 47%
$134,560.00 50%
$151,380.00 53%
$168,200.00 56%
$185,020.00 59%
$218,660.00 62%
$269,120.00 65%
$319,580.00 69%
$370,040.00 72%

[TidalWave46]

5. I personally don't view an individuals wealth as a negative.

[Fresh_Start]

6. I don't care if the President is a billionaire

as long as his wealth was not a result of fraud or other criminal acts.

I want a President who wants to lead the USA and the World to be a better place for all living things.

[bdamomma]

7. does Bloomberg

even have experience with foreign policy??? Doesn't experience mean anything anymore???

[milestogo]

10. Apparently being Mayor of New York counts as foreign policy.

With this job comes great hubris.

[Aussie105]

8. Trigger words meant to distract?

Billionaire, millionaire, philanthropist, etc - trigger words that mean the person being described is a 'good guy'?

OK, he has more money than me, and 99.9% of the members human race, I'd think.

Who cares?

Is he/she ethical, has a good track record in dealing with people and complex situations, some experience in political matters, diplomacy?

More to the point - opinions and policies on gun control, environmental protection, global heating and the cure for that, immigration, overseas trade - just to mention a few?

Anyone who jumps up and says' I am rich, that is all you need to know, vote for me, I am a Good Guy!' needs a reality check. And a quick whack with the "whack-a mole" hammer!

Don't get hung up on the fact that he says he is a billionaire. Look at the last presidential nominee who said that . . .

[Dem4Life1102]

11. Well said

[relayerbob]

9. You might consider ...

reading his life story. I'm not interested in voting for the guy, but it might surprise you

[Dem4Life1102]

12. Imagine if during the 1930s

people decided they didn’t want a millionaire President.

[BannonsLiver]

14. For some it's about the policy

Stop and frisk, his views on the minimum wage, which give off more than a whiff of GOP trickle down economic principles, not to mention his archaic Prohibitionist views on marijuana.

There’s a lot not to like. And what there is to like doesn’t outweigh the dislikes.

All of that comes before the simple reality that he has zero idea what it’s like to identify with anyone below his class. Still, that in itself doesn’t make him a bad candidate, the policy does.

[Dem4Life1102]

20. I agree about Bloomberg

He’s the worst. And I’ll add his illegal detention of protesters during the GOP convention in 04 plus increasing property taxes on middle class homeowners while cutting taxes for himself and the wealthy.

But the OP didn’t mention Bloomberg or any policy. Just a denouncement of billionaires.

[brooklynite]

16. How many candidates do you think have actually struggled financially?

[TomSlick]

19. I'm unconvinced that being wealthy is disqualifying to serve as President.

Given the choice, I would prefer a self-financing wealthy person to someone taking contributions from - and thereafter beholden to - the wealthy or PACs.

My rule remains unchanged. When the Arkansas primary comes around, I will vote for the Democratic candidate who appears best able to beat Trump in the swing states that will decide the election - whether a butcher, a baker, a politician, or an investor.

[comradebillyboy]

21. If Bloomberg can get enough votes to win the nomination I will be

happy to support him. He's not my top pick but he's far from the bottom of the list of my favorites.

[Raine]

22. It's irrelevant to me

as long as the person understands what life is like for those who aren't billionaires. The Kennedys had plenty of money but were in sync with the average guy and less fortunate more then any other leaders ever have been in this country.