General Discussion

MadameButterfly

(4,084 posts)

90. George Soros has donated 32 billion and still has 7.2 billion

Fri Mar 13, 2026, 12:17 PM

Mar 13

I think given numbers like that it's a little presumptuous of any of us to decide where the line is of how much money he can retain to qualify as a good person.

I can't speak about the dealings of rich businessmen, but we know how Paul McCartney made his money. I'd say the world is better for it. He is recognized as one of the top celebrity donors. One of his many causes is to end poverty.

That said, we need all kinds of laws to limit the abuse of money and power by wealthy people, and to shrink the income gap. I just don't feel the need to proclaim that all billionaires are bad. There are plenty that I know are bad, and I'll stick to that.

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love_katz EX500rider

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There are no ethical billionaires. I said it. [View all] Coventina Mar 12 OP

Amen to that! Obscene Wealth is a symptom of Sociopathic Wealth Hoarding Tim S Mar 12 #1

I agree - plus as the Epstein files show us it gives them a sense of invulnerability OhioBlue Mar 12 #2

American was greatest when the highest multigraincracker Mar 12 #3

Not if you were Black, or a woman, or LGBTQ misanthrope Mar 12 #5

At what time was it greater? multigraincracker Mar 12 #7

The Eisenhower presidency up into JFK yellowdogintexas Mar 12 #70

White men didn't have to compete against women or African-Americans for higher-paying jobs Jose Garcia Mar 13 #108

There were MANY deductions. No one paid 90%. Callie1979 Mar 12 #64

That's why we need a wealth tax for the top 10%. multigraincracker Mar 12 #65

Ugh. We're just never gong to learn. Callie1979 Mar 12 #67

Federal income tax rates are marginal tax rates Soul_of_Wit Mar 13 #110

Couple it with citizens united and away goes democracy. efhmc Mar 12 #4

If it keeps on raining... OC375 Mar 12 #6

George Soros? Grim Chieftain Mar 12 #8

Well, he's not meeting his payroll obligations....... lastlib Mar 12 #22

Sorry, I'm unaware of this Grim Chieftain Mar 12 #27

A joke, I think? MadameButterfly Mar 12 #30

Neither have I. What was it $20 an hour we were all supposed to be getting yellowdogintexas Mar 12 #71

Right? ck4829 Mar 13 #92

I was going to say the same. But I looked him up to make sure there wasn't some obvious MadameButterfly Mar 12 #29

My county's District Attorney was helped by Soros group LetMyPeopleVote Mar 13 #112

Greed is a serious sickness.. Escape Mar 12 #9

Robert Mercer once said... GiqueCee Mar 12 #21

I would agree. No one should have that much money and wealth. AllyCat Mar 12 #10

If I had a million dollars, I could live quite comfortably Dr. T Mar 12 #11

Nothing is more pathetic, and dangerous than a person who is worth billions wanting more. patphil Mar 12 #12

I only know of one Bev54 Mar 12 #13

She is the exception to the statement. TNNurse Mar 12 #15

number one giver? mountain grammy Mar 12 #19

yeah but watch out MadameButterfly Mar 12 #32

Oh I agree mountain grammy Mar 12 #46

Yet he was our best Mayor since at least Fiorello LaGuardia Polybius Mar 12 #72

That's a sweeping and vague comment that some will disagree with MadameButterfly Mar 13 #77

I didn't like "Stop & Frisk either, in fact I hated it Polybius Mar 14 #118

My main issue with Bloomberg was the defeat of Mark Green by oligarchy MadameButterfly Mar 15 #119

Well, not 40 years ago Polybius Mar 16 #134

Oops about the dates MadameButterfly Mar 16 #135

Melinda Gates and Jobs widow they are giving Tree Lady Mar 12 #38

Abigail Disney Amaryllis Mar 13 #107

Well, maybe not all Fiendish Thingy Mar 12 #14

Warren Buffet is probably on the good list. lastlib Mar 12 #24

i understand Epstein is why Melinda got out MadameButterfly Mar 12 #33

That and his affairs. summer_in_TX Mar 13 #73

Buffett denies climate science i.e. is a liar for money . . . hatrack Mar 12 #37

Thanks for the heads up MadameButterfly Mar 13 #74

Isn't the question how he made the billions? dpibel Mar 12 #58

Buffett is clearly on the good list LetMyPeopleVote Mar 13 #113

Buffett is a good billionaire LetMyPeopleVote Mar 18 #136

Apparently they should also be done away with. Callie1979 Mar 12 #25

"Behind every great fortune lies a great crime". SharonAnn Mar 12 #16

Or an inheritance MadameButterfly Mar 12 #36

... that came from a crime. ck4829 Mar 13 #100

I think there are some that are ethical, just not enough. And I agree that billionaires should not be allowed to exist, Fil1957 Mar 12 #17

Or at least they should be taxed enough MadameButterfly Mar 12 #34

Good people are not billionaires. n/t iscooterliberally Mar 12 #18

George Soros, Paul McCartney, MadameButterfly Mar 12 #39

I'm not so sure that anyone on your list is actually a good person. iscooterliberally Mar 13 #84

George Soros has donated 32 billion and still has 7.2 billion MadameButterfly Mar 13 #90

Without question. N/t librechik Mar 12 #20

Hopefully the Democratic Party doesnt make that opinion a platform of the Party. Callie1979 Mar 12 #23

I agree--we don't need this fight in actual elections MadameButterfly Mar 12 #35

Yes! Getting rid of unfair tax breaks, untaxed income, etc. Things MANY would get behind Callie1979 Mar 12 #63

Did I miss something? dpibel Mar 12 #59

I refer you to post #31 & others. Lots WANT it to be a part of the platform Callie1979 Mar 12 #66

I do not see "platform" or any remote synonym dpibel Mar 12 #68

You dont get it. Most DUers are "workers". They participate. They contribute. Callie1979 Mar 13 #80

Weird though how billionaires poisoning politics will cause us to lose Democracy though ck4829 Mar 13 #97

What do you think are the top 3-4 reasons we lost in '24? Callie1979 Mar 13 #104

Dark money is up there ck4829 Mar 13 #114

Thats just ONE. And while I think we need controls, I just dont see MONEY changing votes. Callie1979 Mar 13 #115

Advertising in the low-information voter age? dpibel Mar 15 #128

I'm in a swing state. I saw tons of ads from both. Total spend wasnt much different. Callie1979 Mar 16 #131

The answer ck4829 Mar 16 #132

Not the point dpibel Mar 16 #133

Shakespeare Amendment: lastlib Mar 12 #26

You don't need to kill them, just take away their money. LudwigPastorius Mar 13 #75

JB Pritzker, Governor of Illinois. greatauntoftriplets Mar 12 #28

How sad that not everyone agrees... OneGrassRoot Mar 12 #31

You don't think JB Pritzker and Tom Steyer are reliably on our side? Seriously? ancianita Mar 12 #42

I prefer Steyer stay out of the governor's race until he gets some experience. MadameButterfly Mar 12 #44

You need to take a closer look at him, imo. Just what is your standard for "enough" political experience? ancianita Mar 12 #47

They perpetuate the system... OneGrassRoot Mar 13 #82

George Soros has given away the overwhelming majority of his wealth MadameButterfly Mar 12 #43

That's fair, but please note... OneGrassRoot Mar 13 #88

And to add... OneGrassRoot Mar 13 #89

Fair enough but MadameButterfly Mar 13 #102

Well said -- totally agree blubunyip Mar 18 #137

Off the top, JB Pritzker is an ethical billionaire. You don't want him allowed to exist? What does that even mean? ancianita Mar 12 #40

greed is a public health issue... mike_c Mar 12 #41

I agree Mysterian Mar 12 #45

Anti-billionaires here are too broad brush. The mentality of throwing out the baby with the bath water is ancianita Mar 12 #48

ZZZZZzzzzzzz.......... Mysterian Mar 12 #55

Brava, giusto. DFW Mar 12 #57

That rhetoric is beneath you dpibel Mar 12 #60

Anyone who alerts your post is an idiot. You stated an opinion not an insult. Callie1979 Mar 13 #106

Riiiiggghhht... wealth hoarders are the exact same as ethnic groups Mysterian Mar 12 #69

Personally, I don't believe they are THE... OneGrassRoot Mar 13 #83

Equating blubunyip Mar 18 #140

"ethical billionaire"... good one ck4829 Mar 13 #93

Well said. I wish more would listen. Callie1979 Mar 13 #105

People collect cats and newspapers and get called hoarders. Do it with cash and you're a "genius" ck4829 Mar 13 #95

Charlie Munger's son almost single handidly Buddyzbuddy Mar 12 #49

+1. Good to know ck4829 Mar 13 #96

A very wealthy man once told my co-worker that "the problem with you, is that you don't know how to FUCK people." nt Evolve Dammit Mar 12 #50

Absolutely! debsy Mar 12 #51

One hundred percent. BlueTsunami2018 Mar 12 #52

I would go with severe regulation. Permanut Mar 12 #53

Regulation doesn't do any good if it can simply be taken away. BlueTsunami2018 Mar 12 #54

Roger that.. Permanut Mar 12 #56

For real ck4829 Mar 13 #98

And what is the superior economic system you would replace it with? EX500rider Mar 18 #138

Might we separate "what they do" and "how they got it"? dpibel Mar 12 #61

Excellent distinction. Thank you. n/t OneGrassRoot Mar 13 #86

"is value extracted from others, and frequently in ways that are less than ethical." EX500rider Mar 18 #139

Right, it's the essential question-- blubunyip Mar 18 #141

Agreed duckworth969 Mar 12 #62

The road to hell on earth is paved with greed. Dave Bowman Mar 13 #76

what do you think of Mark Cuban Skittles Mar 13 #78

While I generally agree with your premise; markodochartaigh Mar 13 #79

"Too much power makes people sick in the head " summer_in_TX Mar 13 #81

Wow, that is good. ck4829 Mar 13 #99

Antonia Scaton is a protege of George Lakoff. I'm a big fan of her work. summer_in_TX Mar 14 #117

They have their own highways,airports malaise Mar 13 #85

this thread is hilarious WhiskeyGrinder Mar 13 #87

None. ck4829 Mar 13 #91

Greed is God moondust Mar 13 #94

Yup! All they do is hoard wealth and weaponize it against us! Initech Mar 13 #101

Yep and Faux pas Mar 13 #103

Matthew 19:24 CapnSteve Mar 13 #109

There are some ethical billionaires LetMyPeopleVote Mar 13 #111

Time will tell blubunyip Mar 18 #142

Pritzker? Mackenzie Scott? There are Luciferous Mar 14 #116

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 15 #120

Here we go again ... TBF Mar 15 #121

Post removed Post removed Mar 15 #122

So much anger...typical of Trumpers. surfered Mar 15 #123

Message auto-removed Name removed Mar 15 #125

And your point is...? GP6971 Mar 15 #124

Welcome to DU, MarineCombatEngineer Mar 15 #126

AaNnDd the MAGAt troll is gone, MarineCombatEngineer Mar 15 #129

could it be the notorious denizen of the library stacks once more? NewHendoLib Mar 15 #127

It's a GIRL that likes the LIBRARY. nt MarineCombatEngineer Mar 15 #130