I’m not sure which was more useless, watching McGregor blow out his knee in a minute or hearing billionaires rationally explain their position to Socialists and Politicians who are not there for the debate, but for the impressions.
If you are following the news, Mark Cuban was in a X dispute with Ro Khanna over the proposed wealth tax in California.
Mark Cuban was stating that California won’t have a chance if implemented while Ro’s position was that no one will notice.
For a summary, The Hill has a nice play by play.
It makes sense if you have more traditional values, and if, not, Ro’s views sound sensible.
The problem I have is that both are posturing while we just wait to see what happens. If Mark Cuban truly wanted to make a “statement” he would do it on BlueSky to inform users over there about the dangers of Socialism and a wealth tax.
What’s the point of doing it on X?
Broadly speaking, X, has a robust community with divergent opinions. A townhall if you may. So much so that Europe and the UK have been in court battles with the company for a year or two, unlike Bluesky. If Bluesky really is the progressive echo chamber its critics claim then Ro’s views on taxes are a given on that platform.
So why would Mark do this on X where the audience that should be considering the implications and dangers of a wealth tax are using another platform? The only answer I can think of is to give Ro’s viewpoint and maybe a few ignorant fellas a chance to vote for the DSA.
You don’t tend to give the other side respect, if that side is gaslighting your position unless you are the strawman.
If billionaires really have a problem with the wealth tax, then state what happened when the US first instituted the income tax which was “just” for the 1%.
You know the 1% Bernie Sanders has been riffing on for decades. The Senator who had his honeymoon in Moscow and the leader of the Progressive wing in politics 1% has been thrown around since Socialism took root in the USA. Essentially, Bernie is an old vinyl record from the Al Jolson era, still yammering about the 1%, while government ever so softly figured out how to tax the living bejeezus out of everyone else.
No one cares what Mark Cuban will do if they pass it, but they most certainly would it if effects them directly.
We don’t need to see how smart you are Mark.
He could also remind people that once laws are passed and budgets used, the bureaucracy tends to lower the barrier for taxes. So maybe it’s 1 off, but can it really?
Unlike 1913, our federal and state governments tend to have monstruous debt and expenses. So once accomplished, and constitutional, wealth taxes are not going to stop.
Mark Cuban was not arguing effectively but Ro was. And probably why the Mavericks could only muster one championship while he owned it. He had no skin in the game to care that much.
Well, these are my impressions and feelings I had toward their exchange. Maybe I’m wrong. I respect the fact that in the US we try things and make mistakes. But I am most definitely a concerned citizen.
What are you thoughts?
Have a pleasant Saturday,
Eric
PS. I rush out emails with a lot of thought put into them. But I most certainly can make errors. If you spot any please let me know, I’m here to learn and observe just like you.
Tomorrow I’ll share with you some wonderful results from my software development.