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I’ve incessantly linked to Nick Hanauer’s “pitchforks” warning.
It’s so value studying in the event you haven’t; and laborious to not suppose, 10 years on, that the primary pitchfork simply got here — appallingly and unforgivably, however maybe understandably — within the type of a 3D-printed ghost gun.
An terrible lot of persons are singing the assassin’s praises — literally (and this is only one instance). Lots of others are taking the chance to place the tragedy into perspective — this way (60 seconds) and this way (90 seconds, from Pastor Paul Drees).
It’s not clear to me that, regardless of their successful the votes of many who’re hurting badly, Trump and his fellow billionaires are attuned to — or a lot care about — their ache and frustrations.
From the Patriotic Millionaires newsletter (value studying in full):
Maybe the largest sign that Trump’s presidency goes to be an excellent time for billionaires is the truth that he has tapped quite a few them to work directly in his administration.
[If confirmed], the full internet value of Trump’s Cupboard could be $11.8 billion, [100 times] the value – $118 million – of President Biden’s present Cupboard.
And whenever you embody non-Cupboard members like Musk, Ramaswamy, and Stephens, the determine balloons to $382.2 billion – which is greater than the GDP of 172 international locations.
Trump has made it no secret that he intends to ship, and ship massive, for the rich.
The inventory market has already rallied in anticipation. Between November 4th (the day earlier than the election) and November twelfth, America’s 815 billionaires noticed their fortunes bounce by $276 billion.
Musk gave $250 million to Trump’s election effort and is already reaping his reward. Studies are out that, immediately, Musk grew to become the primary particular person to prime $400 billion in wealth – a 66% enhance since Trump’s election.
Two weeks after the election, MSNBC ran the headline, “Might Trump and his billionaire buddies flip America into an oligarchy?” Sadly, if billionaires have this a lot wealth, affect, and energy even earlier than Trump returns to the White Home, we’re already residing in an oligarchy. The query must be how a lot worse will it get.
When you’re a millionaire — one in all you latterly clocked in at $45 million — you would possibly need to contemplate joining the Patriotic Millionaires. If not — in the event you’re a traditional particular person — you would possibly need to chip in $25 to support their work and get their e-newsletter.
I like capitalism, when sensibly regulated, and love and admire a couple of billionaire myself. Those I do know assist honest taxation. This man just isn’t one in all them: How One of the World’s Richest Men Is Avoiding $8 Billion in Taxes.
Allow us to hope that ghost gun was the final pitchfork, not the primary.
A MUST-READ BONUS
Don’t Let Donald Trump Take Your Soul, Too — former Trump official Tim Miller on not turning into a nihilist. (Oh, and look — he even makes use of The Economist’s phrase of the 12 months, kakistocracy!)
Editors Notice: This text was initially revealed on December twelfth, 2024 on andrewtobias.com, syndicated with permission.
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