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DBoon

(25,118 posts)
46. Tech billionaires have contempt for everyone not in their class
Wed Jan 7, 2026, 07:16 PM
Jan 2026

Tech billionaires also have contempt for democracy itself. They are outspoken about replacing it with an authoritarian oligarchy.

This tax offends them because it implies they should be subject to laws passed democratically by ordinary citizens. They would prefer to rule over us without restraint.

It's not the small amount they would pay that is at issue - they object to being held the least bit accountable accountable by citizens.

They say so openly and at length. Writings urging the replacement of democracy have been openly published. For example Marc Andreesen's "Techno-Optimist Manifesto" :

...By late 2023, Andreessen, formerly a supporter of the Democratic Party, was said to have grown politically disillusioned with the Biden administration due to the volatility in the technology space for venture capitalists. The new environment was attributed to the imposition of antitrust laws on the tech sector and a renewed push for regulation of cryptocurrency, a sector in which Andreessen Horowitz was deeply invested in as a firm. The added scrutiny given to the tech sector in the wake of the Bankman-Fried scandal was also a contributing factor to Andreessen's newfound thinking. According to The New York Times, Biden's proposed "billionaire minimum income tax" led Andreessen to shift his political alliances to the Trump campaign.[8] In October, Andreessen composed his thoughts and posted the "Techno-Optimist Manifesto" essay online.[13] Dwarkesh Patel, who had previously interviewed Andreessen at the beginning of the year, responded to the manifesto with criticism and counterarguments, leading Andreessen to permanently block Patel on Twitter.
...
The manifesto pays homage to the Manifesto of Futurism (1909) by Italian poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti (1876–1944), who would go on to co-author the Fascist Manifesto a decade later, which was used to describe the political platform of Benito Mussolini. In one part, Andreessen rewords Marinetti's manifesto[β] in the context of technology, writing "Beauty exists only in struggle. There is no masterpiece that has not an aggressive character. Technology must be a violent assault on the forces of the unknown, to force them to bow before man."[16] Andreessen ends the manifesto with a list of self-declared patron saints of techno-optimism, with Marinetti taking his place alongside philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, the fictional character of John Galt, and the neo-reactionary philosopher Nick Land, among others

- Wikipedia, with my bolding

Someone who openly admires Italians Futurists who were the backbone of Italian Fascism is not someone who will accept what we consider to be democracy, civil liberties, dues process and other traditional American values.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Na na na na hey hey goodbye! Ritabert Jan 2026 #1
Well sheshe2 Jan 2026 #2
All of the privileges of living in the US which helped him get so rich. Irish_Dem Jan 2026 #3
This won't affect his federal taxes, only his state taxes Jose Garcia Jan 2026 #13
ha. he probably doesn't pay federal taxes. Irish_Dem Jan 2026 #15
Probably gets DiverDave Jan 2026 #56
Yep subsidies from the US taxpayer. Irish_Dem Jan 2026 #57
"It worked!" say Californians as they high-five eachother. Scrivener7 Jan 2026 #4
Now Deleware should implement a billionaire tax. Good riddance, asshole. kysrsoze Jan 2026 #5
Deleware should charge a wealth tax Puppyjive Jan 2026 #6
Unlikely Deep State Witch Jan 2026 #16
Corporate law is one of the major things that needs to be re-done if the US is ever BComplex Jan 2026 #28
We money spending consumers bake the economic cookies, the rich eat most of them and leave us the crumbs. nt Exp Jan 2026 #7
A wealth tax to fund healthcare Bayard Jan 2026 #8
They should charge him a leaving tax Mr. Sparkle Jan 2026 #9
LOL!! Brilliant!! BComplex Jan 2026 #29
It's a double edged sword The Grand Illuminist Jan 2026 #10
It's been working out well in Massachusetts, which actually has more millionaires now TheRickles Jan 2026 #22
Totally different, not the same at all. Abolishinist Jan 2026 #50
True, but they're both aiming for the same redistributive goals, though via different means. TheRickles Jan 2026 #55
Regadless of when he left, if the wealth tax is approved he will have to pay because it is retroactive to 1/1/25 and in2herbs Jan 2026 #11
The Constitution specifically prohibits states from passing retroactive laws Jose Garcia Jan 2026 #14
With regards to criminal laws, yes, but not with regards to civil laws. See below: in2herbs Jan 2026 #33
Good riddance. Martin68 Jan 2026 #12
Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs The Mouth Jan 2026 #17
Check the tax rates under Reagan Easterncedar Jan 2026 #19
The problem is that the rich can just up and move The Mouth Jan 2026 #47
That makes corporations sound like they are necessarily benefitting their State in kind. BComplex Jan 2026 #30
The Laffer Curve was debunked long ago DBoon Jan 2026 #43
Wealth is mobile The Mouth Jan 2026 #48
The Laffer Curve proposed that lowering taxes creates overall economic prosperity DBoon Jan 2026 #52
I didn't quote, or refer to the Laffer curve, that was someone else The Mouth Jan 2026 #61
How fucking greedy can you get? Ray Bruns Jan 2026 #18
These money-hoarders have an addiction to money. MLWR Jan 2026 #20
I think the oldigarchs addiction to money and power is because they will soon be dead , afraid their power will wane, in2herbs Jan 2026 #34
Not dead fast enough. diane in sf Jan 2026 #38
I agree! nt in2herbs Jan 2026 #39
It is game to the super rich SheLiberal Jan 2026 #41
Welp Pas-de-Calais Jan 2026 #21
Oh, boo, hoo, hoo... Pay your damn fair share... electric_blue68 Jan 2026 #23
Thanks California for helping us become billionaires Smilo Jan 2026 #24
Hahaha! One more billionaire mansion in Texas they can't sell. Joinfortmill Jan 2026 #25
Isnt Gavin Newsome against this tax? Callie1979 Jan 2026 #26
Ballot Analysis of Initiative 2025-024 quaint Jan 2026 #27
Page moved, but the major companies of Alphabet haven't. CA may be a little tax poorer, but not enough to affect ancianita Jan 2026 #31
If you sleep on someone's couch and you don't pay rent, you're a moocher. Initech Jan 2026 #58
I hear you. ancianita Jan 2026 #59
Link to text of initiative, California Secretary of State office GJGCA Jan 2026 #32
The sun in California shines a bit brighter today Sweet Rosie Red Jan 2026 #35
Bye, Felicia. QueerDuck Jan 2026 #36
Welp lonely bird Jan 2026 #37
The greed and selfishness of these people are beyond belief. Mebbe I'm wrong, but I don't think Larry is going to end up Fil1957 Jan 2026 #40
You don't own California. You don't own the people of this state. DBoon Jan 2026 #42
Come on! The man's gotta eat. Swede Jan 2026 #44
Make these assholes pay! They can't keep mooching forever! Initech Jan 2026 #45
Tech billionaires have contempt for everyone not in their class DBoon Jan 2026 #46
Page is moving because, after the new tax, he'd ONLY have 256,500,000,000 dollars? LudwigPastorius Jan 2026 #49
Bye RandySF Jan 2026 #51
He SHOULD be shamed as one of the greediest men in the world by every lawmaker and every media outlet. Doodley Jan 2026 #53
Good UpInArms Jan 2026 #54
Instead of a wealth tax.... Happy Hoosier Jan 2026 #60
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