Let's put names and faces to the phrase "top 400 richest people"

[Samantha]

This Forbes article is from October 2016, but for purposes of this discussion, that will work.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2016/10/04/forbes-releases-35th-annual-forbes-400-ranking-of-the-richest-americans/#10401923502f

Check out these people listed who it appears will be receiving a tax break at the expense of poor and disabled citizens losing their Medicaid coverage if the Trump administration is successful in "repealing and replacing The Affordable Care Act." You will have no problem recognizing many if not most of these names and faces Forbes presents in its article.

What prompted me to take a look was wondering simply if Donald Trump was listed. What do you know!

Quoted from the article:

"Donald Trump fell 35 spots to No. 156 this year. Trump is worth $3.7 billion, down $800 million from last year, largely due to a decrease in New York real estate prices and new information about his holdings. Forbes presents an asset-by-asset breakdown of his empire. Forbes has been tracking The Donald’s fortune since the debut of The Forbes 400 in 1982. His fortune is real, though by no means approaching the $10 billion that Trump continues to maintain he is worth." (bold emphasis added)

What a coincidence

If one can get past the simple barbarism of depriving the least fortunate of our citizens of their Medicaid coverage (which I believe those who are simply decent human beings cannot do), how does one justify a so-called President of the United States authenticating this bill when he himself will financially benefit from it? There is a word for that but you may choose your own -- mine is unrepeatable.

Sam

[Warpy]

1. n2doc posted a great Mr. Fish toon today

Says it all.

[Samantha]

2. Sad but true

I cannot stand looking at him any more, much less listening.

Thanks for sharing this and posting on my thread.

Sam

[Doreen]

3. I do not know about any of the others but

we do have Gates and Buffet who are on our side.

[Warpy]

4. Gates spends most of his money outside the country

Yeah, they need it in Africa but he doesn't seem to realize we need some here to counteract people like the Mercers, the Kochs, Adealson, Art Pope, Thiel, and all the other scumbags.

[leftstreet]

5. A person worth $86 billion is not on 'our' side

He or she is one of 'them' not one of 'us'

2016

Bill Gates $86 billion
Warren Buffett $75.6 billion
Jeff Bezos $72.8 billion
Mark Zuckerberg $55.5 billion
Larry Ellison $49.3 billion
Michael Bloomberg $45 billion
Charles Koch $42 billion
David H. Koch $42 billion
Larry Page $38.5 billion
Sergey Brin $37.5 billion
Jim Walton $35.6 billion
S. Robson Walton $35.5 billion
Alice Walton $35.4 billion
Sheldon Adelson $31.8 billion
Steve Ballmer $27.5 billion
Jacqueline Mars $27 billion
John Franklyn Mars $27 billion
Phil Knight $25.5 billion
George Soros $24.9 billion
Michael Dell $20 billion

[DFW]

7. I'll never be a billionaire, but nor will I ever subscribe to such blanket categorizations

Take the last two on the list, Soros and Dell. One is "with us." The other is very much "against us."

I once heard a lecture by Ted Turner, and he was concerned with nothing but environmental issues, and was fully into doing what he could to preserve nature.

I only know two billionaires personally (never really got to know Ted Turner), and they are both "on our side." One of them is even in Dallas, knows Trump personally and not only can't stand him but calls him out on being a bald-faced liar to anyone who will listen.

If someone is talented, and his talents lead to his becoming a billionaire by legitimate means, well, good for him. Poverty is unfortunate, not noble. Wealth and success come by many means, and not all of them are evil or predatory.

[Samantha]

8. I didn't mean to imply anyone with wealth and success must be evil or predatory

I was just trying to draw a distinct contrast between those who might benefit from Trump's health care bill and those who will probably lose. I do think some of the list of those who benefit might even step out and publicly say they do not need the tax cut if it comes at such a high price people will eventually pay with their lives. As I was putting this thread together last night, it occurred to me if we could get a couple to publicly denounce this avenue, it might work to effectuate a change. But perhaps I am dreaming....

Sam

[DFW]

9. That's an idea. I'll ask one if he'd do it.

Seeing as how he detests Trump, he might just!

[Samantha]

11. I kind of was wondering about Bill Gates

He and his wife spend a lot of money on charitable causes. I think he would be appalled to see his reputation take a hit over Trump's bill adversely impacting Medicaid in order to give people like him (Gates) a tax cut. He doesn't need it and I don't think he would want his name associated with this debacle.

I will certainly keep my fingers crossed your friend is willing to step out. Perhaps he might know a couple of other extremely wealthy people who would stand with him and reject the premise entirely.

Thanks DFW!

Sam

[DFW]

12. I don't know Gates at all

The two billionaires I know are Clint Carlson in Dallas and Peter Norton (of wherever he happens to be at any given moment). Clint Carlson hosts Emily's List events at his home in Dallas, which is how I know him. He runs a successful hedge fund out of Dallas. I've known Peter Norton (of Anti-Virus fame) for quite a few years, and I really like him and Gwen, though we usually only see each other once a year. He even sends me obscure films he thinks I'd like. Ever heard of "Good Bye Brazil?" Neither had I. Peter is very modest and soft-spoken, although with a great sense of humor. About ten years ago, when we met up in December, we asked each other what we'd been up to the past year. I said the usual for me (he knows exactly what I do), and asked how about him? "Oh, I was over in China building a couple of cities." And with him, you just KNOW he wasn't exaggerating. Guys like these two are very modest types in person--no inferiority complexes. They made it big on their talents, and feel no need to show off to anyone. Trump never seems to get enough attention to placate his inferiority complex.

[Hekate]

10. Thanks DFW. It helps to keep our heads straight. nt

[Samantha]

6. I am not being critical of either

just trying to draw a picture of the difference in need between that group and the group on Medicaid. The size of their slice of this tax cut will probably not make a big splash in their wallet yet possibly losing coverage under Medicaid can be a matter of life and death to many more than 400 people.

Thanks for posting on my thread.

Sam

[irisblue]

13. Kicking, cuz this idea is interesting. nt

[TexasBushwhacker]

14. The Forbes list is based on net worth

Here are the 200 CEOs who received the most compensation in 2016.

http://www.equilar.com/reports/38-new-york-times-200-highest-paid-ceos-2016.html