Tom Perkins' big idea: The rich should get more votes

[Jacob]

You cannot argue that the outcome of the last few decades can possibly be ok for human society.

The last few of decades have probably been the best decades in the history of humanity.

For whom?

[The Brain]

@Berkut:  OK, so you're talking about rising inequality rather than "actions directed at making a lot more at someone else's expense."

That's what I'm talking about when I say I don't see how you can call that warfare.  Yesterday, I was making $X and had $Y wealth, you were making $A and had $B wealth.  Then this VC dude makes a billion dollar killing on an IPO.  Our positions are unchanged.  How in the world is that waging war against us?

The war waging part is when he says "people who don't make a billion dollar killing on IPO should be disenfranchised."

He's individually waging a collective war that he has already personally won?

[Jacob]

He's individually waging a collective war that he has already personally won?

Are you familiar with the use of the term "class warfare" in American political discourse?

[Grinning_Colossus]

Technology has advanced rapidly, hundreds of millions have been lifted from poverty in Asia with only a minor corresponding decline in living standards in parts of the 1st world, and there haven't been any major wars. It really is a good time to be alive. That doesn't mean, however, that the world's political/economic/environmental trajectory (the outcome of the last few decades) is going to take us in a direction that's OK for humanity. Many signs seem to point to the opposite.

[The Brain]

He's individually waging a collective war that he has already personally won?

Are you familiar with the use of the term "class warfare" in American political discourse?

You don't win warfare.

[Viking]

He's individually waging a collective war that he has already personally won?

Are you familiar with the use of the term "class warfare" in American political discourse?

It's a hell of a lot better than the "class warfare" we had in European political discourse.


anyways, Who is this Tom Perkins and why should anybody care what he thinks?

[Razgovory]

Political systems which have included a property or income qualification have tended to work for the benefit of the upper classes.  Political systems which have not have had a tendency to hand out more free money.  Both have their disadvantages.

What makes you think that a system with property or income qualifications wouldn't hand out free money?

[Jacob]

It's a hell of a lot better than the "class warfare" we had in European political discourse.

No argument there.

anyways, Who is this Tom Perkins and why should anybody care what he thinks?

He is very rich. According to some (including apparently himself), that means his opinion should carry extra weight.

[Admiral Yi]

What makes you think that a system with property or income qualifications wouldn't hand out free money?

Reread my post that you responded to.

[Neil]

Your right. It is exactly the same as someone turning eighteen. You are all set, keep voting for the Koch brothers, everything is fine.

You win.

He did.

[Admiral Yi]

Feel free to sustain the argument Neil.

[Capetan Mihali]

"Class War": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnE97BwPeTI 

[Neil]

Feel free to sustain the argument Neil.

But isn't it over?  I felt that it was over.

[Admiral Yi]

But isn't it over?  I felt that it was over.

Then just as an academic excercise explain to me how the rich guy getting richer *is* an example of warfare for the reason Berkut described, but my examples are not.  In fact, mine should be even more egregious, since his rich guy only increased his potential political influence, whereas mine increased their actual influence.

[Sheilbh]

He's individually waging a collective war that he has already personally won?

Are you familiar with the use of the term "class warfare" in American political discourse?

The same as the wolf and the sheep voting? The more powerful and wealthy you are the more protection and deference you need.