21 comments

  • aggakake 8 hours ago

    What an absolute shame, and a fantastic example of the corrupting power of money.

  • skilled 8 hours ago
  • moneycantbuy 3 hours ago

    who's flagging every article about Sergey's endless greed? why not comment instead if you're for it?

  • moneycantbuy 4 hours ago

    He would have only $259,000,000,000 after the 5% tax.

  • manoDev 8 hours ago
  • danny_codes 8 hours ago

    > Asked for comment on this article, Mr. Brin said in a rare statement: “I fled socialism with my family in 1979 and know the devastating, oppressive society it created in the Soviet Union. I don’t want California to end up in the same place.”

    He must be confusing socialism and communism. Presumably not a mistake. But embarrassing nonetheless. I suppose the gullible among us may be convinced

    • stavros 8 hours ago

      You can read that quote as "I fled totalitarianism with my family in 1979 and I know the massive benefits it brings for those of us at the top".

    • tim-tday 8 hours ago

      Suddenly paying taxes is socialism.

    • UncleMeat 4 hours ago

      "Communist authoritarianism is when small wealth tax on billionaires."

  • jacquesm 8 hours ago

    You'd think that Brin would know the difference between Soviet Russia and socialism. Money sure doesn't seem to make people smarter. Anyway, I really don't understand why he is trying to justify his choice in this awkward and clearly dumb way when there is a much more straightforward explanation that will do just fine.

  • casey2 7 hours ago

    Can't think of a better time to go MAGA than right now. Buy the dip!

  • 1attice 8 hours ago

    Class capture. RIP Sergey

  • dmitrygr 8 hours ago

    [flagged]

    • standardly 8 hours ago

      Proposing taxation on wealthy individuals isn't exactly a sudden and dramatic philosophical shift to the extreme left.

      • dmitrygr 7 hours ago

        WEALTH taxes are a dramatic change - America never had them and there are still questions as to whether they are even constitutional

    • aggakake 8 hours ago

      Far left in the US is center right in most other developed countries.

      His screed uses red scare words but really he just doesn't want to pay taxes, plain and simple.

      • throwawaypath 7 hours ago

        >Far left in the US is center right in most other developed countries.

        Disagree. Far-left in the US is just as far than most other developed countries. Any sources that say otherwise?

      • dmitrygr 7 hours ago

        > he just doesn't want to pay taxes

        Nor does anyone else. If you think you pay too little, here: https://www.pay.gov/public/form/start/708094624

    • hooverlabs 8 hours ago

      [dead]

  • bell-cot 8 hours ago

    > After once backing liberal causes, the Google co-founder has praised President Trump, donated to Republicans and spent $57 million to try to block a California billionaire tax.

    "Don't be evil" was a long time ago in a Googleplex far, far away.

    When Performative Activism and Praising the King are opposing strategies, the Smart Money decides after comparing the RoI's.

    How many of the world's top (say) 50 "liberal" billionaire support special taxes on billionaires?