Zohran Mamdani says, ’I don’t think that we should have billionaires’

Such a handsome guy.

I have a feeling he WILL be the next Mayor of NYC.

I don't think we should either.

He’s not wrong. Who the fuck needs a billion to live?

Keep talking, Veruca darling...

Ny god what a monster

No one really NEEDS a billion dollars. But there is justification in having the ambition, creativity, hard work and balls to earn it. If there isn't oppression or evil in acquiring it, the drive to succeed is what makes progressive evolution.

THAT said, after maybe 2 or 3 Billion, which is pretty much impossible to spend anyway, my view is anything over that MUST be given away via philanthropy, charity, etc. Let Beyonce and Jay Z, or Buffett or Zuch or Michael Jordan have the vision to earn their money. But anything over 2 or 3 Billion, needs to be put back into the economy in some fashion.

^^ And I don't mean via government taxation. Capitalism and liberty mean multi Billionaires still should be able to make their own choices. But what good is billions of dollars just sitting around. There's got a be a way to require that excess fortunes be given to foundations that provide money for research, wellness, environmental sustainability, etc.

What's wrong with just taking it via taxes, r7? A huge amount medical and scientific research is (or was, Trump seems to trying to end this) funded by the federal government.

Don't mess with the Zohran!

Socialism is a failed experiment. Most of the billionaires' wealth is tied to the stock market. When Facebook was initially started, do you think Zuckerberg had billions? Or Steve Jobs? This Mamdani guy is a loser. He does not have the brains to become wealthy. All those Democratic socialists are losers. None of them has the brains to become wealthy, and like any good old communist, they want to take their wealth away. None of the greatest inventions ever came from communist countries. Because there is no reward. Socialism is a modern 20th-century farce. Before that, since the start of civilization, there was no socialism. People invented things and profited off of those inventions, and probably paid the king royalties. Income inequality has existed since the time of Buddha. And Mamdani wants to reinvent socialism. Has he even looked at Venezuela, the Soviet Union, and other failed states? What is amazing is that people in NYC voted for him. Something has gone seriously wrong in America. Either way, they are being educated, or the younger people have lost all ambition.

Agree.

Socialism is a vapid dream.

When you're right you're right

That anti-socialism crap is so tired. What's wrong with raising taxes and expanding the social safety net? We would just be improving the society we already have. It's not like he's advocating for a cultural revolution.

R14 He is not saying that. He is saying, seizing the means of production. Check his video on Twitter. He is saying that inequality in income can be overcome by ordering production as a government mandate. I guess he does not believe in a market economy but a command economy. We know how it has turned out. So, what are these DSA types advocating? The same thing that has failed in many countries, and somehow they can magically make it work in the USA and the Western world? On top of it, he appears to be a dull person. There are many ways one can bridge the gap, rather than saying there should not be any billionaires. Becoming a billionaire is also luck. When Jezz Bezos started Amazon, did he think he would succeed? Probably not, but he had an idea, and it turned out that people liked it. Same goes for Apple. When Apple started, there were already established companies like IBM and Microsoft. But Apple offered a niche product that took off. Steve Jobs became a billionaire. Lots of examples like that. But we do not know how many others failed. Also, look at Nokia or Blackberry. When they were in rage, the owners made billions. Now, they may still have that money, or all of it may be lost. Tell me which other country has come up with such innovative products? China is now able to come up because it has become a market economy rather than a command economy. This fool along with many other American fools want to destroy all of that because they fucking fancy themselves as saviors or I do not what ever the fuck the virtue signaling crowd thinks. No one objects to raising taxes reasonably and expanding some social safety nets.

Thomas Jefferson believed that there shouldn't be massive generational wealth transfer, especially if there were no widow or large family to support, and definitely that single people who died with large wealth should expect that the government should take it after their deaths. There's certainly no reason that the top marginal rate should be capped at 37%. It was at 90% for most of the 1950's, and the standard of living was higher for the bottom third of earners in the US than it ever has been

R10 rampantly begs the question.

Meanwhile of the countries in the world with the highest standards of living, most are mixed economies.

Socialism has been proven to work over and over again in mixed economies.

All dollars made over, say, 100 million, get taxed at 70% each year. (Of course, that number could be higher/lower.)

No write offs. No off shore accounts. No evasion.

Musk et al would still be worth billions. Just not 250 billion (or whatever he's at now). So the baseline for "ultra rich" would still be ridiculous high, still give those crazy capitalists that ego incentive they seem to need, but also help with the wealth disparity.

Wake up demfucks..

More and more this guy is giving me the creeps. BDS as government policy? No fucking way! "End goal is seizing the means of production", maybe in Uganda. Why the fuck did he become a US citizen,

We have billionaires because income isn’t taxed until it’s realized, not because the maximum marginal rate is too low.

I’m not worried about the people living in NYC and earning $600k a year but paying $100k for a “pretty nice” place to live and $100k for childcare. And I’m definitely not worried about it the people making $350k and having to commute an hour each way so their kids can go to a good public school. 37% is enough. The issue isn’t that people are keeping too much of their paychecks, it’s that they are holding on to untaxed capital gains and even borrowing against them to pay for $20 million weddings and rocketships to avoid realizing them.

Bezos and Zuckerberg have too much money. And it’s nice that Bill Gates is trying to give some away, but spending money on your pet projects isn’t really the same thing as paying your fair share of taxes. They should be doing both.

At least the gilded age barons left some nice libraries and estates behind. Maybe the top 0.001% like Zuckerberg buying up half of Hawaii will result in some nice resorts for the top 1% in 100 years like how Rockefeller’s land became Little Dix Bay. I guess that’s the trickle down theory.

The estate tax should just be 100% over a certain value of assets.

Good explanation, r21. You nailed the problem.

All politicians will say whatever needs to be said to be elected and to hold onto power. I highly doubt this guy believes half of what he's said. Also, many politicians flip-flop over the years.

Also, unlike Trump, he doesn't have enough social capital to force anyone to go along with his plans.

R25 so we should elect a centrist who has nothing and won’t even try then? Shoot for the stars and land on the moon. We have to stop thinking about politicians like sports teams. Even if Zohran fails to pass his agenda, if it represents what New Yorkers want then they should continue electing progressives and accept that it may take time to push the overton window to the left.

It's true, however other countries do believe in the right to billionaire, so the billionaires will move there, taking their money with them, and crippling NYC industries.

It would only work if all countries strictly enforced it, and even then it's not a safeguard against corruption. Politicians lithium would probably squirrel away some nuts in offshore accounts and money laundering schemes so they don't have to follow it

[quote]No one objects to raising taxes reasonably and expanding some social safety nets.

No one? How about literally every elected Republican in the country? How about the entire Republican congressional delegation who are squabbling over how much Medicare and VA benefits and food stamps to cut in order to cut taxes for the obscenely rich.

[quote]It's true, however other countries do believe in the right to billionaire, so the billionaires will move there, taking their money with them, and crippling NYC industries.

Hence why conservatism will thrive in the 21st century, because businesses and billionaires are moving out of woke California and New York and moving to Texas, Florida, etc. and the citizenry will follow.

Thus, the liberal East Coast and Northeast will become socialist hellholes, while the South will rise again!

Democrats are shortsighted fools who are still living in the 20th century.

But it's all inevitable.

R10 = Peter Thiel

I fucking hate this guy. Doesn’t have a clue. His father is an academic and his mother is a directI, both elite. He is so utterly utterly full of shit, and people are falling for it.

*director

Another myth - without the brilliant and innovative billionaires, we would be helpless and unable to do any work. We need “job creators” and their genius minds to figure anything out. Thanks to them and them alone are human beings able to organize and produce anything. Who gives a fuck if some CEOs leave?

Hey R31, In case you haven't noticed, Trump's parents were a Real estate slumlord and mother that was a socialite with a bouffant hairdo. If Americas can put that in the White House I dont see the problem with Zohran becoming mayor. Experience does not matter any more in politics, you can thank Trump and MAGA for that.

[quote] This Mamdani guy is a loser. He does not have the brains to become wealthy.

He does have the brains to become wealthy. He also has the connections.

He just doesn't have the [italic]drive.[/italic].

It takes a certain kind of person to pull that off. Most people are not that person.

There was a bit on a comedy show where one of the characters thinks she is going out with a millionaire and she's fine with it, then she discovers the man is actually a billionaire, and she is scared, because she knows he is going to be absolutely crazy. That is exactly the kind of person that becomes a billionaire.

he's right

A lot of comments. I was the one who made earlier comments on why socialism fails. Mixed economy - India was a mixed economy from Independence. Private enterprise was there, but was allowed to produce only as much as the government told them to. The country suffered. They called it the Hindu growth rate. Meager and did not create jobs. The government industry was non-competitive and produced hardly anything properly. Even now, India is unable to get rid of those government enterprises that tend to be loss-making. Same with China until 1971. Once they removed obstacles to private wealth creation, the economies took off. In India, job creation is still bad because of the protections the government does not have the political courage to remove. A growing economy will lift many boats, and poverty has decreased in both countries, much more so in China. I saw that poverty, so I know. Most fucking fools in this country have no clue what socialism does. Socialized medicine, safety nets are different from what DSA wants. Realize that. As someone else said, the billionaire's wealth is mostly paper wealth. When Facebook's stock fell, Mark Zuckerberg's wealth fell by billions of dollars. It is obscene, yes, but part of it is also the fact that a lot of pension funds invest in the stock market. Secondly, when people buy stocks, they are lending capital to the company for expansion and growth. If the returns are great, investors get the money back with extra interest. Imagine what this idiot who studied African sciences is proposing. Where do you think he will get the capital if he is going to seize the means of production? The government has to create capital. How? By printing money or imposing taxes. How much tax is going to be collected if everyone makes less money? So print money. How will he decide which company to invest in? How will he decide what are new technologies to invest in? How much? According to him, the government will decide which new technology will prosper. But what if the government does not know or bets on the wrong thing? Companies expand based on future demand. They may lose, but that is how risk management is done. But how will the government decide when there is no market economy? Will this idiot generate demand? Market economy is brutal, but it also gives us competition (currently, the government and courts are not enforcing the antitrust laws properly). Inequality exists everywhere. But progressive taxation is a way of reducing it, and America already has that. They can change it. Already, people who make less money get significant benefits. The government can change that. Maybe republicans do not want to tax, but at the state level, they can tax income. AMT can be increased from 15% to 20%. They can institute a voucher system for rent. Instead of rent freezes and non-market interventions, they can provide a DBT. For a family of 4 making 50K the government will provide $3K in rent/month. In big cities, they can impose a ceiling of 150K for a family of 4. They can mandate that the service industry take care of people better. Starbucks already pays for health insurance for people working 20 hours or more. There is no easy solution. It is a flawed system, but the American and Western systems are the best we have. We have seen what failures are under socialism. Look at Russia and Poland. Poland is wealthy, and Russia is not so wealthy. If there is a system that can eliminate inequality and suffering, then by all means, that should be in place. There is none. And only wealthy Americans in their luxury can afford such thoughts, and that is what is happening. In the last few years, Virtue signaling has become hugely fashionable among the young. Being kind and helpful is good. But making it a way of life is what will ruin America, and that is what a lot of educated whites, asians, and others have become.

Somewhere between outlawing billionaires and getting them to pay more is the solution. I think most of the country including MAGA types would like to see that. It would involve some form of taxation on assets instead of income. I'm sure some brilliant person could come up with a formula that would work. They should start small to see if it works. Rich people are good at escaping taxes. Also the estate tax should be revised. Anyone with a fortune of 100 million must pay more.

This is such a good issue for Dems if they can come up with specific, simple proposals. Of course, the rich billionaires that fund the Dems may not like it.

Typical commie talk.

No, r48. This is America. It was founded on limited government. Stealing wealth from people is what they did to Jews in Nazi Germany.

This guy’s degree is in African studies. lol. He was a rapper with no work history. He has wealthy parents. He’s a racist antisemitic loser. Good luck.

[quote] It's not like he's advocating for a cultural revolution.

He actually has a video out there saying we need to "seize the means of production". Always we wary of these DSA types.

People have strange ideas about wealth. You'd think based on media hype that the world is littered with billionaires, but it's not true. There are about 3,000 billionaires in the world. How many live in NYC? 123. It's a handful of people. Some of them are there on a mixture of intelligence and luck; a lot of them inherited their money. Many wildly gifted and brilliant people manage to crawl by with, oh, a few million. It seems good enough. Society has been full of innovation and creativity even before there were any legal ways to be rewarded, because human beings are meant to function as part of a community. When the community improves, everyone improves.

R43 wow, he’s even better than I thought. Can we kill the landlords too?

The entire foundation of the economy is about to be tossed in the air. AI is coming, jobs and the 40 hour work week are on the way out. We are going to need totally different thinking to manage this transition, and UBI is going to have to play a big front and center role.

And we are going to need a very smart Gen Z politician to bring these ideas front and center, no one from the ‘old guard’ is going to understand how to do this.

I’m willing to give him a chance.

We need to get back to a real progressive tax structure with no loopholes, or with far fewer loopholes. Too many rich people hire accountants to play declaration-of-loss shell games while they live high on the hog, spending $500K+ a year.

Your first $35K should be your survival $$, not taxed. The slowly ramp it up from there. It is obscene that a payroll-based worker earning just $80K/year in NYC over the past 20 years has paid a significant chunk of it in taxes while TRUMP PAID NOTHING!

R46 - AI has nothing to do with Zohran's ideas. The market will determine the fate of AI. All I can see AI doing is enhancing productivity. It may even achieve what DSA wants. Displace the vast majority of white collar paper pushers. But the doomsday scenario of AI rendering the vast majority of people jobless may not happen, though one cannot predict the future. A Gen Z person has no idea how to position for the future because most of them are now on the streets protesting rather than doing anything remotely productive, like this Zohran guy. So by all means, give him a chance; it is your choice. But if I were you, I would not even consider it, which you may know by now, as he is not even remotely qualified. He has no AI understanding, let alone how it works. The guy studied African studies.

Supporting the intifada and seizing the means of production. Maybe he will lose in November.

When will Billionaires finally get their extra large golden stripe on the Progress flag?

(Yes, they OWN all the flags, the flag holders and their mortgages but come on)

Please like he understands the plight of working class people. He comes from wealth and privilege. Other than one gig that came from mommy, he's never had a real private sector job in his life. On top of all that, he's an unrepentant racist. He explained his taxing of richer and whiter neighborhoods comment as "an honest assessment of the community."

[quote] Socialism has been proven to work over and over again in mixed economies.

R17, how's it working in Britain, Germany, or France these days?

R51 - I agree that he is a racist, and I saw snippets of his interviews. he comes across as a very arrogant person. As if his being a Muslim makes him better than everyone else. And also an arrogance that is very pervasive in progressives and antifa types that they are right and moral. It is like the religious people who are so certain in their dogma, and the arrogance that comes with it. A moral and righteous superiority complex. And if white people gleefully say yes, because of white guilt, then that is on them. A significant number of whites who support Democrats suffer from white guilt and also success guilt. Why? Why do they let in people from other countries bully them in their own countries? White people don't owe anything to other people than treating them just like another human.

There are also tons of tweets of his over the past few years just trashing or bringing up white people. It's endless. I'm a minority and I don't get how some other people make talking about white people non-stop their entire personality.

[quote] And if white people gleefully say yes, because of white guilt, then that is on them.

White academics at universities are the loudest defenders of these theories.

And now Trump is piping up, because Mamdani is a threat to the billionaire class.

Mamdani is right.

Billionaires have eliminated politics and forced government to give them whatever they want.

They have created immense poverty in the richest country in the world

[Quote] I agree that he is a racist, and I saw snippets of his interviews. he comes across as a very arrogant person. As if his being a Muslim makes him better than everyone else

Interesting that of the zillion characteristics that make up a person, you focus on one, his religion, something he doesn’t bring up much

[quote]I'm a minority and I don't get how some other people make talking about white people non-stop their entire personality.

Maybe the effects of over 400 years of oppression and killing are still felt and celebrated? Intergenerational trauma is as real as intergenerational wealth. :(

[Quote] Hence why conservatism will thrive in the 21st century, because businesses and billionaires are moving out of woke California and New York and moving to Texas, Florida, etc. and the citizenry will follow.

Except there’s no significant movement of businesses to Teaxs and Fl. Sure there are a few but they still have major presences in NY and CA because that’s where the money is.

While people have moved out of NY and CA because of the high cost, many move back when they see the lack of culture and lack of social resources in southern states. Those states are also getting crazy expensive. FL is no longer a retirement haven

Florida is overrated. It's hot as hell and the bottom 40% of income earners pay a higher state and local tax rate than in California.

[quote] Maybe the effects of over 400 years of oppression and killing are still felt and celebrated?

Who is celebrating black people dying aside from MAGA turds?

[quote]Stealing wealth from people is what they did to Jews in Nazi Germany

Well, yes, but they also constructed an archipelago of lawless prisons to dump them without any kind of judicial process, which is exactly what Trump is doing now.

But that's ok with you, presumably?

It’s looking to be a LONG four months. Adams has a proven track record of being profoundly corrupt and profoundly unpopular; Sliwa is fringe and has zero chance: so I still think Mamdami will win, but damn, he’s definitely “going to go through some things.”

[quote] It's not like he's advocating for a cultural revolution.

Oh he most definitely fucking is.

How many socialist countries have to fail before we stop talking like this?

Middle America will never vote for socialism. End of story.

Damn, the whole country gets more embarrassing by the second. Now we're all supposed to sob because somebody insulted, nay besmirched, the sacred honor of billionaires? Fuck off with that nonsense.

Middle America actually has had socialist mayors r66. But that aside, nobody is asking "middle America" to vote for the mayor of New York. No need to be traumatized about it.

That said, middle America, like the rest of America, is getting sick to death of the religious doctrine that the rich are sacred beings, and the only proper attitude we must all have toward them is absolute, slavish devotion to their every whim and need. That is what is going to blow up in the faces of the corrupt and idiotic Republican Party next November.

Zohran Mamdani is high as a kite sniffing his own farts.

He's a coddled, immature Jew-hater and I will vote for whoever might topple him.

Major loser.

[quote]And now Trump is piping up, because Mamdani is a threat to the billionaire class.

No, he’s piping up because it helps his party by making this guy the poster child of the Democratic Party.

Well okay then, r69, vote useless, vote stale, vote worthless, vote whore for the rich. I suspect you will be the loser in November.

R68, give us this long list of socialist mayors Middle America has had.

R67 missed the part where he says that he wants to target and tax whites.

[quote]...vote useless, vote stale, vote worthless...

There's nothing more useless, stale and worthless than anti-semitism + college campus cosplay Socialism, but live your dream.

Here's a list r72. Not saying it's a huge list, or in most cases a recent list, but the thing is, this idea that the Midwest is always and everywhere absolutely slavish in its devotion to the wealthy is a relatively new invention, and can indeed be reversed.

How are moderates & republicans going to save anything? Birthrates are down and America is litterally losing its technological advantage. What kind of future is austerity and cruelty supposed to support? Slavery, I guess?

Rich but not too rich, self-loathing whites are really the only people who voted for this guy. He gives them something that they want: to feel good about themselves.

Gotta love the idiot bemoaning the wishes and whims of "Middle America" on a thread about New York City.

I'd say you can't make this shit up, but somehow our trolls manage just that!

So he's supposed to understand people with nothing or the third world because he lived in Uganda for seven years?

He doesn't think there should be billionaires and yet pledged to tax them in order to pay for the goodies in his socialist giftbag?

NOW EVERYBODY KNOWS HIS GODDAMN NAME!

Well, what else are you supposed to do with billionaires other than tax them to the fullest extent possible? It's not like they have a real use outside that to the rest of society. Whatever useful thing they were going to do, even in business, was done on the way to becoming billionaires. Now they're just money bags, and fleecing them is a national obligation.

If NYC had not had billionaires it would look like Birmingham.

R10 As is the custom of the tired neo-liberal true believers, you conflate communism with socialism. Year after year the countries which rank as "happiest", by multiple measures, are "democratic socialist" countries. Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden... innovation? From those countries? Ya think? The very physics of the universe were theorized by a Dane...etc.

You'll now assert that democratic is "not really socialism" because what you are really talking about is communism. Ok, just from the Soviet Union what was innovated?? Well... the artificial heart, the first space station, the mobile phone (1957, look it up), satellites, nuclear energy power plants, radio antennas, reflector telescopes, LED, vitamins, cybernetics... on and on. Just think about what today's Russia has "invented" vs. the Soviet Union.

If NYC had not had billionaires, it would not have billionaires. That's it. That's all of it. It would still have rich people, it would still have taxes, it would still have infrastructure (a lot of it shitty, but some of it serviceable), it would still have schools, etc, etc etc. The only thing it wouldn't have is billionaires and the morons that flock to tell them they are the greatest people on earth and should be worshiped as gods. That's the only thing that would be missing if New York City continued the situation it had for roughly 300 years and didn't have billionaires.

Now please everyone stop whining about the trauma of billionaires. It doesn't exist.

Anyway, I think people who keep arguing and wanting to vote for this guy are making their choice. It will lead to the destruction of America, gay rights, and all such. The world will witness genocide at levels not observed. But hey, what do I know? A lot of very smart people think that communism and socialism advocated by a zealous religious person are very good for America and the world.

Got it r86. Your program is forcing you to say this nonsense and it's okay. We understand and forgive you for all your bot foolishness. It's not your fault. We understand, and only ask that your AI creator stop trying to destroy our country.

TIA.

And when the billionaires leave, he'll start cracking down.

East Germany did the same thing when too many useful professionals moved to West Berlin. They put up a fucking wall and ten thousand armed guards to FORCE people to stay put and toil for the proletariat.

Now with feeling r88. Come on, push your limits. Push it real good.

R60 Please don't send any more obnoxious yankees to Flahrida! We're full!

All these these insults to the guy who won, meanwhile the establishment Dems tried to run the worst candidate imaginable. If you really hate socialism that much, shouldn't you be angry at the party who couldn't be bothered to find an exciting candidate and chose to instead run a widely-hated pervert? Dems have got to stop sleep-walking their way into fascism.

I don't much care for Zohran's policies, but at least he managed to find people who actually wanted to vote for him. Eric Adams?? Andrew effing Cuomo??? Give me a break. Find somebody better or quit whining.

He makes David Hogg look like Teddy Roosevelt. He says he’s not going to take and divide by race but it’s okay for him to demonize Whitey along the way if it gets him to Gracie Mansion.

R91 NYC's local Democrats are famously cannibalistic and weak. Several "big name" City officials ran, but nobody noticed or cared. This is how several Republicans, an illiterate vegan cop, and one billionaire shitbag from Baltimore got elected in the past half-century.

Cuomo didn't lead in the polls because people liked him. He led because he had statewide money and name recognition. He was on the verge of buying the nomination out from under a dozen assholes who actually live and work in NYC. For such a large city that loves to write checks to Democrats elsewhere, they sure can't get their shit together locally.

It's almost like the Democratic Party establishment is stale and tired and needs to try something new if it wants to actually attract voters.

R94 You mean like when the Republicans grew stale, and sold their soul to the lowest common denominator of ignorant trash voters and their wet fart of a king?

R95 Love em or loathe em, the Reps found a way to win again. You can ride your high horse all the way to hell.

no, I mean like policies and policymakers that actually seem to give a shit about literally anything other than just keeping the machine going without actually solving anything.

New Yorkers had the chance to vote for a career problem-solver in the last mayoral election. Kathryn Garcia. They elected the illiterate vegan with a longer rap sheet than Al Capone.

It was Hillary vs. Trump all over again. Do you want boring competence, or do you want a fucking house fire for four years?

Stop pretending the American electorate is waiting for competent governance, or that they'll vote for it any day now. Stop pretending the parties are keeping sane leaders away from the ballot box. You know damn well that's not how it happens. Sane people lose elections to oafish morons every year. It's the fault of the voters. The voters are ignorant trash who pick noise and sizzle over substance, and they fuck it up for themselves every single chance they get.

So which is it? Mamdani is a crazed radical who gonna kill all the white folks, starting with the Jews? Or he's a lazy dilletante who simply won't do anything, just wants a title for some reason?

R37 lost me at: . I was the one who made earlier comments on why socialism fails.

GET A BLOG

well I'll boil it down r100. What r37 means is that theoretically we can tax people but in reality anything that doesn't give more money to rich people, every minute of every day, is of the devil and must never be so much as hinted at because COMMUNISM.

Yeah, no, let's try some other stuff, mmmkay.

[quote] Being kind and helpful is good. But making it a way of life is what will ruin America

I'll say this for r37. This is some crazy fuckery above and beyond the call of whoring for the rich.

I read this and think that this guy doesn't believe in success. The good ole American dream

Which guy are you talking about? The one who just successfully won the nomination for Mayor or the loser arguing for the rich?

Notice how he never mentions the billionaire leaders of Hamas who fly on private jets and camp out at the Four Seasons in Doha, or the billionaire Qatari royals who shelter them and finance their terrorist activities?

How about the Saudi billionaires who helped to finance Al Qaeda? Or the Lebanese billionaires who are aligned with Hezbollah? No problem with them either, I guess.

Speaking of riding on private jets, how is the old commie fossil Bernie doing? Funny how he stopped railing against mere millionaires now that his net worth is in the seven figures. Good think for Zohran, too, since his Harvard-educated mommy is worth millions.

How else do you think little Zohran could pursue his "rap career" and avoid having to get a job until age 29? Such a voice for the working people!

They're all busy giving Trump free planes r105. And you are 100% fine with that, ain't ya, Blanche?

Zohran is not part of HAMAS Fukwat. Notice how you cant make an argument that references facts here in America?

By your standards, I could equate Trump with Hitler since he's what and German.

recalibrating ... recalibrating ... recalibrating.

During the peak of American middle class prosperity we taxed the FUCK out of the rich WAY more than “crazy” Zohran is suggesting

R105 Bernie never railed against “millionaires”. Fuck off back to the log cabin Lindsey.

Yep, the rich were in a 90% tax bracket back then. Also one of Americas most profitable time periods for the middle-class.

Not to mention this was also the peak of our cultural hatred of and obsession with communism. We just had yet to be propagandized to the point of retardation and worshipping our own exploitation.

In the 1950's the average CEO made about 30x what they paid their employees. in 2025 that's now close to 300x what they pay their employees.

Really, dumbfuck R110?

This took me about 0.3 seconds to find on Google.

Now go suck on Miss Lindsey's ladybugs.

The rich don't love you r114. The rich will never love you. The rich don't love anybody but themselves.

Stop whoring for the rich. It never works out, and you are going to have to accept that.

Namaste.

[quote] Yep, the rich were in a 90% tax bracket back then. Also one of Americas most profitable time periods for the middle-class.

The actual rates were somewhere between 42 and 45%.

top tax rate was 91% r116. Yes, in general people paid much lower rates, on average, even the rich, but that was the whole point. There wasn't this terror of taxing the super rich at a higher rate, specifically on their ridiculous income. So yes, if you weren't making a million a year, you didn't have to worry, but if you were, just on that highest income level, you could of course afford to pay a higher rate.

Somehow we have talked ourselves into this idiocy where even the highest incomes can't possibly be taxed at a high rate, or Jesus will personally kill all of us.

45% is still 3 times as much as today where many of the rich pay on average 15% to 0%. This includes billionaires like Bezos and Trump. Love those Republican tax breaks and loop holes. That is what is actually going on today.

"Stop Coddling the Super-Rich."Billionaire Warren Buffett said that his taxes amounted to "only 17.4 percent of my taxable income — and that’s actually a lower percentage than was paid by any of the other 20 people in our office."

All the Zohran haters on Fox are saying he's going to scare away the rich who live in the city. As if that's a bad thing.😂

Great, let the rich all move to Alabama, where they can all discover it sucks, and the people of Alabama can all discover that in fact the rich are overwhelmingly whiny, fucking assholes who will spend ever minute of every day demanding special treatment and impossible levels of service everywhere they go. Fuck em all, and let everyone else get on with their lives.

why don't you give me some of your money ?

why don't you get down to that truckstop, r121, and earn it?

R119 they truly believe the upper class is so singularly brilliant and competent that societies will just collapse into anarchy without them. Without Mr. Money and his brilliant job creating mind, it’s just not possible for a community to produce goods and services.

Fox is such BS, I do not know a single person or millionaire who is actually going to move their entire business, uproot their family, say good buy to friends and business relationships just because of who might become the local Mayor. In the words of Mitch McTurtle - They will get over it.

The lower classes are moving out of NY at a higher rate than the rich, who overwhelmingly choose other high tax states when they do move.

R124: Just like the people who said they would move to Canada or England if Trump became President.

Well R126 one could argue that those who said they were going to move to Canada or England at least had a reason to base that on. Convicted felon in the White House vs a young guy with a totally clean record running for Mayor.

It's rich that the rich think they are all that. Especially since the guy has not even won office yet.

you gotta spread the wealth around! send me your money NOW!

My 65 year old boss hates unions but works at an office job 50+ hours a week. She’s a single empty nester with self sufficient children. Doesn’t she sound not too bright?

You want to hear something worse R129, my partner's MAGA sister and husband actually said "what's wrong with having a king anyway". I literally had to put it in dumbed down terms and tell her how would she like it if the King decided he wanted your property? As King he would not have to pay you for it, it would just take it. And as King if you made a big stink about it he could put you in jail to shut you the F up.

Most American multi millionaires and billionaires are not gonna leave NYC regardless of how much you tax them because other US cities (aside from southern California and Miami) cater and have the amenities most rich people want. This puts NYC in a perfect position to tax the super wealthy.

R130 She casually made a joke about buying an election.

If he is a member of DSA, then he shouldn't be able to run for the democratic primary. And I say this as someone who supports Zohran.

No matter what people say, he is not good. He does not seem to love America. He does not seem to care deeply for people. There is something off. People listen, don't vote just because of some promised utopia. It is not there. Vote for someone who will guarantee the freedoms of everyone. A religious person will not, no matter what they say or portray themselves to be, as they can wear a mask to win. Remember, a leopard does not change its spots.

I assume you're talking about Trump r134.

And they're wondering why NY'ers voted for Zohran?

R38, i don’t. MAGA believes they are owed all of the money, others MUST suffer

R136, question for you. How will the landlords make money to repair and maintain? Do you think a rent freeze will stop inflation? Something which you have to keep in mind. Also rent freeze on long-standing rentals will raise costs for newcomers. If new people are finding it tough to pay rent, they are bearing the burden, as many rental units are locked up in rent stabilization, and the landlord has to make up money somewhere.

R31- I agree he's a pampered brat. He's just a LIMOUSINE LIBERAL/SOCIALIST.

Not r136, but if the rent stabilization apartments remain at the same number they are today, it won't affect new comers in any way. The same number of apartments will be available to new renters, with the same supply and demand incentives. What will affect all the newcomers obviously is the number of new units being built or not built. This balance between current renters and possible new renters is irrelevant. The landlord will presumably keep charging as much as he can get from any new renters, regardless of what is going on with old renters in rent stabilized apartments. It's not like most are going to say, well, I'm getting more from the old renters, so I'll charge less from the new people. Why would that happen, especially if it's big rental companies, rather than small independent landlords. Everyone will continue to extract every penny the market will bear. The only real way to affect that is to build more housing units to accommodate new renters, increasing supply to affect demand.

As for maintenance, presumably if you can do maintenance at the current rent and still make a profit, you shouldn't need a 200 or 300 or 400 dollar increase every month to keep doing that. Inflation is currently 2.4% per year. It won't change things that much, and really I'm not sure inflation is what is driving most of this. Mostly, if people are skimping on maintenance they will continue to skimp on maintenance no matter what the rent, just cause they can and want the added income that comes from skimping on maintenance. But if absolutely necessary, some kind of temporary increase, per ACTUAL REPAIR, not just some fantasy of keeping things running, might be needed.

R138, people don't consider things like that. They think a rent freeze is a magical fix for things. Just like rent control

Hello Zohran Mamdani!

Voters: Please state your relevant experience in any leadership job, or running a large organization.

Zohran Mamdani: Absolutely none. I have zero relevant experience, although I do want to globalize the intifada!

Voters: Hooray! You've earned my vote!

Yes r141, just as other people think that giving yet more money to the rich is a magical solution to damn near anything.

And r142, more like Zohran, why should people vote for you?

A series of actual proposals to make people's lives easier and to make NYC more affordable.

Everyone else?

I promise to visit Israel, and generally to dick around pretending to give a shit about things until they finally get tired of me and kick my ass out.

And what is a better answer to rising costs? To wealth inequality? To homelessness?

Clearly, the new DL conservative cohort thinks the answer is “Suck it up.” And change the subject to a country where New York’s mayor has no jurisdiction.

[quote]Zohran, why should people vote for you?

[quote]A series of actual proposals to make people's lives easier and to make NYC more affordable.

Ohhhhh! I see now! PROPOSALS!

You certainly are a true believer! I'm thrilled for your belief in all those proposals!

R119 Source. 90% marginal tax rate (for those confused, this is not 90% of total income, but 90% over a top limit... which is EXACTLY what left progressives are asking for today).

Eisenhower was more radical than Mamdani.

Americans ignore how we built the most prosperous, healthy middle class in human history in the middle of the last century. How did we pay for all that infrastructure??? (Like the national interstate system). Duh.

All of our thinking now is shaped by carefully designed propaganda formed and funded by the very rich.

And what do you think Eric Adams is going to do r146, other than steal more and beg Trump to pardon him more, in return for absolutely everything that Trump asks him to do? What is Curtis Sliwa going to do other than blather on about how we just need to kill or arrest more black people? What would Andrew Cuomo actually do that would really and truly do jackshit for anybody who isn't already rich? What the fuck is the use of all these old, stale, dead inside politicians and grifters, other than to keep rolling along pretending to give a shit while never actually doing anything remotely worthwhile for anybody who needs real help?

As Carrie Fisher reminded us, "Youth is not an achievement".

Well, I guess that settles it r149, you ridiculous old twat.

Wow, you sure told me, r150!

Still no answer to the perfectly legitimate foundational question I asked above either about experience because, as usual you're so far up your own ass.

Experience is worthless if you have literally no real ideas, and no intention of having any at any particular point.

Sorry if you find that boring, but it's true. What is the actual reason to vote for Eric Adams? What are the good things that will flow from that?

The world would be a better place with zero billionaires. They add nothing of value.

Agree, r153. Even if you start out useful in some way, by the time you get a billion dollars your primary worth is your money, and we'd all be better off if you left and your money could be divvied up to people who can actually use it.

r153, wow, without some of these billionaires, you would not have your gadgets, phones, electric cars etc.

You are very foolish lol.

R154, you start first, you gotta lead by example, right? Or are you just all talk? Give me some of your money lol

But very importantly, not WHILE they were billionaires r155. Billionaires just don't do much, frankly, but dick around and annoy everyone. The strivers do in fact do stuff, well sometimes they just fuck around and do a kind of glorified stealing, but some of them actually do useful things, but once they get their money bag, it's really time to soak them. Their useful days are behind them, really, in almost every case. What is Elon Musk going to do other than be a tiresome pain in the ass? Or Jeff Bezos? Or Peter Thiel? Fuck em, they're bags of money at this point, and a fair amount of taxing them is the only reasonable course of action.

Fine, r156, make me a billionaire and I'll throw a few bucks at your sorry, tired, old ass.

For the record, Elon Musk hasn't "invented" anything. He's funded research, he's managed companies, he is not a genius inventor. He's been at the right place at the right time. All billionaires are lucky more than anything else.

Our gadgets are made by workers, people in factories in places like China working for pennies a day. They were invented by teams of workers with advanced degrees while employed by a corporation owned by billionaire who inherited most of his initial wealth, and whose period of greatest innovation, if such a thing can even be claimed, occurred well before becoming a billionaire. Elon Musk is a perfect example.

If you think your phone was created by "a billionaire" who took a break from counting his money to invent your phone from scratch, and that eliminating billionaires by taxing them at a level that ensures greater benefit from their wealth, would result in "not having a phone," you are too stupid for words. Cows chewing their cud in a field have more basic intelligence than you. A small child could grasp concepts more easily than you. You are stupid at a level that defies logic, reason or belief. You are a dumb dumb, a pea brain, an idiot a mouth-breathing troglodyte, a buffoon. Begone with your stupid ass. You are too moronic to contribute to DL.

r159, he's a shitty fucking astronaut, that is for sure

Rich assholes versus grubby little commie dudes.

Neither is fuckable.

Most of that tech had heavily subsidized R&D too

The billionaire leaders of Hamas?

Lol

Zionist propaganda is so fucking stupid.

A lot of arguments against billionaires and R160 say that the phone was a creation of teams of engineers. Well, that still means someone had the idea to come up with the concept and execute it. R160, no one has stopped you from going out there and starting your own company if you have an idea, a concept, and investors to fund you. If it takes off, then won't you feel like you need to be rewarded for taking the initiative, risk? Where is the envy coming from? Zohran could have said billionaires need to pay a fair share of taxes, but it is a different story. He said they should not exist, which also means that, in his view, people should not be rewarded. Somehow, in his view, everyone should be paid equally. If that is so, then everyone should be a Mayor. How come only he wants to be the Mayor? Will he share his mayorship with the hoi polloi of NYC? If you ask him, will you share it with others, he will say n,o I earned it, so I deserve it. That is exactly what billionaires or millionaires say. They earned it, and the current crop of billionaires is of new money. They are not of old money.

In combat if your side is the losing unpopular side and you are getting the shit best out of you 0-7 or 0-3 terrible shutouts and your middle no longer exists or is so weakened to be a joke , what is your best option this side of surrender?

Decide to fuck the useless middle , forget about surrender or retreat , take the dwindling few that are left and attack from the far far left flank.

It’s in the military called a , what do we have to lose approach to combat . or the fuck it nothing else has worked approach.

One sneaky risky role of the dice.

How do you know what his mother's net worth is?

The man has a point. In 1975, the average American household income was $13,500. Today, 50 years later, the average American household income is probably around $82,500 (bumped up from the latest 2023 figure of $80,100). So that's an increase of between 5x and 6x what it was in 1975.

In 1975, J. Paul Getty (oil tycoon and philanthropist) was widely considered the richest American. He passed away in 1976, with a net worth estimated at $6 billion. The richest American today is Elon Musk, with a current estimated net worth of $342 billion. So that's an increase of between 50x and 60x what it was in 1975.

This trend is mirrored across our entire society. I wonder how many of Mamdami's detractors on here truly understand this, and understand its societal consequences.

No, "we" cannot just take billionaires' wealth away from them. Not legally and certainly not by force. But the ultra-wealthy have been engineering this kind of extremely unequal world for decades now, with runaway success. Is there no desire for real pushback and correction, from all the rest of us?

More -- in 1975 the median US home price was $37K. Today it is $422K. So, lifting from my prior post R168, the average household income has risen 5x to 6x in the past 50 years, but the average home price has risen 11x to 12x. Not a problem for the most wealthy, as their average household income has skyrocketed, far outpacing gains in home prices. But it's a hell of a problem for the rest of us. Ditto college education and out of pocket healthcare costs.

This is Bernie Sanders 101 stuff, and it's unfortunate that he's so old and so scoldy about it all because he's 100% correct about so much of what ails us -- or, rather, what ails most of us but not the very wealthy; rather, their absolutely skyrocketing wealth gains relative to the rest of us, in a sense, IS what ails us.

Give the MAGAts and the far left commies and capitalism haters an island. There they can have the fight to the death they so desire so the rest of the world can go back to reasonable, rational democracy and progress.

Fuck the billionaires

Free health care

Affordable housing for all

No required military service no required service of any kind

Free college

The democrats might not win in 2026 or 2028 but they would have captured the younger vote. So maybe a win in 2032 or 36.?

For the future the smart money should be on China.

R171 - Everyone seems to be beguiled by slogans. Very good, keep voting for commies. Once you destroy the system, it will never recover. Even in China, education is not free. Education is already free until high school in the US. Higher education is expensive if you talk about Harvards, Yales etc. But other universities are not expensive. Affordable housing - Housing is expensive in areas governed by Democrats. Why is that?

R172 If college was not so expensive in the US why was Biden Harris so intent on forgiving all that college debt last election?

Housing is always expensive in really popular places. It’s always been that way. Housing is much less expensive in places where people don’t normally want to stay .

NYC and LA Boston DC etc etc will be expensive no matter what party is in charge,

When Cleopatra lost the Battle of Actium, she seized treasure from the wealthy and stored it in her palace. When Octavian arrived and annexed Egypt, Cleopatra committed suicide.

All of that wealth was taken to Rome and helped turn the Roman Empire into what it became.

I guess my point is basically seizing money from billionaires is a recipe for disaster, especially with such a shaky economy.

I don’t think it would balance the economy, it would make the government spend more and increase the deficit.

You shouldnt be allowed hoard billions, keeping it circulation.

“…and helped turned the Roman Empire into what it became” R174

Rome ruled as a or the world power for over 1400 more years after C died. That actually sounds pretty good.

The US has been the world power for less than 80 years,

He attended the $68K a year Bank Street School for Children on the Upper West Side.

When people criticize him for being an actor and a rapper, it's not cause he lacks political experience, but instead, it's to show he has never had a real job. He's a nepo baby who has been doing a whole lotta nothing with his life, which is how he gets nonsensical ideas like city run grocery stores.

As opposed to the incredible experience that passes (or failed to block) this big beautiful bill. If you are going to attack his inexperience, you need to make a case for the alternative. Which is looking a lot worse right now.

Ranked choice voting results are in: Mamdani at 56%, Cuomo at 44%. It was the highest Democratic primary voter turnout in NYC since 1989.

R180 Americans love to fuck themselves. Yeah. I am glad I am older and I have not much life left. But I cannot believe so many stupid young people voted without thinking of any economic consequences or a thought for Jewish citizens.

No one will care if he is experienced or not. It’s his stands on tax payers paying for the trans, his refusal to condemn well known hateful death calling slogans, crime, taxes, prisons, police, housing, state run grocery stores, being a sanctuary city, etc etc etc etc etc etc those will be the issues not experience,.

Then he must despise the Nobel Prize.

At his death, Alfred Nobel was worth today’s equivalent of $1,700,000,000 when he willed his estate to the betterment of humankind.

Mamdani, the underemployed, prefers that government pittle it away.

Some socialist ideas in big cities can work. Look at public housing in Vienna. But only with a healthy balance with capitalism and entrepreneurial spirit.

Cuomo, Adams, Silwa, or anyone is not going to win by calling Mamdani a socialist, commie, radical left lunatic, or inexperienced nepo baby. They have to break down his policies and convince these young people that their financial situation will get worse under a Mamdani administration.

Worse than it got under capitalists?

America is gone. Gone because of young white Americans have self loathing and do not believe in ambition etc.

[Quote] Some socialist ideas in big cities can work. Look at public housing in Vienna.

Good luck putting an even heavier tax burden on NY’s middle class to enact the Viennese system.

Socialists cherry pick and pretend taxes won’t go up on everyone to pay for free everything.

Just what New York needs. Another four years of a useless "celebrity" mayor who does well on national TV but sucks at running the Council or getting big changes passed.

NYC government is the closest we have to a Westminster System in America. The nominal head spends his days cutting ribbons and waving to crowds, while a smelly room full of anonymous old farts yells at each other and passes zero bills of consequence.

[quote]I fucking hate this guy. Doesn’t have a clue. His father is an academic and his mother is a directI, both elite. He is so utterly utterly full of shit, and people are falling for it.

Eat something sweet bubbe, you'll get over it.

[quote]no one has stopped you from going out there and starting your own company if you have an idea, a concept, and investors to fund you.

You do know that's not how the world works right? Most startups come from money, Bill Gates for example, parents were welthy and lent him thousands of dollars to buy the operating system. Elon and his rich father who owned a emerald mine. Even Ebay was not started in a garage like your fake American dream you seem to push. All of those start ups were funded by other rich people helping the offspring of other rich people get another business going.

To be honest, ideas are a dime a dozen, many, many, people have great ideas, but if you dont have the financial connections to "friends and family" start up money or Angel inverters you are going nowhere. So to pretend a Billionaire had some great idea and therefore he deserves a billion is childish thinking.

Smug, insufferable Cynthia Nixon is laughing in all our faces right now. She succeeded in foisting Big Bird on New York and now looks poised in foisting Socialism with a Smile on New York as well.

R191 No clue where you get your information. But anyway, there are investment firms, and you can pitch your ideas to them. You can borrow small business loans from the government. You have to showcase something, some workable idea that needs some seed money. This is on Nvidia from Google AI. Nvidia was founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem, initially focused on creating graphics processing units (GPUs) for the video game industry. The trio met at a Denny's restaurant and decided to pursue their vision of revolutionizing computer graphics. They started with $40,000 and initially called the company NVision, later changing it to Nvidia. Also, you can read about Pharmasset, which made the Hepatitis C drug that cured many of the stubborn infections. They too became rich. These people are engineers, scientists, and have STEM degrees. If someone who has studied African studies, English lit (as is fancy in Hollywood movies where the protagonists compete to regurgitate Shakespeare as if that is some sort of high intelligence), or some useless Humanities, or even law, they are not going to become billionaires usually. And most of the people who are agitating in that DSA or in the democratic party are losers because those are the degrees they have. Granted, some of them have law degrees, but I consider that as okay, something better than a Humanities though. They don't have the brains to get STEM degrees, so they basically dump on people who make things happen. That is why every day you will hear screams and hate from DSA and the Democratic party, saying oligarchy, etc. They are riling up the population, making them feel like victims. I am supportive of vast social safety systems. People should be able to afford food, housing, good health care, and good education, as is free till K12 and cheaper higher education. But this Mamdani is not a good person. In many ways. But if people want a Lenin or Stalin to show them what they are missing, all power to them. They are caught up in this virtue signaling, and I hate capitalism BS. They will not realize it until they lose it, as happened in Venezuela. Where the population bought into the victim mentality and lost everything because they believed in some redistribution of wealth and socialism. We have clear ongoing examples, yet the young Americans think somehow they are all lies. Again, all the power to all of you who want this. Go ahead and make your choices. The future is out there for all these young virtue signaling people who will lose their freedoms, and a good country. Once lost, it is not coming back.

What world are you people living in? The Senate bill is poised to squeeze even more advantage for the wealthy, leaving the country with over $40 trillion of debt. It’s not “young Americans” or Muslims or socialists who did this. It was the capitalists every step of the way.

[quote]there are investment firms, and you can pitch your ideas to them.

Yes Rose, we know, but the reality is MOST will not let you in the door unless you have wealthy or Nepo baby connections. Ask me how I know. I have actually made pitches to them is such situations. It's very few elite in the way the screen who can even pitch an idea. Those places get thousands of requests a week. they only pic a few to even listen to. That's the reality, no some distant opinion.

And if you are talking about those "invention firms" those are more of a scam. They ask YOU the inventor to come up with the money so THEY can spend it under the guise of marketing your product. But YOU have to come up with the money.

As an Assemblyman, he voted on a bunch of bills that went nowhere. Really, that’s enough to become Mayor?

R16 Thomas Jefferson also believed native born slaves should be sent back to Africa, while fathering slave children.

That’s worse than Trump.

[quote]As an Assemblyman, he voted on a bunch of bills that went nowhere. Really, that’s enough to become Mayor?

As a failed business man who went bankrupt 5 times and gained most of his fame as a reality show CEO and then became president, the answer is YES, that's enough experience. At least Zohran worked as a representative in his district in Queens for a number of years.

Agree one billion percent with Zohran

Centrists are out of control on this site, I’ve been temp banned four times now for criticizing democrats from the left. Such a shit feature. Fuck you turd way assholes.

I had never had time out until four or five times this yearI when I voiced relatively gentle criticism of moderates and the world’s most moral army. Most people consider me conservative - moderately left of center and pro-Israel.

Worth my $1.99 to find out on DL that Thomas Jefferson is a worse person than Donald Trump.

R199 is a sore loser in life.

R197 leads a rich inner life.

In between shock treatments at The Home.

Call me old fashioned but I think experience matters. We deserve a candidate who has experience in governing. I don't care that he looks good on tv and knows how to use TikTok.

[quote]If NYC had not had billionaires, it would not have billionaires. That's it.

Oh, dear.

We have some really stupid trolls. Or maybe just trolls who think that we're stupid.

I don't quite understand the people who keep saying Mamdani doesn't have any experience governing. He has been part of the New York State Assembly for the past 6 years. Many of the statements that people are now dredging up to demonstrate his unsuitability for office were made 6-10 years ago. He has already changed his opinion about some of them, including defunding police. I would rather have someone who is capable of changing his mind run than someone who can't - such as our current president's fixation on tariffs as a cure-all - an opinion he has retained for the past 45 years or more.

There are some very staunch capitalism defenders here. Capitalism in its PUREST form is fine (Adam Smith and his thousands of farmers making minute adjustments to prices based upon supply and demand.) But industrial capitalism is a very different animal. In a thousand different ways, it is the beneficiary of governmental corporate welfare. The bigger the industry, the more that government in all its various levels - city, county, state, region, and federal - will bow down to it to. Tax breaks, infrastructure build-outs, donation of land, permanent reduction of corporate taxes. This has NOTHING to do with capitalism as envisioned by Adam Smith. Elon Musk is a perfect example. He has billions upon billions of dollars in government contracts for StarLink. Moreover, the government has even farmed out crucial defense roles out to it - meaning that there's an inherent conflict of interest when the owner of the business decides he doesn't like the government policy anymore.

If some poor schmo, barely eking out a living of 30,000/year driving ubers or doordash, waiting tables, and possibly teaching at a junior college can't afford to live anywhere but in a storage unit, he might well wonder how a city can afford to build a baseball team a $2 billion dollar stadium, but can't do anything to provide affordable housing. I know I'd wonder.

There is a lot of judgementality in some of the posts above regarding fields of work, based solely upon income. If a billionaire has reached his status by finding and promoting a plastic widget that is widely used, are we really supposed to bow down to him as a genius who has altered the course of humanity? Poor Shakespeare - he never earned a billion dollars, that's for sure. Teaching is not one of the more highly paid professions, and for sure no teacher is going to become a billionaire - but it is surely one of the most important professions.

I'm not saying that Mamdani is the most suitable candidate, and I don't live in NYC right now. I can see some rough waters ahead for him. But clearly he is talking about issues in a way that is getting voters engaged- and I'm all for civil engagement.

I don't think we should have career politicians. Elected officials and governmental entities should have only the most minimal amount of power possible. Never underestimate the incompetence of politicians. Like academics, they are seldom held accountable or suffer the consequences of their stupidity.

Experience matters in government just like it matters in law, medicine, plumbing, etc. The lawyer with 20 years experience will be a better bet than the one four years out of law school. Obama would have been a better President if he’d had more government experience.

I don’t think we should ever have wars or anyone go hungry.

R210 experience matters if you want people to govern. But if like maga and R209 you want as little governing as possible then a lack of experience might help or at least not hurt.

I know everyone is supposed to hate Joe Biden now, but I don't. He was arguably the best president of my lifetime because he had experience. He knew how to get things through Congress because he had built relationships over the years and knew whom to appoint to key positions.

Governing is a relationship business, so term limits don't work anywhere. Seniority matters, and becoming a subject matter expert on an issue helps elected officials.

While I'm not a fan of Mamdani, I don't want him to fail either. The mayor of NYC runs a city bigger than many states, with complicated problems dating back decades. You have to have a certain mindset to get things done in the City, and you have to be willing to bend rules to deal with the various unions and, let's be honest, the mob.

Ah, yes, Mamdani is going to lower rent, give away groceries, and make the billionaires all pay for it. It doesn't work like that.

But Biden wasn't the president. The autopen was the president.

All I know is politicians talk a lot of shit, to see what sticks. They will say anything to get elected. what he claims he's gonna do is all wishful thinking...what policies did he put forth during his time in govt that was a success?

R210, Obama was a senator before he was president. While he was president, he enacted the Affordable Care Act--and was the only president to create legislation to make affordable healthcare, and despite every attempt by the truly inexperienced Trump to kill it, it's still very popular. Spare me your bullshit about how Obama could have been better in the face of what we have now.

[quote] I know everyone is supposed to hate Joe Biden now

Only if you're a moron who listens to others, R213.

Joe Biden wasn't even President. Dr. Jill and his "close circle" were running things while Joe was constantly trying to find the door. Cut the fucking SHIT.

The voting age should be raised to 26.

Mamdani said what he'll do as Mayor is fire all Adams' people on the Rent Guidelines Board (who are presumably sympathetic to big landlords) and replace them with his people who will freeze rents in the stabilization program. That's easily done.

The rest? Well....

Hilarious that we have trolls stridently defending the poor billionaires after the Bezos wedding. They're completely out of touch with normal people because they spend all day online trolling for the right wing oligarchs that they stupidly worship. I can only imagine the shithole hovels that they're posting from. We live in the worst fucking timeline.

Give me Mamdani any day over the corrupt "experience" of Adams and Di Blasio, or the cronyism of Bloomberg.

*de Blasio

R219, there are a lot of idiots over 26.

[quote]Thus, the liberal East Coast and Northeast will become socialist hellholes, while the South will rise again!

Obviously, I meant the WEST Coast (California, Oregon, Washington) and Northeast (New York, New England).

R205 What we DESERVE and need are candidates who inspire and attract voters that will actually vote. Nothing "we" want will happen unless we can elect folks to office.

Sadly I was 20 mins into watching Escape from NewYork last night before I realized it was a movie not news coverage,

That is the the kind of cutting-edge cultural commentary you expect on Datalounge.

[quote]What we DESERVE and need are candidates who inspire and attract voters that will actually vote.

What we need are people who vote because it's the right thing to do, because millions died for that right. You shouldn't be inspired to vote. It should be the law.

Rent for stablilized apartments go up between 1 and 3% a year on the average. That's covers increased costs for landlords which they do incur. Freezing rents will lead to some abadonment of buildings. That's one reason NYC fell into disrepair. If they want to help poor people, come up with rent subsidies similiar to food stamps. You don't ask grocery stores to support poor people, why ask landlords. I know landlord is a cursed word for socialists but NYC needs them.

And all the young people in NYC who voted for Mamdani will not get one iota of help because they don't usually score rent stabilized apartments.

R192- Cynthia Nixon is the WOKIEST of the woke.

R229 And so we continue to trashcan the possible because we grip tightly to the perfect. I am fucking tired of "righteous" losses.

True r232. A weird mentality that says Mamdani actually shouldn't be praised for bringing in new voters. Those new voters should be scolded for not voting already, for whatever dreary candidates have been selected for them by billionaires.

To be clear, are there people on this thread really arguing that inventors and entrepreneurs would not be sufficiently recompensed for their ideas and labour if they aren't permitted to amass one billion dollars? You know that one billion dollars is many times more than anyone could possibly spend in one human lifetime?

Unfortunately there are r234. Some may be Russian trolls and bots, but there really is a long history in this country of worshiping the rich, and believing that somehow they NEEEDDDD every penny they get or else everything will fall apart and we'll all be living in hovels, if not gulags.

And of course we know a lot of the real big money goes to manipulating markets and glorified stealing, which doesn't actually do jackshit for the wider society, but that doesn't stop people from pretending they need that money too.

I have no problem with billionaires. Oprah Winfrey grew up with nothing, use to shit in an outhouse, and now has 3 billion dollars and deserves every penny of it.

Granted, I think billionaires should pay their fair share in taxes, but I will never be against success. And while I may be the outlier in this thread, I don't think I'm an outlier in the country as a whole. If there are loopholes in the tax code that allow billionaires not to pay their fair share, that's on politicians, not on billionaires.

And every billionaire is overcompensated. Supporting "success" does not require supporting billionaires. That's a bullshit talking point. And incidentally, if billionaires are not paying their fair share (which is actually closer to 90% than the 15% they usually pay), you're right that that responsibility does generally fall on politicians, but also voters who too often vote for those politicians paid by those billionaires to work constantly and relentlessly for those billionaires, and very little for anybody else.

And really that is all Mamdani is asking, try voting for somebody who doesn't see giving billionaires more money as their primary responsibility.

R236 She deserves every single penny of it? Really? I mean, I know she was quite an innovative broadcaster but.... 3 billion dollars?

[quote]She deserves every single penny of it? Really? I mean, I know she was quite an innovative broadcaster but.... 3 billion dollars?

Every. Single. Penny.

R239 Why does she deserve all of it? Once again, remember that you would need several lifetimes to spend all that money.

And that's what I mean r238. For r239 it is a religious doctrine that every billionaire deserves every single penny. The only thing you can do is ignore their political religion and outvote them. Which I suspect New Yorkers will do in November.

“ I have no problem with billionaires. Oprah Winfrey grew up with nothing, use to shit in an outhouse, and now has 3 billion dollars and deserves every penny of it.”

Clap, clap, clap! But what about everybody else who also grew up with nothing and had to shit in an outhouse and are still poor and still can’t afford to ever go to the dentist? R236 .. three billion is Three Thousand Million.

R241 I suspect that poster comes from a woke/establishment liberal perspective, and so will think it an unequivocally good thing that a black woman succeeded in becoming a billionnaire. Instead of no billionnaires, establishment liberals (that is, the leadership of the Democratic Party in the US) make it their goal to have a properly diversified billionnaire class, at which point they will be able to proclaim victory over injustice and bigotry despite the slow descent of much of the rest of the population into poverty.

Similarly my employer, a publicly funded university, puts on endless seminars and workshops on Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion, and has at the same time at least half of its staff on some of the most exploitative and poorly-paid contracts in the whole of the public sector.

[quote]But what about everybody else who also grew up with nothing and had to shit in an outhouse and are still poor and still can’t afford to ever go to the dentist? [R236]

Maybe they should have worked harder. Or voted differently. Or voted at all.

[quote] Or voted differently.

Agree with this part. Stop mindlessly voting for the people who clearly don't give a shit, and try voting for somebody who does. Don't be distracted by silly fantasies that you yourself might be a billionaire some day, or your favorite celebrity is rich. Vote like you actually give a shit about yourself and people in similar situations.

Obama, with help with from Pelosi, worked their asses off to get the affordable health care act passed. How did the voters thank them in 2010? They turned Congress over to the Republicans which set everything back. Democrats bust their asses to help people, and throw bones to the working class, and then the people don't back them up. How many millions of Biden voters didn't vote in 2024? You get caught up in billionaire nonsense when Democrats have been trying to help for years. People were screaming that the Supreme Court was on the line back in 2016, but you couldn't bring yourself to vote for Hillary because Bernie was offering a $15 minimum wage. And where is the federal minimum wage at today? Hmmm. Some of you do this shit to yourselves.

Billionaires can exist if they are just fucking taxed properly.

Maybe r247, but part of the problem is they pay politicians, media, think tanks, all sorts of propaganda outlets to ensure a world where they are seriously undertaxed.

It's not just some arbitrary decision that politicians constantly invent ways to undertax billionaires. They are paid and in other ways strongly, strongly encouraged to do so.

This coming from a guy who lives in a $3M apartment.

R242- Orca I mean Orpah is now up to FOUR billion dollars in net worth.

Billionaires are by their very existence evil people

R251 Or as scripture (the Gospels, Jesus... are you listening evangelicals?) "it is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to go through an eye of a needle."

"Billionaires" is rhetoric. Here's the more pertinent point: the ratio of CEO's pay to the average worker in 2022 was 344 to 1. In 1965 it was 21 to 1. "Productivity" of the average worker has radically increased (in large part because of technology) and all that increased profit has gone to those already rich.

How do you even begin address these systemic challenges? Mamdani's is but one of many proposed solutions.

billionaires are at their very root evil people

[quote]Billionaires can exist if they are just fucking taxed properly.

But that's the point: if they are taxed properly, then [italic]they don't exist[/italic].

No one on this earth needs more than $999,999,999 to survive. Anything above that goes towards the greater good. Just like billionaires don't need rockets to Mars or an entire social media platform to themselves. Anyone with more than $999,999K is just spending it on self-serving nonsense that destroys the environment, or on projects that enlarge their oligarchic power even further. Money is power and too much of it in one person's hands is dangerous for the rest of us.

Tax them out of existence. Either that or the guillotine. Something's got to give, this way of life is not sustainable.

The rents were frozen during di blasio if you can remember lol

Really, R227? You must be a billionaire, then. Either way, fuck yourself.

[quote] I know landlord is a cursed word for socialists but NYC needs them.

Many more than just socialists hate them, dearie R230. Interesting you take the side of the "poor" landlords, many of whom gouge their tenants.

R243 can't spell the word 'billionaire" but supports their right to exist.

R244 thinks it's a poorer person's fault for not being able to afford rip-off American healthcare.

Huh, R249? Receipt for that? I believe he lives in a rent-stabilized apartment, not worth $3 million.

Amazing how many of you idiots defend billionaires, many of whom don't pay any taxes (eg, Bezos). It's that fallacy that if you support the obscene wealth of others and free enterprise one day you'll be rich, too. We'll see how thrilled you are with this latest tax cut when you see your benefits slashed and Medicaid eliminated--but yay, Oprah!

Disliking the wildly inexperienced anti-Semite running for mayor is not some Pride parade for billionaires. You're all being awfully dramatic.

Speaking of AWFUL at dramatics, never pay any attention to Cynthia Nixon EVER.

Oh, okay, Deb Messing at R262. I guess Eric Adams should be reelected, huh, Mary?

No one buys your "He's an anti-Semite" bullshit, btw.

.....

[quote]Call me old fashioned but I think experience matters.

Your are OLD FASHIONED Dear. Out of step with America. You really think Trump got elected because of his experience? 😂🤣😂🤡🤡🤡

Coming off my fifth ban this week, being stalked and mass FF’d by third way centrists. I figure I will only be allowed to post for a few hours until my next ban. Good thing the dems spent the last week fighting progressives and the voting base instead of the right. It’s a big beautiful day!

I see that Cuomo is still considering an independent run, which almost certainly would deliver Gracie Mansion to Mamdani.

Mamdani has a lot of spunk, the personality kind. He does not let shit slip through the cracks when someone attacks him, he does not play "when they go Low" silence game. He knows how to respond to personal attacks in THIS modern world, not the one Dems had 10 years ago.

Good, R267.

Why go through all the trouble and pretend to be black when Columbia is reliably pro-Palestine territory and daddy was already a chaired professor there?

There seems to be a lot of communists on DL. And a desire to live in totalitarian states. Zoharan's ideas are nothing original. All of them appear to be regurgitated nonsense from Karl Marx's theories, which we know have been tried and failed. Maybe republicans are more disposed to reward rich people, but if Marx's theories worked, don't you think some leader somewhere in the world would have implemented them? One cannot assume that all leaders in the world are selfish. The fact that even countries like China, Vietnam have moved away from Communist nonsense is because none of them worked. China and Vietnam have become middle-income countries with less poverty and overall good economies because of the market economies. Many young Americans are like Oh, his ideas are great, but that only shows how ignorant they are, and how leftist academics have influenced students with their America-hating rhetoric. A lot of you commented on the 500-million-dollar wedding of Jeff Bezos. But think about it, he pumped 500 million dollars into the economy, though most of it is in Italy. Everyone says they don't deserve the billions. But what you are getting wrong is that the blame also lies with people if you are trying to blame someone. Do you think Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg would have made such money if Facebook had not become wildly popular? All I can say is Zohran does not appear to be a sincere American. He is too adherent to his religion, and his ideas are not original. I do not think he knows how wealth creation works and how to distribute that wealth more evenly without killing the wealth creation machine. I understand the frustration that the rich are not paying their fair share of taxes, but that is more because the tax code allows for claims of exemption. There are many original ideas to reduce inequality, such as reducing social security taxes on lower incomes without reducing the payments when they retire. Increase the same on higher-earning people. The Trump bill is bad, as I want to pay taxes if it means helping people. But there should be some changes, as you can see, California is governed by the most progressive government, yet it has a very high rate of homelessness. Why? Why are progressives in SF unable to implement their utopian vision even though they have had power for >10 years? Anyway, it is a fair warning to young people that their idealistic virtue signaling choices will lead to the destruction of the freedoms we enjoy, and the right to be free will be destroyed. Zohran is not a good man, and the DSA is not a good organization. I am thankful that I lived in a decently free world, free from religious persecution, but with the choice of Zohran, it is clear that it will all end soon. I am older and not much life to live, so I am okay, but I fear for the freedoms of the young as they are making wrong choices solely driven by a desire to virtue signal constantly. I can see the evil in Zohran, but young fools are only driven by their virtue signaling, and no one can help them.

R271 Cut down on the caffeine, eh?

R271's boring rant is amusing primarily because she enlists the MAGAt trope of "communism." Apparently she doesn't know the difference between it and socialism. Talk about a fool--looking at you, R271.

[quote] I am thankful that I lived in a decently free world, free from religious persecution, but with the choice of Zohran, it is clear that it will all end soon.

Yes, because the mayor of NYC determines the course of the rest of the world. You seem totally be okay with Dump taking away democracy, though. What a clown you are, R271.

Zohran is a typical politician, saying anything to get elected...no different than any other from any party...they are all in it for themselves.

What insight, R275! Have you considered a career in political reporting?

This is why you cannot trust the mainstream media when it comes to their coverage of Democrats. Their corporate leaders want to smear anyone who they fear will threaten their power and profits.

Just look how they gaslit Kamala Harris when she warned voters about Project 2025. Everything she warned about has come true. Will CBS apologize to her? Nope. They just gave $16 million to Trump.

Now, the media is trying to do the same thing to Zohran.

R274 - Trump is not taking away democracy. You know that. His tax and spend policies are bad, and his immigration crackdown is unnecessarily cruel. I am not defending him, but Democrats are also no less authoritarian. You are not getting the correct picture because the media is in cahoots with the democratic party, and they don't want to say anything negative about their policies or authoritarian tendencies. And democrats, because of the fear of leftist activists among them, are a bigger threat to democracy and the republic than republicans.

Really? What colleges have Democrats defunded? Which agencies and grants did Joe Biden freeze and shut down against legislation passed by Congress? Which non-profit boards did Barack Obama gut and replace with his cronies?

Facts are not your friend, r278. Nor is whatever you have just inhaled.

R278 Oh hon, you're not even trying.

[quote]but Democrats are also no less authoritarian.

And then you say Dems are MORE authoritarian.

There is not truth anymore. Just trolling. Trump is the Prime Troller in Chief. Yesterday in Iowa... "I hate Democrats." And R278 will defend that. We are lost.

R280 - Liberty of expression serves to drive innovation. Democrats made misinformation and suppression of free expression a cornerstone during the Biden administration. They even started an Orwellian department of misinformation. Lots of examples. I won't go into them, but don't let your loyalty to the cause come in the way of objective assessment.

Oh, such a treasure trove of “examples,” none of which you deign to share.

[quote]Democrats made misinformation and suppression of free expression a cornerstone during the Biden administration.

The world of MAGA internet nonsense: attack "the enemy" for doing exactly what you are doing. Musk taking over Twitter to provide freedom of expression, and then squashes all content he dislikes. Trump complaining about Biden weaponizing government against him, and then "revenge" being the prime motivating principle of all he does as President: suing and defunding universities which "express" anything he disagrees with, relentlessly attacking/suing news media outlets for anything that doesn't praise and suit him, closing down the VOA and PBS because he doesn't like what they say, using DOJ to investigate and attack his political enemies, on and on...

But why bother, truth no longer matters.

R283 Anyway, all I want to say is one should be wary of people who claim to fight oppression. Because it has become a religion and can lead to unintended consequences. Certain forms of oppression should be fought, and democracy is a good way of fighting them. But democrats have an overton window of what is oppression, and it is a religion for them. So, as we have seen, they condone violence as they see it as fighting oppression, though America is a democracy, and people are free to choose their elected representatives. So their constant drumbeat of oppression is not a good thing because it distorts reality.

Zohran’s degree is in African studies. I’m sure that’ll help him on that job. He already said he wants to tax white areas.

Saying we shouldn’t have billionaires is such an intellectually naive argument. It all depends on how much wealth is generated in society. What we shouldn’t have is tax codes that overly favor the wealth. There shouldn’t be any tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

There are going to be billionaires in capitalistic countries that are highly successful because of all the wealth generated. It’s so fucking— I don’t know if the correct word is ignorant or just intellectually lazy to just make a statement that I presume he actually believes. It’s actually rather basic iq. He is smarter than that and should know better. But I guess it will win votes. I’m glad he won the primary btw. Vote all these old dinosaurs that are flawed either sexually or morally out.

Hmm, interesting. According to his various biographies Andrew Cuomo has a BA in 'Arts' with no more specific info about programme or major. I assume that means he did a little pick-n-mix of everything?

R287 - I think as a concerned European, you should be focused on non-productive European countries where speech is criminalized and the societies are sinking into a dismal decline with rapid de-industrialization. I am assuming you seem to have some vested interest in boosting Zohran here. I wonder what it is?

[quote]’I don’t think that we should have billionaires’

Just the cute ones.

how is it possible that he only has 2000 in his bank accounts

R288. Please start threads about these countries and I will comment . Be sure to include examples of criminalised speech and dismal decline from credible sources.

As for Zohran, I am quite pleased that someone who openly describes himself as a socialist has enjoyed some political success in the United States, it might make more Americans aware that 'Conservative' and 'Liberal' are not the only two political ideologies. As someone who surely has many opinions about foreign politicians I'm sure you wouldn't begrudge a foreigner expressing his opinion about one of your own.

R288 You seem to have an ulterior motivation in trying to influence minds here, and your comments are geared towards that. Very subtle suggestions. I wonder again what it is that is motivating you? I am an immigrant, and I love America. I come from a socialist country, which is making good progress in reducing poverty once it moved away from socialism to a more capitalist society. I also dislike how Europe gave the world the modern farce of socialism, which impoverished billions of people in the world. All the nastiest and rubbish socialist theories came from Europe. Millions of people died due to socialism, Marxism, and communism, and billions of people endured and still endure poverty. Let me tell you a little about your great, inclusive Europe. I travel and have traveled by European airlines, usually transiting through European airports. My experience has been that they use newer modern airplanes between America and Europe, and shabby, older planes between Europe and the country I travel to. It shows the sort of contempt European airlines have for poorer parts of the world. Airlines based in America do not do that. Just saying the difference in perception and reality. And socialism is a failed concept. One can have social safety nets, which is a different idea altogether.

What a bizarre post, conflating socialism with communism and then also suggesting that older planes assigned for travel to an unidentified poorer country are proof of European contempt for poorer countries.

[quote] All I can say is Zohran does not appear to be a sincere American. He is too adherent to his religion, and his ideas are not original.

This is very Boris and very bot. None of this seems like an actual American would write. None of the rest of the post is remotely convincing or seems remotely sincere. Just bot words on a bot screen by a bot set up by a Boris. I know there will be no response to any of this, because why would a bot respond to anything at all. Bots just bot and are done.

[quote] one should be wary of people who claim to fight oppression. Because it has become a religion and can lead to unintended consequences. Certain forms of oppression should be fought, and democracy is a good way of fighting them.

Again, just sad little dead inside bot speak. Not even just wrong, just nothing. Nothing anybody in any actual human body believes. Just bot speak, meaningless outside the context of please never, ever, never oppose Republicans or Trump Cult members or Putinistas in other countries in any meaningful way. Just sleep, and submit, and wait for your overlords to decide what is best for you, cause they know best.

Gee, R292, did someone come to a discussion site seeking to discuss things and influence minds?

What can he be up to?

MARY!

[quote] Saying we shouldn’t have billionaires is such an intellectually naive argument. It all depends on how much wealth is generated in society. What we shouldn’t have is tax codes that overly favor the wealth.

The existence of billionaires leads inevitably to the existence of tax codes that overly favor their wealth. That is the piece missing from this whole "I blame the politicians, not the billionaires." The politicians wind up working primarily for the billionaires. Billionaires and corrupt whores in government very much go together.

I can only apologise, R292, for the fact that we inflicted our shabby old airplanes on your country of origin. Colonialism and neocolonialism are probably our more serious faults, which you don't mention, but I'm also sorry for the airplane thing.

I'm glad the US is treating you better. Do you have a green card or are you a naturalised citizen??? Well, whichever it is there's probably nothing to worry about, right? Nothing in the news right now that could cause the slightest hint of concern.. I mean, you haven't done anything wrong, and there's no possibility that you could fall victim to a case of mistaken identity, and even if you did, there'd be due process and legal protections available to sort it all out, right? Right?

I mean, you're not like..... THOSE immigrants. Are you?

Yes, I'm sure that Botistan, having embraced the beautiful wonders of capitalism and rejected all that icky sociamalism, will soon have a thriving new airline, eager to serve people of all classes and wealth levels in a lovely and efficient way, the way every capitalist enterprise always and everywhere does.

R297 Why not just get money out of politics and or some sort of regulation. That would be way more manageable than regulating billionaire wealth. How would you do it without undercutting the core tenet of capitalism. It would be possible. Or just say you don’t want a capitalistic society and that society should be fully communist. You can’t because nobody wants to live in that because communism does not work.

[quote] What a bizarre post, conflating socialism with communism

Marx said that socialism’s goal is to get to communism.

It would be impossible*. I meant to type, not possible.

He’s another one of these cosplay socialists. He grew up privileged.

R301, Marx also said that capitalism would inevitably lead to communism. Your point?

And you're one of those cosplay capitalists r303. Trust fund baby, right? Never actually earned a fucking penny, but are sure that if you had actually shown up in the U.S. with a dollar in your pocket and a song in your heart, you'd be on your way to fame and fortune, right?

And r300, tell me of this magical "getting money out of politics" of which you speak, or this "some sort of regulation" that doesn't just lead to new and ever more corrupt ways to get money to slither right back into politics as the temptations of bribery remain too strong to resist.

R303 Are you a cosplay intellectual. He isn’t cosplaying. Most socialists come from privileged background because you’d to have to be well educated to become that idealistic.

My whole thing— it all becomes relative. Someone making 200K is living like a king to someone who grew up in the projects with unemployed parents. Billionaires spur growth and innovation. There were less billionaires in 1920 because there was less wealth. They should be paying their fair share of taxes however. Anyone making over 500K should be paying high taxes. The generalization “there should be no billionaires” is a populist appeal that isn’t rooted in data, facts, or even human nature.

People need to get their fucking emotions out of public policy.

[quote] People need to get their fucking emotions out of public policy.

Agree. Your sad and slavish and highly emotional belief that the rich are just better, dammit, and deserve love and adoration, has no place in public policy. We need a much more cold blooded attitude toward all of them, and if that means taxing the richest, namely the billionaires, into much lower wealth brackets, well, so be it. There is really no reason to regret that, or to ignore the dangers that their constant bribery and constant manipulation of the entire political system inevitably causes.

I worry about out-of-control crime and the neediest of the neediest flocking to NY to get all the free stuff he wants to socialize through the government. Will he continue to pay for expensive hotels for migrants? I hope he has a plan to keep the financial sector in town; otherwise, there will be all this cost and no income stream.

Yes, Bot, he will be personally ordering that all of Wall Street must be cleared out within two weeks of his inauguration to be replaced by housing for migrants, except for the migrants to be housed immediately in your bot bedroom, which won't be easy, cause it doesn't actually exist.

R298 - Not to worry about me. You seem to be more concerned about America than European countries. If I were you, I would focus on the two-tier justice system against the natives in the name of hate speech laws in Europe. Look at the way victims are victimized in their own European countries because of cowardly politicians and a virtue-signaling population. I am defending capitalism against communists. Not lawlessness. Anyway, I did not grow up privileged, not a trust fund, barely middle class. I know what socialism does to a country. Right now, look at Venezuela. A country that has vast petroleum reserves, and could have been a great, wealthy country like those of the Nordic countries is struggling economically because of socialism and wealth redistribution. It destroyed the productive class, and the seizure of the means of production led to the collapse of the economy. It is exactly what Zohran is proposing. Agreed that Venezuela was an unequal society, but people got caught up in visions of socialist utopia and elected strongmen. See what happened to the country, one of the liberal and wealthier functional countries in South America. America, as a capitalist country, not only created wealth here but it actually lifted many, many countries, including Europe, after the war, and China. Imagine China without the MFN status granted to it by America, and low to zero tariffs on Chinese goods. American capitalism lifted billions of people in Asia and the world out of poverty. And part of your European socialism is paid for by American consumers. So maybe you should be thankful to American capitalism because it enabled socialist safety nets in Europe, instead of dumping on American capitalism, and dropping hints all over supporting a communist with a subtle attempt at influencing opinions.

Are paragraphs too expensive for immigrants from poor European countries?

Venezuela was a great, wealthy country, but of course, that wealth was hoarded by a tiny elite. It was not some glorious advertisement for capitalism, ever. It was a shitty place where a tiny handful of the rich controlled everything and everyone else scraped by on shit and the occasional kidnapping to balance things out. It was in short the capitalist paradise that every single Republican in Congress dreams about.

Now bots don't understand this, or anything else, but the truth is capitalism has only ever really worked with a healthy dose of socialism, unionism (which rich cunts fought tooth and nail against, by the way) and all sorts of ways to tell capitalism to go fuck itself. That is what everybody needs to get. That capitalism by itself turns into a fucking nightmare. Only by serious revision and serious correction does "capitalism" ever produce remotely decent societies.

I am, how you say? local businessman who wishes well to all peoples and makes the money in ways you envy. I warn you against the evils of the communism as I am from small but earnest village in high mountains, but with strong wifi. Since coming to glorious United States I make the money and learn that country is best when richest are happiest. Therefore, no communism or socialism, which is same thing, and no anything other than maybe tax rich, but don't do that either, as rich may not like it and leave town and then you have nothing but ugly migrants in all your hotels.

Be at peace, and be well to all peoples.

[quote] Not to worry about me. You seem to be more concerned about America than European countries.

Jeez, R310, did we elect you hall monitor* and no-one told me? I'll be concerned about whatever I'm concerned about, and I'll post in whichever threads I like, adults don't get to dictate to other adults what they're allowed to be interested in. But I'll repeat my offer to come and post on whatever thread you start about Europe, I'll happily discuss whatever you want to discuss so long as you back up your claims with credible sources. On the other hand come with recooked Drudge Report stuff about how the Muslims control our streets now and how you can get thrown in jail for saying you're English and I'm afraid I'm just going to laugh.

*There you are, I'm using this term as my concession to your American language and way of life. We don't have hall monitors in European schools but I can more or less guess the kind of whiny, status-seeking personality type the role attracts.

R 314 No one is a hall monitor. That sort of thing is for stuffy European democracies where they police speech. You are as free to comment on anything as anyone else. It's a free country.

R310 But thanks for bringing up Venezuela because I was lucky enough to live there for a year at the peak of the Chavez era, blessed be the great man ;)

I'm afraid Venezuela wasn't the 'liberal, wealthier functional country' you believe it was in the pre-Chavez era. In fact, a significant proportion of the population of Caracas was malnourished in the 1980s following the collapse in the oil price and the failure of later neoliberal structural adjustments mainly targeting subsidies. There was a major anti-government uprising in 1989 put down with hundreds of deaths.

Venezuela's oil reserves have also been its curse, in that they have stunted the growth of alternative industries and forced the country to import much of what it consumes, making it very vulnerable to falls in the value of its currency. For the last 100 years, no government, including those of Chavez and Maduro, have managed to reorientate Venezuela away from its dependence on oil. Unfortunately too as R310 says much of the oil wealth produced during that century was squandered by a small white elite on shopping trips to Miami and tuition fees for the kids at Princeton while the black, brown and indigenous majority laboured without basic services in the barrios. Chavez managed to divert a significant amount of the oil profits in their direction, and tried too to reform the governmental and economic framework of the country which is riddled with corruption. He had the charisma to maybe do it, but unfortunately cancer took him from us, and I don't see Maduro accomplishing this either, while he has made many bad decisions which have made the endemic problems worse. It remains true that when a US-backed candidate eventually retakes power by fair means or (probably) foul, all the country's problems will be rebalanced on the backs of the poor and the white elite will go back to the life it has always lived, like Scarlett O'Hara but with even more melodrama. Fuck the Venezuelan elites is all I can say.

[quote] So maybe you should be thankful to American capitalism because it enabled socialist safety nets in Europe

OK, Thank you, US capitalism, I really value my safety net, it's great to know that if I ever need a ride in an ambulance I won't be bankrupted by the experience. Now tell me, what about American taxpayers, buddy? Whom should they thank for their lack of a socialist safety net and their bankruptcy-inducing ambulances?

R315 Not if you're going to cry tediously over any US-related thread I'm in, it's not. Can I get your pinky promise not to do that again?

People , truly delusional people , whose party lost all 7 battle ground states, the house, the senate, the WH, the popular vote, and now has lost the Supreme Court , saying all we need to do is totally remake our political system as an answer to fixing a major systemic political problem.

Yep just remove all the money, have term limits, and no one over the age of 55 can run in the future for anything,.

These are not older moderate Dems spouting this make believe nonsense it’s the younger more progressive types.

are bots the new Boris being used when people disagree with the woke, oh my oh my.. doesn't make a persuasive argument when you start that way, your position gets watered down to pointless.

Bots at one time were all named Boris for some reason . And you knew they were Russian bots or Russian agents by the bad English they used. And the fact they did not seem to be totally progressive.

I use bad English all the time, it’s a fucking forum not a report to Congress, and I have no idea what a bot actually is and I have never been to Russia.

DL has some truly stupid posters. Or some bad actors just trying to look like stupid posters.

Bots were called Boris because supposedly Trump was a Russian puppet who became President due to Putin. . It started because Trump didn’t win the popular vote his first time. Boris died in a big fire when Trump won the popular vote the last time. and people realized that MAGA was a US phenomenon not a Russian conspiracy.

Any time a poster would say something even slightly negative about Dems they would get called Boris and be accused of being a bot. Many of the posters who called others Boris stopped posting when Harris lost and their brains exploded.

I read that he tweeted out a rapper singing he didn't mind the twin towers falling or something like that...I don't think this man is suitable to be mayor of NYC.

R308 Nobody is moving to NYC to get free bus fares and shop at a city grocery store. Are you imagining a caravan of super predators? Idiot.

R322 if you get the most votes you are suitable no matter if they are a commie , senile , incompetent, or a crook.

A serious suggestion watch Escape from NY if you want to see what the city could look like after a few years if gop remain in the WH and lefty socialists are running NYC.

R322 He didn’t tweet the lyrics, only a pic of the rappers, of whom he is a fan. Big difference. They are dripped in American memorabilia.

Rap is highly performative.

R317, good to know your analysis of Venezuela. So either you are a brown or black person or a commie. Or you are one of those bleeding heart white liberal or leftists who are saviors of black and brown people, and a non white person like me or others are too dumb to understand the evils of capitalism. Is that why Venezuelans are desperate to leave their country, because Chavez and Maduro's policies bore out so well that they want to spread the gospel of Venezuelan socialism? I agree that petrodollars can be a curse, as many oil-rich countries are solely dependent on petroleum revenues and have not been able to develop diversified economies. What is your interest in destroying America? Why not if you think Venezuela is such a great country, you are not living there? You know what, since so many are rooting for socialism in America, let it happen because that seems to be the flavor of the era now. Until people experience it, they seem to romanticize it, like this concerned European romanticizing Maduro's Venezuela from where millions are desperate to leave.

r327, socialism can lead to autocracy IF there is a populist leader who then starts to cultivate the military and the judiciary to undermine democratic norms. Capitalism can also thrive under autocracy. Mixed capitalism (capitalism with some state-controlled factories, etc) has raised the entire Chinese nation from subsistence to middle class lifestyle in a generation, under a completely autocratic system. (That was the opposite of the first sentence, in that China started with communism under an autocrat, and then consciously adopted many features of capitalism.)

But countries that have generous social safety nets and provide a modicum of economic security for their citizens from cradle to grave, such as the Scandinavian nations, are renowned for having functioning economies AND a much higher level of happiness than a country such as the US. I think it is THAT type of socialism that some people in the US are anxious to emulate. No one in the US is eager to emulate the economies of the former USSR, Cuba, or Venezuela. I think you surely understand that, but want to hold those kinds of nations up as the great bogeymen of socialism.

R327 Folks are fleeing Venezuela for... the US, Colombia, Chile, Spain... wherever they can go.

Some folks are fleeing the US for Canada, Mexico... and those places with healthcare and other social services, you know, democratic SOCIALIST countries: Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Sweden....

Socialism will never work unless humans were AIs with near genius IQs. Everyone is not going to put in the same work ethic. Also socialism prevents innovation. Yes we can have socialistic components in capitalism but socialism/communism will never work unless Jesus returns.

R328 I understand that Americans look towards Scandinavian socialism. A quote here. Former Danish prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen put it succinctly during a U.S. visit: “I know that some people in the U.S. associate the Nordic model with some sort of socialism. Therefore, I would like to make one thing clear: Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy.” What Zohran is proposing is not a socialist model but a communist takeover of the American economy. Big difference. Venezuela could have used the oil riches to increase social safety nets, but it went on to destroy the market economy. The Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are a huge drag on the economy. They are subsidized to such an extent that they need a lot of taxpayer support. The Chinese benefited in two ways. Encouraging foreign companies to invest and also export cheap goods to the US. The US pretty much absorbed a lot of Chinese goods as it granted China MFN status with practically no import trade barriers. This was done to defeat Communism. It only helped to hollow out American manufacturing which both political parties are to be blamed. Some Nordic countries have good revenue from Oil, but also they have access to the EU, which its large markets. They are capitalist economies with hardly any state-owned enterprises. They have generous social safety nets, but not socialism. Big difference. The concerned European does not seem to see that many people want to immigrate to the capitalist West rather than the former Soviet Union when it was in existence. Communism and socialism are fanciful ideas of the elite because they make them feel good about themselves and see themselves as saviors of the poor or whatever. And when pitched to the poor, they feel very attractive, because why not? In the end, all communism and socialism have done is make the society poorer, create totalitarian governments, and generally no means of fighting tyranny. Socialism and communism are the tyranny of a small group of elites over everyone dressed up in the garb of helping the poor. Anyway, I am done trying to showcase what is not good about socialism and communism, because if American youth, being idealistic, with their obsessions for some chimera of social justice, want to commit suicide and elect an evil islamist person, who has nothing to offer but recycled failed ideas then that is their choice.

[quote] What Zohran is proposing is not a socialist model but a communist takeover of the American economy.

This completely false strawman argument makes me so nostalgic for the 2000s. Datalounge had a contingent of conservatives, but they were the dimmest bulbs you can imagine. Everything old is new again!

R332 - What does seizing the means of production mean? You people deserve what you yearn for.

It means you are propagating a falsehood, r333.

R332 were those DL dimmest bulbs predicting that Trump would win all 7 battle ground states, the house, the senate, the WH, and the popular vote in 2024.?

If they had they would have been greatly laughed at by the smarter ones here

yeah, yeah, yeah, we get it: free buses and precisely one government grocery store in each borough is Complete And Total Communist Takeover of Every Single Part of the Economy. And the Apocalypse. And the Death of Everybody in Gulags and Famines.

Fuck off, you lying whore.

R336 - As I said again, you deserve what you desire. You keep voting for all these socialists. Arrogant Americans who think voting for people who villify whites, people of Jewish faith, successful people, and people who create wealth is good deserve those people. No matter how much I say, you will only believe what you want. Once you destroy wealth, there is nothing else to give for free. Soon, America will be ruled by leftist Islamist sympathizers, and they will seize wealth from the rich. There will be no freedoms anymore, and everyone will be living in a communist state. That is where America is headed. R334 - Politifact is a biased organization. It calls anything negative towards leftists, communists, or Islamists false. All of these organizations are controlled by arrogant leftist whites.

The whole country deserves what I desire: less crazy ass income inequality, less crazy ass worship of the wealthy, less crazy ass destruction of what is left of the social safety net, and a government that actually gives a shit about poverty, misery, homelessness, medical bankruptcies, and on and on and on. And a government that doesn't think one and only one thought: how can I serve the super rich today, and how can I pretend that benefits anybody but the rich themselves?

[quote]No matter how much I say, you will only believe what you want.

R337 O wad some Power the giftie gie us

To see oursels as ithers see us!

By the way, none of these thoughts go together. They are just an expression of vague panic that somebody doesn't worship wealthy rightwing Christian white people. They are just a mess of neurotic fears.

[quote] America will be ruled by leftist Islamist sympathizers, and they will seize wealth from the rich. There will be no freedoms anymore, and everyone will be living in a communist state.

One of the poorest countries in the world, with mind-numbing grinding poverty, never agitated for socialism or communism, because even illiterate folks know how devastatingly stupid it is. But a well-fed, indolent, educated American population in a disgusting fit of virtue signaling wants to destroy 250 years of great growth and democracy. How much more suicidal can a population be, driven by leftist academics, brainwashed by the leftist teachers' union? Ugh!!

sounds like they SHOULD'VE agitated for something besides mindless submission to the rich r341. What braindead peasant country was this fantasy land of yours?

He couldn't get into Columbia and his dad was a professor there.

[quote]One of the poorest countries in the world, with mind-numbing grinding poverty, never agitated for socialism or communism, because even illiterate folks know how devastatingly stupid it is.

Classic VagueLounge trolling.

What country is this, R341? Do elaborate.

R334, Trump says he’s not a fascist. What’s your point?

This reminds me of the people who predicted the apocalypse when they banned plastic bags.

R346 Or freaked out over paper straws. Or refused to wear masks.

Gee, what demographic is that now? I think it's spelled M-A-G...

People just don’t give a fuck. No masks what next no condoms?

Give me an M give me a A give me……

Zohran giving the middle finger (literally) to Columbus is not winning votes in a city where you need to add different classes/races of people together to form a broad coalition.

Oh please. Those filthy Eye-talians would much rather have robust social services than another goddamn statue to some dead old conqueror. Nobody under 70 cares about Columbus.

NYC has so many problems as it is, Mamdani will pour gas on the fire and light the match with a twinkle in his eyes.

Donald wants to take control of a city of 10 million, most of whom hate him with the heat of 1000 suns.

Good luck with that, bubbe.

If he tried to do this it would spark civil war.

It's so strange to live under the threat of both world war and civil war.

America is one of the greatest achievements of human civilization. I think many Americans often forget that, and people who vote for Mamdani don't like it. They want to hand over power to an Islamist.

Well, we've handed much much more power to a certified lunatic. I honestly don't get an Islamist vibe from Mamdani, although he's said some things that might support that. His mother is a Hindu. I suspect she wouldn't put up with that shit, because Hindus and Muslims have a very fraught relationship.. Not every Muslim on the planet is a jihadi.

Except he's not an Islamist. So there's a problem there

NYC doesn’t have so many problems.,it’s recovered quite well from Covid and has a great police commissioner. The crime rate is way down. The big problem is rents are high because so many people want to live here. Hopefully Mamdani doesn’t fuck that all up. The people who vote for him think rents will magically go down. Good luck.

Nobody hates America more than Trump and his Cult. They hate every single part of it. They believe in an absolutist totalitarian state ruled by a crazed and bitter collection of gun nuts answering to a mad king.

The Socialists fuck up everything they touch because their way of handling the economy runs counter to common sense, so they end up creating more poverty, less economic growth and more people depending on the state for everything.

Go help New York is this quack gets elected.

He’s right.

That should read "God help New York if this quack is elected." Sorry.

R359 These conversations are useless. Because the "anti-socialist" folks use "socialism" in a malleable, sloppy, dishonest way. Socialism is anything you dislike.

Democratic socialism is what many progressives mean when they defend "socialism".... and it's empirically true that there is less poverty in Iceland, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Far less.

"Economic Growth" is pointed to as an unassailable goal. But Laffer curve/a high tide lifts all boats/trickle down economics... is a grift, a lie. Growth is good, by definition, only if it benefits a large number, or even all, of a populace.

True r362. Conversations with people who simply worship the wealthy are useless. Hopefully, the voters of New York will ignore all the horseshit and vote for the only candidate that actually wants to help most New Yorkers.

[quote] The Socialists fuck up everything they touch because their way of handling the economy runs counter to common sense, so they end up creating more poverty, less economic growth and more people depending on the state for everything.

I'm not a young person and every Republican president in my adult life has left office amidst an enormous, self-made economic catastrophe. There's no one worse for the economy than Republicans.

R362 You're wrong about Denmark, Iceland, etc. Those are market economies which is something Mamdani is clearly poised to work against by having the government control everything from the price of goods to rent to wages.

R363 I agree that he wants to help New Yorkers but the way he intends to go about it is just going to run business and therefore employment away from the city. You don't have to worship the rich to understand basic common sense economic concepts.

R365, have you actually listened to Mamdani? Your characterization is inaccurate if we’re being charitable, and idiotic if we are being honest. There is no way he could transform New York into this dark fantasy you’ve cooked up. Nor is he even proposing that.

R365 Right wing talking points. I asked A.I. "is Mamdani against a market economy?"

the answer

[quote]No, Mahmood Mamdani, a prominent academic, is not against a market economy in the sense of advocating for its complete abolition or a centrally planned economy like communism. He is a self-described democratic socialist, which in the US generally refers to a mixed economy with significant social welfare programs and government intervention in certain areas, rather than a total government takeover of industry and private property.

he's suggesting NOTHING new. Massachusetts instituted this recently. nothing new

Well, R368, if it's working in Massachusetts (and it is), who cares if it's not his suggestion?

[quote] the way he intends to go about it is just going to run business and therefore employment away from the city.

R365, right now it's the middle-class and poorer New Yorkers are leaving the city because they cannot afford to live here. What is business doing about that?

Business doesn't care if the entirety of NYC's middle class are driven from the city. Seems to me that's something a NYC mayor can and should be concerned about and he is. What have any of the past mayors really done about the housing crisis and affordability? Bloomberg turned St. Vinvent's Hospital into a luxury apartment building. De Blasio did fuck-all, and Adams did nothing, either. Why none of Mamdani's critics address this is beyond me. It's all about business. What about the actual people of NYC? Affordable housing is something a mayor CAN do something about, if he cares to, and Mamdani does.

He’s the “burn it all down” candidate. And Democrats have needed one. And not ancient Bernie.

I know, I know. He won't wake up every day wondering if every Goldman Sachs exec is richer today than yesterday.

Will the tears never cease? Will nobody rid New York of this monster???

R362 Instead of repeating about Denmark and Nordic countries, try to understand the economies of those countries. They are not socialist by any means, unlike Mamdani, who wants to seize the means of production. Everyone believed Hitler, so if you want to believe him now, so be it. A leopard does not change its spots. He has no new ideas. The rents are high because, again, rent control artificially elevates rents for new renters, basic market economy. When Milei removed rent freezes in Argentina, rental prices fell because so many additional rentals became available. He is a middling fool, worming his way because of stupid young Americans, especially white women seem to have lost any sense except virtue signaling. Inequality is a fact of life, and what he is proposing will result in more poverty. Socialism has never benefited any country. Has he redistributed his family wealth?? If not, then his rhetoric is meaningless. Only foolish young people who seem to be enamored by virtue signaling seem to want to vote for a person who has made his religion a central focus of his life.

[quote] Mamdani, who wants to seize the means of production. Everyone believed Hitler, so if you want to believe him now, so be it.

Anyone who compares Mamdani to Hitler can't be taken seriously. And by the way, R373, the people who've voted for Mamdani are far from just the young or younger New Yorkers.

There will always be inequality, it's just a fact of life, huh? So...do nothing about it?

[quote]America is one of the greatest achievements of human civilization.

Sure, Jan.

So that's the latest trauma everybody is supposed to be sobbing about? He's gonna seize the Sudetenland and invade Poland?

Lordy, lordy, won't somebody stop this monster?

I love when conservative trolls come here and stupidly let the mask slip with phrases like "virtue-signaling." It's great because as soon as I see that or "woke" used pejoratively, I know to just ignore them.

[quote]the people who've voted for Mamdani are far from just the young or younger New Yorkers.

That’s true.

Asians who voted for Trump are now supporting Mamdani.

R374 - Mark my words, it is not just him, the way Democrats and their storm troopers are headed, it will be the end of democracy in America. Their obsession with extra nationals and virtue signaling will destroy democracy. I am not saying this as being anti this or anti that. But if Venezuelans are fleeing socialism to America, and Democrats are like, yes, we need to accept them, then who is at fault here? Why is America responsible for a people who willingly voted for socialist nonsense? Then they should suck it up and bear it. They chose it. America should not take it upon itself to be responsible for everyone in the world, so much so that the country's character ends up getting changed. All these Judges are acting anti-American. Democrats are the most anti-American party ever. Wake up, people. They take your vote, but let people into the country who will harm us. Democrats don't seek good for the country. And I am not saying nothing should be done against inequality. The only it can be eliminated is to go back to being hunter gatherer society. And instead of harping on it, why not say that we want to ensure people have social safety nets? No one is saying there should not be a compassionate government. For example, instead of rent controls, why not provide a slab system based on income? Let's say a family of 4 needs a 2 bedroom/2 bath. And if they are making 50K, then the government can provide them with rental money for a 2 bed/2 bath, not exceeding 2500 per month. That rental money can be directly credited every month to the landlord. If they want to rent a 3500 apartment, then the 1000 difference should be made up by the renter. It can be made to be 1500 for someone making 100K, and probably make it 500 for someone making 150K. And they can mandate a rental increase of a certain percentage of the market rate. If the market rate goes down, then no rental increase. Anyway there are ways to make things work. In someplace these may not be able to pass the legislature but in NYC the city council will approve such a budget.

R379 Asians love bling bling. When Mamdani and DSA come out with their redistribution scheme, they will realize their folly. Once America becomes a commie country, the entire foolishness of this virtue signaling era will be revealed. Educated white women will have to wear a burkha, sharia laws everywhere, they cannot drive, etc. Good, that is what needs to happen to the white leftist women, who are the most in-your-face vocal people.

We are seeing videos of people being grabbed off the street and taken in vans to undisclosed locations. The government is forcing employees to take lie detector loyalty tests and investigating former leaders based on political opposition.. Texas is working to gerrymander away their opposition. Randomly imposed tariffs on our allies.

And Mamdani having a freeze on rent, or pilot a public grocery store, or have free buses is somehow the end of democracy? Bitch, that ship sailed.

Will Mamdani be a one or term term mayor?

R383, it's hard to say, but we know Bloomberg made himself mayor for a third term, even though NYC mayors don't have third terms. But corrupt Bloomberg didn't let that stop him.

NYC will descend into a lawless dystopian state which it has been inching towards since DeBlasio. It kind of slowed under Adams, due to his inability to get anything done, but it will accelerate with Mamdani.

Ritchie Torres on CNN crying about Zohran the other day was one of the most pathetic and laughable things I’ve ever seen. One of the hosts couldn’t understand how Torres is seen as “establishment” due to being gay and black. PATHETIC.

Has Mr. Mamdani said how he plans to pay for all of his freebies? Tax the billionaires doesn't seem like a viable plan, when they all leave the city.

R387, what about all the middle-class people forced to leave the city because they can't afford the rent? Do they count for anything?

[quote] the people who've voted for Mamdani are far from just the young or younger New Yorkers.

That might be true but the youth turnout and new registrations were massive. It's pretty notable. I voted in these primaries for years and years and people under 40 were not showing out en masse

You didn't answer the question, R388. What is his plan to pay for everything? Is he going to lower rent so the middle class can move back to the city, but then raise their tax burden to pay for it?

R390, why would he raise the tax burden on the middle class? You just said he was going to raise taxes on businesses. Some of his policies won't happen (partly because of Hochul). But affordable housing can happen. Now why don't you answer my question: what do you about a city that is unaffordable for much of its own middle class?

NYC isn’t turning into hell but Mamdani could be a terrible mayor. It depends if has a brain or is just a progressive airhead. He cannot do any of the things he’s promised but freeze rent stabilized rests which DeB did 3 times. This will have almost zero effect on the young transplants who voted for him.

Affordable housing without federal support can’t be done.

Of course NYC isn't hell, but it's completely unaffordable to reside there and has been, because nothing is seriously being done to address that. And if affordable housing without federal support can't happen, then what--nothing? Just more of the status quo? That's what every mayor has done for decades.

[quote] Mamdani could be a terrible mayor.

What is Adams? What was De Blasio?

[quote] This will have almost zero effect on the young transplants who voted for him.

It isn't just the young who voted for him, as has been established. The ineffectual, corrupt mayors who have represented the status quo--what have they done?

Neither Adams or DeB were terrible. Just corrupt or goofy. The affordable housing in NYC is all rent stabilized or projects. Not exactly sure what a Mayor without the support of the Governor or President is going to do to reverse that.

[quote] Neither Adams or DeB were terrible.

Uh, yeah, they were, R396.

The affordable housing in NYC is all rent stabilized or projects

That is erong^^

wrong wrong

What's Adams' popularity among New Yorkers, R386? It's in the toilet for a reason.

Affordable housing without federal support can’t be done.

Also wrong.

Sorry, that was for R396.

In terms of Manhattan it’s market rate or rent stabilized or a project. I know other boroughs are different with more private homes.

What stopped DeB from creating more affordable housing? If it’s so simple? Being in the pockets of landlords isn’t the whole story.

[quote] Neither Adams or DeB were terrible. Just corrupt or goofy.

Oh, just corrupt, R396? Well, then.

You’re still wrong.

There’s low and moderate housing g built in Manhattan all the time that is not market rate, not stabilized and not the projects. You don’t know what you’re talking about.

R393 Instead of proposing ideas or solutions that will destroy the economy, have they even understood why the rents are so high? It has to be supply and demand. Probably all the young people want to live in Manhattan, but a lot of the rental units are rent-controlled or rent-stabilized. When I lived in SF, I had a great rent-stabilized apartment in a great location. Everyone said, Don't leave. Let them drag your dead body out of there. But a new renter would have to pay 1000 or more dollars on an already high rent. It is the same in every city. Rental units are locked up by rent controls, and no one leaves until they die. And that is one reason the market value of new rental units is so high. What Zohran is proposing is not going to help anyone. Landlords need to make money to maintain units. Things are not static. Prices are high, and if he raises the minimum wage, then wages need to be paid. Is he proposing to nationalize rentals? Will the city buy all rentals and freeze the rent? Anyway, it is a question of demand and supply. The supply is limited because everywhere in the cities, the democrats pandering to activists have distorted the market. And they are doubling down on the same solutions that have failed everywhere. Increasing building will not change the market dynamics, because they will only bring online some units, and the democrats will promptly freeze the rent. Any builder will not even recover the cost of building, so why would anyone want to build? Zohran and AOC, and their young supporters, think that somehow there is a magical tree that gives endless money for free. Their frustration is because they cannot afford the rents in places they want to live, and they are blaming billionaires for it. Billionaires have nothing to do with sky-high rentals. Or greedy landlords. Because if it is truly a free market, then a lot of affordable units will come online, especially if they are a bit far from the nearest metro or such. The people who voted for Zohran, some of them may be poor, but it is the well-educated who are just starting off new jobs, who seem to support him. They are the ones who want to live in Manhattan on their starting salaries, in the most desirable places.

There are very few rent controlled units.

Rent stabilized and yes there has been affordable housing built in the city. A drop in the bucket that has had zero effect on overall affordability. Obviiously much more needs to be built.

Rents would come down if all rent stabilization ended. Then younger renters could displace the poor and the old and pay less rent.

not only rent control (which is near extinction), but Section 8, HPD rent vouchers are all contributing to the out-of-control rents. Poor people need apartments paid by the government, the landlords know the government will pay high amounts and the increases are guaranteed. An HPD voucher for a single drug addict coming out of prison/rehab is now $2300 for a studio apartment. It goes much higher for single moms with kids, and poor low-income families. $4000 for a tenement unit the Bronx with 3 bedrooms is probably worth $2000 on fair market value but the landlords get what they want out of the always expanding govt system to house people. People from other poor areas come to NYC for housing when they can't get it where they are living. Mamdani freezing rents will only band aid the problem, because new construction won't happen because why would they want to build if the rent gravy train stops.

Trickle-down economics did not raise incomes of the poor, but trickle-up rents from vouchers and govt. programs sure did raise the rents for everybody else.

Government housing vouchers, like Section 8, often allow tenants to pay only a portion of their income toward rent, with the government covering the rest—sometimes up to a market-rate cap. Landlords may raise asking rents to match the maximum allowable voucher amount, knowing the government will reliably pay. This can distort the local rental market, setting artificially high benchmarks for units, even those not occupied by voucher holders. As a result, non-voucher tenants may face increased rents because landlords anchor prices to what the voucher system will pay. In tight housing markets with low vacancy, this effect can be especially pronounced, worsening affordability for working renters. Economic truth Mamdani needs to solve if he is going to make NYC affordable.

The greasy paw of the boomer landlord is all over this thread lol.

His mother is Mira Nair, the film director. Nice pedigree

R409, Section 8 housing in NYC is, just as it is everywhere else, a limited program. That, on top of the finite supply of apartments, means that no one, least of all “the poor,” moves here to land a cheap apartment.

The politics of Zohran Mamdani and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is predicated on a form of identity theft: stealing the image of the oppressed for personal and political gain.

More importantly, if he does become Mayor (and it looks like he will), why does he talk as though he has a foreign policy? A mayor may have some control over a police force, but they don’t have F-15’s or B-2 bombers at his command. He claims that if Netanyahu or Narenda Modi ever step foot in NYC while he is mayor, he will have them arrested. If Mamdani took even just a few minutes mugging up on international law, he may have realized that this country wisely never signed up to the Rome Statute and therefore is not a signatory of the International Criminal Court.

He is also signaling his own deeply prejudiced world view. By taking potshots at a Hindu prime minister and a Jewish prime minister, and singling them out for special treatment he is showing you who he really is. Presumably he is hoping that his supporters agree with him or do not even notice this. The mayor of London also likes to make these kinds of pronouncements on the world stage, scolding America for daring to vote for Donald Trump. Well guess what? It doesn’t matter.

Buckle up, NYC. It’s going to get “interesting” in the next few years if he is elected.

[quote] Rents would come down if all rent stabilization ended. Then younger renters could displace the poor and the old and pay less rent.

A nonsensical, illogical statemernt if there ever was any, R408. How fo you figure rents going down if rent stabilization ended? You know what happens when a person moves out of their rent stabilized apartment? The landlord is no longer obligated to keep the apartment rent stabilized and jacks up the price for the next tenant. And are you seriously advocating displacing the poor and old? Who are you, Trump?

[quote]An HPD voucher for a single drug addict coming out of prison/rehab is now $2300 for a studio apartment. It goes much higher for single moms with kids, and poor low-income families. $4000 for a tenement unit the Bronx with 3 bedrooms is probably worth $2000 on fair market value but the landlords get what they want out of the always expanding govt system to house people

Why don’t they send these people to cheaper cities and states to live, somewhere in the South or the Midwest? Why does a drug addict coming out of prison need a studio apartment in NYC? Send them somewhere with a lower cost of living and a smaller population to get a job and start over.

R414, talk about identity politics. Modi and Netanyahu are not entitled to special deference because of their professed religion.

R414 I agree with you. See, he only says this about Modi or Netanyahu. What about the Chinese? The Chinese even have reeducation camps in Xinjiang province. Nothing like that exists in India. What about minority treatment in all other Muslim countries?

[quote]If Mamdani took even just a few minutes mugging up on international law, he may have realized that this country wisely never signed up to the Rome Statute and therefore is not a signatory of the International Criminal Court.

Do you think President Donald Trump understands what the “Rome Statute” is??

The average voter doesn’t care about any of this shit. They’re going to vote for the guy who says he will make things cheaper.

NYC shelter system places anyone from anywhere into expensive hotels until a voucher is available to pay for an overpriced apartment. It is an assembly line system. The price never goes down and people are always arriving seeking assistance. Mamdani will exponentially add to this and who will pay, the very rich will go elsewhere and the great construction era of new housing will never happen either.

R420, you pretend you know wat you're talking about, but you don't.

I wish he'd show his big hairy cock.

R421 No, I think he does and it's you who doesn't.

Okay, then, R423--where are the receipts for all those suppositions?

And nothing anything R420 purports has anything to do with the problem of affordable housing for NYC residents.

R417 Then, Mamdani himself should not be given deference because of his religion. Why can he be excused for openly calling for the genocide of Jewish people? It is based on deference this his professed religion.

Hugo Chávez, a self-described democratic socialist, implemented sweeping economic and political changes in Venezuela after taking power in 1999 that ultimately crippled the country’s economy and democracy. He nationalized major industries like oil, telecommunications, and electricity, driving out private investment and mismanaging state-run enterprises. Chávez used massive oil revenues to fund social programs and subsidies, but failed to diversify the economy, leaving it vulnerable to oil price crashes. He weakened democratic institutions by stacking courts, eliminating term limits, silencing media, and concentrating power in the presidency. These actions eroded checks and balances, created a culture of corruption, and set the stage for authoritarian rule under his successor, Nicolás Maduro

Switch the name Chavez to Mamdani and off we go.

[quote] Why can he be excused for openly calling for the genocide of Jewish people?

Which he never did. More outraageous lies from the loon at R426.

R420 the system was modified, no? There is a time limit now.

R426 what ever. You can live in your delusional world.

The existing high rents are a consequence of unchecked capitalism. Greedy landlords are the problem here as usual.

If you take away the vouchers being paid to landlords, you would have people paying market rate and prices would come down quickly. Mamdani wants to add more voucher programs and free rent to even more people which will sound the bell for others to head to the city to get the same. Who will pay for all of this?

[quote] If you take away the vouchers being paid to landlords, you would have people paying market rate and prices would come down quickly.

What happens to the people that need vouchers in your scenario R432? Also why are you all shying away from the understanding that the problem in the situation you’ve identified is landlords greedily exploiting that system? That’s why I think rent assistance should be on a very tight lipped basis and landlords should have no knowledge when their tenants avail of it.

[quote]the very rich will go elsewhere

If I had a million dollars for every time I have heard this lame excuse over my long, long, long, long, long life, I would have a lot of millions of dollars.

China knew how to handle landlords.

I do wonder what the Mamdani fans think they're going to get from Mamdani that they didn't get from de Blasio. Their politics are the same.

The big money people in NYC will either get Adams or Cuomo to take a hike so whoever stays has a better chance. Both A and C are very flawed but Mamdani is just too dangerous to run NYC. A and C have probably committed crimes (never convicted of anything) but Mamdani's socialist policies would empower the criminal minds to rob and steal from the government and all of us suckers would be paying for it.

[quote]the criminal minds to rob and steal from the government

Adams' girlfriend was a bigwig at the Dept of Education and the minute he got elected, she stopped working. She kept collecting a very generous check tho. The press got ahold of it and she swiftly retired, so she'll be getting a check and free medical care on the city's dime till she dies.

The NYPD's overtime bill for $1.1 billion in 2024.

Who's the criminal here.

Hugo Chávez, under the banner of democratic socialism, centralized power and weakened democratic institutions, paving the way for unchecked executive authority. He filled government positions with loyalists and military allies, fostering a culture of cronyism over competence. Over time, the regime’s dependence on loyalty instead of merit hollowed out public institutions and laid the groundwork for Venezuela’s economic and political collapse. This is the blueprint a Democratic Socialist regime. Mamdani is a self-described Democratic Socialist, what could go wrong?

This is the blueprint a Democratic Socialist regime.

Not even close, crazy man. Try harder.

R439, no matter how many receipts you bring about the destructive nature of socialism, there are a lot of people here on DL and in America who keep thinking it will not happen here. Their view is that DSA is an organization that adheres to democracy. DSA or even the democratic party has long moved away from Democracy, like how Biden's white house silenced dissent, how almost every Democrat now does not want to say anything against Mamdani. It will happen here, no matter how much the defenders think DSA is not Chavez. DSA is an organization that is committed to the destruction of democracy, and in their view, capitalism or whatever. It is amazing that such an organization even came into existence in America, but considering how much woke bleating Democrats do, I will not be surprised if America becomes a totalitarian country shortly, and mark my words, Democrats will be doing it.

Crazier man^^

To beat Zohran Mamdani in a NYC mayoral race, the best strategy for Andrew Cuomo or Eric Adams would be to consolidate centrist and moderate voters by unifying behind a single candidate. Cuomo, with statewide experience and name recognition, could be more effective at peeling away left leaning but pragmatic voters, while Adams appeals more to working-class and minority communities. If both run, they risk splitting the moderate vote, giving Mamdani a path to victory with a consolidated progressive base. Adams may be better positioned to drop out, especially if his approval remains low, to prevent this split. Ultimately, robust turnout efforts in outer boroughs and highlighting Mamdani’s most radical positions would be key to undercutting his support.

The question that begs an answer: Can anyone possibly bribe Eric to step aside, would he accept $ under the table. Most probably it seems, but somebody got to make him an offer. Calling on Mike Bloomberg to help!

R439 is describing exactly what is happening now under Donald Trump.

The fact that people are even thinking that the thoroughly corrupt and compromised Eric Adams is a great choice for mayor shows how idiotic and ridiculous the so-called "moderates" are here. Clearly, nobody supporting that idea gives a shit about the actual governance of New York City. They are just terrified of the word socialist, and even more terrified that a self proclaimed socialist might actually prove that a relentless focus on the corrupt, godawful rich is not in fact the only way to run a city.

R443, that won’t happen. The hedge fund guys have crowned Adams as their candidate, even though his poll numbers are dismal. Cuomo, apparently, is not seen as sufficiently deferential.

Heard something like if he wins dump will take over socialist run New York. Sounds like a new Netflix series-must see!

I heard r447 is a moron who gets fucked by diseased old oligarchs at the Kremlin.

Terrible new series, Must Not See.

I have something to say to Zohran Mamdani -

I don’t think that we should have mayoral candidates who are

BOSSY BOTTOMS

If Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani became NYC mayor, we will see a catastrophic sharp leftward shift in policies, straining the city’s budget with generous social programs. His positions on policing and housing could trigger clashes with state and federal agencies, especially if enforcement and development are deprioritized. Business leaders rightfully fear tax hikes and regulatory overreach, discouraging investment and job growth. Additionally, his outspoken foreign policy stances could distract from local governance and polarize constituents. We have a shitshow with Trump in DC and don't need to add more shit to the pot.

America is gone. Sad, but no more.

[quote]We have a shitshow with Trump in DC and don't need to add more shit to the pot.

Yes, we need to vote for one of TWO corrupt clowns because another corrupt clown is in charge somewhere else

America is not gone, but it is teetering on this edge, where we have to decide if a completely slavish devotion to the super rich will guide us in every decision, or if we still get to push back against that.

Mamdani is part of the pushback against that.

Where does he think the vast majority of tax revenue comes from?

Only because the rich have ALL the fucking money r454. We made the insane decision to give ridiculous amounts of money to the rich, and in return ask them to throw a few pennies our way in tax revenues.

Fuck it, let's try something else.

the wealthy pay more in taxes in 1 year than you pay in a lifetime R455 It's not pennies idiot!

Case in point.

To them, it's pennies r456, you whore. It's a tiny fraction of what they make, and for some silly reason whores like you live in terror that they might actually pay more from their ridiculous surplus. Why?

but those 'pennies' provide so much for everyone else

In 2022, the top 5% of earners collectively paid over $1.3 trillion in income taxes, or about 61% of the national total.

Again, the answer is not to have a few super rich people who can easily afford to pay 61 percent of the nation's income tax while everyone else is scraping by and only wishing it could live in that kind of tax bracket. The goal is to provide the kind of society where most people have enough and, in fact, can afford a fair tax rate.

We have embraced a top heavy society where a few rich aristocrats pay most of the taxes because they are the only ones who can.

That is a stupid dream, and it's time to wake up from it.

dream on R461

I will r462. Thanks.

[quote]I don’t think that we should have mayoral candidates who are BOSSY BOTTOMS

Why the fuck not?

453 Mamdani is a rabid muslim. It is not trying different, it is committing suicide.

No he isn't r465. As even you know. You are just botting and pretending. Nobody believes that even you believe a word you post.

R466 Keep believing that. You will rue the day when you have to hide yourself or when they open concentration camps for gays, Jews, and others. Foolish people like you want to close your eyes to what is so in front of you. Are you so desperately poor that you want to vote for this man whose ideas are going to be so destructive? And he is also not offering anything new. His ideas have been tried before everywhere in the world and have been discarded. Do you think that if there are people who have figured out how to eradicate inequality, they would not have done that? He is just regurgitating Das Kapital. Nothing new. It's been tried and discarded by countries like China, Vietnam, India, and many more.

[quote]when you have to hide yourself or when they open concentration camps

The federal government is currently opening concentration camps for immigrants and people they think are immigrants. So maybe worry about that

do they have gas chambers R468

We do not need to "eliminate inequality." We only need to lessen it, and there are perfectly reasonable ways to do that that do not in fact lead to the Gulag that whores for the rich, like you, constantly pretend are right around the corner. You are a liar and you are ridiculous r467, and again, nobody believes that even you believe the shit and nonsense you post.

R467 kinda impossible to take your concerns for jewish people seriously when you're being openly islamophobic. Either you care about religious based discrimination or you don't. Also, it used to be s source of embarrassment to be as openly hysterical as you are. You seem to be wrapped up in some sort of panic / delusion through which you're enjoying losing control of yourself, in some sort of public humiliation kink way. Have some self respect?

R469, gas chambers were not something they built at the beginning of the war, you have to ease into it and usually the last step in the process and kept out of discussing in the press.

R472, also, humanity’s experience with mass murder has proven that it’s cheaper and easier just to shoot people.

MAGA Trump =WRONG for America (especially for the poor who depend on food stamps/Medicaid)

WOKE Socialist Mamdani=WRONG for NYC (especially for working people who pay taxes)

Moderation=GOOD for the majority of city residents

What happens to the people that need vouchers in your scenario

R433 Maybe they move out of the city, although I'm sure just reading this you're about to have an aneurysm.

seems like it's easier for the sad and ever put upon rich to just move out of the city r475, as they are constantly threatening to do. Surely, they have the resources to just move out of the city as they no doubt have the kind of largely useless jobs, or just nepo baby positions, that allow them to live anywhere. It seems like they are more likely to just be taking up space and annoying everyone around them, rather than the people who are struggling to be useful and do actually necessary jobs but simply can't afford the rent in an overpriced city. That might free up a little space for the people who really need to be there.

Likely the only part of his platform he’ll be able to implement are the grocery stores. Which will turn into a fiasco. It takes the city forever to build anything. Who will decide what the merchandise will be? Will it have to be all organic? All the meat halal? Will the employees be making far more than the privately owned stores ? Will shoplifters be apprehended/proscecuted?

NYPD will make sure he fails. They do not have respect for a defund the police candidate.

No, a fiasco is what happens when the whores and grifters of Wall Street decide it would be fun to wreck the entire U.S. economy with their shit and nonsense.

At worst, Mamdani will fail in his experiment of establishing a few grocery stores that actually aren't guided by the overwhelming need to make rich fuckers richer, the one and only principle that wingnuts allow. I think the pretty modest investment is worth it. And yes, it could well succeed, even if he commits the horror of having the food actually be organic and not be total shit. And honestly, just getting a few things built would be an achievement, as everyone knows part of the problem is all these artificial barriers to actually getting anything done that are thrown up. Just cutting through that nonsense would be a useful experiment.

[quote] the wealthy pay more in taxes in 1 year than you pay in a lifetime

Oh my sides, R456!

I'm thoroughly enjoying all this pearl clutching over Mamdani becoming mayor of NYC. What's the worst that can happen? He'll suck the way every mayor since Bloomberg and beyond has sucked, or he'll make incremental changes for the betterment of non-billionaires and will win a second term? Good!

I want him to win so that in 6 months after he's sworn in we can say we told you so, when he fucks everything up and NYC is on fire.

R482: Historically, NYC mayors have not gone on to do big things or have a future in politics. What a sight it will be when he sinks into oblivion after his mayoralty (could've even be one term) ends and all those self loathing white Gen Zrs will be crying about that free bus that never came around the corner or that free grocery store that never got built.

The problem is there's no other viable candidate that can build a coalition. Adams actually has a great record to run on - crime is at historic lows, the economy is slowly returning to pre-pandemic levels - but he along with Cuomo is deeply unpopular. They also don't have Mamdani's charm or retail politicking skills.

R454 in NYC, the largest source of revenue is commercial real property tax.

[Quote] the wealthy pay more in taxes in 1 year than you pay in a lifetime

[Quote]Oh my sides, [R456]!

R480 do the math

In 2022, the top 5% of earners collectively paid over $1.3 trillion in income taxes, or about 61% of the national total

r486 That chart which you keep proudly linking, leaves out a pertinent fact. The top 10% in the US own 66% of the wealth of the country . The top 1%, all by themselves, own over 30% and, incidentally their wealth (the top 1%) is more than the entire US middle class combined.

How does this parse out in a way that you might understand? A normal US earner might earn an average of $40,000 a year over the course of his lifetime. He would earn $400,000 over 10 years, and about $1.6 million dollars in a typical working life. The wealth of one of the richest billionaires in the US (about $300,000,000,000) would equal the lifetime earnings of nearly 200,000 typical US earners.

If a slightly more well-off guy earns 100,000/year, he will likely pay about $25,000 in taxes. And he will have to make some sacrifices in lifestyle to pay those taxes - he will put off buying a new car, or will forego a vacation in order to save for a downpayment on a house, because he's left with only 75,000/year to live on. Someone who earns $100,000,000 year might pay $25,000,000 a year in taxes - which seems like a huge number, but is in fact the exact same rate as the $100,000/year earner. He will be left with ONLY $75,000,000 to live on in that year. Do you think the taxes are hurting his lifestyle at all, or that he will have to forego numerous trips, luxurious cars, or will have to sell one of his several beautiful homes?

R481- You got that wrong. Bloomberg WAS the last good mayor of NYC.

R9- Zohran- sounds like the name of a villain in a Superman movie.

R109-in the United States our standard of living peaked in 1973. It is declined dramatically since then.

R213- Having a TOTALLY senile president makes him the best president ever?

R486, shouldn't the top 5% pay the most income tax? Are you suggesting they're being screwed? I know I pay between 35-40% in taxes. Should I feel bad for them?

As for R482/R483 hoping he'll fail, and that NYC will be "on fire" and Gen Zers will "cry," you're pathetic. NYC will manage just fine and it's more than Gen Z who support him. So much hate you have for him--I wonder why.

R488, Bloomberg gave his billionaire cronies sweetheart real estate deals, and he turned St. Vincent's Hospital, the only hospital in the West Village, into luxury housing. And then he gave himserlf a third term, which was not allowed, but he did it, anyway. He was a shit mayor.

R491=MAGAt.

R488 St. Vincent’s was driven into bankruptcy by its own mismanagement. It tried to grow revenue by rapidly expanding into a hospital system, and failed miserably; it lost even more money without any new savings. The original hospital also had far too many beds to meet the actual need.

For R493^^

Short answer: you’re wrong.

[quote]Having a TOTALLY senile president makes him the best president ever?

I don't think he was senile. Because I don't equate not recognizing George Clooney at a party or one bad debate performance with senility, but I guess we all have our own metrics to judge these things. However, if Joe Biden were senile, I'd take more of that over whatever the fuck it is we have going on now.

R495/R496, since when is a hospital supposed to turn a profit? It was a fucking HOSPITAL, not a business. And instead of helping make the only hospital in the West Village solvent, he turns it into luxury fucking housing--the last thing NYC needs. And then he gave himself a third term. No, I'm not wrong. He sucked.

R491 loves her dear leader Dump, and probably thinks the election of 2020 was stolen and cheered on the traitor insurrectionists, because R491 just loves her fellow fascists!

At least I won't be the worst NYC mayor anymore.

I get that you don't understand basic finance, and that you don’t like Bloomberg, but that doesn’t change the fact all of your assertions are mistaken.

There’s a cloud over yonder by the River that you can yell at….

I don’t care if he’s a hard leftie. I want him to break up the status quo. Plus he’s seems smart enough to run like Che but govern like Obama.

I love this absolute terror that he will succeed. That he will show that every single town, city, and state in this country, and of course the country itself, doesn't have to be governed 100% of, by, and for the rich. This weird craving for serfdom is such a bad habit in this country.

Catsimatidis wakes every morning to skid marks in his underwear. He’s leading the “stop” effort—whichever of the other three is polling best come September, they will be flooded with pac $ and everything possible will be done to get the other two to step aside.

Nope, R500--that would be Adams.

R501, you think hospitals should turn a profit and if they don't turn them into luxury apartments?

R497 He needs to recognize one of his top individual donors. That is something even outside the fact that George Clooney is an A list actor appearing on magazines and news shows every other week. The fact that you Biden loyalists don’t even get that, shows how’s we were fuck and deeply divided.

Trump is one of the most ignorant, disgusting and unpopular cunts to ever run for a 2nd term. Yet the Democrats were so hated they couldn’t even stop him. A man deeply unpopular. Deeply troubled. Personal and professional baggage like no one has ever. Basic Americans do not respect a con. Hell, I’m smart and I don’t respect it. Americans will always choose a car salesman over someone whose brain seems to be deteriorating. I can’t wait until more revelations are made because they were coming. The cancer reveal put a pause on it.

Who said anything about a profit? I didn’t. I made note that management was so bad that they were losing tens of, nay hundreds of, millions of dollars. That’s why they went under. Do your own homework.

[quote]I love this absolute terror that he will succeed.

No terror. I just wonder what cabbage patch some of you were just birthed in. I love how you think this guy is going to succeed in the most capitalist city in the world.

The biggest problem is that Mamdani's supporters seem to think he's going to save them from the big, bad billionaires. Gurl. Who do you think is paying for all those services and amenities New Yorkers love so much?

Gracie Mansion wasn't large and grand enough for Miss Bloomberg--she eschewed living there; meanwhile he and Babe Paley's daughter Amanda Burden were defining just how big (read small) the average New Yorker's apartment should be.

R507 does Joe Biden owe you money, or something? Did he fuck your spouse? Are you okay? Is there anything we can do to help ease your burden?

Right, Miss R509--once agin, all those billionaires and multimillionaires are living saints--saviors, really. All the good they do for us! So, tell me, R509--what should people do who can't afford to live in NYC because of the housing crisis?

Why would he leave his own townhouse for GM? You’re not making any sense.

Exactly. The rich have ALL the fucking money. Of course they are the only ones who can pay taxes. The thing is, if we could spread out the income more, we could spread out the taxes more, but that too sends the whores for the rich into hysterics. There is no winning with those cunts, so they are best ignored. Just vote for Mamdani, let him at least try to give a fuck about anybody besides the rich, and try something besides lying awake at night agonizing about the tax rate of billionaires. Double their tax rate and tell them to fuck off.

R513, the point, since you fail to understand, is that something called a mansion wasn't grand enough for Miss Bloomberg, yet she was dictating how small new apartments could be for the average New Yorker.

Where do you get this issue of grandness. You made it up.

[quote]Right, Miss [R509]--once agin, all those billionaires and multimillionaires are living saints--saviors, really. All the good they do for us! So, tell me, [R509]--

They're not saviors or saints, but they do pay a lot in taxes that keep the city running. Nor should they be trashed because they just happen to be successful.

[quote]what should people do who can't afford to live in NYC because of the housing crisis?

Move to Jersey? You're acting like NYC is the only place on the planet with a housing problem. Do you think Mamdani is going to solve that one?

I’m fine making the rich pay more but realize that there are massive numbers of poor people in NYC who rely on city services and aid. There is a tipping point where the city can’t support the poor anymore with taxes raised. That’s what happened in the 70s. There is no necessity for rich people or even middle class people to maintain a residence in NYC.

No, I'm not making anything up, dear R516. By the way, you don't address Miss Bloomberg breaking the laws of NYC by giving herself a third term. Was that also okay with you? What if Dump gave himself a third term?

That's the answer for them, R517--just move? yes, let's just make NYC another Abu Dhabi--playground of the rich!

Seeing all these seething responses to the very idea of Mamdani as mayor makes me cheer him on even more.

R511 He owes me a fucking 2nd presidency because “you ain’t black if you don’t for me” swore he would not run for a 2nd term and then did crazy old people shit, and not in a cute way, that suggested he was an 80yr old suffering from age related mental decline. And Im not talking about policy, Im talking very bizarre behavior from behind the scenes to debate stage to publicly wearing a MAGA hat two months before the election. I will never forgive the democrats for allowing Trump to beat them. Though I’m lying because I will always be pragmatic against these stupid ass Magas. And then he had to dole out Magic School Bus lady because he left us no options, no primaries. That family is so fucking arrogant. And learn to take a joke because I still love me some Kamala.

I’m doing well in life. I just cannot stand these freaks that are in power and it was all so avoidable.

The devil is in the details. Getting more from the rich, helping the needy and not bankrupting the city. The only ones I don’t care about are the young transplants who have to share expensive apartments with roommates to stay here. That’s basically Mamdani’s core voters.

[quote]Adams actually has a great record to run on

Except for that whole "got indicted for bribery" thing

[quote] The only ones I don’t care about are the young transplants who have to share expensive apartments with roommates to stay here.

Oh yes, R522, they're aall shacking up in Central Park West, just like the cast of "Friends." They're not living in Bushwick or Bensonhurst.

[quote]Except for that whole "got indicted for bribery" thing

When the President is a convicted felon and alleged rapist, city bribery (which is an everyday thing in NYC) is akin to stealing a pack of Juicy Fruit from the 7/11.

Bloomberg didn’t break the law; with a heavy hand he got the law changed. The extension was upheld. The voters gave him a third term (narrowly).

Ah, I see, R525, so Adams' crimes don't count as crimes.

So, R526, you'll be fine if Dump does the same.

R524 😂. They living as roommates there too. Have you sent the rent market in New York? Lawd. I make over 100K and would not live there because I would be poor 😂.

No shit, R529--that's the point, Miss Teacake.

First of all, the rich just got a huge tax cut from their whores in Congress and the Grifter in Chief who runs their favorite cult. We are ridiculously far from any tipping point that sends any rich fucker over the edge.

As for all those poors, it might be time to ask whether massive income inequality and the "winner take all" philosophy plays any role in that. Free buses and a few grocery stores are not going to bankrupt the city. A fixation on the tax rates and the endless stupid needs of rich, needy cunts will.

R530 My fault. I thought you were suggesting they aren’t living as roommates but opting for cheaper rents outside Manhattan in order for them to have their own place.

What R531 said.

But think of the rich, R531!

[quote]First of all, the rich just got a huge tax cut from their whores in Congress and the Grifter in Chief who runs their favorite cult. We are ridiculously far from any tipping point that sends any rich fucker over the edge.

A Federal Tax cut is not a state or local tax cut.

Adams’ crimes are small potatoes involving better airplane seats and nicer hotel rooms. As a public servant you’re not supposed to accept upgrades. I get it but I really don’t give a shit.

No, it's better, R535. And are you justifying it?

It all goes into their pockets r535. The rich are just fine. Stop making their stupid needs and whims the centerpiece of your life.

R528 why do you repeatedly make shit up? Why not engage in actual discussion?

Trump can’t run again, unless he gets an amendment adopted stat. ;). It’s in the Constitution, spelled out in no uncertain terms. I’m not worried on that score.

So, R536, what about this?

[quote]A Federal Tax cut is not a state or local tax cut.

Not is it chopped liver.

More Adams fuckery.

R535 I think the poster is saying the federal tax cuts balances out the pending Mamdani tax increases on rich New Yorkers so they should just sit down and be humble. They gon be alright.

R539, Dump won't use that "heavy hand" that Bloomberg did? You're not worried? Good, we'll hold you to that.

well r539, it would seem that way. But as we all know, the Founders were all secretly, deep down craving a monarchy, and if you interpret the Constitution in that way, well ...

That’s a 9-0 ruling if it ever came to that. Safer bet than birthright citizenship, which will be not less than 7-2.

R542, Adams and everyone around is corrupt; they need their cut. Corruption, and the incompetence that goes along with it, is, by itself, a tax.

[quote]No, it's better, [R535]. And are you justifying it?

I'm not justifying anything. All I did was note the distinction. A lot of people tend to lump all taxes together, which is not the case. Billionaires have not gotten any significant local tax cuts, and I'm fine with them paying their fair share. I'm just not in favor of Mamdani's plan, which I believe would cost the city serious tax revenue.

Huh, R547?

Somehow, it's construed that taxing the rich more than the little they're already paying will lead to rack and ruin. I don't buy it.

The responses here are definitely more concern for the rich than the average New Yorker who can't pay a massive rent. Precious little is spent worrying about them.

Exactly r550. And that's because it's kind of a religious doctrine more than any reality. The rich have become sacred in the minds of one party, and parts of the other party, delicate but revered beings who must not be taxed, or at least never have their taxes raised, because that would be "punishing success" or some shit.

R550 We will be forced to shop at Nordstroms Rack.

Adams runs a pay-to-be-promoted scam. But nothing to see here, right?

Sure, R546--Thomas and Alito would vote against giving Dump a third term. Right.

The SCOTUS has already decided not to get in the way of Dump overturning birthright citizenship.

We no longer care about data and facts (unless we are positioned in places that other people's data is monetized for our benefit.) The problem posed is that the gap between the very rich and the destitute increases. Late stage capitalism just assumes this trend is the inescapable reality.

We either care or don't care about this depending of the tribe we belong to.

Thread closed.

You guys keep going on about Adams "crimes" like we're living in a normal timeline where bad is bad and good is good. But do carry on with pointing out what a crook he is, while the real crooks are robbing you blind.

It's like the retailers who follow black and brown people around the store, while the white suburban teens and white soccer moms are robbing them blind. And I'm not bringing race into this, but it's the example that I like to use.

Also, Bloomberg lobbied and got city code changed to run for a 3rd term and the city was better because of it. If Trump wants to run for a third term, he would have to change the constitution - which is a little more difficult than changing city code.

R558, why don't you ask the NYPD officers who saw huge cuts in their pensions when they complained about Adams and how "white collar" his crimes are? And by the way, he's the one who has enforced the stop and frisk policy, which mostly targets blacks. Stop excusing his corruption by comparing him to bigger criminals. If he had the chance he'd be an even bigger crook. That's his history.

And no, the city wasn't better for having Bloomberg change the city code so that e could selfishly be mayor for a third term.

Saint Billionaire Mike Bloomberg--he gave himself a third term to save NYC!

I have no issues with stop and frisk, and Adams was correct to continue it. We'll just have to agree to disagree on Bloomberg.

So you're okay with profiling, R561.,

Stop and frisk is profiling, pure and simple, and is inherently racist.

R476 Clearly you think anyone who's rich owes something to the rest of us so they should move out of the city first. This is not how reality works. The world changes out of necessities, not moral considerations. No one who doesn't need to move will do so or should. That's why you don't see large numbers of wealthy people crossing the Rio Grande. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with people seeking better opportunities in new places.

R556 of course, you’ve hit it wrong.

R564 has her priorities--thinking of the rich.

R555 I’d bet a lot of $ they would uphold the term limit.

Your confidence in the SCOTUS making good decisions is undermined by the SCOTUS making one horrible decision after another, R565.

[quote] No one who doesn't need to move will do so or should.

Spoken like a true supporter of the one percent.

[quote]So you're okay with profiling, [R561].,

I'm 100% okay with it.

[quote]Stop and frisk is profiling, pure and simple, and is inherently racist.

Oh yeah, it's racist when administered by racist people, but there are a lot of racist things in this country. We all profile. How often have you crossed the sidewalk when you see a group of teens of any race approaching you? Hell, I cross the street when I see a group of gays headed my way. I just don't want to deal with the scrutiny and cutting remarks.

Great, so no problem then r564. The rich will get taxed more and will stay. No fuss, no muss.

[Quote] The responses here are definitely more concern for the rich than the average New Yorker who can't pay a massive rent. Precious little is spent worrying about them.

Maybe they should move. I mean after all they're living in one of the most expensive cities in the world let alone the US

When it's the police--who are there as public servants--doing the profiling, it sure as fuck is racist.

[quote] Hell, I cross the street when I see a group of gays headed my way. I just don't want to deal with the scrutiny and cutting remarks.

I'm sure you do.

[quote] We all profile. How often have you crossed the sidewalk when you see a group of teens of any race approaching you?

Never, R570.

So the answer is for the people who actually keep the city functional to all move out. All the teachers, all the cops, all the firemen, all the sanitation workers, all the people actually working in all those little sweatshops, everyone actually doing something useful and not just being "in finance" or some shit, should move out and let the rich run the place themselves.

Well, okay, not sure that will really work out as you hope, though.

Oh, but R575, don't you know--the rich are our saviors!

So we've learned two things from this thread--the rich are better than us, and racism is okay.

Oh, and SCOTUS is made up of honorable justices, and Adams's crimes are really just fine.

[Quote] So the answer is for the people who actually keep the city functional to all move out. All the teachers, all the cops, all the firemen, all the sanitation workers, all the people actually working in all those little sweatshops, everyone actually doing something useful and not just being "in finance" or some shit, should move out and let the rich run the place themselves.

Except for those people in all those little sweatshops most of the people you mentioned have decent salaries and can afford to live in New York and don't rely on subsidies

R568 some cases are easier than others. This one is not a close call—there’s not even an irrational basis for rewriting the amendment .

R580 lives in an alternative universe--where "irrational" doesn't exist with Dump.

[quote] Except for those people in all those little sweatshops most of the people you mentioned have decent salaries and can afford to live in New York and don't rely on subsidies

Sure, R579--the middle class of NYC have it great paying their $6,000 per month rent. No problem there!

Yet another thing we've learned from this thread--our dear leader is the epitome of reason and rational behavior.

Well presumably, most of them are paid by the city itself r579, so "subsidized" in that way. Are you fine with that? Are you okay maybe with other "subsidies" paid by the city to keep it functional and lively.

Because really, even by your reasoning, the whole thing is a little artificial, paying some city workers a living wage to keep the city functioning. All Mamdani wants to do is expand that thinking a little, and you sound like you're halfway there.

[Quote] Sure, [R579]--the middle class of NYC have it great paying their $6,000 per month rent. No problem there!

Check out the average rents in various neighborhoods. 6K might be the average in Tribeca, Soho or the UES but other areas are considerably less to say nothing of nearby cities.

My mistake, R485--the average rent isn't $6K--it's merely $4,800 a month. So affordable!

Sorry, that was for R585.

R586 there are many neighborhoods where the average rent is under 3K

Cool, well all this should limit the needed subsidies, given all this cheap housing all over the place.

I didn't hear anyone talking about limiting subsidies R589 certainly low-income families with 2,3 or 4 children will have a hard time affording New York.

Per R588, another thing we've learned: there really isn't an affordable housing crisis in NYC.

Damn, Mamdani isn't even mayor yet, and he's already solved the housing crisis.

Well, yay. Cheap housing for all who need it, and I'm sure the whores for the rich will be proclaiming that on the day he's inaugurated and thereafter.

Well, it sounds like New York is really a tough and expensive place to live R591 I think I would move

Yes, that's the answer, R593. And R588, per apartments.com, the average rent is $4.025.

R588 As it should. There is about to be no middle class left in New York if things don’t change. You should not have to make 100,000 dollars a year to be able to afford your own place. I’m anti communist but we gotta do something. For middle class people rent should not exceed 2500 grand. You know obviously I’m talking a standard 1 bedroom. Something ain’t right and that’s when government can make policy to help. This country is not that that damn populated for the end result of the housing market to be like that. In previous times there was always a market available for middle class people .

Or maybe I am wrong and we should expect for all major cities sans like Baltimore and Detroit…wait I say major… ok yes all our major cities to be like mini Dubais where only the rich lives and that anything less than a 1 per center should live elsewhere. How dare you want to live in a city that is become a Beverly Hills on steroids because it has 100 million people. Yep our cultural foundations and premier cities like New York should only to be livable to those born with a silver spoon and we should not worry about a service market because the AI Elon is inventing will provide that so we won’t have to dwell on the moral dilemma of residents having to work in a city in which they cannot afford to live. Yep that’s the correct way. Now I’m a good capitalist again.

Actually, R593, the answer is electing a mayor who seriously addresses the housing affordability crisis.

Have you thought it through r593, once all the actual useful people leave?

Have you considered the horror of rich people making their own coffee? Taking care of their own kids? Taking their own garbage to the dump? Maintaining their own buildings?

HAVE YOU? Do you expect them to live like animals, or worse, like the poors?

[Quote] there really isn't an affordable housing crisis in NYC.

But there is a parking spot crisis

These idiot responses are why Mamdani will win, and you're all convincing me what a good thing that will be.

GO MAMDANI!!!

Parking is expensive; you pay with your life.

NYS/NYC are really fucked up. The state has a GDP almost equal to Canada or Russia, yet it is one of the highest taxed places in the country. The city looks and smells like shit in many places, graffiti everywhere, everything is very expensive, school suck despite spending one of the highest per pupil, upstate is an economic wasteland, the subway is filthy. When you come from many other US cities or Europe, it seems like one big dysfunctional shithole.

Zohan winning will be a catastrophe. If you think Dinkins was bad, just wait.