4 ms·

He is probably going after Ro Khanna, who comes across as a pretty decent rep (he and Massie got the Epstein files released): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro_

He is probably going after Ro Khanna, who comes across as a pretty decent rep (he and Massie got the Epstein files released): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro_Khanna https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ro_Khanna Based on this warning from Garry to Ro re: wealth tax https://finviz.com/news/277038/y-combinators-garry-tan-warns-ro-khannas-policies-could-destroy-california-startups-set-back-us-innovation-by-decade https://finviz.com/news/277038/y-combinators-garry-tan-warns... So this appears to be all about the wealth tax and taken down anyone who supports it. AIPAC is also mad at Ro so it seems that Garry Tan can find common cause with them: https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GRXZqcQiU/?mibextid=wwXIfr https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GRXZqcQiU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

givemeethekeys 9mo ago
Where does the money go? Facebook and Google ads?
- bhouston 9mo ago
  A lot of it does. And it also goes to companies making inauthentic social media content. This is what modern election campaigns are.
  - RobotToaster 9mo ago
    How many AI deepfake companies has y-combinator invested in?
- rchaud 9mo ago
  - Pro-business think tanks to write "policy reports" with a predetermined outcome - PR firms that can get their policy mouthpieces on cable TV news - Police unions to get their endorsement (a favorite of "law and order" candidates) - TV and radio ads for preferred candidates - Online influencers and podcasters - Telemarketing campaigns - and of course, "campaign contributions"
tw04 9mo ago
Which would be hilarious if it weren’t so infuriating. All they can talk about is how they’re all going to leave the state if it happens, but then are more than willing to try to spend more stopping it than they would just contributing their fair share in taxes. Don’t like it? Great, leave - but stop trying to buy elections.
- kadabra9 9mo ago
  Everyone loves deciding what their "fair share" of other people's net worth (not even income!) is. Sorry, but the state just confiscating 5% of someone's net worth (unrealized or not) is absolute madness, and rightfully opens up questions about slippery slope, how "temporary" they claim this to be, and so on. It's not surprising they are leaving the state or using their resources to try to stop it.
  - bhouston 9mo ago
    Your statement is ignoring the systematic growing inequality in the US between the ultra wealthy and everyone else. And the use of those funds to influence politics (because of Citizens United, etc) to create polices that benefit themselves - it is for the ultra wealthy a virtuous circle: https://inequality.org/facts/wealth-inequality/ https://inequality.org/facts/wealth-inequality/ This is not a normal state of affairs.
    - kadabra9 9mo ago
      This tax would do effectively nothing to address growing inequality between billionaires and everyone else.
      - mjamesaustin 9mo ago
        I see, so you're suggesting 5% is not enough? I'm listening...
        kadabra9 9mo ago
8note 9mo ago
[flagged]
- deleted 9mo ago
  [deleted]
khuey 9mo ago
Ironically Ro Khanna was the tech backed candidate a decade ago when he ran against Mike Honda.
learingsci 9mo ago
A wealth tax is not an obviously great idea. It’s worth having a better public debate on that topic.
- bhouston 9mo ago
  I bet Garry Tan will find that going after him for the wealth tax won’t poll well so he will find a different angle. Thus it won’t be a debate about a wealth tax, it will just be the standard make your opponent look bad in order to unseat him. For example: https://nypost.com/2026/02/01/us-news/stunning-number-of-california-voters-back-wealth-tax-but-admit-it-will-kill-jobs-poll/ https://nypost.com/2026/02/01/us-news/stunning-number-of-cal...
  - terminalshort 9mo ago
    Ok, so what is the problem here? Why can't Gary Tan engage in standard political activity like anybody else? This is his fundamental right as a citizen of a democracy.
    - amarcheschi 9mo ago
      The more money you have, the more means you have to engage in political activity not like anybody else but with a weight which far exceeds one
      - terminalshort 9mo ago
        So what? The constitution guarantees you equal rights under the law and an equal vote in each election. It does not guarantee you equal political influence. Same as you have the right to freedom of speech and of the press, but you are not guaranteed an audience.
        amarcheschi 9mo ago
        So some people might feel slightly annoyed by this. I don't know if you don't find this absurd, but a bunch of pedophile protecting people have shaped the actual presidency and are continuing to do so. Feeling slightly annoyed is the least offensive way I could put it
zozbot234 9mo ago
A wealth tax is a great idea if your goal is to make everyone a whole lot poorer especially in the longer term, and not very much otherwise. It's pretty much saying that you want pure populist envy to be the priority, over and to the detriment of long-term prosperity.
- johnnyanmac 9mo ago
  Compared to the "prosperity" we have now?
RobotToaster 9mo ago
Has anyone checked the Epstein files for his name?

givemeethekeys 9mo ago

Where does the money go? Facebook and Google ads?

bhouston 9mo ago
A lot of it does. And it also goes to companies making inauthentic social media content. This is what modern election campaigns are.
- RobotToaster 9mo ago
  How many AI deepfake companies has y-combinator invested in?
rchaud 9mo ago
- Pro-business think tanks to write "policy reports" with a predetermined outcome - PR firms that can get their policy mouthpieces on cable TV news - Police unions to get their endorsement (a favorite of "law and order" candidates) - TV and radio ads for preferred candidates - Online influencers and podcasters - Telemarketing campaigns - and of course, "campaign contributions"

tw04 9mo ago

Which would be hilarious if it weren’t so infuriating. All they can talk about is how they’re all going to leave the state if it happens, but then are more than willing to try to spend more stopping it than they would just contributing their fair share in taxes. Don’t like it? Great, leave - but stop trying to buy elections.

kadabra9 9mo ago
Everyone loves deciding what their "fair share" of other people's net worth (not even income!) is. Sorry, but the state just confiscating 5% of someone's net worth (unrealized or not) is absolute madness, and rightfully opens up questions about slippery slope, how "temporary" they claim this to be, and so on. It's not surprising they are leaving the state or using their resources to try to stop it.
- bhouston 9mo ago
  Your statement is ignoring the systematic growing inequality in the US between the ultra wealthy and everyone else. And the use of those funds to influence politics (because of Citizens United, etc) to create polices that benefit themselves - it is for the ultra wealthy a virtuous circle: https://inequality.org/facts/wealth-inequality/ https://inequality.org/facts/wealth-inequality/ This is not a normal state of affairs.
  - kadabra9 9mo ago
    This tax would do effectively nothing to address growing inequality between billionaires and everyone else.
    - mjamesaustin 9mo ago
      I see, so you're suggesting 5% is not enough? I'm listening...
      - kadabra9 9mo ago

8note 9mo ago

[flagged]

deleted 9mo ago
[deleted]

khuey 9mo ago

Ironically Ro Khanna was the tech backed candidate a decade ago when he ran against Mike Honda.

learingsci 9mo ago

A wealth tax is not an obviously great idea. It’s worth having a better public debate on that topic.

bhouston 9mo ago
I bet Garry Tan will find that going after him for the wealth tax won’t poll well so he will find a different angle. Thus it won’t be a debate about a wealth tax, it will just be the standard make your opponent look bad in order to unseat him. For example: https://nypost.com/2026/02/01/us-news/stunning-number-of-california-voters-back-wealth-tax-but-admit-it-will-kill-jobs-poll/ https://nypost.com/2026/02/01/us-news/stunning-number-of-cal...
- terminalshort 9mo ago
  Ok, so what is the problem here? Why can't Gary Tan engage in standard political activity like anybody else? This is his fundamental right as a citizen of a democracy.
  - amarcheschi 9mo ago
    The more money you have, the more means you have to engage in political activity not like anybody else but with a weight which far exceeds one
    - terminalshort 9mo ago
      So what? The constitution guarantees you equal rights under the law and an equal vote in each election. It does not guarantee you equal political influence. Same as you have the right to freedom of speech and of the press, but you are not guaranteed an audience.
      - amarcheschi 9mo ago
        So some people might feel slightly annoyed by this. I don't know if you don't find this absurd, but a bunch of pedophile protecting people have shaped the actual presidency and are continuing to do so. Feeling slightly annoyed is the least offensive way I could put it

zozbot234 9mo ago

A wealth tax is a great idea if your goal is to make everyone a whole lot poorer especially in the longer term, and not very much otherwise. It's pretty much saying that you want pure populist envy to be the priority, over and to the detriment of long-term prosperity.

johnnyanmac 9mo ago
Compared to the "prosperity" we have now?

RobotToaster 9mo ago

Has anyone checked the Epstein files for his name?