Billionaire Romney Backer: The Ultrawealthy Have An ‘INSUFFICIENT INFLUENCE’ Over Politics

[kpete]

Ken Griffin interview: Billionaire talks politics and money
Normal Blood Sugar LevelsWorried About Blood Sugar? Find Out Whats Normal Today. Pebble.com
In a rare conversation, Griffin explains why the ultrawealthy have 'insufficient influence'
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0311-confidential-griffin-web-version-20120311,0,2604121,full.column

Billionaire Romney Backer: The Ultrawealthy Have An ‘Insufficient Influence’ Over Politics
By Josh Dorner on Mar 10, 2012 at 7:15 pm

In an interview with the Chicago Tribune, Ken Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire who is one of the 400 richest people in America, argued that the ultrawealthy in this country don’t have enough influence over politics. Griffin went on to say that the ultrawealthy “have a duty” to step forward and save the U.S. from what he says is a drift toward Soviet-style state control of the economy:

Q. I’m going to come back to this. But I want to touch on two more areas first. What do you think in general about the influence of people with your means on the political process? You said shame on the politicians for listening to the CEOs. Do you think the ultrawealthy have an inordinate or inappropriate amount of influence on the political process?

A. I think they actually have an insufficient influence. Those who have enjoyed the benefits of our system more than ever now owe a duty to protect the system that has created the greatest nation on this planet. And so I hope that other individuals who have really enjoyed growing up in a country that believes in life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness – and economic freedom is part of the pursuit of happiness – (I hope they realize) they have a duty now to step up and protect that. Not for themselves, but for their kids and for their grandchildren and for the person down the street that they don’t even know …

At this moment in time, these values are under attack. This belief that a larger government is what creates prosperity, that a larger government is what creates good (is wrong). We’ve seen that experiment. The Soviet Union collapsed. China has run away from its state-controlled system over the last 20 years and has pulled more people up from poverty by doing so than we’ve ever seen in the history of humanity. Why the U.S. is drifting toward a direction that has been the failed of experiment of the last century, I don’t understand. I don’t understand.

......................

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2012/03/10/442067/billionaire-romney-backer-ultrawealthy-have-an-insufficient-influence-over-politics/

[anti-alec]

1. To that, I say bull fucking shit.

Bull fucking shit.

[rfranklin]

2. I think they haven't been guillotined enough...

how about that?

[dimbear]

8. The French revolution started because the midlevel rich thought they were taxed too much.

Then it sort of got out of hand.

[treestar]

3. The US has nothing like a Soviet Style system

Nothing near it. This straw man is one conservatives are forever making.

[Old Union Guy]

4. They always want more ... it is never enough n/t

[SomethingFishy]

5. "Those who have enjoyed the benefits of our system"

Yeah I love how he talks about the benefits of "our system". Except when it comes to paying taxes to keep that system going.

"They have a duty to step up and protect it".
Yeah by paying their fair share of taxes so upcoming generations don't get stuck with the bill for your new yacht.

"I don't understand I don't understand".
Because you are a narcissistic piece of shit. You step on others to create your wealth and now you wonder why the people who are being stepped on are angry? If you hadn't been so fucking greedy, if you hadn't destroyed the economy with your greed, people might give a shit what you have to say.

[Icicle]

6. Please

"When does the greed stop?!?"
(props for Ted)

While arguing against what we have, he's arguing for what? The system they have in Somalia?

"....that government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish from this earth."
A. Lincoln (a Republican, no less)

[longship]

7. Not only a douchebag, but a cry baby, too

DOJ ought to investigate his ass. Gotta be something there.

[girl gone mad]

9. That's some warped thinking on display.