Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham? | Robert Reich

[@vividdaydream1516]

If billionaires _actually_ wanted to use their wealth to help people, they'd pay their employees a living wage.

[@commonman317]

Well said.

[@lesliehagarty8906]

Exactly

[@jesuschristpose896]

They would pay their fare share of taxes

[@jglenn2282]

Instead of donating to the food bank...

[@philvdw9627]

You mean the employees that sign a contract consenting to a certain wage?

[@jneff6456]

Billionaires want us to be grateful for the crumbs brushed off their tables... while ignoring that we placed the food on the table to begin with.

[@rparl]

Reminds me of the restaurant window scene from Victor / Victoria.

[@jglenn2282]

Amen.

[@anitagee3362]

Oh, VERY well said!!!

[@carolmiller5713]

Watch them scramble if there's a national strike of 1 week or longer. Where's the chauffeur, nanny, laundry, house cleaning, etc 🥲

[@ae9074]

You realize working class made enough to pay 1 trillion in payroll taxes? Meaning Americans made north of 9 trillion last year? We make that every single year. Remember Jeff made 200b everyone else made 1.2 trillion or so, even the government has made more off Jeff than Guys like this will be honest about.

[@grinningchicken]

The sad thing is there is no way out of this as long as the US people see themselves as billionaires temporarily down on their luck rather than exploited workers.

[@chuckkottke]

"If only I could flip houses instead of burgers" is what I hear..

[@flan6449]

because people have faith in themselves which is good. you''s never get anywhere is if just give up.

[@tangeks5516]

@@flan6449 wrong

[@HandsomeMax33]

They dont understand that billionaires are the REASON for poverty. Money is not infinite, so its just a matter of distribution. Every person who owns a billion dollars basically means a million people in a thousand dollar debt to them.

[@joshuagharis9017]

Amen 🙏. Capitalism is NOT democratic at all

[@Missy-Missy1111]

"There is enough in the world for everyone's need, but not for everyone's greed." (Frank Buchman)

[@darcy487]

Ghandi said that.

[@MsNickie1001]

@Robert Reich▪️ fake channel.

[@MsNickie1001]

@Robert Reich▪️ fake channel.

[@DragonXflyer]

​ @Robert Reich▪️ 👈 When you see these *trolls* please report them as SPAM! _(Check their channel first before alerting KZbin)_

[@chaserice8556]

Hello

[@ShubhamBhushanCC]

YES. Philanthropy is and always was since the gilded age, a way to avoid regulation and redistribution.

[@johntechwriter]

And especially, personal income tax.

[@williamarnold9744]

Agreed. Philanthropy doesn't add resources to the public, it merely extracts democracy from the equation.

[@chuckkottke]

Andrew Carnegie's steel mills and libraries, probably one good example. And it provided good cover for the corporate jungle where the products were being produced, a great way to polish one's image while exploiting workers.

[@anonymoususer4376]

How so? They're giving money they already paid taxes on away for FREE! And since it's THEIR money, they get to choose where it goes. Not hard to understand.

[@sarahtiferet9025]

yes i just read " Winners Take All" by Ananda Girirharidas. Highly suggest it

[@mannyj4751]

I think we all know that billionaires have no desire to help Americans...the very people and country that made them billionaires. Each of us can decide how to feel about that!

[@longlakeshore]

Pro sports does the same thing--supports charities to deflect the fact that they are tax-avoiding billionaire owners & multimillion dollar players of the top 1%. Worse, they beg charitable contributions from fans of their sport who are not. Appalling.

[@wilhelmheinzerling5341]

Most of the players only play for a few years and never see the big money. Professional sports is a scam

[@poeticsilence047]

@@wilhelmheinzerling5341 yeah, only the all stars see the big money.

[@kellygoodine9944]

And the public pays for a lot the stadiums that the owners end up getting all the revenue from. They blackmail the city by threatening to move the teams... and although that would actually benefit most cities economically, its political suicide to let a team leave.

[@Riverman5050]

@@kellygoodine9944 I concur

[@carolmiller5713]

It's a choice of fans tho. I always leave "charitable donations" to the billionaires and my annual tax record.

[@johno1396]

Most of the “donations” come in the form of appreciated stock holdings they never paid income tax on, while writing off the full value of the stock. Ordinary people who make donations donate cash they paid income tax on and then write of the amount they donate. A huge difference!

[@johnemonroe]

Even worse if they donate real estate or art. They can donate land or a painting they paid $500,000 for, that might get $2 million now in an arms length sale, and claim a deduction of $4 million if they can get it appraised for that. This art or land is unique so it is hard to dispute the appraisal.

[@darylking265]

The irony of your statement is that the growth of the wealth mentioned at the beginning of the video during the pandemic came in the form of appreciating stock holdings, or equity in the businesses that they own. And they don't pay income tax on the increased equity because it isn't 'income'.

[@omarsabih]

This doesn't make any sense. When they liquidate the shares, they have to pay capital gains tax. Do you even understand how stocks work?

[@symmetrylove]

We can have democracy or concentrated wealth in the hands of a few in America, but we can`t have both.

[@21stcenturyozman20]

America sold out democracy for concentrated wealth a long time ago.

[@bnx200]

We can have both, if that's what people vote for.

[@carolmiller5713]

I take socialist democracy.

[@jkovert]

Or you could get out of bed before noon.

[@TD-np6ze]

@@blakejohnson3864 Reagan Became BLUEPRINT of the ALL-For-the-RICH RIGGED 2Parties Clintonite COPROCRATS WORTHLESS!! Only thing Neo-Libs "stand for" is Crushing Working Middle America!! (Except maybe Biden-turned-Bernie?

[@UURevival]

More accurately the richest individuals captured the entire pandemic stimulus.

[@anonymoususer4376]

100% and that's why Congress needs to stop printing more money. Every time they print more money, where do you think it ends up?

[@elainegoad9777]

Our stimulus was peanuts, mostly the empty shells.

[@stvwds61]

I was going to make the same point!

[@gregnixon1296]

The problem is clearly identified, so now what happens?

[@jonathanedwardgibson]

Nothing says Tax-the-Rich like trading-up racing yachts for space fleets.

[@johnwalsh7256]

Dead on! Great comparison

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Best comment!

[@sylviewalker7560]

Captains stay on the ship.

[@johnmartin4641]

Why should they be punished just because you’re jealous of the fact that you failed and they didn’t?

[@brianjacobsen5762]

Jeffery wants to be a Space Cowboy ride his sex toy into the heavens.

[@VERCINGET0RIX]

Yeah, its a fraud. If billionaires or multi-millionaires really want to "help" then they should start with paying their taxes and paying all their employees a living wage. Their alleged philanthropy doesn't impress me.

[@johnmartin4641]

1. There’s nothing fair about me paying more than someone else just because I made better choices than they did. 2. What would be the point in paying more taxes? The government would just blow it on stupid shit and spend more than they take in like they always do.

[@clenke0]

The person who pays the most in taxes should be the person of honor, and they should all be competing for that honor,. He who gives the most to his society, should be most reveled Otherwise, your just a greedy schmuck like John^.

[@johnmartin4641]

@@clenke0 before Trump cut my taxes, I paid $911,000 a year. After the tax cut, I still paid $857,000. Put your money where your mouth is and write the government a check for $911,000 or shut up and stop being a hypocrite. Also, greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right. Greed works.

[@clenke0]

@@johnmartin4641 Greedy schmuck. Your priorities are out of order.

[@johnmartin4641]

@@clenke0 there’s nothing greedier than you demanding I pay more taxes while you refuse to pay what you’re demanding I pay.

[@samw5767]

I'd like to make a charitable donation to a space program that sends the billionaire class into space... and keeps them there

[@suezbell1]

but only if it keeps them there -- headed for an adjoining galaxy w/o a return ticket.

[@shimes424]

🚀 straight to the 🌞

[@sarahtiferet9025]

Ha ha im going to steal that ! thanks and take care

[@davidkramer333]

Totally!!! Keep in mind the US government (whom I'm told does nothing right and billionaires know better) put twelve humans on the moon like 50 years ago....these losers barely make it to the edge of space and we are supposed to treat them like maverick pioneers?? We don't need them for space exploration, unless they all want to be on the first flight to Uranus. Then I am sure we could arrange that

[@samw5767]

@@davidkramer333 Plus, there isn't the excitement now, that there was about Apollo 11 back in the summer of 1969, national triumph that it was. It's hard to imagine what could recapture or even begin to compare to that zeitgeist. From now on, space triumphs are 'Private', and at best carry the cachet of high-flying advertising. Things were by no means perfect back in the 1960s, but the Apollo projects, even after their huge expense, brought a sense of pride to many Americans, dare I say 'most' Americans, many of who today can't agree on simple protocols for protecting their fellow citizens.

[@belindahanley7582]

Philanthropy is commendable but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary. MLK

[@snoopy_peanuts_77]

@Lance Counihan nailed it

[@anti-classist]

Philanthropy is rarely altruistic..

[@DoremiFasolatido1979]

It's not commendable. It shouldn't exist. In no reasonable, responsible society, should philanthropy occur. If philanthropy is any kind of viable practice, it doesn't mean your people are good, it means your society is trash.

[@carolmiller5713]

Philanthropy should be linked the the wages being paid to employees - no living wage, no tax break.

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

So if you drop out of school get a low skilled job you should get a livable wage healthcare paid family leave vacation time and pension but if you go to college maney years and become a doctor work long hours and earns four hundred thousand dollars a year in NYC between local state and federal half your income will go to taxes and Democtsts want more according to democrat your an idiot if you work hard

[@darinsingleton3553]

Welcome to Neofeudalism. "Charity is not a substitute for justice." - St. Augustine.

[@K1989L]

I hate this system that someone else has made for all of us. It makes even the middle class to bleed their money and assests out.

[@TheNeoVid]

Actual billionaire philanthropy would be Jeff Bezos giving all 900k Amazon employees a $100,000 bonus out of his own pocket, which would leave him with the same amount of money he had a year ago.

[@scifirealism5943]

That's crazy he could do that.

[@flan6449]

that would be generous but he doesn't have to,

[@inwalters]

@@flan6449 Being a good person is doing what you should do, but don't have to.

[@flan6449]

@@inwalters And? where did he sign a contract stating he had to be a "good person".

[@inwalters]

@@flan6449 He didn't. He was just born. Being a good person should be the goal in life, not being a rich person. And no 999 people out of a thousand can't do both.

[@donald6815]

In Arkansas, home of Walmart, the local paper made a big deal when they donated $500 to the local animal shelter. Cheap #%%$

[@jglenn2282]

SMH...

[@jocelyncooper1738]

A donation that small coming from one of the richest families on earth is actually rather insulting. That’s not even the equivalent of donating a penny. It’s more like donating pockets lint.

[@jglenn2282]

@@jocelyncooper1738 You are correct.

[@carolmiller5713]

I've boycotted Walmart since Day 1. But I don't have a family so I get why people do. Their business plan was to undersell the mom & pop local stores, run them out of biz, then get the masses & raise prices.

[@anonymoususer4376]

how much did you donate to the local animal shelter?

[@symmetrylove]

Amazon: I hope everyone is okay with one company winning capitalism.

[@TulipIris7244]

“All restaurants are Taco Bell” - Demolition Man

[@howardkerr8174]

@ symmetry: And the real kicker? Retail IS NOT the biggest money maker for Bezos Inc. Bezos makes A LOT MORE MONEY with data storage via the cloud.

[@ElminsterPTC]

Taxes should be simple, how much did you earn or did your wealth grow. This is your tax contribution (which would be a higher percent for higher earners). No credits, no deductions, nothing. Then if people are making less than a livable wage they get subsidies from programs like SNAP, housing vouchers, etc. Taxes should take no more than a post card to fill out.

[@poeticsilence047]

That's how I see it. The more you make, the more you pay. No loopholes or side deals. Yes there can be a max percentage BUT everyone pays.

[@jacklarson6281]

that was the platform Jerry Brown ran on in '92

[@DragonXflyer]

That's to complicated for such simple minds...

[@johnmartin4641]

Everyone should pay the same which is why we should abolish the income tax and replace it with a sales tax. We shouldn’t punish success and reward failure.

[@poeticsilence047]

@@johnmartin4641 I am ok with that too

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg: “I don’t know what the exact limit on top incomes should be, but at some point no one deserves to have that much money.”

[@tamarabartolo9185]

Exactly!!!!!

[@robertprice9052]

Why?

[@alvarorubio1993]

So because you have no money nobody deserves to have more? If you follow that train of thought then people that live paycheck to paycheck deserve to be hated by people in debt.

[@thunderpooch]

@@robertprice9052 because you abounding nit wit, at a certain point they stop buying things and start buying politicians and funding harmful propaganda Their corporate lobbyists get favorable tax carve outs in the legislation. This in turn makes them even wealthier. They are literally rigging the game so they become protected monopolies with special tax status and dopes like you can't see how they're robbing you and creating moral hazards. Namely, if you're not privileged to inherit their stock as a trust fund kid, you often have to end up working for their company and the pay and working conditions are awful. If we had a fair and level playing field, we could call it a meritocracy. But the system as it is is a complete farce.

[@robertprice9052]

@@thunderpooch First calling names is juvenile and unproductive. All money circulates in the economy and it makes the economy stronger. there's no point at which people amass so much money they do nothing with it, except for Pablo Escobar who stored it in caves and whatnot. They spend, invest, donate and employ people with their money. That money circulates in the economy which strengthens the economy - it's called circular flow. Government money, especially welfare, has a much smaller circular flow and therefore doesn't help the economy as much, if at all. YOu don't have to rig the system or employ lobbyists to protect your money; the tax laws already do that and always have. Why? Here's where we may differ; the government doesn't own my money and allows me to keep some. Here's the "pay your fair share" truth. The top 1% of earners pay 39% of tax revenue, the top 5% pay about 60% of tax revenue, and the top 50% pay 97% of the tax revenue, and the bottom 50% of earners pay 3% of tax revenue. I guess that's not enough? People like Reich and Wolff see other people's money as somehow belonging to everyone, and that having money makes them bad. To be sure "the rich" are not robbing me, or you. They earned their money, I earn mine. I don't look at other people's wealth with envy or jealousy. I make a lot of money at this point in my life, but it was a long road getting here. It's a family thing. We teach our own how to use money. My grandmother quit school at 17 to buy a grocery store. She died at 99 owning two grocery stores, two apartment buildings and several houses she rented, and a stock portfolio of 2.8 million dollars. She gave the vast majority to her Church and three universities. She always told the family she gave us the ability to make our own fortunes. Here's another fact about the "trust fund kids" and inheriting stocks or wealth. Studies show that a family's fortune passed down is typically gone by the third generation. Why? Let's say I pass a million dollars to my kids. That's 300K each. The money you didn't earn spends fastest. Typically the first generation spends the money on luxuries and consumables, but also tends to pay off their homes. When this is passed on to their kids it is typically in material goods, boats, cars, and homes. These are liquidated and divided among multiple siblings. This is classically spent on consumer goods with nothing to show for later on. You should read two books: the Millionaire Nextdoor and the new version of the Millionaire nextdoor. They explain where wealth comes from in America, who and how they become wealthy, and what happens to the wealth over the long run. The economy now is different than 20 years ago, but I would recommend both books to read. While you are distracted by other people's money you will never make your own. There are millionaires in this country that started with nothing and made it for fairly bland careers. The difference between America and the rest of the world is the opportunity here. I go to church with a guy who got out of prison and couldn't find a job other than fast food. He opened a hotdog stand, then a second, and has two food trucks now. He's making a killing, and he helps others coming out of prison start their own businesses. One of the guys he helps is the landscaper for my business. He's doing pretty well also. It's out there if you want it, Jeff and Mark didn't take all the money. Go get your own.

[@brendanramirez5923]

Somebody could buy health care for the whole country can you imagine that.

[@davidpeppers551]

I can, but they can't.

[@chaserice8556]

Hello sweetheart

[@randyr.parker2698]

"Is Billionaire Philanthropy a Sham?" YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@leoalcaraz6153]

AOC said it best charity doesn’t replace good policy; tax them like the rest of us and see how much they donate then

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

I prefer to confiscate their billions and deport them with only the clothes on their backs

[@leoalcaraz6153]

@@Zach-ju5vi it’s all in asking for pay your fair share

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

You are delusional. Its the workers that do all of the work. Not these rentiers.

[@leoalcaraz6153]

@@Zach-ju5vi no they don’t they do things like write of losses not take salaries and donate to charity; they don’t pay taxes nor do the companies they start; they don’t pay shit

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

The top five percent pay over half the federal taxes do your homework before commenting

[@islandon22]

Can you hear the cries of "GUILLOTINE!" "GUILLOTINE!!", yet???

[@johnmartin4641]

@@teamshowbiz6508 why would you murder someone just because you’re jealous of the fact that you failed and they didn’t?

[@johnmartin4641]

why would you murder someone just because you’re jealous of the fact that you failed and they didn’t?

[@islandon22]

@@johnmartin4641 because they're playing on a rigged playing field. They buy the politicians, we buy their B.S. Simple!😗

[@johnmartin4641]

@@islandon22 you’re free to make your own political donations. It’s not their fault that you choose not to do so.

[@johnmartin4641]

@@teamshowbiz6508 you realize most plutocrats live in gated communities and have private security, right? Why should they be afraid of a small fringe group of people on the far left, who are mostly a bunch of wimps?

[@dontcare3430]

They did this in the gilded age, they'll do it as long as they can. Look at how generous I am.

[@dontcare3430]

@Robert Reich▪️ what you got , Bob ? Or is it bob asterisk?

[@lauriereid4531]

Thank you.. expose these people for who they are

[@FRISHR]

*Captain America:* “Big man in a suit of armor, take that off and what are you?” *Tony Stark:* “Genius, billionaire, playboy, tax avoider.”

[@carrieullrich5059]

They should be paying the same tax percentage as the rest of us, 47% on all earnings.

[@johnmartin4641]

If you’re paying 47% of your earnings in taxes, then you need new accountant.

[@huizhechen3779]

@@johnmartin4641 Income taxes aren't the only kind of taxes.

[@HolisticHealthEducation]

Lesson 1: Never rely on any government or the state to do anything for you. You have to do it yourself.

[@Anti-Parasite2023-pp8uu]

You just say that to mask the fact that you're a thief.

[@davea6314]

We must stop plutocracy. Please vote for progressives.

[@Djangoisback]

Only solution

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

Better yet vote for a socialist if there is one

[@PoliticalEconomy101]

The only failure here is you kid

[@Djangoisback]

@@PoliticalEconomy101 maybe you should be more specific since there are several forms of socialism.

[@Missy-Missy1111]

@@Djangoisback Bernie's form of Democratic Socialism

[@jessk3110]

Been watching Robert reich every since I was in high school,my English teacher introduced us to him. Thanks for another great vedio!

[@jessk3110]

@Robert Reich▪️ wts this for?

[@johnmartin4641]

Why did she do that? What do Robert’s videos have to do with the curriculum of your English class? Now do you see why Republicans accuse schools of “indoctrination”? Her job is to teach English curriculum, not her political views.

[@jessk3110]

@@johnmartin4641 well I mean my teacher was a HE and also we were talking about political rhetoric and my teacher decode ne of Robert Reichspeeches looking for rhetoric so yea it was pretty relavant

[@sarahtiferet9025]

@@jessk3110 its a Troll / bot

[@littlehili]

@@johnmartin4641 Wrong. A good English teacher would use Robert Reich to teach debate, elements of argument, syntax, etc. as part of the command of basic language skills. Bob Reich is eloquent and logical.

[@damonroberts7372]

The most philanthropic thing Bezos could do would be to pay his employees a living wage so that none of them have to rely on food stamps.

[@luvzfrance24]

I'd rather them pay their fair share in taxes than donate. That's really helping Americans.

[@cmorris9494]

There should be a limit on how much their charitable donations can be written off when it's their own charities. If bill gates wants to write off more it should be outside organizations. And even then that should be limited too. Say that only 50% of charitable donations can be written off.

[@raylouis7013]

Why do they get ANY write offs for their own charities?

[@carrieullrich5059]

They should be paying 47% tax like the rest of us.

[@ceceliawight7059]

Just point to the houseless population to prove they are not philanthropic.

[@jamesl9371]

Right on. I wish there was no more need for charity. If there’s economic justice there’s no need for charity

[@kuriosites]

I'm glad Jeff Bezos donated money to food banks. They need to be able to provide food to Amazon workers.

[@Jimi_Lee]

I think the $1.9 billion just went straight to the billionaires.

[@dan_hitchman007]

Like the last tax bailout for the rich under the Trump Administration.

[@kbkatherineb3944]

They pay zero taxes. The philanthropy draws attention away from that and represents mere coffee money while earning them good publicity in the bargain.

[@danwittels5542]

Bob just figured out that foundations are really just an estate planning device with a public relations kicker for very rich people.

[@SIMKINETICS]

As a former Sec of Labor, he's likely known this for *decades!*

[@C3yl0]

If you give 10$ and at the end of the year claim those 10$ to get something is not a charity it is a business transaction. If you give $10 and forget about it that is charity.

[@bcshelby4926]

...of course, such giving comes with a benefit known as a tax write-off.

[@poeticsilence047]

Yup that's why when I here about any company giving to charity. Big whoop. You are just going to write it off and probably give it back to execs as bonuses

[@kimberlychodur3508]

@@poeticsilence047 I feel the same way. It makes me laugh when the Walmart cashier asks if I want to donate to the hungry when more than half the Walmart workers have to depend on food stamps.

[@huizhechen3779]

@@kimberlychodur3508 Don't shop at Walmart.

[@kimberlychodur3508]

@@huizhechen3779 I know I shouldn't, right.

[@garyreid6165]

I think back to the scene in The Godfather III where Michael Corleone’s consigliere( played by George Hamilton) hands him checks to sign and he says, “Money for charities because they minimize taxes.” It’s been a long time since I last saw that film and I may be paraphrasing here, that quote applies to what Robert discussed in this clip. Danger and opportunity benefitted the billionaires in this country. It is as plain as day during the pandemic.

[@yuvalne]

TL;DR: yes.

[@elijahfordsidioticvarietys8770]

Never applaud anyone for getting a tax write off.

[@junglebyte]

"If a man has an apartment stacked to the ceiling with newspapers, we call him crazy. If a woman has a trailer house full of cats, we call her nuts. But, when people pathologically hoard so much cash that they impoverish the entire nation, we put them on the cover of Fortune magazine and pretend that they are role models." ~ Lester B. Pearson

[@DokesConspiracyNetwork]

I am a billionaire and I can confirm this

[@honestbusiness1371]

Those who benefit the most from our country are paying the least.

[@honestbusiness1371]

.

[@honestbusiness1371]

.

[@smckaughan1]

I kind of agree, but unfortunately, government WASTES so much money. Go down to your local DMV and get back to me. If philanthropy can do more with less, more power to them. Most Americans trust private companies over government services for a reason. Before we raise government budgets we need a citizen's efficiency Czar to audit the efficiency of government use of public funds. But you make very good points. Thank you!

[@patriciamasterson4721]

This is just one reason I shop local...💜👵👍granny Trish

[@hermask815]

no one gets a pat on the back if you pay your taxes regularly and don't try to evade them. if you do charity you get admired and can boast with it. and you get away with paying less taxes. it's a no win for society.

[@MrMcCawber]

Billionaire philanthropy is simply a way of bribing the poor while you pick their pockets.

[@bradmiller6507]

What? Using massive gaps in the tax code to fund their favorite causes isn’t actual charity? I’m shocked, shocked that they’re doing this. Who’d have thought a tax code designed specifically to benefit billionaires would contain such loopholes?

[@joeking1019]

Billionaire philanthropy has to be the joke of the century (so far)

[@aussie8114]

Imagine having a billion dollars 🤔

[@aussie8114]

@Robert Reich▪️ SCAMMER

[@jimmcgaugh2519]

With all these organizations purporting to help veterans when in actuality only pennies ever trickle down to real veterans. with all this supposed private & public help, why i ask are veterans still the largest subgroup of those who find themselves 'homeless', and also the largest group of those unemployed or underemployed?

[@elizabethsohler6516]

Wouldn't some of that have to do with injuries and /or PTSD ? A lot of these folks will need permanent help that they would never have needed if it wasn't for our country's continual military actions.The whole purpose of said actions is to continually justify increasing military spending as an end in itself.

[@yrasphong]

I just subscribed.. philanthropy is another word money laundering

[@i2really1der]

Yes. Those charitable deductions are basically a tax break. Now, MackKenzie Scott (Bezo’s ex wife) has given 4.3 Billion to non profits (Bloomberg News Survey). I do not know her deduction. But, she seems to set a new standard.

[@Marshall-uy2dv]

This is going to go on as long as we vote for people that protect them!

[@ericblair54]

The population of the U.S. is 328 million. If Bezos gave 5 million to every U.S. citizen, that would amount to 1billion six hundred and forty million 1, 640,000,000 . Bezos would still have one hundred and ninety two BILLION! $ 192, 000, 000, 000.

[@schnitzelfilmmaker1130]

??? 5 million * 1000 would already be 5 billion, and 1 million is 1000 X 1000, it’s not even possible to stay within the billions range. You’d have to multiply your estimate by 328,000 to get the accurate number. Bezos would be broke a thousand times over. You’re probably thinking about 328,000,000 * 5 😂 but 5 million is a different story. As a general rule, you’d have to be adding on the combined zeroes to the end. If 328,000,000 is already less than 1000X smaller than 192 billion, saying he’d still have that many billions after giving $5 million to each U.S. citizen should not look right.

[@kingtchalla2289]

Billionaires. Shouldn't. Exist.

[@judithsmith9582]

Boycott Amazon

[@kingtchalla2289]

@@judithsmith9582 Already Done.

[@feathersigil2048]

The 1% give millions and billions to charity and have done so for decades, yet 1) nothing ever changes regarding the causes those charities address and 2) for some reason it's just too expensive for the 1% to pay their workers the wages they deserve. That's neither coincidental nor accidental.

[@samsen3965]

Long live Prof. Robert Reich.

[@samsen3965]

@@Zach-ju5vi Professor Reich is REALISTIC, Rationalistics!, Explicable, Understandable, Simplistic, Institutional, Intelligible, Comprehesible, Liable, Responsible, Reasonable, definable and above all Simply a Great teacher, if not the GREATEST in his field. His record of well-doing for 4 prior presidents, his conduct, and achievements all over his life are here to prove every word that is stated above. Get real. Get for once in your lifetime to an educational center such as the University of California, Berekely, and see how the most intelligent students of our world (By the proven system of testing and selection that is beyond a question), line up, fill every chair, fill every possible space on the floor and behind the auditorium door to have the chance of listening to him, then ask to look into a mirror and look at you, before opening that smelly offensive orifice of yours to pollute webspace...😱👺

[@yuurishibuya4797]

Dude, I don’t know about philanthropy, but there is nothing wrong with ppl becoming ultra rich in legal way, etc. Their ideas which earn them money created jobs for million. They have the ability to bring ppl together by providing common goal and also distribute that finished goods and services to rest of the world.

[@timjohnson1199]

Cap pensions for all the rich government slackers.

[@DrJohn-rl9zg]

A few years ago I crossed the US on a bicycle tour. After spending several days crossing the Nevada dessert without a shower, I arrived in S. Lake Tahoe a couple hours before the hotel room that I had booked was ready. So I went to a fast food restaurant and made a pig out of myself. Still having time to kill, I stopped at a park to rest. I had my bike with all my gear, and I was desperately in need of a shower. I sat on a picnic table near a young man who was clearly homeless. We started talking. No doubt that he mistook me for being homeless too. He offered to share his food with me. His act of charity was far greater than that of those billionaires. They should have named that park after him.

[@brunomeral7885]

Like a prestidigitator (or a pick pocket, to be more accurate) they dazzle you here and rob you there... ta da!

[@rohitkhosla8110]

The wealth is mainly in stocks of their firms. It is not cash.

[@mack-uv6gn]

Change the tax code to limit deduction and credits for the top 1%.

[@dan_hitchman007]

The only people who can are in bed with the super rich.

[@mack-uv6gn]

@@dan_hitchman007 I agree

[@johnmartin4641]

Then there will be a lot less charitable contributions.

[@mack-uv6gn]

@@johnmartin4641 I disagree because there will still be deductions, just not as generous.

[@MsNickie1001]

Get rid of billionaires, get rid of poverty.

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

Get rid of billionaires get rid of Amazon Microsoft telsa and huge amounts of tax revenue Elon musk paid over twelve billion dollars in taxes last year

[@crystalphillips696]

I always look forward to your videos.

[@racewiththefalcons1]

The short answer is yes. The long answer is also yes. If billionaires wanted to help others, they would just _pay taxes._ That is literally what taxes are for!

[@francosoliman103]

You have to be SICK to defend these Billionaires. SICK and NAIVE.

[@stryfespoint304]

As long as that word is in their midst, yes indeed because the general public are always the victims of their sham.

[@mongoharry]

Robert Reich is one of the few making these observations.

[@sommmeguy]

And public assistance isn't really giving to "the poor", it is investing in people and keeping them healthy which ultimately benefits all of society. How many Elon Musk never fulfilled their potential because they were born into poverty?

[@sarahtiferet9025]

yes Elon Musk inherited ALL of his money and he just invested in into Paypal.. THere were electric cars LONG before Tesla. He also spent millions fighting the unionization of his Tesla plant .

[@anitagee3362]

That's exactly what I've been saying! They love the "pat on the back", the thrill of "good press", but if they would just pay their fair share of taxes so many MORE people could benefit! 😡

[@johnmartin4641]

There’s nothing fair about me paying more than someone else just because I make better choices than they did.

[@anitagee3362]

@@johnmartin4641 exactly! I'm talking about the super rich that inherited millions, short-sheets everyone "beneath" them, hides their wealth offshore, builds Private shelters (like Briarwood, KZbin the tours & interviews), and has ZERO qualms about NOT paying their fair taxes. 😡

[@johnmartin4641]

@@anitagee3362 I have upper 8 figures saved for retirement. I didn’t inherit it, I saved it from my compensation I received from my job. The whole inheriting your wealth thing is an overblown myth. Most millionaires did not inherit their wealth. kzbin.info/www/bejne/g3fRZZqgjdyMosk

[@anitagee3362]

@@johnmartin4641 if your circumstances don't apply, why are you arguing about it? I'm SURE you're not saying that "nowhere in America do these circumstances apply!" so my scenario is not about YOU. 🙄 Sheesh, such thin skin makes me wonder what's going on...🤔 Just move along, unless you'd like to demonstrate FURTHER what "snowflake" means.

[@anitagee3362]

@@johnmartin4641 and no thanks, I'm not clicking on something some rando sends me 👍

[@bessermt]

Charity just allows the wealthy to choose who and what is worthy.

[@UltimaOmega]

I'll trust them more than I trust the government to choose who and what is worthy.

[@bessermt]

@@UltimaOmega okay. 🙄

[@simplicityistheultimatesop6571]

Don’t be ashamed if the amount you give for charity is small because to refuse the needy is an act of bigger shame.

[@ginam830]

All that “charity” could easily pay for universal health care

[@johnmartin4641]

Or you could just make better career choices so you can get healthcare cheap through your employer.

[@ginam830]

@@johnmartin4641 you could consider that everyone is entitled to healthcare in the United States. It's pretty much the only first world country that doesn't have free health care. Health emergencies, are the number one reason for bankruptcy, and many of those people do have health care through their employer. Why are you defending rich people that don't pay taxes? I'll put you on the "to eat" list when we have our uprising

[@johnmartin4641]

@@ginam830 healthcare is mentioned nowhere in the constitution, therefore no one is entitled to it. My employer and I pay for my healthcare. I shouldn’t have to pay for your healthcare too. I ended up in the hospital a couple of years ago with a kidney stone, which women have described as more painful than childbirth. I got treatment within 30 minutes. A Canadian Bernie supporter admitted to me that in Canada, where they have free healthcare, I would’ve waited 12 hours. No thanks. I’m rich and I paid $911,000 in taxes under Obama and still paid $857,000 under Trump. Do you pay that much? The idea that rich people don’t pay taxes is a myth. The only people who go bankrupt from health emergencies are the people who are too irresponsible to get health insurance before they have an emergency. I know several people who had health insurance and ended up getting cancer that didn’t come anywhere close to bankruptcy. One of them went on to send their daughter to a $50,000/yr college out of state, bought her 3 brand new luxury vehicles, and took his family to Italy first class just a few years after his wife got cancer. Another guy I know also sent his daughter to a $50,000/yr college out of state, bought her a $60,000 car, and paid for her to take a two month trip to LA while his wife was battling cancer.

[@AdamBechtol]

Take me to the alternate universe where people heed Robert Reich's pleas and the level of wealth inequality isn't obscene :(

[@philvdw9627]

Robert Reich wants to redistribute poverty, there wont be any wealth inequality if were ALL poor.

[@mjnyc8655]

Does Prof, Reich advocate the elimination or capping of the charity tax deduction?

[@c.garcia2363]

@MJ you axolotl questions

[@michael_mcgowan]

@@c.garcia2363 10/10

[@ronkirk5099]

If the obscenely rich would just pay their fair share in taxes, I would trust the public sector (the government) to spend the money responsibly for the public good.

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

Harvard got 750000 to blow lizards off trees with leaf blowers governor paid five hundred thousand dollars renovating a building scheduled for demolition six hundred thousand dollars for grateful dead memorabilia and twenty five thousand dollars for toilet paper in the governmentd defense the toilet paper was colorful

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

You think spending money on blowing lizards off trees with leaf blowers Is responsible you are wierd

[@atashikokoni]

Robert speaking sense as usual.

[@IvoMiller]

We’re SCREWED

[@screenarts]

Should have been tax so we can decide how to spend it.

[@grimftl]

I will admit that there are some qualifications and exceptions to the list below, but... Things we shouldn't have to have voluntary charities for: - political campaigns - medical bills (physical and mental) - feeding the hungry - housing the homeless - HVAC in extreme weather - education - safe houses for victims - transportation for people to get to work - foster care/orphanages - firefighters & first responders - picking up litter If any of these efforts need charity, then the govt has failed at their duty.

[@DavidLindes]

I guess you’ve been talking to Anand. :) Of course… you put it more mildly than Anand often does… this reputation washing is deeply insidious, really.

[@DavidLindes]

@Robert Reich▪️ I'm honestly unsure if I understand what you're saying here. Is "T.E.X.T" something I need to know about? Or are you just saying the _text_ I've written is something you agree with? Or... ?

[@sarahtiferet9025]

@@DavidLindes Hi , That's a Troll ! . I read Ananda's book too and saw them together discuss his book at the book fair in Berkeley. 2 years ago.

[@helengarrett6378]

Charity is illustrative of the fact that many of us are not receiving the benefits of our society.

[@thefakenewsnetwork8072]

Shoutout to robert reich keep educating is sir

[@kimoandrews5802]

The media fawning over ghouls is sickening.

[@joemahony4198]

End the charitable deduction on taxes and tax exempt status.

[@isitrachelorj3953]

Have been making this argument for years, and not writing off my own charitable contributions ( regrettably, only in the thousands of $$$). I'm not rich or a fraud.

[@tylerhackner9731]

Answer: Yes

[@TankGump96]

"The modern conservative is engaged in one of man's oldest exercises in moral philosophy; that is, the search for a superior moral justification for selfishness." John Kenneth Galbraith

[@gwine9087]

Sorry, if you want to be a philanthropist, don't give tens of millions to places like Harvard and Stanford, give it to people or organizations that need it.

[@egdiryellam68]

Apart from under paying their employees, they over charge every one who buys their products or uses their services --------------- and there is no end to their greed in sight. Just how much wealth does a person need / want to live a life in absolute luxury with every possible consumer driven product and convenience.

[@fritzforsthoefel8031]

Mabey they should shut down there businesses fire millions of workers so they can't get richer right

[@Hootymae]

I do believe they should give or spend their money as they want. The issue is not the rich, per say, it is our tax code (which Congress will never fix).

[@kailexx1962]

Buffett gave $1B (each) to two different charities. People think, "What a guy!". However, each charity was run by one of his children. This effectively allowed him to skirt the gift tax and the inheritance tax. Also, the kid's and their handpicked board of directors get to set the kid's salaries.

[@JimFeig]

These charities often exclude any group that advocates for Gov solutions or new taxes. They are just anti tax groups.