Why are TV hosts interested in what Sanders has to say?

[PatrickforO]

48. No...but if we put Maher up against Bloomberg, we're

most definitely not talking apples to apples.

Maher has a net worth of $100 million.

Bloomberg has a net worth of $55.8 billion.

So, way different story here. As an economist, I do believe that the very existence of billionaires represents a substantial failure in fiscal policy.

But, interestingly, I had this argument with my son just the other day, holding myself up as a model of non-greed. He popped my little balloon promptly, and said that even I want more. He said being a billionaire is about wanting just a 'little bit more' as a constant state.

I did not concede the point, though, because it seems to me that we need a tax policy in place that is confiscatory down to, say $500 million, and a hard cap for CEO compensation to $500,000 a year. No one needs to earn more than that, and no one needs to have a net worth above half a billion. They just don't.

Now, as to your other point, the fundamental question is whether we should excuse either Bloomberg or Maher from holding positions with which we disagree merely because both have donated substantially to the Democratic party.

Bloomberg is a Republican, as befits his net worth, because their policies actually benefit him, but switched to the Democratic party for convenience. Interesting. Now I don't know his real motive, because I'm not inside his head, but judging by what he has done, he made some noise about spending big money on ads against Trump even if he lost the Democratic primary, and he seems to be doing that. Here's his latest released at the beginning of last month:

.

So back to my point: Is Bloomberg off the hook for past positions just because he's throwing money against Trump? My take on it is no, he is not. Sure, the ads against Trump are great, and I hesitate to attribute motive except to say that those ads serve what I believe is the national interest. Bloomberg, with a net worth of over $55 billion does not. Or at least one guy with that much wealth does not.

Maher? Well, maybe, each of these men came into contact with their 'better angels,' as Obama would say, and are doing something noble in the face of just being human. Where does serving self end, and serving humankind begin?

Well, enough philosophizing. It has been nice debating with you! Stay safe in this new locked down reality we are all living.