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Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

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Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#131

Post by terminalshort »

bhouston wrote: post #59
learingsci wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

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-cal...

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.

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#132

Post by andy_ppp »

mothballed wrote: post #119
cjs_ac wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Politics is about deciding who gets to exercise power and what they get to do with it. Politics detached from power is just pointless squabbling.

It's not, since voluntary transactions can happen as a result of said squabbling without resorting to the violence of 'power.' Maybe we need more of that and less of ramming decisions down the throats of the powerless.

Yeah I sometimes think you could have a government you select, e.g. each state could have its own rules and laws and the federal government should not have the power to overrule them. Then you could choose if you wanted immigration or lower taxes or whatever, seems like a good system who can suggest it?

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#133

Post by diggyhole »

estearum wrote: post #36
diggyhole wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Or do you hate that their politics don't align with yours?

Nah, I don't even know what Garry's politics are. I hate that there's so much money in politics in general.

Fair enough.

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#134

Post by ergocoder »

diego_moita wrote: post #22

Among the many weird things that the U.S. have but real democratic countries don't, the most promiscuous of them is this flow of private money into politics. Campaign financing, U.S. style, is just legalized bribing. In any healthy democracy it would be illegal. In the U.S. is just the way things are.

Back in my country, the bribes are illegal and mostly untraceable.

Money will go into politics. Nobody can stop this, and it should be out in the open and traceable.

Obviously, no bribe at all is the best, but is this happening anywhere?

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#135

Post by terminalshort »

sa-code wrote: post #70
learingsci wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

I’ve heard about a borrowing tax as an alternative, because that’s when paper money becomes spending money I would love to see that discussed

I want to do some improvements on my house. So I take out a home equity loan. Oops! Actually since my house is worth $500K more than when I bought it, now I have to pay $100K to the government since the gain is now realized by using the asset as collateral!

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#136

Post by its-summertime »

diego_moita wrote: post #22

Among the many weird things that the U.S. have but real democratic countries don't, the most promiscuous of them is this flow of private money into politics. Campaign financing, U.S. style, is just legalized bribing. In any healthy democracy it would be illegal. In the U.S. is just the way things are.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobbying#Lobbying_by_country

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#137

Post by CyLith »

diggyhole wrote: post #109

Garry has tweeted about the violence his peers have had to endure in SF so I don't blame him for putting his money where is mouth is.

Perhaps he should reflect on why they deserve this violence, instead of giving people more reason for violence against him.

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#138

Post by bayindirh »

supjeff wrote: post #122
andy_ppp wrote: post #5

I think rich people have too much influence, I probably agree with Garry Tan on a lot but we need to get money out of politics. Let’s face it we’re all meant to get one vote but rich people spend money on this stuff so that they manipulate what and who can be voted for. I do think that if this current system is the result of democracy + the internet we need to seriously reconsider how democracy works because it’s cur…

I agree with you, in spirit, but I think the true issue lies elsewhere. Rich people can spend money to influence elections, yes, but how can they do it? through political donations, super-pacs and bribes. Bribes are already illegal. political donations and super-pacs can give politicians the juice they need to get their messaging out, but getting the message across isn't enough to win an election. The people need to…

Consider watching this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qnOmUWd-OII

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#139

Post by terminalshort »

pbreit wrote: post #69
learingsci wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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

The only reasonable argument I can think of is that the fantastic wealth accumulated at the top was substantially driven by the $37 trillion of debt the USA finds itself in. And it needs to be clawed back somehow.

It's actually much simpler than that. We need to pay down the debt, and because the rich have most of the money they are going to need to do most of the paying down whether or not they directly are responsible for it or benefited from it. It's simple math. But what does this have to do with a wealth tax? The entire concept is stupid. Income an capital gains rates can be increased.

Re: Y Combinator CEO Garry Tan launches dark-money group to influence CA politics

#140

Post by RobotToaster »

bhouston wrote: post #7

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 Based on this warning from Garry to Ro re: wealth tax 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…

Has anyone checked the Epstein files for his name?
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