Why is Warren Buffett a democrat?
I don’t like blogging about politics, especially US politics. But I like this quote (from Rational Angle, via O’Reilly Radar):
Q: “Buffett, why are you a Democrat?”
A: I have what I call the minus 24 hour genie test. Imagine a genie poofed up 24 hours before you were born and asked you what kind of world you would want to live in. And you being the smart minus 24 hour baby would ask, “what’s the catch?” And the genie would respond that you would have to participate in the “ovarian lottery” and draw one of 6 billion tickets. Things such as born United States or Bangladesh; white, brown, or black; male or female; smart or dumb; these would all be completely up to chance. Well then, what kind of world would you create? And my [Buffett’s] world would be a society with equality that treated everyone fairly. And the Democrats seem to be better at doing that.
8 Comments
This is just the Rawlsian veil of ignorance, embellished with a bunch of hokey Buffettisms.
Felix: Ok. I will ban myself from blogging about macroeconomics and politics from now on.
I think he and many other wealthy people feel some kind of misguided guilt.
Misguided guilt.. so true. It’s easy for super wealthy people to be democratic.. they epitomize the term “limousine liberals”. They can sit in their mansions, drinking champagne while counting their money while they tell US what we should be spending and where. They know that no matter what they will have more than enough to sustain their way of life. It’s very easy to be a democrat because it sounds good.. it’s idealistic socialism.. but it doesnt really work.
Um, limousine liberal? Although he could afford to live anywhere, Buffett lives in the same house he purchased in Omaha in 1958 for $31,500. He drives his own automobile, a cadillac. He is giving away 85% of his Berkshire Hathaway holdings to foundations. He exemplifies what people with good fortune should be like.
If you’re not in the highest tax bracket, I just don’t understand why anyone wouldn’t be a democrat. Most of the wealth is in the top 5% of the population, so why don’t the other 95% of the people gang up on those wealthy individuals and make them pay the higher taxes to redistribute to the less wealthy? Just doesn’t make sense to me why this election isn’t a landslide for Obama in the polls.
If you believe in wealth redistrubtion, then move to a socialist or communisty country.
Buffett is supposed to be oh so religious and conservative, so much so he doesn’t plan on spreading his wealth with his grandkids. As for being so pious well he’s right up there with Obama and partial birth abortion. This guy has an ego bigger than Obama’s, if that’s possible. He’s on the short list for Obama’s Sec. of the Treasury, he’ll get it too. Hypocrite swine.