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BiLLioNaiRe DouCHe WaTCH: ToM PerKiNS, FeaRLeSS BiLLIONaiRe NaZi HuNTeR...
BLOOMBERG NEWS--"Tom Perkins, 82, wrote in a three-paragraph letter in the Jan. 25 Wall Street Journal that resentment of the very rich in the U.S. amounts to a “progressive war on the American one percent” paralleling attacks on Jews in the 1930s. Perkins, who co-founded Venture Capital Firm Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers in 1972, said the “Occupy movement,” outrage about Google Inc.’s busing of employees from San Francisco to Silicon Valley and the anger over rising real estate prices represents a “very dangerous drift in our American thinking.”
Perkins reiterated his "American thinking" in a subsequent email to Bloomberg news…
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banzai7, How different are you political views pre-crisis (Bear Sterns, Lehman) and now?
On certain fundmental things like the Neo-cons, the constitution etc. The same as always. And I will admit that being overseas limited my political engagement, which was always neither Blue nor Red.
However, the the period leading into the subprime crash was an epiphany for me since I took the time to study and learn things that were never really in the center of my radar screen until then. Things like derivatives trading, HFT, hedge funds and the Federal Reserve. The primary impetus for me? I can't stand it when people say oh you will never figure this shit out it is too technical. That is usually an invitation for me to plow right in.
I was smart enought to know that something was dysfunctional in late 2007 and early 2008. All one had to do was look at the real estate prices in Manhattan. And I thought that nothing was being done to address the problems at AIG and Lehman both of which I was certain were lying between their CEO teeth. And I vaguely knew about some of the problems. But frankly I never had any idea just how rotten the whole system had become. I still have all the books I read at the time. I might write my own memoir eventually. It will be a coloring book.
Then the markets imploded in Sept 1998 and I was ready in terms of at least abocve average comprehension. I am very lucky to have timed it that way. You can see my blogging started that month. And I was comfortable with the subject from the beginning.
Thanks, I have similar story, except I had really drinked the kool aid with a MS in Ag. Economics focussing on econometrics. I was a believer in the system. I had focused on the debt and worked on a committee that had a meeting in the Federal Reserve Board room in DC with an industrial group during Reagan's 2nd term. Since 2008, the system has been exposed for those who want to see. I feel manipulated and know I have harmed my kids by inaction. You should do your coloring book as I think many people have traveled a similar road and the book might be a cathartic experience for more than you.
This reminds me of the Sophie Scholl trials:
Perkins is the Nazi. The 99.99% are Sophie Scholl.
He's is arguing that they made their money in a clean capitalist nature, and she is saying, "what? BS! You are the banks, you are the regulators, you are the market. The whole thing is nothing like a free market."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqnD_165Ow4
Perkins may want to take a clear eye on his corrupted market. He may also want to study his understanding of history, in particular Nazi Germany, how light generally shines on rats, and how the rats end up exterminated.
He is obviously a smart guy, like the dupes that followed Hitler were also smart. Study history. In that 10 min spot above she warns the govt stooge, "Until the war is over and foreign troops march in, and the world ponts its finger at us for tolerating Hitler."
Tommy, Tommy, Tommy....study history. They silenced Sophi Scholl's voice, but her ideas are screaming at you - "WTFU!!!" Open your mind......do you really think that income inequality is just because you are sooooooo much smarter than everyone else? Really? Do you really think the banks would have righted themselves after 2008......I mean they are soooooooo smart....no . They stole the money from the masses through a process of corruption in both the political arena and the propaganda arena.
Nuremberg trials loom.....
Yikes! Scrolled to the right to that "State of Dis-Union" pic. Scary stuff ... that crazy glint in the eyes, that smug arrogance. And that Hitler guy looks pretty scary too.
And it reminded me also that the world is about to be treated yet again to that annual orgy of self-congratulation known as the SOTU address. Hard to imagine that it used to serve as a national moment of sober reflection and self-examination as well as a pledge to do better. Now it's the moment the CinC pulls his head out of his ass just long enough to suck his own dick, while patting himself on the back with both hands, and dancing a jig with a few twerks thrown in for good measure ... not such a dignified posture, eh?
Haven't been able to sit through more than a few minutes of the ghastly embarrassment ever since WJC's "The State of the Nation is SHTRAWNG!" a few years back in the "Roaring 90s" when the Truth was, of course that the State of the Bubble was fragile. But what the hell does Truth have to do with the SOTU address?
Wake me when it's over.
Perkins got his panties in a twist because of public criticism of his favorite writer, Danielle Steele.
It's not the 1%. It's the 0.001%, and we know their fucking names.
This will not require a large cull.
POGROM THE BANKERS!!!
I hear that on a world-wide basis 1 percent is anyone with ove $650,000. Have to stop using that number please.
I have always said we are interested in the .001% not the 1%
$650,000 is not chump change, but it is usually hard earned small business wealth. Wealth that is very easily evaporated by the collective exploits of the Ponzi shysters whom we all love so dearly.
You (singular) may only be interested in the .001%, but your use of we (plural) is both incorrect, and the (indirectly) the very reason your ambition is destined to fail MISERABLY.
By failing the expunge the evil of envy, those seeking change ensure that the vast majority of the "haves" will unite against the "have nots" in the interest of self-preservation and the expense of personal liberty.
So how many MILLIONS of the relative losers that make up the 99% are going to have to pay for their collective lack of virtue with their lives?
The enemy of my enemy is not necessarily my friend... but probably 99% don't get that...
Inferno, Purgatorio, o Paradiso? The inevitable destination has been known for quite a while.
I don't know 99% percent of the general population. But I sure as shit know what goes on here in my space. And when I say we, I mean we here. Not necessarily you who have arrived here for the first time to the best of my recollection.
Now if you want to ask me what I think about seizing privately owned wealth, my views on that subject are very clear, having spent a great deal of time in the former Soviet block. I have no tolerance for that or interlopers who put words into my mouth.
interloper?
putting words into your mouth?
ad hominems?
and doubling down on the indefensible "we"
Sounds like some unwelcome truth struck home...
Tell you what, go and look at my posting history and then come back and explain to me what you mean by my ambitions or the agenda of this fanciful "we" you are referring to.
Then I will grade you on your bullshit artistry.
Again with the insults... if you hadn't been posting here so long you might have some defense, but this just reeks of some insecurity on your part...
Let me make this simple, we (you and I) both want to see certain criminals punished for their crimes. Guilt by association is rampant at ZH (feel free to argue the point, if you dare). By being tolerant of an immorality (such as the Occupy crowd's guilt by association - or perhaps it's envy of BSDs that they're actually suffering) TPTB's aim of dividing the opposition and continuing the subjugation of the masses is facilitated, and frankly guaranteed.
Perkins was being dumb, manipulative and/or dishonest and playing to a stereotypical cheap sympathy, but the various Nazi parallels can be made (both more articulately and factually grounded), whether it's the exit tax or the vilification of fat cats (see your own State of Disunion). However, underlying Perkins poorly constructed BS, there is an ugly (and equally poorly articulated) truth.
How few people have the basic skill and hunger to even start their own sole proprietorship, of those few how few have the further skill and hunger to build something bigger than his or herself, and of those few how few have the skill and hunger to build something of the scale that requires full blown P/E (vs VC) support? And of those rarified few trek that far how many are able to successfully navigate the flock of vultures to find a partner with something more than just overpriced capital to contribute.
The 99% might deserve equality before the law, and equality of opportunity, but they simply don't (and never will) have what it takes to produce (or steal) equality of outcomes. And by unifying the ownership class(es) against them, the majority (or more accurately a minority within the majority) guarantee the perpetuation of the majority's collective enslavement.
He's almost right of course, and he did it to himself.
The more accurate metaphor would be Communists, Kleiner Perkins Kulak.
It's just AMAZING how fast both Kleiner Perkins and the MSM threw him under the bus.
And here he was speaking (mostly) truth to himself.
Actually, he is not right on any count.
The modern day fascists are corporatist kleptogarchs and their statist gubmint monkeys doing what is truly in their nature. As for the dated "Communism" meme, it is very clear that in the bailout Amerika, socialism is for the benefit of the Ponzi class.
The rest of us have to take our medicine and be good old fashioned capitalists.
I could go on, but I think you know what I am driving at.
His drivel did not even play lip service to everything that is wrong with the current situation. He probably uses Stockman's Book as a sea anchor.
I guess I would not expect him to either. It is in his self deluded/important nature.
I really don't care how he got his money, he is like Buffet, another tone deaf asshole drinking the same Kool Aid sucking on the same dry bone as everyone else of the post crash prosperity ilk while proclaiming "it wasn't me" and lauding the Bernankes, Dimons and Blankfeins of the world.
Closing Argument: http://www.politicususa.com/2014/01/27/tom-perkins-wrong-germanys-1-perc...
Fuck em
socialism is for the benefit of the Ponzi class.
It always is. The funny part is he just noticed.
Perkins himself as a VC provides some value for the money. One can debate just how much.
But he's this far right, I mean left, I mean correct - the Obamanation doesn't much care what the truth is, they're just going after his adz.
Socialism for the benefit of the ponzi class was not untrue even in the Soviet Union. What's funny is that while it became glaringly obvious by the time of collapse (and indeed decades before), the "klept" started happening almost immediately, even back in Lenin and Trotsky's day.
We don't even get to be capitalists WB. There are too many rules and regs for entry into business. You have to be accepted into the club. Go ahead and try to compete toe-to-toe with the big boys without first being accepted and see what happens when you violate a rule or reg because you cannot afford an army of attorneys to tell you how to navigate the bureaucratic labyrinth.
We are sheep to be fleeced.
Yes, unless you want to be a fast food franchisee, you are out of luck. And yet the Chinese and Koreans seem to be able to manage, primarily because they rely on small supportive, some would say insular, communities. There is something to be learned there as a matter of business tactics. Culturally, their closed model is more resilient in the current situation. It is very difficult for that to be penetrated by the cookie cutter retail mentality.
If we didn't have our royals setting an example of the good life, how could we have our American Dream?
Hey William,
How about a script about the "Rat-Infested Ship" heading to England - you know with all the Squid, JPM bigwigs et al. onboard.
I don't get mad, i get stabby---Fat Tony
I don't get even. I teach lessons.
These guys are REALLY good a losing OPM while doing well for themselves...been involved with VCs since the mid 90s...very unimpressive bunch...maybe things were different in Si Valley in the 60s and 70s...
VC's = good old boys club and crony capitalists. 60s and 70s might have been better with Bill & Dave and the Varian brothers but Stanford has always been a big MIC and Al See Eye A dah hang out.
Perkins can afford to be deluded.
He can also go to Hell, posthaste.
Blessed are the rich for they always will be with you!
Kleiner Perkins = friends of Al Oxy Petroleum Gore and all Lib Democrats in Silly CON Valley. Would you put that evil blowhard half wit Al Gore on your board of directors? Evil crony capitalist fascist vermin.
Roll Guillotines. F these phonies. Vulture Capitalists are scum. They have backed all the police state IPO spy companies in lovely shitholes like Cupertino, Sunnyvale, et al. F them.
I have been around this vermin before. Unless you are Stanford or in Sili-CON Valley - they think you are flyover country scum. California you either have shitheads in acting classes or pitch scripts or a*sholes pitching their social media startup.
Find a lamp post and rope for Atherton, Menlo Park and Los Altos Hills.
You seem a little bitter there Fred - First off Tommy Perkins is no longer associated with Kleiner Perkins and definitely is not representative of people in the area, not that there are not plenty of self-aggrandizing assholes but that dude has just fucking lost it. Most venture capitalists are also not scum, they invest in companies which can be sold later and make them money, those "spy tech" companies are going to find investors and make money, should be angry at those that provide the demand for the products and for the exits of these companies instead. And I have no thought on Gore but he sold his busines for $500m so may be a blowhard but seems to be good at business...
Unless you are Stanford or in Sili-CON Valley - they think you are flyover country scum.
That sir is a very accurate statement.
As a label to wear, 'flyover country scum' has a nice ring to it - I like it!
Now hear this. Now hear this. Bail-ins will be instituted as soon as the 1% has secured their capital. That is all.
...Clean sweepdown fore and aft...
Bail-ins anyone?
Forget the "Skull And Crossbones." If you want to be a real pirate you'd be flying the 'Bald Eagle'. Aarrhh!
Plenty of room to hoist many elites from those yardarms. Long boiled rope and guillotines. These people know it too. Another reason for the rant.
WB - this photo is from actual billboard
http://postimg.org/image/w7zr8l60z/
"hungry fed"
Nice