Lift DADT For Billionaires
by digby
After reading this piece by Sam Stein about the AIG and Exxon lobbyist who wrote the GOP Pledge I was reminded to pass along the new Tom Tomorrow, in which in a parallel universe the billionaires tire of obfuscating their real agenda and form their own "Tea and Crumpets" party even more blatantly devoted to serving themselves:
It must be exhausting having to live a lie. These billionaires should be able to live their lives in the daylight, proud to be who they are, free to spend their money without hiding behind front groups and Real Americans. It's time to end the Don't Ask Don't Tell Policy for billionaires and pass the the DISCLOSE Act. Let the sunshine in.
Update:
Please let this oppressed minority participate in our system just like anyone else. Stop treating them disrespectfully. They have their valets help them put their pants on one leg at a time just like you and me:
Forbes magazine released its annual list of the 400 richest Americans on Wednesday, and their combined net worth climbed 8% this year, to $1.37 trillion. Wealth rose for 217 members of the list, while 85 saw a decline.
Bill Gates is yet again the richest man in America. The founder of Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500), the world's largest software maker, is first on the Forbes list with an estimated fortune of $54 billion, up from $50 billion in 2009. He's followed by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who is worth $45 billion.
Larry Ellison, chief executive of Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500), stood at No. 3 with $20 billion.
Christy Walton took the No. 4 spot, while members of her family -- whose fortune comes from Wal-Mart (WMT, Fortune 500) -- took spots 7 through 9.
Charles and David Koch, of private energy conglomerate Koch Industries, tied for No. 5 at $21.5 billion each. Both men saw their wealth skyrocket by $5.5 billion from 2009.
Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York City, rounded out the list at No. 10 with $18 billion.
[...]
Despite the recession, finance and investment industries continued to dominate the list; 55 members are from the finance industry, while 54 are from the investments sector.
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