What the Hell Is Michael Kinsley Talking About Watch: Day 1
wonkette: k, tell me something: WHAT THE FUCK IS MICHAEL KINSLEY GOING ON ABOUTHERE
operative: ???
wonkette: it's like he's writing from an entirely different world
wonkette: a wondrous world of his imagination
wonkette: "It's probably true that most billionaires have acquired their wealth in ways that make life better for the rest of us."
wonkette: WHY IS THAT A GIVEN?
wonkette: WHY IS THAT PRESENTED AS SOMETHING HE ASSUMES HIS AUDIENCE WILL ALREADY TAKE FOR GRANTED?
operative: I enjoy the half-hearted debunking of Social Darwinism
wonkette: i can't even figure out what he's arguing because the premises all involve parallel universe logic
operative: way to be a moderate from the late eighteenth century, Mike
wonkette: "Surprisingly, not *all* rich people are morally superior to you."
operative: "Meanwhile, science undermines the notion that people deserve moral credit for their smarts, daring, vision, dedication and similar virtues, even when these are applied in socially beneficial ways."
operative: what does that mean?
operative: what the hell is moral credit?
operative: can you use it to buy a plenary indulgence?
operative: was he just building up to the idea that maybe we should have a special billionaire's tax?
wonkette: HE SAYS HE DOESN'T AGREE WITH THAT IDEA
operative: but, but...
operative: I DON'T UNDERSTAND
Why Be a Billionaire [WP]