Look, I’m fully aware that this won’t sit well with the billionaires are horrifying monsters that not only should be slain but should be strung up in the town square and be given the blood eagle…BUT if you’re going to make the argument that traffic fines or any other monetary penalties should be a percentage of your net wealth or yearly income, then you have to acknowledge that giving away half of your lifetime earnings is a tremendous act of good will.

Now–there is a difference between me giving up $5000 of my roughly $11,000 in liquidity. We still have around $40,000 in student loan debt and $120k in a 25 year mortgage while we make about $100k per year. And these billionaires could still buy a second house in Cabo with a helipad using what is remaining, but it is SOMETHING. If they truly are “spurning” their billionaire status they should start with giving away half their fortune and continue to give away half their yearly income on top of that, but I won’t totally disregard the contribution that they’ve already made. Unless they’re republican. Then I’m nearly certain that money is going exactly where it shouldn’t.