If you’ve been in the media slipstream today you know the outrage and mockery directed at Tom Perkins, one of the world’s wealthiest and most successful Silicon Valley venture capitalists, for an oped he wrote in the Wall Street Journal comparing the rising critique of income inequality and “the 1%” to Kristallnacht. Just so we’re all on the same page, Kristallnacht (“the night of shattered glass”) was essentially the opening act of Hitler’s Final Solution. It took place on November 9th and 10th, 1938. This claim manages simultaneously to be so logically ridiculous and morally hideous that Perkins deserves every bit of abuse he’s already receiving.
But I think we’re missing the point if we see this as the gaffe of one aging, coddled jerk. Because it’s only a more extreme and preposterous version of beliefs that have become increasingly widespread in the wealthiest sectors of American society, especially since 2008 and the twin events of the global financial crisis and the election of Barack Obama.
In the face of mounting protests, Ukraine’s embattled president offers prime ministership to one of the leaders of the opposition.
Harrowing, hellish images from increasingly violent clashes between protestors and security police and Kiev and other cities across Ukraine …
Black smoke and fireballs rise during clashes between protesters and police in central Kiev, Ukraine, early Saturday, Jan. 25, 2014.
A whopping 60 percent of Kentucky Republicans support the state’s Medicaid expansion under Obamacare.
3 million people have now signed up for private coverage through Obamacare exchanges, state and federal.
Have an exit plan…
— MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) January 24, 2014
For context, this is the new meme on the right that indictments of McDonnell and D’Souza is part of Obama regime crackdown on dissidents.
Republicans now considering using debt default hostage to sabotage Obamacare.