Mark Cuban schools communist Ro Khanna on the billionaire tax

Mark Cuban just schooled California representative Ro Khanna on why the “billionaire tax” is such a bad idea.It’s a timely lesson as Google’s Eric Schmidt and Sergey Brin can’t seem to agree on how to make the case against the tax, also known as Proposition 40.In a revealing exchange on X, the billionaire “Shark Tank” tycoon pointed out that if tech entrepreneurs have to hand over 5% of their wealth anytime their startup companies go public, they will all leave California.They won’t just leave to avoid paying taxes.They will leave because venture capital funds won’t even invest in their companies if they are California residents.Why would anyone invest in something that is a guaranteed 5% loss?Khanna came up with a plan that he thought was bright: If entrepreneurs won’t sell their companies to pay the “billionaire tax,” the government can lend them the money to pay it.Of course, they’d have to hand the loan right back to the government, and spend several decades paying off that loan, with interest.  California's top news, sports and entertainment delivered to your inbox every day.

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Never miss a story But after all — don’t billionaires borrow against their assets all the time, to fund their lifestyles?There’s a difference between taking out a loan you know you can repay, and being forced to borrow money just to pay taxes.If these paper billionaires can’t make their payments, the government would have to seize their assets. The state would suddenly own a bunch of bad debt and failing companies.That’s a surefire way to tank the economy.And it would kill California’s startup culture.Cuban slammed Khanna — who represents Silicon Valley — for joining the socialist mob.“Ideology is not a strategy,” he said.It’s all hypocrisy from Khanna, one of the wealthiest members of C...