BERKELEY, Calif. — This midterm season, California voters have been flooded with ads discussing Proposition 40, the 5% tax on billionaires, or as Gavin Newsom puts it: “the meanie weenie tax that takes money away fwom all my fwiends.”
And Berkeley is no exception. Many support the prop, citing general disdain for the evil oligarchs ruining our lives and/or indifference to a tax that will never affect them because they spend all their minute wages on rent, food, and geek bars. However, a vocal minority continues to push back on the prop all the way until the polls close.
Haas student and self-proclaimed crypto-AI-prediction market start-up founder Riskie Bett is one of those few.
“I’m just like, I don’t know. I can really see myself, like, making my first billion dollars within the year, so why would I vote for taxes for me? It’s just basic math, bro,” states Bett as he hits his vape with one hand and places a $400 dollar bet on Kalshi with the other. “Plus, like, billionaires are good for us. Tickle-down economics or whatever.”
Unfortunately, Bett’s ‘start-up’ has yet to turn a profit or even clearly define its premise, but Bett is confident that next year will be ‘his year’. “I’m reaching out to some really connected people. There’s this guy, Billy Evans, who I think could really be like a solid partner in my business. Speaking of, could I get you to spot me forty dollars? My parlay was like, soo close to hitting.”