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markpkessinger

(8,942 posts)
19. 43 years in NYC here . . .
Sat Jun 6, 2026, 09:37 PM
12 hrs ago

. . . . and I first heard a version of "the wealthy will pack up and leave" back in 2008. I was visiting a friend of mine, when another friend of his stopped by. This man was a wealthy, gay Manhattan antiques dealer who was then in his early 70s (I was 57 at the time). The guy took a liking to me (to be honest, I think he was hitting on me), and we began chatting in depth about current events, politics, etc. He swore up and down that if Obama won the election, he and all of his wealthy7 friends and acquaintances had already made plans to live out some Ayn Rand fantasy of moving themselves and all of their assets offshore, and leave the rest to wallow in the hellscape of our own making! I called bullshit on that claim. I pointed out that they weren't living in NYC in the first place because they liked its tax rates, and that, like most of the rest of us who live here, they were here for a host of reasons, including enjoying being at the center of the business world, as well as the arts and creative worlds, and that they liked the visibility that they got from living here!

He became considerably less interested in our conversation after I said that!

And here we are, 18 years later, when I am 65 and he is now in his late 80s. Last I heard (which was a couple of months ago), he was still here!

Recommendations

7 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Correlation does not imply causation Metaphorical 23 hrs ago #1
Mamdani would be blamed if the opposite occurred. yardwork 22 hrs ago #6
And that would be bad science also Betty Boom 7 hrs ago #24
Screwworm and his crime family left struggle4progress 23 hrs ago #2
For those who don't trust randos on social media WarGamer 23 hrs ago #3
The data is terrific to see Quiet Em 23 hrs ago #4
Thanks, Gamer! orangecrush 22 hrs ago #8
War Gamer vs. Defense Gamer... littlemissmartypants 9 hrs ago #23
... orangecrush 2 hrs ago #25
40 years in NYC edhopper 23 hrs ago #5
43 years in NYC here . . . markpkessinger 12 hrs ago #19
Thank you Mayor for chasing out the real criminals orangecrush 22 hrs ago #7
So.....where those Republicans that fled doing all those crimes? paleotn 22 hrs ago #9
This is exactly what the right and moderate Democrats fear most. A politician who shows that progressive politics work. Fil1957 21 hrs ago #10
Just like they're trying to make Graham Platner fail now! Same playbook, different day. BComplex 20 hrs ago #12
That is so true. FoxNewsSucks 13 hrs ago #17
The old saying: "The Proof is in the Pudding". BComplex 21 hrs ago #11
I like pudding! COL Mustard 20 hrs ago #13
I'm going with the tapioca! Permanut 20 hrs ago #15
Actually, the lemon pudding cups FoxNewsSucks 13 hrs ago #18
Ha! Now if they would just flee the country.... tanyev 20 hrs ago #14
right? Skittles 12 hrs ago #21
Donnie, the psychotic clown, knows he's not welcome agingdem 20 hrs ago #16
The orange Anus will take credit. progressoid 12 hrs ago #20
So does that confirm the republicans left and crime went down? Bev54 12 hrs ago #22
I know it isn't true Old Crank 46 min ago #26
Sounds like the Republicans were causing the crime. Sanity Claws 45 min ago #27
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»The con said Republicans ...»Reply #19