> After once backing liberal causes, the Google co-founder has praised President Trump, donated to Republicans and spent $57 million to try to block a California billionaire tax.

"Don't be evil" was a long time ago in a Googleplex far, far away.

When Performative Activism and Praising the King are opposing strategies, the Smart Money decides after comparing the RoI's.

How many of the world's top (say) 50 "liberal" billionaire support special taxes on billionaires?

Class capture. RIP Sergey

> Asked for comment on this article, Mr. Brin said in a rare statement: “I fled socialism with my family in 1979 and know the devastating, oppressive society it created in the Soviet Union. I don’t want California to end up in the same place.”

He must be confusing socialism and communism. Presumably not a mistake. But embarrassing nonetheless. I suppose the gullible among us may be convinced

Suddenly paying taxes is socialism.

You can read that quote as "I fled totalitarianism with my family in 1979 and I know the massive benefits it brings for those of us at the top".

"Communist authoritarianism is when small wealth tax on billionaires."

What an absolute shame, and a fantastic example of the corrupting power of money.

You'd think that Brin would know the difference between Soviet Russia and socialism. Money sure doesn't seem to make people smarter. Anyway, I really don't understand why he is trying to justify his choice in this awkward and clearly dumb way when there is a much more straightforward explanation that will do just fine.

Can't think of a better time to go MAGA than right now. Buy the dip!

He would have only $259,000,000,000 after the 5% tax.

who's flagging every article about Sergey's endless greed? why not comment instead if you're for it?

Yeah this is annoying. Ten years ago hearing of Google cofounder turning right wing would sound like hell freezing over. I think this is deeply interesting to see how tech has been captured by big money politics like every other industry.

I didn't flag but I'm not sure the voting intentions of famous people are really what HN is about.

it's not about fame and voting, it's about the fact that the oligarchic owners of the technology we rely on are actively destroying what's left of our democracy and society generally.