[gridlockd]

That's an admirable expression of morals, but everyone with a calculator figure out that the 1% don't have enough money to pay for a welfare state.

The plain truth is, if you want a welfare state, the middle class has to pay for it:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/demo...

I was really glad to find the Washington Post publish this. Perhaps it will wake up some people to the questionable promises that certain Democrats are espousing currently.

(The wording of this comment was edited to cause less offense)

[komali2]

Can you clarify why you believe this is a "virtue signal?" You're the second person in this thread to do so.

My understanding of "virtue signal" means promoting "virtue" over "action." And yet:

> Two decades ago I turned full-time to philanthropy and threw myself into supporting public education, scientific and medical research, and visual and performing arts, believing it was my responsibility to give back some of what had so generously been given to me.

In the article he's saying this isn't enough. So, why use the term "virtue signal?" Are you arguing that he's doing nothing about the issue but writing a blog post?

[r00fus]

Can we add virtue signaling signaling to the lexicon? A keyword (along with a host of others like SJW, etc) to say "ignore the topic and the messenger, it's too lefty to discuss".

[gridlockd]

> My understanding of "virtue signal" means promoting "virtue" over "action."

That's a misunderstanding.

(edit)

"Virtue signalling is the conspicuous expression of moral values"

That's the definition on Wikipedia, which I agree with.

(edit 2)

I don't think of it in terms of "right" and "wrong".

[komali2]

So, what does "virtue signal" mean to you, and why should we care that you're describing someone with it? I.e., why is it "bad?"

I'm working off the definition I found on wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtue_signalling

> In recent years, the term has been more commonly used within groups to criticize those who are seen to value the expression of virtue over action.

[komali2]

Replying again, as I believe your reply to me is taking the form of the edit to this post?

> "Virtue signalling is the conspicuous expression of moral values"

What's wrong with this?

[gridlockd]

Downvoting the truth doesn't change it, sorry!

[komali2]

I think you're getting downvoted for using a term like "virtue signal" to describe someone who devotes themselves full-time to philanthropy, and then diverging into a political flame-bait comment about "democrat scam."

[gridlockd]

Oh right, I forgot. One must not use opinionated speech and everything must be properly sourced in order to write a "proper" HN comment. My bad!

I have adjusted the wording.