Opinion Voices | Abcarian: Take a cue from the California billionaire unbothered by a targeted tax by Robin Abcarian AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Robin Abcarian argues that the richest Americans’ penchant for tax avoidance is a cultural flaw, pointing to figures like Leona Helmsley and Donald Trump as emblematic of the belief that “only the little people pay taxes.” She critiques the conspicuous consumption of billionaires such as Jeff Bezos and the Republican push for tax cuts, noting that California’s proposed one‑time 5 % billionaire tax—designed to raise about $100 billion over five years for the state’s faltering healthcare system—targets those who have benefited from federal tax cuts while paying far less than average citizens. The initiative, backed by the Service Employees International Union‑United Healthcare Workers West, has gathered enough signatures for the November ballot, but faces challenges: many of California’s 200‑plus billionaires have already relocated to states like Nevada, Florida and Texas, potentially eroding the projected revenue; opponents warn of constitutional and enforcement difficulties, while supporters cite tech leader Jensen Huang’s acceptance of the tax as a model. Abcarian concludes that, unlike permanent wealth taxes in other countries, this one‑off levy could fund essential services, but its success hinges on preventing wealthy flight and overcoming legal obstacles. Read more: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2026-05-03/california-billionaire-tax-eat-rich #LeonaHelmsley #DonaldTrump #SEIU #JensenHuang #HillaryClinton #SergeyBrin #LarryPage #PeterThiel #MarkZuckerberg #LarryEllison