Don’t pretend billionaires’ philanthropy makes them noble people

Re “What protesters’ demonizing of U.S. ‘billionaires’ leaves out” (Sept. 5): The cadre of our “successful citizens” that the writer praises have effectively removed the chances of success of most small businesses. Jeff Bezos is an example of pricing out competitors. Google is constantly being cited for antitrust violations that prevent others from competing with it. These are a few examples of why all the riches in America are owned by the few. I applaud Rep. Sara Jacobs for defending everyday people, which is her job, by the way, rather than living in an ivory tower.

As far as philanthropy goes, I think Martin Luther King Jr. had the right understanding:  “Philanthropy is commendable, but it must not cause the philanthropist to overlook the circumstances of economic injustice which make philanthropy necessary.”

— Heidi Paul, Escondido