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Author Topic: IBM AT 84-key model F  (Read 3287 times)

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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 00:38:02 »
Hi,

I'm new to mechanical keyboards, seeking something that's both ergonomic and fun to use. I own a Filco tenkeyless browns and just got a model M---both are beautiful boards, but not quite the layout I'm looking for: I want a small, clean keyboard, but still need the numpad. The good old model F seems to fit the bill: has a numpad, no dedicated navigation section (I consider it an annoyance), F-keys to the left and the alpha section is nicely centered.  I hear it is a great board, but so far couldn't find one at a reasonable price.  I also know that many dislike the non-standard layout of this keyboard, so perhaps there's an opportunity here?

So, if someone has an AT model F that is not seeing much use, and willing to help a new keyboard enthusiast in his quest for a better keyboard by selling it, please contact me ;-)   I'm a student, so budget is definitely an issue. I live in the bay area. Thanks for your consideration!

G
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Offline LETE

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #1 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 15:40:35 »
Here's one on ebay nobody seems to see. It's at 119.99. Maybe you can nab it, but you've only got three hours to act.
« Last Edit: Sun, 07 August 2011, 15:44:33 by LETE »
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Offline ironman31

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #2 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 18:32:09 »
If you are patient one will show up BIN at a good price. After about a year of looking, someone posted a 50 USD BIN in the great finds section. Its definitely one of my favorrite boards, a lot lighter feel than the model M.
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Keyboards:
IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (Used), HHKB Pro 2 (White, Lettered), Realforce 87U all-45g in White, Filco Majestouch 2 TKL with Cherry MX Browns, Model F PC/AT,  Noppoo Choc Mini (MX Browns), Model F XT, IBM Model M 1397735 (bought NIB), (2) Siig Minitouch (GHSS) one with XM, one with complicated ALPs (modded),2 Dell AT101W, Cherry G80-11900HRMUS (modded with MX browns)


Pointing Devices:
Logitech G500, Evoluent VerticalMouse 3, Logitech G5, CST 2545W, Microsoft IntelliMouse Trackball, Logitech M570, Logitech MX revolution

Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #3 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 20:41:35 »
Quote from: ironman31;394817
After about a year of looking, someone posted a 50 USD BIN in the great finds section.

Wow, that's persistence ;-)  Thanks for the advice. Btw, the one mentioned above was snatched for ~$145 + shipping...
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Offline ironman31

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #4 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 20:46:59 »
Quote from: gocantor;394868
Wow, that's persistence ;-)  Thanks for the advice. Btw, the one mentioned above was snatched for ~$145 + shipping...

I was actually prepared to pay a little over 100 USD, but I got lucky.
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Keyboards:
IBM Model M Space Saving Keyboard (Used), HHKB Pro 2 (White, Lettered), Realforce 87U all-45g in White, Filco Majestouch 2 TKL with Cherry MX Browns, Model F PC/AT,  Noppoo Choc Mini (MX Browns), Model F XT, IBM Model M 1397735 (bought NIB), (2) Siig Minitouch (GHSS) one with XM, one with complicated ALPs (modded),2 Dell AT101W, Cherry G80-11900HRMUS (modded with MX browns)


Pointing Devices:
Logitech G500, Evoluent VerticalMouse 3, Logitech G5, CST 2545W, Microsoft IntelliMouse Trackball, Logitech M570, Logitech MX revolution

Offline LETE

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #5 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 21:14:18 »
Quote from: gocantor;394817
Wow, that's persistence ;-) Thanks for the advice. Btw, the one mentioned above was snatched for ~$145 + shipping...

Cheap. I would have sprung for it if I wasn't up to my eyeballs in terminal model f's.
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #6 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 22:09:45 »
Quote from: ironman31;394872
I was actually prepared to pay a little over 100 USD, but I got lucky.

I suspect the model F prices wouldn't have been so inflated had manufacturers like Unicomp or Filco seen the potential and developed their own model F-inspired boards.
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Offline didjamatic

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #7 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 22:10:43 »
Great board, I'm using one right now.
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IBM F :: IBM M :: Northgate :: Cherry G80 :: Realforce :: DAS 4

Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #8 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 23:03:42 »
Yep. Still hoping that I'll come across one at one of those computer repair shacks around town. That's how I found my model M last week, which cost me $4... (and then 3 hours of cleaning ;-) )
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #9 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 23:19:30 »
Ahh! As we speak, a BIN one was listed for $90 + shipping. I guess I got accustomed to the fact I'll have to drop ~$100 for a model F... so I snatched it. Hope it's in good shape. Worst case, if I have nothing left to feed my kids I'll probably be able to resell it at a similar price  ;-)
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Offline IvanIvanovich

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #10 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 23:21:07 »
There is this one, though it has the 83key layout which may be much less desirable.
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Offline TexasFlood

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #11 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 23:49:12 »
Or this one, but it's not BIN like the one gocantor got so the bidding could run up.
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #12 on: Sun, 07 August 2011, 23:50:17 »
Quote from: lysol;394955
There is this one, though it has the 83key layout which may be much less desirable.

Plus another $40 for the XT/AT adapter... I'm happier with the AT model.
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Offline LETE

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #13 on: Mon, 08 August 2011, 09:27:14 »
Quote from: gocantor;394954
Ahh! As we speak, a BIN one was listed for $90 + shipping. I guess I got accustomed to the fact I'll have to drop ~$100 for a model F... so I snatched it. Hope it's in good shape. Worst case, if I have nothing left to feed my kids I'll probably be able to resell it at a similar price  ;-)

 
I don't see that listing. Can you post a link?
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #14 on: Mon, 08 August 2011, 09:40:26 »
Quote from: LETE;395093
I don't see that listing. Can you post a link?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230657607248
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Offline LETE

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #15 on: Mon, 08 August 2011, 09:59:12 »
Quote from: gocantor;395102
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=230657607248

 
Thanks. Looks like they don't have any other fun toys available though. Too bad.
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Offline TexasFlood

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #16 on: Mon, 08 August 2011, 10:01:57 »
Wow, bright red background with bright blue lettering.  Folks probably went temporarily blind when looking at it so missed the deal, :wink:
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Offline Sam

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #17 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 00:52:22 »
There's a BIN one up on eBay right now for $79 plus shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290595556172

Listing ends in only 17 hours.  The seller, ncbound10 is well-known, so I doubt anyone buying this will have any problems.

Don't know why that one last week sold for $143.88.  I think the seller got a very good price for it.
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #18 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 01:21:45 »
This looks like a regular auction listing. My guess is that it'll end up selling for >$130.
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Offline Sam

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #19 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 04:08:54 »
Sorry, I guess I got confused with another of his auctions which was BIN.  I highly doubt it will go for $130.  This same seller has these up from time to time, and frequently they don't sell at all.  $70 - $90 is pretty much the going rate for AT boards from what I've seen.  That one last week was definitely way outside the normal selling range.
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Offline TexasFlood

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #20 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 12:10:16 »
Quote from: Sam;396849
There's a BIN one up on eBay right now for $79 plus shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290595556172

Listing ends in only 17 hours.  The seller, ncbound10 is well-known, so I doubt anyone buying this will have any problems.

Don't know why that one last week sold for $143.88.  I think the seller got a very good price for it.
Looks like the same one I posted a link to in post #12 above but was getting no love. looks like it finally, just recently, perhaps as a result of your post, gotten one bid for the minimum.
« Last Edit: Thu, 11 August 2011, 12:13:10 by TexasFlood »
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Offline TexasFlood

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #21 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 12:13:46 »
Quote from: Sam;396849
There's a BIN one up on eBay right now for $79 plus shipping:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290595556172

Listing ends in only 17 hours.  The seller, ncbound10 is well-known, so I doubt anyone buying this will have any problems.

Don't know why that one last week sold for $143.88.  I think the seller got a very good price for it.
Looks like the same one I posted a link to in post #12 above but was getting no love. looks like it finally, just recently, perhaps as a result of your post, gotten one bid, for the minimum.
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #22 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 12:25:09 »
The one I mentioned above (sold for $143) had zero bids up until the last 25 seconds. Within that time frame, two bidders both bid >$140 for it, with the winning offer submitted 5 seconds prior to the ending time...  I think there are a few "hunters" out there for model F's  ;-)
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Offline TexasFlood

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #23 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 12:27:09 »
Be interesting to see how many folks have these 0, 1, 2 bid items on their watch list poised to hit enter on a big bid somewhere in the sub 10 second range.
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Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #24 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 17:55:49 »
Sold for $113. The new standard for AT model F's?  ;-)
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Offline Sam

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #25 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 18:56:12 »
Well, looks like perhaps AT boards are coming back.  Guess I won't be buying more anytime soon.  In fact perhaps I should consider selling off a few of mine at these prices.
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Offline mr_a500

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #26 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 19:02:30 »
Quote from: Sam;396905
Sorry, I guess I got confused with another of his auctions which was BIN.  I highly doubt it will go for $130.  This same seller has these up from time to time, and frequently they don't sell at all.  $70 - $90 is pretty much the going rate for AT boards from what I've seen.  That one last week was definitely way outside the normal selling range.

Yeah, a couple days ago I thought I saw an AT Model F from ncbound for $79, Buy It Now. Maybe I was hallucinating. It's not there now, though.
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Offline Sam

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #27 on: Thu, 11 August 2011, 19:24:12 »
Quote from: mr_a500;397310
Yeah, a couple days ago I thought I saw an AT Model F from ncbound for $79, Buy It Now. Maybe I was hallucinating. It's not there now, though.

I don't think you were hallucinating, unless we both were in the same way.  That's why I originally posted that it was BIN because that's what I thought I saw, but didn't double check it when I searched for and found the listing again, which I'm guessing turned out to be a new listing, or else he changed it from BIN to an auction.  Maybe he originally had it as BIN, but after seeing the other auction go for big bucks, decided to change it.  Good move on his part if that was the case.
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Offline fohat.digs

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #28 on: Fri, 12 August 2011, 20:17:48 »
Hey Folks -

I am the guy that paid the $143.88 + $16 shipping for the model F a week ago. I know that I paid at least $20-40 too much for it, but I have been looking for one for several months and had $190 in my Paypal account. I have all sorts of variations of "vintage IBM Model F AT keyboard 84-key" on my ebay watch lists but somehow none of those deals ever turned up for me.

My understanding was that $80-100 was the going rate, so when I saw one starting at $120 from someone with a good reputation on this forum, I put in an Auction Sniper bid at about $135. I raised it to my final rate and got it for the exact amount of my maximum bid. I do not know who was going against me, I figured to be alone or get it for under $130. Plus shipping of course.

I was chagrined when I bid $110 on the other one the next day, and did not get it, from ncbound because I am sure that it was a better keyboard for $30 less.

The one I got works properly but was nasty and the birth certificate on the back was hopelessly ruined. I will spend several hours cleaning it and hope to use it for a long time, but I will be looking to upgrade to a better specimen when I can eventually afford it, and sell this one for somewhere in the low-$100 range.

Knowing that at Buy-It-Now came and went for under $100 a few days later, without me even seeing it, makes me sick.

All-in-all, I am OK with the whole deal - this is not the first time in my life that I have wasted a couple of twenty dollar bills, and I did get a solid serviceable product. But I really would like to know who jacked the price up on me, and then I am sure that he snagged the better one the next day.

Live and learn.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30

Offline gocantor

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #29 on: Fri, 12 August 2011, 23:26:48 »
Quote from: harrymoss;398005
Knowing that at Buy-It-Now came and went for under $100 a few days later, without me even seeing it, makes me sick.

You shouldn't feel too bad, really. From what I've seen $120-130 is definitely on the low end of what people pay for AT model F's on ebay recently. I just got my board this afternoon and hadn't had much time to play with it, but I will definitely be spending a few hours cleaning it inside and out. To my amateur's eye it looks like it's in an okay condition, nothing more. And I have the usual buyer's remorse for spending >$100 on something I don't really need (I'm not a collector, not yet), plus my mixed feelings about the board itself (probably deserves a separate post).

On a separate note, I do wish to state that I would not have spent this much on a 25 year old keyboard (as high quality and sentimental as it is) if I could find a new high quality keyboard with a similar layout: numpad, no navigation pad, F-keys on the left. Simple, minimalist, nicely balanced, feels equally great on a desk and on your lap. If anyone shares similar thoughts and willing to push forward the initiative, I'm happy to try. I'm hoping that at least one manufacturer would take up the glove...?
« Last Edit: Fri, 12 August 2011, 23:28:59 by gocantor »
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Offline mr_a500

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #30 on: Sat, 13 August 2011, 08:21:26 »
Quote from: harrymoss;398005
The one I got works properly but was nasty and the birth certificate on the back was hopelessly ruined.

Unlike Model M keyboards, the Model F doesn't have a "birth certificate" on the back - just a barcode.
 
Quote from: gocantor;398047
And I have the usual buyer's remorse for spending >$100 on something I don't really need (I'm not a collector, not yet), plus my mixed feelings about the board itself (probably deserves a separate post).

I was a bit disappointed when I first got my AT Model F a few years ago, but the more I used it, the more happy I was with it. It doesn't look the greatest, but it really does have the best feel of any PC-compatible keyboard I've ever tried. It just takes a bit to get used to it.

I get buyer's remorse spending $100 on old obsolete stuff most people consider junk (and I just paid $100 for an 80's wood-grained VCR!), but once I get over the remorse, I'm thrilled that I own something that was "the best ever made" and unlikely to be surpassed by modern crap.
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Offline fohat.digs

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IBM AT 84-key model F
« Reply #31 on: Sat, 13 August 2011, 19:35:22 »
I am glad to hear that the flopping scrap of paper on the back of my Model F was meaningless. It was not really a barcode, I could make out the faint impressions of 3 or 4 digits that were in at least 2 different rows. There was a nice rectangular depression for it (2cm x 4cm approx), with a rough plastic circle indentation (1cm diameter) that certainly looked like it was waiting for SOMETHING to be plastered over it.

After some work it looks like it will clean up pretty well, but there are a few hairline cracks and bumps, also the coiled part of the cord has got some serious sludge on it that has refused 2 serious cleanings with dish soap as well as laundry detergent/oxi-clean/washing soda so I will give up since it is black anyway.

I am nervous because although I did not remove the spacebar (learned that by wrecking an 83-key XT) there are 5 other keys with wire clips that I blissfully yanked up. After pulling them off, as I was cleaning them, I realized that they are all bent to slightly different configurations. AARRGGHH! I suppose that I will have to re-install them one at a time with reading glasses to ensure that I make the right choices.  

I am not a collector, and buying $100 items is a serious strain on my budget. Ideally I would like to have at least one regular working piece and a super-clean backup. If my experience with Model Ms is any guide, you have to buy about 3 to get a really prime specimen. Fortunately, I can clean and re-hab and work ebay to pretty well break even on the second-tier discards. I would not sell anything not working 100% without clearly specifying its shortcomings, and I have some patience to work my way up.

The fact is, I have been looking for an AT for at least 3 months and these 2 were the only 2 I have even seen outside of a "New in Box" that went for over $300. My ebay watch list sends me notices about mid-morning, so something could be listed for almost 24 hours before I see it.

It disappoints me greatly to realize that I have missed several good AT boards, but I just can't check ebay every day at 12:00, 2:00, and 4:00, am and pm.

I now almost always sell Fixed Price at what I consider a fair price for everybody, so that nobody has to sweat or wait.

This forum is pretty cool. Thanks for helping me find my way back to mechanical keyboards.
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"However, even though I was born in the Mesozoic, I do know what anyone who wants to reach out to young people should say: Billionaires took your money. They took your chance to buy a home. They took your chance at a good education. They stole your opportunities. Billionaires took the things you want in life. If you really want those things, you have to take them back.
That's the message. That's the whole message. Say that every day, not just to reach America's frustrated young white men, but people of every age, race, and gender.
Late-stage capitalism is a wealth-concentration engine, focused on vacuuming up every dollar and putting it in as few hands as possible. Republicans are helping that vacuum suck.
How does a tiny fraction of the population get away with this? They do it by dividing the other 99% of Americans against themselves."
- Marc Sumner 2025-05-30
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