Silicon Valley billionaire compares treatment of America's rich to Nazi persecution of Jews

01-28-2014 • http://www.telegraph.co.uk, By Nick Allen

A billionaire Silicon Valley venture capitalist has been condemned for "ghastly and disgraceful" comments after he compared criticism of America's rich to the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany in the 1930s.

Tom Perkins, 66, wrote a letter to the Wall Street Journal, which was published, in which he likened the Occupy movement to Kristallnacht, the infamous pogrom of Nov 9-10, 1938.

In his letter titled "Progressive Kristallnacht Coming?" Mr Perkins said: "Writing from the epicentre of progressive thought, San Francisco, I would call attention to the parallels of fascist Nazi Germany to its war on its 'one per cent', namely its Jews, to the progressive war on the American one per cent, namely the rich.

"From the Occupy movement to the demonisation of the rich embedded in virtually every word of our local newspaper, the San Francisco Chronicle, I perceive a rising tide of hatred of the successful one per cent."

Mr Perkins cited the antipathy in San Francisco towards luxury "Google buses" that carry technology workers to their well paid jobs, and growing anger over rising house prices caused by wealthy buyers employed by internet companies.