Let’s Talk About Greed.
- Thread starter rideit
- Start date
yes please.
I have a rational proposal. The billionaires will be detained, and receive a bullet for every billion that they have. These will be non-fatal shots, and will occur once a week. Sure, most will be one and done. Because their immorality and disregard for lesser humans increases as their wealth goes up, the big dogs could potentially have many of these incredibly painful ministrations.
However, they will have a chance to give their money away to charity in between every time they get shot.
Pretty much their call, ultimately.
Any additions?
However, they will have a chance to give their money away to charity in between every time they get shot.
Pretty much their call, ultimately.
Any additions?
The west, led, as ever, by the excesses of the US, is barrelling into open oligarchy. Something needs to be done and it is going to be hard because being mind-blowingly rich means you can literally shape the public narrative for the vast majority of the population who are too time (and let’s face it, brainal horsepower) poor to understand and take a critical view of this manipulation.
Frankly violence is probably the only way out of this. But who is willing to spend the coin of their own life to make a big difference to everyone else? Under the rules and social conditioning of selfish, individualistic capitalism, not many.
Frankly violence is probably the only way out of this. But who is willing to spend the coin of their own life to make a big difference to everyone else? Under the rules and social conditioning of selfish, individualistic capitalism, not many.
There used to be some decorum about this. At least some pretend play about democracy and rule of law and separation of economic from political power.
I posted something on here ages ago that I'd read - you can only earn/be worth up to $999m. Then you receive a participation trophy for winning at capitalism and everything else you "earn" goes to the public good.
I’m pretty sure that’s what formed my basis for that number. Maybe Squeeb?
I think a wealth tax, with a high tax deductible for retirees would be better than the income/sales tax model, which is regressive by nature.
Top 1% owns like 45+% of wealth.
But no way the oligarchy is going to pass that.
Mostly agree, but a lot of that is just the accessibility of accumulating that wealth in the more ‘lassais-faire’ economic environment here. It’s a double edged sword, for sure. There are a decent number of billionaires in India, China, Brazil, and Western Europe (and even in Russia), I think a lot of the others are even MORE despicable in how they treat employees and the poor.
While there are more in the US, there is a significantly more robust middle/educated class here. (Although the rich/poor divide is widening).
That gap is still much, much wider in 2/3rd world countries.
This isn’t a defense, just my observation.
It is still WAY easier to come from nothing and become wealthy here (legally) than in India, China, South America, etc.
Its also way easier in the U.S. to wind up in prison, bankrupt due to health costs, or get shot, so…..
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How the American Middle Class Has Changed in the Past Five Decades
The middle class, once the economic stratum of a clear majority of American adults, has steadily contracted in the past five decades. The share of adults who live in middle-class households fell from 61% in 1971 to 50% in 2021, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of government data.
www.pewtrusts.org
Social Mobility by Country 2024
Actually the top 1% in the US now hold 67% of the wealth, and that’s the wealth that can be easily measured. It may well be (almost certainly is) way worse than that. Even with these measures the bottom 50% now hold just 2.5% of the wealth. That is fucking wild.
I have definitely suggested such a thing. I'm open to discussing where we draw the line.
Seems kind of high to me... but, a million bucks ain't what it used to be, is it?
I find it a challenge to play the serious mental game of what wiuld I do if I were in possession of that much money.
Alarmingly, one of the first thoughts that pops into my head is how to protect that pile of money.
I think wealth causes mental illness.
Alarmingly, one of the first thoughts that pops into my head is how to protect that pile of money.
I think wealth causes mental illness.
Maybe I'm a man of simple taste, but half a million would "solve" literally every financial worry I have (mortgage, college for the kid) and still leave a healthy stack for a cushion. Id still have to work to cover daily expenses and have health insurance, but holy cow would I worry less about life. The point being, I absolutely agree with you. There is something seriously sick about someone who "needs" that kind of money.
Edit: finical/= financial
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Currently, memory care for an individual can run something over a quarter of a million dollars in a year. It could be far less expensive and the care could be of higher quality if a great deal wasn't going to owners/managers of residential facilities.
Who here ever thought they would be a millionaire later on?Seems kind of high to me... but, a million bucks ain't what it used to be, is it?
I can tell you it sure wasn't on my BINGO card when I was in my 20's...
For perspective.
Genghis Khan – peak net worth: $150 trillion+
Augustus Caesar – peak net worth: $4.6 trillion
Jakob Fugger – peak net worth: $531 billion
(I've never even heard about this Fugger)
John D. Rockefeller – peak net worth: $400
Genghis Khan – peak net worth: $150 trillion+
Augustus Caesar – peak net worth: $4.6 trillion
Jakob Fugger – peak net worth: $531 billion
(I've never even heard about this Fugger)
John D. Rockefeller – peak net worth: $400
Wonder where the African King Mansa Musa comes in. Richest dude on the planet at the time.
His trip to Egypt in the 13th(?) century and his extravagant tipping / gift giving crashed the entire economy.
You'll change your tune in about 9y11m.
Nah. I think every member of this forum whether they like or not is a member of the “not a multimillionaire or billionaire” class.
I personally don’t think that owning a few bikes while there are people in the world who have no bikes is greed. I am not the author of an entire socioeconomic system designed to funnel all bikes on the planet into my possession. The same cannot be said for the ultrarich and worldwide wealth assets.
I personally don’t think that owning a few bikes while there are people in the world who have no bikes is greed. I am not the author of an entire socioeconomic system designed to funnel all bikes on the planet into my possession. The same cannot be said for the ultrarich and worldwide wealth assets.
I would be pretty stoked on N-4 Rocky Mountains right now….Woo must have some shadenfruede about now…
no comment
Yeah. I think whether you like / admit or not you are a lot closer to the rest of us plebes than you are to old Elon or Jeff. Those fuckers ain’t driving ambulances…
you know what would be better than payjng exorbidant costs for keeping people with zero quality of life alive for a few more days/weeks/months? state approved assisted end of life care. been thinking about it a lot recently. like, when i can't live an independent, enjoyable life, and am a burden for others...i want out. period.
if others quit trying to cling so long to lives that don't matter to anyone but themselves and maybe their relative's silly emotions, the world would be a much cheaper and better place in which to exist. except that far to many greedy assholes are making far too much money from helping others cling on to those last few moments that don't really add up to jack shit. so here we are.
am i wrong?
if others quit trying to cling so long to lives that don't matter to anyone but themselves and maybe their relative's silly emotions, the world would be a much cheaper and better place in which to exist. except that far to many greedy assholes are making far too much money from helping others cling on to those last few moments that don't really add up to jack shit. so here we are.
am i wrong?
Dr. Emanuel discusses his personal perspective on aging: — EZEKIEL J. EMANUEL
“Once I have lived to 72, my approach to health care will completely change.”
www.ezekielemanuel.com
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