(May 27, 2026 at 11:52 pm)AFTT47 Wrote: I can't agree with this sentiment. People who succeed suck? That sounds like a philosophy of failure.
The system (at least in the US) may be too skewed towards rewarding the successful at the expense of the not so successful and particularly at the expense of the unsuccessful. I believe we need to be much more compassionate. But that is the fault of the system itself, not the people who benefit from it.
Before anyone claims that billionaires use their power to maintain the status quo, well yeah, that's a general problem with human beings in general, not billionaires in particular. People may be generally well intentioned but most are susceptible to temptation. Locks are a minor deterrent to determined thieves. They are mostly there to keep honest people honest.
Warren Buffett has been saying for years that it's a travesty that he pays less taxes than his secretary. He's a liberal. But a guy doesn't become a multi-billionaire by paying more taxes than he is assessed. The problem is the system - not the billionaires.
I don't disagree that the system, not the ultra-rich, is the issue. Even Adam Smith argued that the wealthy should pay proportionately more in taxes - those who benefit the most from society would be obligated to do more to support that society. But when you've got Musk money (or Bezos money or Zuckerberg money), then the billionaires become a significant part of the problem because money = political influence. Anyone who thinks policy makers aren't for sale hasn't been paying attention.
Boru
‘I can’t be having with this.’ - Esmeralda Weatherwax
