The richest are the most generous? I think not.

[là bạn điên]

And notice those three are also the ones who state that higher taxes on the rich are a necessary thing...and Gates and Buffet are the 1st and 2nd most richest people, respectively.

They're the exception, however, and not the rule.

I'd like to see an up to date, comprehensive survey elsewise people just make statements that have no veracity but just illustrate their prevailing ideology

[Minimalist]

I always found it amusing that the heroic libertarian wing of the republibertarianeo-conazi party puts this in their platform.

http://www.lp.org/issues/poverty-and-welfare

2. Establish a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to private charity

To help facilitate this transfer of responsibility from government welfare to private charity, the federal government should offer a dollar-for-dollar tax credit for contributions to private charities that provide social-welfare services. That is to say, if an individual gives a dollar to charity, he should be able to reduce his tax liability by a dollar.

Translation = these greedy cocksuckers will give money to "charity" as long as it doesn't cost them anything.

[NoraBrimstone]

Well, yeah. If they were generous or charitable at all they wouldn't be "the richest". No charitable person is gonna sit there hoarding hundreds of millions they'll never spend in the bank while there are billions of people in poverty.

[là bạn điên]

Well, yeah. If they were generous or charitable at all they wouldn't be "the richest". No charitable person is gonna sit there hoarding hundreds of millions they'll never spend in the bank while there are billions of people in poverty.

What do you think happens to the money 'in the bank'

[Creed of Heresy]

It gains interest. That's all it does.

[Zen Badger]

It gains interest. That's all it does.

Oh no, it does more than that.

It also keeps poor people poor when it is leant to them at ruinous interest rates in the form of mortgages.

[là bạn điên]

It gains interest. That's all it does.

It gains interest because it is lent out enabling people to start businesses and buy houses. I would never have been able to start my business without borrowing from the bank.

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It gains interest. That's all it does.

Oh no, it does more than that.

It also keeps poor people poor when it is leant to them at ruinous interest rates in the form of mortgages.

Ruinous? You are paying on average 4% per annum in the USA and its about the same in the UK.

[Psykhronic]

Lending is not automatically good (nor bad). We have seen poor decisions regarding mortgages leading to a housing crash. Some businesses are doomed from the start but still get loans, although this has not been a country-wide issue in the USA. Also, rich people are not the only ones who put their money in the bank to accumulate interest.

---

And how does this mean the rich are helping the poor? Many, many poor people don't even have the credit to take out loans.

[là bạn điên]

Lending is not automatically good (nor bad). We have seen poor decisions regarding mortgages leading to a housing crash. Some businesses are doomed from the start but still get loans, although this has not been a country-wide issue in the USA. Also, rich people are not the only ones who put their money in the bank to accumulate interest.

---

And how does this mean the rich are helping the poor? Many, many poor people don't even have the credit to take out loans.

The housing crisis was largely (but not exclusively) started because of a policy by the US government designed to encourage homeowning amongst people who were previously deemed high risk especially those from minorities.

The largest investors are pension funds the money saved by millions of ordinary people.

When businesses do well they employ more people and that definitely helps the poor.

[Psykhronic]

Yes, I am aware how the housing crisis started, but you made it sound like loans = awesome for all.

Okay about largest investors.

And yeah when businesses SUCCEED and employ people it helps the poor, but if they are not making a living wage then it's just a bandage.

Edit: Also this is about rich people helping poor, many business owners are not rich.