The world's 100 richest people earned enough money in 2012 to end poverty 4x over.

[NoCompetition]

That aint how money works. Some people work harder than others. Some people make better financial moves. Some refuse to make smart financial moves and blow their money. Etc. etc. The whole premise here is not reality. Everybody can and will do what they want with their money. Nothin wrong with that.

Why the hell should I pay for 50% of a CEO's expensive ass country club membership just because he writes it off as a business expense? Why the hell is that not going towards improving education?

There is this idea that the poor are to blame for their poverty. If this is true when did they decide the tax laws in this country? Is it their lawyers and accountants writing tax laws? No. It's the wealthy shaping the rules to favor them.

"Work harder. That's all you need to do, work hard." That is such a lie. Working hard and smart is what gets you rich, not working hard alone. Of course people neglect to mention that understanding how to work smart in a capitalist society is beyond the reach of much if not most of the poor. This is not something they are taught and rather than implement some sort of education in the public schools we just push the "shut up and work hard" ideology harder.

And let's not forget the latent function of rising tuition costs.

Im watchin tv and Steven A made a good point. Society is only as strong as its weakest link. I believe in taxes, assistance, college grants and all of that. At the same time rich people aint gon give all their money to end poverty. Its their money to do with as they wish. Thats just how it is and to me thats the end of it. They already raised the taxes on the richest and most rich people supported it. Most people understand the concept of helping society but they aint bout to give all their money away to nobody for nothin. People always look out for themselves first.

 

[LUClEN]

I am not expecting them to give all their money. When did I say this?

I just think the system is in desperate need of change when Warren Buffet pays less in taxes than his maid.

We fund the system on the backs of the least capable to do so, and then when it falls apart we blame them for it, despite the fact that it is the wealthiest that profit the most from it and often times contribute the least to it.

 

[NoCompetition]

I am not expecting them to give all their money. When did I say this?

I just think the system is in desperate need of change when Warren Buffet pays less in taxes than his maid.

We fund the system on the backs of the least capable to do so, and then when it falls apart we blame them for it, despite the fact that it is the wealthiest that profit the most from it and often times contribute the least to it.

Yeah thats that "conservative" rhetoric that is dying. Things are actually going in the direction you are talking about. Like i said the tax rate was raised on the richest. For years things were tilted to help the rich and it led to economic disaster. So the people are finally learning. I didnt say you said rich people should give up all their money i was kinda referencint the thread premise. And statistically the thread title may be true but it has no practical or real application.

 

[UnderMiSensi]

@RodrigueZz

Da fuck? Not every corporation is evil and capitalism is just selling goods and services for profit that's it, but once government get's involved by picking winners and losers based on how many lobbyist each corp has that's when I stop calling it capitalism, it's more like corporatism with a fascist corrupt government. Nobody is going to help black people but themselves and the only way I can see them helping themselves is to generate wealth anything else is for the birds. Like the government ever gave a shit about black people.

 

[LUClEN]

@RodrigueZz

Da fuck? Not every corporation is evil and capitalism is just selling goods and services for profit that's it, but once government get's involved by picking winners and losers based on how many lobbyist each corp has that's when I stop calling it capitalism, it's more like corporatism with a fascist corrupt government. Nobody is going to help black people but themselves and the only way I can see them helping themselves is to generate wealth anything else is for the birds. Like the government ever gave a shit about black people.

People will help black people if the system is geared to do so. But it is not. People don't want to pay taxes to ensure that individuals born into rough circumstance, out of no fault of their own, do not face lifelong penalties for it. Education in America is available only to a portion of the population that can afford it, and because of private interest that number of people is decreasing every year as the costs get higher.

Business models are based around profit motives: not ethics, morality or virtue. This is precisely what I find most despicable about modern day capitalism. I agree that the act of buying and selling things is not inherently wrong, but the practices utilized to turn a profit today by buying and selling things are not something I would at all condone. By your attack on corporate lobbyists can I assume you share a similar train of thought?

 

[BlackxChild]

A lot of you don't understand that these billionaires are destroying the economy. If I made 1million dollars that's 1 mil less in the pot for everyone else you can effect the meaning of 1 mil but when you cause the value of 1million to be less than what it is it makes the rich richer.

 

[UnderMiSensi]

@RodrigueZz

Da fuck? Not every corporation is evil and capitalism is just selling goods and services for profit that's it, but once government get's involved by picking winners and losers based on how many lobbyist each corp has that's when I stop calling it capitalism, it's more like corporatism with a fascist corrupt government. Nobody is going to help black people but themselves and the only way I can see them helping themselves is to generate wealth anything else is for the birds. Like the government ever gave a shit about black people.

People will help black people if the system is geared to do so. But it is not. People don't want to pay taxes to ensure that individuals born into rough circumstance, out of no fault of their own, do not face lifelong penalties for it. Education in America is available only to a portion of the population that can afford it, and because of private interest that number of people is decreasing every year as the costs get higher.

Business models are based around profit motives: not ethics, morality or virtue. This is precisely what I find most despicable about modern day capitalism. I agree that the act of buying and selling things is not inherently wrong, but the practices utilized to turn a profit today by buying and selling things are not something I would at all condone. By your attack on corporate lobbyists can I assume you share a similar train of thought?

I ain't attacking lobbyist, I'm just pointing out a few things out that isn't capitalism. The practices you hate so much that are utilized by the bad apples of business are in bed with gov, therefore government rewards bad behavior. Meanwhile racial profiling and bias courts prosecute blacks more harshly than anybody else, public schools in inner cities are poorly funded, etc etc.

The government ain't our friend and in fact the government is the worst corporation, if you have a gripe against something then it should be towards gov mainly. There is too many corps out there with different business models, products, and ethics to say that all corporations are bad based on a few corps like Halliburton, Monsanto, or Goldman Sachs etc(

 

[Dr. Stitch]

Its just wacC...cuz making a lot of money "usually" involves already having a lot of money to start with...or reaping the benifits of your rich parents croaking...It hardly has to do with hard work!

 

[LUClEN]

@RodrigueZz

Da fuck? Not every corporation is evil and capitalism is just selling goods and services for profit that's it, but once government get's involved by picking winners and losers based on how many lobbyist each corp has that's when I stop calling it capitalism, it's more like corporatism with a fascist corrupt government. Nobody is going to help black people but themselves and the only way I can see them helping themselves is to generate wealth anything else is for the birds. Like the government ever gave a shit about black people.

People will help black people if the system is geared to do so. But it is not. People don't want to pay taxes to ensure that individuals born into rough circumstance, out of no fault of their own, do not face lifelong penalties for it. Education in America is available only to a portion of the population that can afford it, and because of private interest that number of people is decreasing every year as the costs get higher.

Business models are based around profit motives: not ethics, morality or virtue. This is precisely what I find most despicable about modern day capitalism. I agree that the act of buying and selling things is not inherently wrong, but the practices utilized to turn a profit today by buying and selling things are not something I would at all condone. By your attack on corporate lobbyists can I assume you share a similar train of thought?

I ain't attacking lobbyist, I'm just pointing out a few things out that isn't capitalism. The practices you hate so much that are utilized by the bad apples of business are in bed with gov, therefore government rewards bad behavior. Meanwhile racial profiling and bias courts prosecute blacks more harshly than anybody else, public schools in inner cities are poorly funded, etc etc.

The government ain't our friend and in fact the government is the worst corporation, if you have a gripe against something then it should be towards gov mainly. There is too many corps out there with different business models, products, and ethics to say that all corporations are bad based on a few corps like Halliburton, Monsanto, or Goldman Sachs etc(

 

[BlackxChild]

The problem with risks is it damages the economy when you fail and the stock market fucks over the less fortunate too.

 

[UnderMiSensi]

A lot of you don't understand that these billionaires are destroying the economy. If I made 1million dollars that's 1 mil less in the pot for everyone else you can effect the meaning of 1 mil but when you cause the value of 1million to be less than what it is it makes the rich richer.

How about government printing the shit out of money, bailing out failing companies, not adjust wages to inflation properly, misusing tax dollars, wasting money on war/military etc etc. Billionaires weren't elected to serve the public. Their only job is to provide a service or product which they do a damn good job at, but government on the other hand...................

 

[UnderMiSensi]

The government is far closer to a friend than any corporation is.

History betrays your statement, also the US is technically a corporation which makes your statement even more null and void. lol @ the US gov being a better friend than any corporation. Hyperbole much?

 

[UnderMiSensi]

Its just wacC...cuz making a lot of money "usually" involves already having a lot of money to start with...or reaping the benifits of your rich parents croaking...It hardly has to do with hard work!

So I guess angel investor's, venture capitalist's, crowd funding, or loans ain't options huh? I'm not buying this rhetoric of a lack of options in a first world country when people misuse their money by not properly investing(time/money) and then cry foul when someone else becomes a billionaire by properly investing their time/money.

 

[LUClEN]

The government is far closer to a friend than any corporation is.

History betrays your statement, also the US is technically a corporation which makes your statement even more null and void. lol @ the US gov being a better friend than any corporation. Hyperbole much?

You're right. I was thinking about myself. The government is my friend because of the circumstances I was born into. Not so much for the Native North Americans though. I retract that statement.

Generally speaking, corporations represent private interest and individual profit rather than the country whereas the government is, ideally, intent on doing the opposite. This was the angle I was coming from.

 

[UnderMiSensi]

The government is far closer to a friend than any corporation is.

History betrays your statement, also the US is technically a corporation which makes your statement even more null and void. lol @ the US gov being a better friend than any corporation. Hyperbole much?

You're right. I was thinking about myself. The government is my friend because of the circumstances I was born into. Not so much for the Native North Americans though. I retract that statement.

Generally speaking, corporations represent private interest and individual profit rather than the country whereas the government is, ideally, intent on doing the opposite. This was the angle I was coming from.

Okay well with that I guess we can just agree to disagree based on different point of views, but just know that not all corporations are created equal (or just bad) and that the US is indeed the worst corporation.

 

[bubbaclot]

A lot of you don't understand that these billionaires are destroying the economy. If I made 1million dollars that's 1 mil less in the pot for everyone else you can effect the meaning of 1 mil but when you cause the value of 1million to be less than what it is it makes the rich richer.

So if you had a business that was very successful and a lot of people wanted your services at what point would you stop taking money because you have made to much and give your services away for free?

 

[BoldChild]

A lot of you don't understand that these billionaires are destroying the economy. If I made 1million dollars that's 1 mil less in the pot for everyone else you can effect the meaning of 1 mil but when you cause the value of 1million to be less than what it is it makes the rich richer.

So if you had a business that was very successful and a lot of people wanted your services at what point would you stop taking money because you have made to much and give your services away for free?

Depending on the business, and service given.

If I was a multi billionaire then I would probably semi retire, and no longer take in income, or just severely reduce my normal yearly income from the business, and just use the money I would normally be getting getting to increase the pay of my workers.

Pretty much what Bill gates is doing...except he is giving half his wealth to charity.

 

[LUClEN]

The government is far closer to a friend than any corporation is.

History betrays your statement, also the US is technically a corporation which makes your statement even more null and void. lol @ the US gov being a better friend than any corporation. Hyperbole much?

You're right. I was thinking about myself. The government is my friend because of the circumstances I was born into. Not so much for the Native North Americans though. I retract that statement.

Generally speaking, corporations represent private interest and individual profit rather than the country whereas the government is, ideally, intent on doing the opposite. This was the angle I was coming from.

Okay well with that I guess we can just agree to disagree based on different point of views, but just know that not all corporations are created equal (or just bad) and that the US is indeed the worst corporation.

Governments are not corporations though.

 

[UnderMiSensi]

Governments are not corporations though.

Sure, ok

From Title 28, Part VI, Chapter 176, Subchapter A, Section 3002 of the USC:

(15) “United States” means—

(A) a Federal corporation;

(B) an agency, department, commission, board, or other entity of the United States; or

(C) an instrumentality of the United States.

 

[bubbaclot]