Who needs a billionaire?
Oversized egos and ostentatious wealth do little to nothing for society. We should protect our economy and jobs, our communities and environment, and our under-siege democracy. The argument billionaires pay massive tax amounts is false and a weak position, or that some of us are envious of their vast wealth. These positions don't hold up from the simple fact that everyone does not pursue high-paying careers, and regular folks don't hide money in tax havens.
They should pay more taxes, but a more fair system should be in play. Warren Buffet touched on this with comments about his secretary paying a higher percentage than him.
I do not buy into all the self-made crap that their hard work and superior intellects propel them to greatness above others. Lots of people work hard but don't become billionaires. They use the labor of many, preferably without unions, or at least helpful wage reductions in other countries to increase share value. There is an element of luck and favorable governmental taxation. Sometimes, they inherited the wealth; how lucky it is for them.
A while ago, someone on Twitter pointed out the absurdities of these high achievers' pedestals. Allow me to reiterate some of them here.
Jeff Bezos, Amazon, received $245,000 from his parents to salvage his failing business. Who among us can tap into a lucrative arrangement like that? Most families would struggle for $245, let alone a quarter million. That request would get a good laugh at the kitchen table. By the way, that is his lovely boat in the picture above.
Bill Gates, Microsoft, left Harvard and diligently worked from the bottom up, right? More like family connections since his mother was President of United Way and convinced her contacts at IBM to hire Microsoft to develop an operating system.
Warren Buffet also came from a well-connected family, and you can see the pattern. The elites get a lot of advantages, and it is much easier when you begin on third base.
Mark Zuckerberg, of Facebook fame, attended prestigious college prep schools where tuition rivals the best colleges, and his wealthy family paid for private tutoring from a software developer.
Then, there are the Waltons, the Kochs, and others.
Despite the philanthropic endeavors, which in the grand scheme of things, help
little, we are better off without them.
It does not trickle down. It never did, and it never will. Unless, of course, you have an emerald mine or something.
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