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I don't begrudge anybody their small pleasures in life. I also think they can do what they want with their money. But, when the topic of wealth redistribution

I don't begrudge anybody their small pleasures in life. I also think they can do what they want with their money. But, when the topic of wealth redistribution comes up I do start to have a lot more questions about what people want to do with the money. After all, it's not their money. They didn't earn it. Somebody else did. I think it's pretty fair to at least have the conversation. I absolutely hate the "helpless poor people" trope and the idea that if they just had more money everything would be better. How often do good and well meaning ideas have horrible and long lasting consequences that were not intended.

JakeTheAndroid 9y ago
And you're suggesting that purchasing a funny card game that has value over time should be a disqualifying factor?
jnbiche 9y ago
For very poor people, just having more money can often make a huge difference in their lives: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-charity-that-just-gives-money-to-poor-people https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-... There's actually a mounting volume of convincing evidence that cash grants to poor people are much more effective than random charity programs of equivalent value. Because poor people often know what they need more than some paper pusher in a faraway city.
- Jarwain 9y ago
  I wonder whether there is a difference in attitudes or money usage for poor people in Kenya or other developing nations, vs those who are poor in developed nations like the US. Although you did say 'very' poor people, this was the thought that popped into my mind.
  - jnbiche 9y ago
    I wonder the same thing. I think there is a study being done now in the US on cash grants, so there may be some data. But not nearly as much as there is from Africa.
djsumdog 9y ago
> They didn't earn it. And what exactly does Zuckerburge do earn the millions he makes every year? Personally, nothing. Everything him and Gates et. al. did was leverage the capital of people they convinced to work for them. When I worked in an office in Seattle where a 1/bdr was $1800/month, I would watch a janitor come around each day and empty my trash can. I'm sure he made a fraction of what I did, but honestly, I'm sure he did more work .. or at least the same amount. What I do is more difficult, and I was lucky to be raised in a family that had the means to send me to college and I was lucky to pick a career field that earned me that money. So much of what we have isn't earned. It's more by chance. The major determining factor in your succeeding (school, career, etc.) is determined before you are born. If you're born into poverty, it is very very difficult to get out. To quote George Carlin, it's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe in it.

JakeTheAndroid 9y ago

And you're suggesting that purchasing a funny card game that has value over time should be a disqualifying factor?

jnbiche 9y ago

For very poor people, just having more money can often make a huge difference in their lives: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-charity-that-just-gives-money-to-poor-people https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2013/08/23/214210692/the-... There's actually a mounting volume of convincing evidence that cash grants to poor people are much more effective than random charity programs of equivalent value. Because poor people often know what they need more than some paper pusher in a faraway city.

Jarwain 9y ago
I wonder whether there is a difference in attitudes or money usage for poor people in Kenya or other developing nations, vs those who are poor in developed nations like the US. Although you did say 'very' poor people, this was the thought that popped into my mind.
- jnbiche 9y ago
  I wonder the same thing. I think there is a study being done now in the US on cash grants, so there may be some data. But not nearly as much as there is from Africa.

djsumdog 9y ago

> They didn't earn it. And what exactly does Zuckerburge do earn the millions he makes every year? Personally, nothing. Everything him and Gates et. al. did was leverage the capital of people they convinced to work for them. When I worked in an office in Seattle where a 1/bdr was $1800/month, I would watch a janitor come around each day and empty my trash can. I'm sure he made a fraction of what I did, but honestly, I'm sure he did more work .. or at least the same amount. What I do is more difficult, and I was lucky to be raised in a family that had the means to send me to college and I was lucky to pick a career field that earned me that money. So much of what we have isn't earned. It's more by chance. The major determining factor in your succeeding (school, career, etc.) is determined before you are born. If you're born into poverty, it is very very difficult to get out. To quote George Carlin, it's called the American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe in it.