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Let's liquidate all US billionaires and spread that money to every person in the US. Let's also set aside the question of how one could legally liquidate the bi
by akhosravian 6y ago
Let's liquidate all US billionaires and spread that money to every person in the US. Let's also set aside the question of how one could legally liquidate the billionaires.
Per https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/05/21/the-net-worth-of-americas-600-plus-billionaires-has-increased-by-more-than-400-billion-during-the-pandemic/#5717d90e4a61 https://www.forbes.com/sites/tommybeer/2020/05/21/the-net-wo... the combined net worth of every US billionaire was 3.4 trillion in May of this year. Per https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/3-ways-that-the-u-s-population-will-change-over-the-next-decade https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/3-ways-that-the-u-s-popu... there were 331 million Americans in January of this year.
Dividing that out: $10,271.90 per person. Not enough to live on the passive income even in the cheapest parts of the globe.
- Jabbles 6y agoNot enough to live on the passive income even in the cheapest parts of the globe. Why do you think that is the right metric? 3.4T is obviously a vast amount of money.
- csours 6y agoThey were probably just responding to how I framed the question.
- postingawayonhn 6y agoIt's not really. That would fund the US Government for about 9 months.
- rhacker 6y agoOR, just parcel out land and give people seeds and allow them to trade with nearby neighbors... There's no longer a need for money and everyone gets to eat - which is all we really need. Beyond that, people can help each other build homes in smallish communities. Money, even on a planet with this many people, isn't necessary, because it's like people driving cars - the system works because everyone is operating to keep themselves alive. HN is not a fan of this take.
- Dirlewanger 6y ago>HN is not a fan of this take. Probably because it sounds like utopian nonsense.