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Too much money is like "The Ring", it slowly corrupts you, gives you a little bit of privilege here and there... Gandalf: Don't... tempt me, Frodo! I dare not

by js8 5y ago

Too much money is like "The Ring", it slowly corrupts you, gives you a little bit of privilege here and there... Gandalf: Don't... tempt me, Frodo! I dare not take it. Not even to keep it safe. Understand, Frodo, I would use this Ring from the desire to do good. But through me, it would wield a power too great and terrible to imagine. Bill Gates is like Gollum, he cannot let go of his wealth and power, so he has to invent charities to keep control of it. He is trapped in his world of privilege. That is the most generous interpretation. I have much bigger admiration for Linus Torvalds, or Steve Wozniak, who could have possibly been wealthy but chose not to. (Or they were stupid not to take the Ring?)

gentleman11 5y ago
I read that torvalds makes $2M a year, with $150M net worth. At least, the top search results say that
- js8 5y ago
  Honestly, I don't see that much different from a hollywood actress or NHL player being paid in millions. Which might be seen as a moral issue but a different one, of equal renumeration for work. But it's important to point out that main source of income for B.G. (or any capitalist, for that matter) is not a reward for work, but rather reward from ownership of capital, which is essentially a share of economic decisions. It's pretty unclear to me why the society should reward ownership and not just work.
  - Nevermark 5y ago
    Society should reward good stewardship of owned resources, as well as good work.
    - js8 5y ago
      Stewardship is not ownership, though. A king, an absolute monarch, effectively owns the country, and his position is hereditary. A prime minister does not own the country, despite "being in charge", and it's not hereditary. People overwhelmingly prefer the latter system. I don't see why business (economic production) should be any different.
    - ceilingcorner 5y ago
      Ownership of capital is not stewardship.
deleted 5y ago
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by js8 5y ago

gentleman11 5y ago

I read that torvalds makes $2M a year, with $150M net worth. At least, the top search results say that

js8 5y ago
Honestly, I don't see that much different from a hollywood actress or NHL player being paid in millions. Which might be seen as a moral issue but a different one, of equal renumeration for work. But it's important to point out that main source of income for B.G. (or any capitalist, for that matter) is not a reward for work, but rather reward from ownership of capital, which is essentially a share of economic decisions. It's pretty unclear to me why the society should reward ownership and not just work.
- Nevermark 5y ago
  Society should reward good stewardship of owned resources, as well as good work.
  - js8 5y ago
    Stewardship is not ownership, though. A king, an absolute monarch, effectively owns the country, and his position is hereditary. A prime minister does not own the country, despite "being in charge", and it's not hereditary. People overwhelmingly prefer the latter system. I don't see why business (economic production) should be any different.
  - ceilingcorner 5y ago
    Ownership of capital is not stewardship.

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]