> I don't see how that's the case. Their wealth lead to a degree of power that necessitated a specialised task force in order to keep it in check. That the powe

> I don't see how that's the case. Their wealth lead to a degree of power that necessitated a specialised task force in order to keep it in check. That the power afforded by that wealth was curtailed doesn't negate it's existence. The power of these wealthy Chinese billionaires was broken by cutting off the head (the guys with the money) from the body (the folks that actually carried out those guys' wishes.) Money won't buy power if no one is willing to accept it. It's not a solution that would get applied in the USA, which is pretty much run by and for the wealthy, but it shows that money != power in Communist China at least. > Should the task force cease to exist they would be free to exercise that power without restriction. But presumably the task force would only cease to exist if the CCP changed it's policies, no? > I don't think any overall good comes from any individual having more than $1bn in wealth. At that point you can buy pretty much whatever you want and your offspring will still be unfathomably wealthy for generations. As an individual you essentially have the GDP of a small island nation in your pocket. > Personally I believe the marginal utility of more wealth at this point to be effectively zero. Adding a second billion makes no material difference to your quality of life, Even if I agree with that (and I do FWIW) so what? How does that give us the right to take their money? My neighbor doesn't really need his noisy smelly leaf blower, can I take that? The Waltons are a great example: Walmart is a fantastic store, and even if those stories about the workers on food stamps are true (which they deny) it's still legal. Maybe we increase the minimum wage rather than going after this family for being too successful? > In my opinion a low degree of inequality is a requirement for a harmonious society. I suspect that's true. And I'll admit these billionaires make me nervous. I just don't see it as moral to take their stuff just because we think they might misuse it or, even more tenuous, that it might not do them any good.