5 ms·

Yeah its insane to me that people are unaware of this or ignore this. I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy.

pojzon 3y ago
Whistleblowers released so many papers about the topic by now half of super rich should be in jail with 50yrs sentences for a tax fraud. Issue is - our politics are on rich ppl payroll. Nothing will change till we make any lobbing illegal with very bad consequences for both parties.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
latexr 3y ago
> I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. Because they think they will be one some day. They have been sold the myth that with enough hard work you can “pull yourself by your boot straps” and will be the next billionaire. So better defend them now, that will be you in a couple of years. Never mind that the biggest indicator of your own wealth is generational. As George Carlin said: “they call it The American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it”.
- leereeves 3y ago
  Funny you should cite George Carlin, a child of poor Irish immigrants who ended up rich and famous.
  - soco 3y ago
    How many children of poor Irish immigrants ended up rich and famous? As a percentage maybe? And from how many can you find quotable words?
    - leereeves 3y ago
      I wouldn't expect to find many telling people not to believe in the American dream after having lived it themselves. You could surely find some saying that they achieved the dream but that's not what people want to hear, therefore not "quotable".
      - latexr 3y ago
        You can win the lottery but still think that gabling on it is not a sound decision. A few people will strike big, but that’s not the same as saying anyone can.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - lamontcg 3y ago
    "yet you participate in society. curious."
    - leereeves 3y ago
      I won't follow you down that road. "Eschew flamebait. Avoid generic tangents. Omit internet tropes." "Be kind. Don't be snarky. Converse curiously; don't cross-examine. Edit out swipes." "Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
      - lamontcg 3y ago
        Your own comment sets up a universe where everyone who criticizes society is a hypocrite except for Ted Kaczynski. It is a boring position and you don't deserve thoughtful and substantive comments.
- prirun 3y ago
  >> I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. > Because they think they will be one some day. For me, it's not that I think I will be ultra wealthy. But I have seen over and over where a rule (for example) may start with the ultra wealthy initially, but over time politicians gradually change the scope until it affects nearly everyone.
  - latexr 3y ago
    > I have seen over and over A few examples would help to advance the discussion. > where a rule (for example) may start with the ultra wealthy initially, but over time politicians gradually change the scope until it affects nearly everyone. That’s not an argument in favour of the ultra wealthy, it’s an argument against bad rules. It’s not bad in and of itself that a rule which started with the most advantage is later applied to every one else (e.g. the right to vote).
tim333 3y ago
A lot of the ultra wealthy like Musk get there by owning a company that becomes successful. Which is not a bad thing. But you could have some tax on it - maybe transfer some of the equity to the taxpayer if the company doesn't have spare cash?
kryogen1c 3y ago
> Yeah its insane to me that people are unaware of this or ignore this. That's because it's not true. That might have been the baseline, but it's not what people were paying due to exemptions and credits, etc. > I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. Average person checking in. Who do you think is shouldering the tax burden? Gen z loudly complaining they don't have enough money for college or a house? I find the avarice and greed masquerading as morality in the anti-wealthy movement reprehensible. If you're poor in America you have one of the best lives available in human history. Also, what exactly is the complaint here - specifically? Anyone have a first principles argument for why "the existence of the ultra wealthy" is bad? Everything I've ever seen has been reddit-quality freshmen year drivel.

pojzon 3y ago

Whistleblowers released so many papers about the topic by now half of super rich should be in jail with 50yrs sentences for a tax fraud. Issue is - our politics are on rich ppl payroll. Nothing will change till we make any lobbing illegal with very bad consequences for both parties.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

latexr 3y ago

> I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. Because they think they will be one some day. They have been sold the myth that with enough hard work you can “pull yourself by your boot straps” and will be the next billionaire. So better defend them now, that will be you in a couple of years. Never mind that the biggest indicator of your own wealth is generational. As George Carlin said: “they call it The American Dream because you have to be asleep to believe it”.

leereeves 3y ago
Funny you should cite George Carlin, a child of poor Irish immigrants who ended up rich and famous.
- soco 3y ago
  How many children of poor Irish immigrants ended up rich and famous? As a percentage maybe? And from how many can you find quotable words?
  - leereeves 3y ago
    I wouldn't expect to find many telling people not to believe in the American dream after having lived it themselves. You could surely find some saying that they achieved the dream but that's not what people want to hear, therefore not "quotable".
    - latexr 3y ago
      You can win the lottery but still think that gabling on it is not a sound decision. A few people will strike big, but that’s not the same as saying anyone can.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- lamontcg 3y ago
  "yet you participate in society. curious."
  - leereeves 3y ago
    I won't follow you down that road. "Eschew flamebait. Avoid generic tangents. Omit internet tropes." "Be kind. Don't be snarky. Converse curiously; don't cross-examine. Edit out swipes." "Comments should get more thoughtful and substantive, not less, as a topic gets more divisive." https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html
    - lamontcg 3y ago
      Your own comment sets up a universe where everyone who criticizes society is a hypocrite except for Ted Kaczynski. It is a boring position and you don't deserve thoughtful and substantive comments.
prirun 3y ago
>> I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. > Because they think they will be one some day. For me, it's not that I think I will be ultra wealthy. But I have seen over and over where a rule (for example) may start with the ultra wealthy initially, but over time politicians gradually change the scope until it affects nearly everyone.
- latexr 3y ago
  > I have seen over and over A few examples would help to advance the discussion. > where a rule (for example) may start with the ultra wealthy initially, but over time politicians gradually change the scope until it affects nearly everyone. That’s not an argument in favour of the ultra wealthy, it’s an argument against bad rules. It’s not bad in and of itself that a rule which started with the most advantage is later applied to every one else (e.g. the right to vote).

tim333 3y ago

A lot of the ultra wealthy like Musk get there by owning a company that becomes successful. Which is not a bad thing. But you could have some tax on it - maybe transfer some of the equity to the taxpayer if the company doesn't have spare cash?

kryogen1c 3y ago

> Yeah its insane to me that people are unaware of this or ignore this. That's because it's not true. That might have been the baseline, but it's not what people were paying due to exemptions and credits, etc. > I also don't get how the average person can defend the existence of the ultra wealthy. Average person checking in. Who do you think is shouldering the tax burden? Gen z loudly complaining they don't have enough money for college or a house? I find the avarice and greed masquerading as morality in the anti-wealthy movement reprehensible. If you're poor in America you have one of the best lives available in human history. Also, what exactly is the complaint here - specifically? Anyone have a first principles argument for why "the existence of the ultra wealthy" is bad? Everything I've ever seen has been reddit-quality freshmen year drivel.