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Here's my solution: Make being a billionaire illegal. That's it. It's incumbent upon asset-holders to remain under the limit. It's up to them how close to th
by hexapus 1mo ago
Here's my solution:
Make being a billionaire illegal.
That's it. It's incumbent upon asset-holders to remain under the limit. It's up to them how close to the line they wish to tread.
No one becomes a billionaire ethically...no one produces that level of value, and absolutely no one needs that much money. And we have evidence that it literally breaks your brain when you attain that level of wealth. It's only possible to attain through exploitation. If you are found to hold a billion dollars in assets, you go to prison and forfeit all of your assets, so it's up to them to manage their assets accordingly. Give it away, pay your workers more, distribute it however you want, but a single person cannot be allowed to control that much capital - full-stop.
If you flee the country, any assets you leave behind are forfeit and seized. You will not be allowed to retain the wealth you accumulated on the on the backs of taxpayers and labourers...it will be forcefully redistributed for the public good.
For any country that does this, extreme wealth disparity will be eliminated. If there are countries that allow billionaires exploit the working class and public infrastructure, then they can go build their fortunes there. Equitable, civilised countries will outlaw it. Billionaires only exist because we allow them to.
Someone with less than a billion will be just fine, and can enjoy a reasonable, moderate amount of wealth in peace.
- ButlerianJihad 1mo ago[dead]
- decimalenough 1mo agoThe blog author is the founder of a unicorn and thus (assuming they hold a controlling stake) a billionaire on paper. Should your sanctions apply, and how does that work when their only significant asset is the company shares?
- hexapus 1mo agoI can't think of a reason he should be exempt. Every billionaire is a billionaire "on paper".
- Kon5ole 1mo agoIt's unethical to make a million by controlling a drug someone needs to survive or bribing politicians. But it's not unethical to make a billion by writing a popular app, website, book, movie or performing songs. So the amount is irrelevant, it's the actions that matters, when it comes to ethics. You have no jurisdiction over other countries, so the country allowing billionaires will end up with the largest companies in any industry, and your small companies will not be competitive. Dystopian end to your country follows. This isn't easy. Billionaires are often the result of the basic wealth creation of society, which we don't want to sabotage. Amazon employed thousands before Bezos became the richest guy in the US. We want successful companies that employ thousands of people under good conditions. The more such companies the better, even if each of them creates a billionaire or two in the process. I think we should allow people to become as wealthy as they can, but ensure that it has to happen through ethical methods. No corruption, rackets, cartels or other shenanigans. No matter how much money you have you can't buy any loopholes. Of course easier said than done but I don't see another way that can possibly work out well.