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I'm not saying that it is impossible to have "earned" wealth. There surely are people who work their butts off to be where they are. However, consider a few t

I'm not saying that it is impossible to have "earned" wealth. There surely are people who work their butts off to be where they are. However, consider a few things. Opportunities and luck have really played a role in the wealth of many people, and some have barely lifted a finger to become rich. There are people who make far, far too little money for the effort they put in, even in Western countries. These people have sacrificed enough. There is no point making them destroy their income to pay for a road, when a rich man could cover the whole thing without even blinking an eye. On the subject of risk. While becoming rich can definitely require serious risks, it takes far less risk to remain rich, or become ridiculously richer. Is it really a "risk" anymore to bet a million dollars on something, when you have a billion? These "risks" are widely available to rich people, and would be considered insane for even the middle class to invest in. The super-wealthy simply reach a point where risk is not really required to continue living comfortably. Whereas, some people making $25,000 are doing really dangerous jobs, risking their families' futures, only to stay afloat.

darkxanthos 18y ago
RE: Opportunities and luck and not doing much to earn your money First off: It's still their money. If someone has 100 cars and I lost mine is it ok for me to steal one of his? Damn tempting sure, but not ok. 2nd: Working my butt off != productive. My ex-father-in-law owns his own pool care business. He works his ass to the bone. He's coming up near retirement and he's in a position where he could take on new workers but instead he just chooses to work. He doesn't want to hassle with employees. I think it's a lot of extra work and he's the greatest guy in the world but he's not being as productive as he could be. When it's time for him to retire he will probably have little to no money to live off of due to his and his wife's poor spending habits. I love them both, but do they deserve to take my money or someone else's? No. Does that mean I wouldn't help them out if I could? No, of course I would... but that's my choice. RE: These people have sacrificed enough. If that road doesn't improve their overall quality of life then maybe it shouldn't be built. That's a whole other topic of debate. It's almost as though generating wealth makes people feel guilty. I think it's wrong that I should be made to feel compelled to give my money away since I earned it and since I can always choose for myself whether or not I will do that. I'm all for charities because those are completely optional. Just don't have the government come to my door and demand I give more money to help so and so or else I will be taken to jail (tax evasion). RE: Risk Just having money does not beget more money. You still do need to know how to use it wisely. There are many wolves who would love for you to piddle your money away on their worthless services. Also, "betting" a million dollars is a risk because that's my money! And for 99.99% of people it's a pretty big risk to boot. I'm not saying it's fair. I'm still digesting these ideas and deciding how far I believe in them but I'm not sure whether it being fair has anything to do with it. If someone inherits money and they're rich for that reason, then I really am not sure what is ideal and I'd default to if that's what the person who earned the wealth wanted then shrug.

darkxanthos 18y ago

RE: Opportunities and luck and not doing much to earn your money First off: It's still their money. If someone has 100 cars and I lost mine is it ok for me to steal one of his? Damn tempting sure, but not ok. 2nd: Working my butt off != productive. My ex-father-in-law owns his own pool care business. He works his ass to the bone. He's coming up near retirement and he's in a position where he could take on new workers but instead he just chooses to work. He doesn't want to hassle with employees. I think it's a lot of extra work and he's the greatest guy in the world but he's not being as productive as he could be. When it's time for him to retire he will probably have little to no money to live off of due to his and his wife's poor spending habits. I love them both, but do they deserve to take my money or someone else's? No. Does that mean I wouldn't help them out if I could? No, of course I would... but that's my choice. RE: These people have sacrificed enough. If that road doesn't improve their overall quality of life then maybe it shouldn't be built. That's a whole other topic of debate. It's almost as though generating wealth makes people feel guilty. I think it's wrong that I should be made to feel compelled to give my money away since I earned it and since I can always choose for myself whether or not I will do that. I'm all for charities because those are completely optional. Just don't have the government come to my door and demand I give more money to help so and so or else I will be taken to jail (tax evasion). RE: Risk Just having money does not beget more money. You still do need to know how to use it wisely. There are many wolves who would love for you to piddle your money away on their worthless services. Also, "betting" a million dollars is a risk because that's my money! And for 99.99% of people it's a pretty big risk to boot. I'm not saying it's fair. I'm still digesting these ideas and deciding how far I believe in them but I'm not sure whether it being fair has anything to do with it. If someone inherits money and they're rich for that reason, then I really am not sure what is ideal and I'd default to if that's what the person who earned the wealth wanted then shrug.