If humans would realize that Basic income which covers your Basic needs can promote universal happiness.
There are so many people living right here in America that do not have enough money to cover their basic needs. Many of them are veterans who served their country in times of war. Is this how we show our appreciation for their service?
There are many billionaires that could share just a little bit of their wealth and make a huge difference in the lives of these veterans. But instead they strive for more wealth! No matter how much wealth they have it’s NEVER ENOUGH!
I personally despise Billionaires and the corrupt Fascist GQP. The first thing this SOB Mike Johnson mentioned when he was elected House Speaker said, '' We are going to consider a bill to cut trillions and trillions from Social Security and Medicare''. If these corrupt billionaires would pay into SS a fraction of their billions, SS would be in a much better situation right now. I am sick and tired of these asshats going after our SS every time the budget deficit subject comes up. When cuts are suggested for the Military/ Industrial complex, they start screaming about that. My opinion is, i don't think billionaires or the Fascist GQP should exist. To me, both of them are the lowest form scum on the planet.
Unfortunately, the GOP are a creation to justify the existence of a tiny group of people who believe that they are supposed to rule the world because they because they became wealthy by exiting the womb.
A Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for all is essential
Free education to maximum potential is essential
Free at point of service healthcare including everything is essential
..and so much for 99% of crime and the elimination of poverty, overnight
100% realistic because it would supercharge the economy because people who need money, spend it😎
The billionaires of America don’t give a ....( substitute your own word), for their fellow American citizens.
They have never considered when “ enough is enough”. Deep down they must be scared of poverty, as they observe in increasingly, around them. Or not, living in high security gated estates.....🤨
It's pure fear and there's nothing more dangerous or unpredictable than a scared animal.
It's us that they're scared of.
They're scared that we might get our voting power back and that would end their existence.
They're wrong.
People treat people the way that they are treated 😏
When you hurt another, or the environment, well, it ain't the best idea for a lot of reasons.
Jesus said "whatever you do for these, the least of the brethren, that you have done for me."
Now imagine you're stealing wages from this same person. Yeah karma is very real but karmic debt isn't.
A billionaire who really wants to change their lives absolutely can, in an instant.
It's a choice.
Just like people continue to build mental fortresses to keep the world out, never realizing they're building their own personal prison and suddenly, all the locks are on the outside.
It doesn't mean they have to give away their money. They can do whatever they want except buy governments.
It will require full visibility on all financial transactions, including price tags to show the cost and profit. That visibility would extend to the boardroom and the shop floor. Everyone knows what everyone makes, exactly.
The only people who would object are those with somthing to hide😏👍
used to teach kids Politics Science in all levels of school . Instead they teach things that are designed to accelerate their wealth. Unless these wealthy elites become human, their plans for destruction of our society. They want it all. Pushing for keeping the country dumbed down and keep their KNEE ON THE NECK of American people. I would love to see American people rise up and stomp the dog shit out of these greedy bastards.
When I was, maybe 9, and I was watching TV and the message I kept seeing in every program I liked was "smart bad/dumb good".
It's a pattern and it absolutely carries into schools because a well educated and informed population is impossible to oppress or plunder.
That's why free university ended.
And it's all pointless and cruel.
The wealthy, fearful people who don't know how badly they're hurting others are terrified that anyone else might be in charge and especially the majority of the country.
It's pointless.
An educated population is also capable of generating enormous wealth and with comprehensive social and healthcare programs with a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for all so this ends poverty and homelessness because all rents would have a maximum of 30% of a person's net income.
We all know that person who is obviously brilliant and just never had the opportunity to develop knowledge and used their own wisdom to improve themselves 🤔❤
..now imagine them with a doctorate and a 7 figure income😏🤑
I am in full agreement with your reply. Everything most certainly be much better if all of what you listed could be implemented into the system The Fascist GQP want to burn it all down with their outrageous and insane policies. I am a person that finds no joy in being angry. Lately, however, i am so outraged and angry when i hear what these Fascist wingnuts are trying to accomplish by being treasonous traitors that they are, and finish destroying our once great nation. I wonder sometimes how this rot has gotten so many to believe their continuous lying and deceit?? The stupidity of so many average people here in the Southeast is appalling to say the very least.
Did you ever wonder why the GOP wants to destroy all social programs and benefits? 🤔
Individually, most politicians are there to because wealthy. They follow the directions from the donors, delivered from the lobbyists and grind the entire system into chaos until tax cuts roll around and then they're a machine and the corporate Democrats follow the same orders.
Yelling at Republican and Democrat corpratists is as pointless as yelling at the players on a foosball table for throwing the game and ignoring the person running the controls.🤦🏻♂️🤦🏿♂️
The outrage is by design for the GOP
The compliance of corporatists ensures passage of bills that yield a less than a 3% tax rate on a tiny fraction if actual income/wealth for the wealthiest people on the planet.
They're actors.
None of them believe what they are saying but they know that if they play along then the cash they need to be obscenely rich will keep coming in, no matter who it kills. 😳
Not because they're evil, they love money more than anything else.
Look to see who pays and who directly benefits and you will find out how terrified these billionaires are. They build their lives around fear, they live in fear, they act in fear.
And the language of fear is anger.
We don't need to change either group.
We need to change the system so nobody can buy control. 🤔
Make all elections and election campaigns completely publicly funded.
No political donations at all.
No insider trading
No lobbyists, period
And no 3rd party political advertising
All members of Gov't would have 100% visibility on all financial transactions, including pay and benefits, publicly accessible.
All Gov't employees and politicians use a federal bank during their time in office and for 2 years after retirement or job change.
The only reason someone would have to be a politician or Gov't employee would be service to all citizens and a guaranteed Livable income.
I am not looking for saints, I'm looking for people who make decisions based on the facts and the needs of the country.
Radical, Isn't it 😏
At this point, the people who vote are in control of their lives
Thank you very much. Jean. That was a very accurate assessment of the whole situation here. I wish your suggestions could be acted upon here in United States. Do you live in our great northern neighbor, Canada?? I hope the same thing that is happening here never happens in Canada. These mass shootings we have had over the past few years have me so spooked i am afraid to go get my groceries now. Personally, i wish i were living in Nova Scotia now, i would feel much safer now if i was living there.
I had to travel for work, literally around the planet and I spent a lot of time in the US and got to know some amazing people.
What I could never figure out for the longest time was "Why are individual Americans so sensible and rational one on one but the Gov't decisions make no practical sense in far too many situations 🙄
Then I finally clued in😏
The people in charge of government pre-select their politicians and political platforms so their interests are always priority and everyone else can go wanting.
They are also living in fear of everything and the language of fear is anger so they viciously attack anything that they believe will destroy their fortunes and, oh God no, make them share😱their wealth.
What they don't realize is that nobody cares.
I don't care if they are trillionaires
The only requirements are that nobody is hurt by their actions and the environment is protected and restored to nature directly or indirectly
I'm fortunate but I'm not complacent. 😏
I'm watching the same thing happening in Canada and I will fight this with intellect, wisdom and truth because those are unbeatable in public governance.
I'm in the maritime provinces and we're being attacked by the same people here.
There is a focused push to collapse universal healthcare in Canada and a lot of money is moving around Ottawa, like Washington. The difference is the politicians here aren't as good at this game so they accept paltry bribes for millions in kickbacks and lie really badly about it.
It's all that's saving us.
Every corporatist provincial premier is coordinating to defund universal healthcare by richly rewarding donors with boondoggle contracts that are gifts.
I'm an engineer.
I look for the root cause, of everything.
These are the corrections I'd like.
Make everything visible, right down to the price tag on a box of cereal showing the production cost , the % profit and the price charged.
Every financial transaction, publicly visible.
Ensure all people residing inside the borders of the country have a guaranteed Livable Basic income, enough to cover:
Food
Shelter
Unlimited education with stipend
Universal healthcare that includes everything
The economy would absolutely explode like a rocket because people who need money, spend it when they get it and especially when they know, it'll never run out.😁
I propose a flat tax of 10% across the board and a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for every person in the United States currently employed or dependent or extended family.
Everyone except tourists
And comprehensive universal healthcare for all permanent residents and citizens.
And the unlimited potential act that will make all education free for all residents of the country, temporary and permanent who are attending university but only US residents will receive a biweekly living expenses cheque for incidentals above GLBI.
You, personally know of that guy who never had a chance to go beyond 6th grade but is naturally gifted. I met someone like that in my career, a mechanic who had to take his journeyman examination verbally because he could read...
But that man could fix machines everyone else wrote off, everytime.
Imagine what engineers they could have made
And all it costs is the ability to create new wars in other countries. That's 2 trillion freed up every year but realistically, it's 1.5 trillion and that's still 5x China
Capitalism was never intended to produce even the 18th Century equivalent of a billionaire, indeed Adam Smith was a moral philosopher who would have approved of the Common Good. His way of dealing with human greed? Tax, tax again, then tax some more. In other words, progressive taxation. This requires a functioning government.
Americans lost sight of this in 1980 when they elected the mule Ronald Reagan, imbued with Ayn Rand, early Alzheimer’s Disease, a lopsided grin, and an obsequious lickspittle sidekick, Milton Friedman, who brought us the patronizing concept of trickledown. Top income tax would be cut from 80% to 20%, unions busted, and government vilified with appalling racist lies about its malignant effect on society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rls8H6MktrA.
Time for a change. Time for the DNC platform to be built around progressive taxation. Time to reverse Reagan. It's what over 70% of Americans want.
Actually, trickle-down was the work of Arthur Laffer. Friedman was a the chief salesman of the lie.
Also, Smith warned that capitalism left to its own device (laissez faire) would degenerate into cartels and monopolies. Profit extorted by monopolistic power subverting the free market is not capitalism, it's feudalism.
I agree on both points you make. And what a salesman Friedman was!
As regards Smith, this is why he wanted strong government and progressive taxation. Reagan stood this logic on its head, and got capitalism a bad name,
Adam Smith specifically warned that this happens from laissez faire. Marx failed to understand that capitalism need not assume laissez faire. A corrupted unregulated market system is not capitalism. Profits extorted by cartels and monopolies are feudalism, not capitalism, but Republicans have repeated the false mantra of deregulated capitalism so long that too many carelessly continue using their false language. There no assumption of corporate control of markets in the capitalist theory, because that 's not a free market. The regulation Smith implies must be democratic to prevent capture by the economic elites. Corporate consolidation is collusion against the market, and there's no conflict with Smith's definition of capitalism by antitrust laws.
I mostly agree but I come from Pennsyltucky, where we once had the richest people in the world. Carnegie. Diamond Jim Brady. The Mellons. Long before Reagan, Andrew K. Mellon said he favored the progressive income tax because it precluded anyone else from becoming as rich as he was.
Mellon was probably the most powerful man in the country in the 1920s. As Treasury Secretary, it was said that "three Presidents served under him." He was the model of the evil billionaire who cared for nothing except accumulating more money.
Tim: Not quite true. He gave us his magnificent art collection, one of the best in the world, now housed in the wonderful National Gallery of Arts in Washington, DC. Don't die before seeing it!
I have it on good authority that he was also demented in 1980 (early Alzheimer's). The question then becomes, who was pulling his strings? Who was writing his teleprompter scripts?
I ALWAYS thought that he was only mouthing someone else's words. I never got the feeling that he came up with his speeches - or ideas - on his own. And he was an actor, right? That's what they do - mouth the words someone else wrote.
As a former head of the SAG union, he was originally a Roosevelt democrat. But he got radicalized by working on Death Valley Days as the spokesman for General Electric, and was taken under the wing of the CEO. What a dick he became. My father truly hated the man, saying he was an empty suit with bad ideas.
Every president since at least Ike has had speechwriters. But, love him or hate him, Reagan's delivery was unexcelled. I just don't believe he could have delivered those speeches had he been demented. Also, the press couldn't lay a finger on him - he was referred to as "Teflon." It was his speaking ability that infuriated many who hated him.
Reagan’s delivery of a speech was “unexcelled”? Can’t agree with that. JFK’s ability to deliver Ted Sorenson‘s work was unexcelled when it comes to delivery.
True. Generally Reagan had been widely considered as not among the better actors. But he proved his critics wrong when he became President. His acting ability as President was unsurpassed. Although I have to say Trump's acting ability is plenty good enough to fool an awful lot of people, too.
John, why don't you believe he could deliver speeches if suffering from dementia? One of the reasons Alzheimer's is hard to detect is that people can go through their routines without appearing abnormal.
A friend's parents retired to FL. After several years there, her dad put on a suit one morning, picked up his briefcase and headed out the door. When his wife asked where he was going, he said "To work, of course. Where else?" Do you think that happened overnight? Someone who'd been memorizing lines for years and knew how to use voice and tone to achieve a result could do it "in his sleep" imo (and may have).
Neither loved nor hated him as an individual, but the ideas that came out of his mouth ruined America. As for the dementia: can an actor who is given lines speak them and have no recollection afterwards? Absolutely.
Let's just say he was well-managed, particularly during his second term, when he basically sat in the Oval Office and watched cartoons, while James Baker steered the ship.
Thank you Michael ! There aren’t any kind words for the corruption we’ve come to in this country. Shame isn’t even a word that blisters the hypocrisy. These results come from “not paying attention” to our own government. Not knowing enough about what it means to be a strong functioning body that is supposedly helping make all of us secure .
I personally think the whole idea of being rich is a Big Bore. Most of it is a hoax against anything remotely moral.
Stick your head in the sand, and pretend we are great. When you come up for “AIR” there won’t be any.... the billionaires will have left it to their kids.
Excellent comment. Don't forget dickwad Greenspan's sales pitch for Reagan's SSI tax increase program to the U.S. Congress to pay for the tax cuts. Then Greenspan apologized he got it wrong in the 2008 crash. Neoliberalism prevails. Time to reverse it.
It's a little depressing that Republicans, when they win POTUS, goose the stock market by cutting taxes on corporations. Then all the average middle class people think Republicans are "good for the economy" because their little 401Ks do better under Trump, say, than under a Democrat.
Peggy Freeman : Maybe a general strike, or tax revolt, too! Or both! Or worse! Millions of angry 'citizens' with no voice. It could make the Tea Party look tepid! We outnumber Them!
🎯 That’s right Laurie!! Stop cowering! They will NOT win the next election. Every woman who fought for the right to privacy & safe abortions are mostly still here!, LGBTQIA will not go along with reversals of their fought-for rights, WE, secular Americans will NEVER comply with Dark Ages instructions from barbaric books like the bible, WE DO DEFINITELY have the numbers. Start walking forward with fists up. We will take them out of office! Trump’s support is falling like dominoes. Don’t buy into the right wingers propaganda! Push back hard! Be vocal!
They don’t care .... but when crime increases as a consequence of some “ trying to survive”, they will
complain and bring out bigger “ law and order” regimes and build the walls around their lives and possessions even taller. They fail to see or recognise that what is good for “the common folk” is ultimately goof for them too ( in less material ways). Sigh....😟
If 'they' cut social security and medicare, somebody will kill them. You just don't do that in a country this big that has so many dependent on on those programs.
Agreed. First thing that Mike Johnson should do in accordance with his alleged beliefs is restore the US revenue that was funneled to the very rich (donors) via Trump's 2017 tax cuts and led directly to a huge swell in the deficit. This GOP always wants to cut costs, but never to raise revenues. It's unrealistic. They should repeal or drastically modify the 2017 tax cuts. I would suggest their second move should be to cut public subsidies in the billions to Big Oil and Pharma, both raking in huge profits. They do not need public assistance.
This new eruption of Corruption heading our House of Representatives is terrifying. It is time for US citizens who can get to another safer country to leave. If I had any ability to do this, I would have gone. Watching the Handmaids Tale, the writing is on the wall. Suspending the Constitution, stating 'terrorists' killed the Congress and taking over. NONE of these Congress seditionists, treasonists according to a common person's view have been punished. They are out to PUNISH us. These Mobsters will create a hell, we can not imagine. YOU think it has been bad prior, you have seen nothing yet. The American democracy is broken due to its love affair with money and power. Humans using their reptilian brain instead of their higher functions. And, this is what most have done and most want. Do what they want. Take what they want. Then, control the rest of us.
Vicki, msn: we could focus on the lawsuit coming up in Colorado on 10/30, where the Secretary of state and 6 people are demanding the enforcement of the disqualification clause, to keep tfg off the ballot. I would love to see the domino effect as others are taken out of office as well: including the one who was recently installed as speaker . He is an election denier, if he had previously sworn an oath to support the Constitution. He is disqualified, just like his 'fearless" leader.: and a whole lot of those in Congress! And the 'Supreme Court'!
this is still a democratic republic. How can you deny the electorate their right to offer a candidate for election? Regardless of the opinion of the individual, the electorate has a right to speak., yes or no. If the person is a knucklehead, free elections will eventually work that person out.
If they are election deniers, they broke their oath of office to defend or follow the Constitution. That means not to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power by accepting election results that were repeatedly challenged and found by 60 + judges to be legitimate win for President Biden. They disqualified themselves when they refused to certify or accept his win by voting against it.
It's nonsense to think running away will make you "safer'. Autocrats are everywhere! We need to stay here and keep our Republic! And, if need be; Fight like Hell!! In the courts, in human hearts 💕. Remember: the pen is mightier than the sword. Don't take their bait.
Humans do not have 'reptilian brains' . In this country we have too many billionaires, who have bought too much of our government. Tfg even stole, and shared highly classified secret documents, harming our National Security. Tax the rich out of existence!
John T. Phillips, if I could give you a few dozen 'likes' for your comment, I certainly would, because your views are apparently identical to my own and I support them wholeheartedly. More power to you!
I believe they are ill. They have obsessive-compulsive disorder, a kind of hoarding mental illness. Until that is understood, they will be seen as role models that young people try to emulate. I agree that money does not buy happiness and that we need an unconditional basic income.
I believe greed and acquisition affect the brain the same way addictive substances like alcohol, heroin and meth do. Addiction grows and billionaires become pleasure seeking junkies. Always craving more. Never satisfied!
David, you are right, and because of their intense addiction, a whole lot of people's lives are damaged which those addicted billionaires will never see because they think those folks are so far beneath them. We the People could do something about this if we would elect people with the brains and will to make the necessary changes without the huge billionaire financial infusions so many candidates now depend on.
I play the lottery. I also own copyrights to books and art that may/may not be valuable. Does that mean I have an addiction? Robert has much more "product" than I do. Is he addicted to the money it generates?
Although there may be a "money disorder" as of 2023, money disorder is not a clinical diagnosis in either the DSM or ICD medical classifications of diseases and medical disorders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_disorder
Some of the most successful sales people make a living selling to pathological gamblers, who speculate on practically anything. Stocks, real estate, commodities, etc. Bookies, In the end the "winner" invariably is the salesman.
Love of money. I'm not supposed to know about this but in 1 Timothy 6:10 "the love of money is the root of all of evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Although Jesus said "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven" according to a study from 2015, Christians hold the largest amount of wealth (55% of the total world wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%). According to the same study it was found that adherents under the classification "Irreligion", or other religions, hold about 34.8% of the total global wealth.
Paradoxically, the prosperity gospel, also called prosperity theology, in Protestant Christianity, preaches that faith—expressed through positive thoughts, positive declarations, and donations to the church—draws health, wealth, and happiness into believers' lives.
Tough to justify. As of 2023, there are a mere 735 billionaires in the U.S. Millionaires are more plentiful—almost 22 million.
As an investor, I wanna know how many became billionaires through faith?
Daniel, you have a lot to work through here. However, just because an "addiction" is not in the book of Mental Health disorders does not mean it is not real. The very rich are gamblers of a sort and they will do whatever they can to keep the gambling going. I am guessing they get a hit of adrenalin when they get a win, whatever they think of as a win and get adowner when they lose. They, alas, are gambling with the future of our nation when they buy candidates, influence justices and judges, and buy up properties they mean to drive low income renters out of. That sounds pretty serious to me, someone having to win with the suffering of others. There is a lot of that going on right now, perhaps always, but it does not have to. I will continue thinking on this one. Thanks for the info, as always. I appreciate your insights from down there in FL.
IMHO it has a lot to do with risk tolerance. Lots of psychologists, sociologists, economists have devoted their lives to analyzing it. Many, if not most people can't resist some risk. But I know extremity rich people who only buy/sell the least risk resistant investments like government backed bonds and notes. I used to deal with some bank trust officers who held literally billions for their clients and were paranoid about their fiduciary duties.
I can testify that many rich people are gamblers, but not all of them.
Once upon a time, I represented some of them. Most had a system Bet on sports. Played the ponies. Needed the excitement. Most real gamblers sometimes have many games going simultaneously.
Some of them don't. As I said elsewhere, I don't begrudge inventors who built the "better mousetrap." I don't begrudge people like Taylor Swift.
Before the internet, gamblers were limited to sies like casinos, racetracks and brokerage firms. After state lottos were legalized, many people bet their existences on games that had impossible odds.
These days, the big casino is available to anyone who can access the internet and has a credit card. Incidence has to be high.
There is a Mirroring effect between the highest and 'lowest ' of us in society, Addiction to money and power, addictions fueled by despair of drugs, etoh...
Some billionaires, but not all. For example, Taylor Swift is worth 800 million and will soon be a billionaire. Is she ill with OCD, or simply talented (and lucky to some degree) with excellent financial advisors to invest her money wisely? I agree that money doesn't buy happiness and we need a basic income for all.
Taylor Swift is a talent. If you research her background you will find her as a unique person. Some creative people just have special skills they are born with gifts. We see this in sports and other talents. Be happy for them and enjoy!
Hoping to hit Powerball. I hope that when I invent cold fusion, or an anti-gravity machine or the key to the wormhole in space, my patents will put me into that category. Maybe the publication and movie rights to Pitching Cuba.
She seems like a nice person. I hope all the money doesn't change her outlook and ruin her life like it has for others. Agree she (and all billionaires) should pay a wealth tax.
I saw a truck pass by that had printed on it "He who dies with the most toys wins!" After having to clean up a few hoarded houses from those who passed on it should read "What was I thinking?" Once these people pass away with their grrat fortunes what was purpose of all the suffering that they caused to hoard all that wealth? Legacy right? Such a narrow view of life.
I have been robbed by someone who believed in the same ethos to the tune of 50G. That same person robbed others in a large swath Bernie Maddoff style. I won't stop someone from living their life how they see fit unless it hurts and abuses others.
If the US , Russia, and the powerful countries kept their noses out of other countries and we would have a lot fewer wars and a lot less veterans. The money saved from wars like vietnam/afghanistan/iraq ( to mention just a few) if spent on society.We would be a much nicer and happier not just as a country but the World!!!
It's only a matter of time before they start retaining private armies. At that point, we see the reemergence of kings and royal families. Billionaires do not have the right to exist in the United States because they contradict the very founding principle of these United States as a nation. For all the political palaver, they are the very definition of unamerican, where at some point, the point where they actively interfere with the democratic process, their drive to accumulate wealth is the very definition of unamerican activity.
It’s a game with them. We as sheeple keep buying their products and using their media. We are all hooked. It’s very sad. We have power if we stick together.
Keith : purge the traitors who have broken their oaths of office! They are disqualified! It's in the Constitution. They are disabled as candidates or office holders.
Joan : Where would you go for toilet paper? If you live in a city and can't have a garden, especially in winter, where would you get food? Join a co op maybe?
the thing is that billionaires can buy our representative 'lawmakers'. They pay these 'public servants' to make laws that give them a relatively free ride.
Joan ; the billionaires are a problem because they take away from the Common Good. It is all ill gotten gains, because nobody needs a billion dollars. I think of it as the ultimate wage theft, water hogging. and land grabbing. they elbow out small, businesses, too. and small farms. Unsustainable and creating inequity. Also dynastic wealth that enables entitlement.
More $ Does Not Bye Happiness - but it's hell not to have the necessities of life.
When I was a kid, never saw a beggar. There may have been winos in the Bowery in NYC, but I never saw them. After the mental hospitals released thousands in the early 70s, it seemed like they went straight to the streets.
I'm a veteran. Highest suicide rate than any other identifiable group. As soon as a discharge is issued, according to most Republicans, even some who may be veterans themselves, veterans become "takers,"
The irony is that there are benefits available that might provide the necessities of life to most of these people -- if only they had a social worker and a lawyer.
Keith Olson: When power to buy Supreme Court judges and Congressional seats is what all that money can buy, And dynastic wealth, to enable their offspring: it's very attractive to some. They don't care about the Common Good. They want to be on top, even if they are creating a heap of trash and garbage.
Billionaires are a cancerous growth on the economy who would have us believe they >are< the economy, for which government is the remedy. When a billionaire or their lackeys tell you that socialism doesn't work, what they mean is that it doesn't work to make them billionaires.
Keith, you are right about veterans, and there are so many more too. For Billionaires, acquiring money and power are an addiction even stronger than opioids and any other kind of drug. With opioids, an individual or family is harmed by the addiction. With the very rich, a whole lot of people are harmed. Just say no is not going to work with them as it didn't work with other drugs. We will need serious government intervention but it is not clear there is a desire to treat the addiction.
This is so true!! These billionaires could care less about the brave men and women who have protected them. We simply do not show enough appreciation to our veterans and that is wrong. Without them standing watch, we might not BE a free country!! You're right that all these billionaires crave is more, more, more money!!
My take on it is that, after more money stops offering a significant improvement in standard of living, it becomes points in a game to far too many uberrich. And they're obsessed with winning this game, no matter what the cost - especially since they're not the ones paying it.
So how to get them to share with their countrymen? Obviously you can't guilt them into it. Noblesse oblige is not in their vocabulary, or does it exist in the capitalist system. The only way at present is to tax them. And then it's up to the (gulp) government to decide who gets what. At this point in time, with the mistrust of our corruption-laden government (corrupted by money and possessions, of course), you would guarantee a revolution. My answer is to make money a non-accumulating medium, cancellable after a certain amount of time. And provide everyone with a guaranteed access to a decent standard of living, not in money, but in direct services and products. That way, even if the greedy manage to sponge prolifically off of their fellow humans before the value of their riches is cancelled, they could not control their actions by holding the sword of disenfranchisement over the heads of the people who do the real work.
You might be on to something. Devalue money and encourage Congress to make it an American citizen’s right to be provided a standard of living and universal healthcare.
The Technocracy organization, on whose Board of Directors I presently serve, proposed just such a program in the 1930's. It was even reviewed by the Roosevelt administration but they chose to maintain the status quo (FDR was a former banker). Although the alphabet soup of relief programs did provide some, the country was still in the dumps until - ta da! - World War II, That pumped up the economy and we're still heavily dependent on a war economy. You can see where that has gotten us. Technocracy also projected that with the ongoing introduction of machine technology, the only way consumers could continue to be provided for was by burying ourselves further in debt (I believe the last figure I heard had the average family owing their credit cards $79,000). That mainspring has to snap somewhere, unless something drastic is done. Check out Technocracy Inc. org.
I took a look at Technocracy Inc. org. I do agree :
1. The Earth contains sufficient resources to provide every man, woman and child with an optimum standard of living.
2. We have the technological know-how, the infrastructure, and the physical machinery to realize this goal.
3. In the face of advancing technology, human labor is being replaced, thus removing consuming power from a large portion of the population. Therefore, we must seek a sustainable means of distribution of goods and services to all citizens.
But man’s insatiable appetite for more is the kryptonite! It seems like no one is ever satisfied with just the needs v the wants! Especially Americans always wanting more.
Two basic tenets of Technocracy's approach: shared use of items that can reasonably used by more than one person (think car "libraries"). The efficiency ratio of current usage vs. potential usage with private automobiles is less than 2%, with cars sitting idle in parking lots or garages most of the time; and elimination of throwaway goods in order to maintain sales, versus goods that are made for maximum life spans. Just these two measures would save vast amounts of resources and preserve natural areas.
The recycling of reusable products I definitely agree with. I am not sure about car libraries. I’ve repeatedly said that plastic is @ the top of the list of man’s absolute worst inventions! I am a realist so I know that there are instances where plastic is the only option @ this time. I am a true conservative who believes that recycling, composting, bicycling v driving where feasible, using products like plastic vacuum bags over & over for food storage, etc…. If people would take conservative ideas more seriously it would be a much better approach and it would save them money
Or worse, they seek to further exploit the exploited: I’m thinking of Oprah begging for people to donate to help Hawaiian victims of wildfire, simply because the value of her land has been affected. As a percentage of her wealth, her own contribution to aid was next to nothing. She’s far from unique.
BarDaddy, if you think you know Oprah’s (or anyone’s) motivation is (without actually asking them and trusting their answer), you’re quite mistaken. In a nutshell, that’s projection. We humans are terrible at that, and it causes lots of problems in all kinds of relationships.
Of course billionaires have no right to exist, why would any individual need more than, say, 20 million?
In my view today’s massive inequality exists because the vast majority allow it to, generally without realising they’re complicit because they believe the misinformation they’re fed by tame media (owned by billionaires). Capitalism and free markets need to be regulated and controlled to make sure produced wealth benefits the many, not just the few, and tax regimes managed so that distortions are ironed out (eg wealth tax).
The trouble is, inequality has been the way of the world for millennia, most people know all the above but don’t think they can do anything about it. Progressive politics and politicians are scorned and there’s always a tax haven or cheap labour somewhere.
That requires inspirational leadership with integrity, stamina and media access - getting less likely by the day. Climate change is more likely to foster disorder, with “revolution” to follow as it becomes clearer to more that the filthy rich have stolen our planet.
Oncoming Climate Catastrophe is like a drumbeat in the background that cannot be ignored. It will encourage/force us to think and create outside the dogmas that have been imposed on us. We must be willing to embrace innovation and new thinking to overcome this existential challenge. Personally I am optimistic for the future of humanity but we must be willing to closely examine new thinking brought forward by those not self-limited by the dogmas of others.
I like your optimism but the evidence (so far anyway) is that greed holds sway. Unless the wealthy realise it’s in their interest to make sacrifices for the “common good” (thanks Bob) we won’t make enough progress quickly enough - the rest of us just don’t have the resources.
Barry, yet, I am a bit optimistic in that people are starting to see what global warming is doing. Our media keep pretending each disastrous event is just a one-off, but people are starting to get the idea and that it is the fossil fueler billionaires who are causing it. The problem, the new technology is still too expensive for ordinary Americans to afford. They still must drive their old cars because $40,000 for an electric vehicle is never going to be in the budget of even a $15 per hour employee. However, if public transportation were more affordable, clean, on time, and went to the places people need to go, and those vehicles could be electric, that could really make a big difference. Some effort has recently been made to see where PT can be improved and what it would take to make it truly useful, maybe even rat-free in some cities. We have been an are working hard on the tech. The billionaires, however don't want the changes because they don't care. They think the coming climate disasters won't impact them because they can hide in their fortresses. They're wrong, but their addiction to money and power acquisition will blind them to everything while they drag everyone down, still hanging on expecting nothing will happen to them. They may be right, but I doubt it. We the People need to see that we are not allowing those super rich to drag us down. Voting in people who give a damn is right now, one of the best ways we have to do that. Then, we must find ways to circumvent biased courts that are working hard to take away our rights. Trump and Kump got a lot of judges and justices on courts who have an agenda despite their oaths and we need to counter their impacts, even to the point of ignoring their decisions if we have to. The abortion drug issue is an example, but there are others. We are a democracy and need to be sure we keep it if we are to do anything to stop global warming and other potential disasters.
Ruth, a couple of things: while electric vehicles are touted as a major solution, there are two significant problems there aside from their cost. First, the infrastructure is nowhere near ready—from generation to storage to availability of charging stations, including for those living in apartments, etc. it’s not at all clear how long that might take. Secondly, and perhaps even more important, is how much of our electricity is generated using fossil fuels contributing to air pollution. Also unclear is how long it would take to create cleaner generation of electricity and bring that to scale.
And on a larger scale, people have hardly ever (if ever) given enough attention to unintended consequences. And here my concerns include nuclear power. AFAIK, we are nowhere near figuring out how to safely deal with nuclear waste.
Marc, you are right about hope related to innovation and checking out new thinking that could make a difference. I look at the people running for our highest offices and so many have no positive vision, only the same old whiny crap about denying people rights: bodily autonomy, the right to be who we are, banning books, the right to vote as our Constitution says from the moment one turns 18 years old until death, and the right to know the truth. President Biden is trying, but even he is being overwhelmed by the insanity, agreeing to things he said in his campaign and after that he wouldn't do, like adding to the useless border wall , allowing more offshore drilling when we know that leads to spills and more global warming, and not declaring a climate emergency which could make a big difference in moving us toward staving off climate disaster greater than what we already have. And, he is the best who is running for President by such a large margin, the others don't even come close, yet he is maligned and has such a low approval rate even compared to the serial criminal, pathological liar Trump. Then there are the races for Congress and state legislatures.
There should be some minimum of experience, knowledge about our Constitution, and degree of integrity required to hold higher office, but nope!
Billionaires are orchestrating a lot of the anti-Biden stuff because he is not as able to be manipulated as the rest of the crowd. They have a lot at stake in congressional and state legislature races too because enough people who care elected to office could put a stop to some of their push for regular hits of money and power acquisition, and they can't have that! Ugh
As long as the "donor class" keeps funding Republicans in Congress and at state levels who oppose efforts to fight climate change things will get worse. As long as Americans think climate change is something that won't impact their community (Like the folks in Lewiston and the shooting) , things will get worse. As long as many Americans see little connection between their vote and Fed/state climate policies, etc. Attitudes are changing. CC is changing faster.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi has a climate and disease ridden world where humanity is not doing so well. The last chapter has a rebellion in the Thai nation they are in where they bring out the tanks spewing outlawed fossil fuels and yet other wasteful rich people take over the government. This to me reminds me of the Ukraine Russian war. Burning tons of fossil fuels for a toltarian regime, Russia. While radical climate events and diseases swirl around us. The lesson from the book was that a genetically engineered servant race, one capable of resisting the different diseases and temperature extremes might be the future of this planet. Not the humans that we currently are, who seem destined to ignore our problems until they kill us.
I agree with your post almost completely. You lost me at revolution. I am a child of the 70’s. When I heard that word. I think of the Beatles. Revolution.
always consider fixing the system as you have nothing better to replace it with. Chaos is not pleasant I promise you? What you just saw in Maine will happen multiplied by a 100000 all over the country with no place to hide.
The top tax rate during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years was 91% for those making about $4 million a year back then. This was seen as an incentive to reinvest personal wealth into the companies and corporations they were building, In this way they could fund these assets’ growth rather than pay huge taxes.
Then Reagan came along and dropped the top tax tier from 91% to 25% before being forced to bring it back up to 36%. And soon CEOs were compensated mostly with stock with no taxes paid on it until it is cashed in.
Hard to convince me that pushing paper is more arduous than pushing shovels.
The top tax rate in Finland is 51.4% and year after year they are the “Happiest Country in the World.” I have visited Finland several times and even the blistering cold of winter does not chill the warmth of the Finns. I am told by some who pay the high income taxes they are happy to do so because so many of their necessities are covered by the government. It is one of the few countries where homelessness is decreasing because there is a strong movement to utilize government money to provide housing for the homeless.
According to Forbes, the United States has the highest number of billionaires in the world with a total of 724 billionaires.In contrast, Finland has 6.
Marc, Finland sounds pretty good. I think this nation has confused happiness with money and power and I guess for some people it might be true, but what I think is more true is that the very rich are so addicted, they are oblivious to happiness or anything else except the emotions that will bring on their next fix. I have read studies that supposedly say that the rich are happier, that was after ones that said the opposite. I am guessing money buys studies too. I don't really care if the rich are happier, their wealth is keeping so many other people from being even content which is why we need a tax rate for the rich, on all their income no matter where it comes from at say 50% to start with and only money that can be proven to help their company which provides useful services or produces useful items can get a break. No more breaks for private jets so the rich don't have to sit among the normal folks, and no more capital gains breaks unless again, it can be proven it is used to improve products, services, or worker pay and other benefits. Then, universal health care would help, everyone paying a percentage of our income including the super rich even on capital and other gains. Those things would make a positive difference. I don't think there is sufficient courage in our government to go for something so practical and meaningful, although I wish there were.
Cathie, thanks for the thought, but I am a writer, singer, teacher, friend, sister, but never the president of anything except the Short-sheeting Club at camp at age 11. I am more of a worker bee, an organizer of other people's ideas, and a lover of humanity. I will only support people I think have those skills, experience, and qualities a good, democratic leader should have.
This is why I am choosing to study other forms of government and economic systems closely. First we must educate ourselves, and then we see about implementation. In the meantime, American democracy and capitalism is doing a pretty good job of destroying itself. And no, I do not have Research to back up that last statement.
You are correct, I did not do that type of math. I never was good at math. By the way, I looked at your bio and I agree with you 100% regarding capitalism. It’s time for a better system. Have you checked out economic democracy? It is what I personally am committed to.
Until we tell the truth rather than distortions nothing will be solved.
The contrast,Finland has a population of just over 5 million,one of the largest companies is Wartsila,a maker of ships engines .Nokia,a company that did not keep up with technology. Where would you rather invest,buy shares in Apple,or buy shares in Nokia.Which company do you think will give you a better return and create employment for people.
Would you rather invest in Wal Mart which may or may not have say 200 million customers per week.Wal Mart may supply all of your needs for a net profit of 3%,Spend $100 at Wal Mart and they get to keep $3 of that.Part of that is returned to shareholders as dividends, how many shares are you planning to buy? Would you prefer to invest in Wartsila,how many ships do you think are built on an annual basis?.Do you think Wartsila operate on a 3% net margin,they'd go bust if they did.
Building an engine is more skilled than basic work at Wal Mart.Hopefully the basic work skills from entry jobs at Wal Mart for young people will proceed to more highly skilled jobs.Jobs and training of course provided by those nasty rich people that create the jobs and wealth for a lot of people
Aussie, you’ve asked me personally, what I invest in, and I am willing to disclose that. I own no stock in any large corporations, in fact, I currently own no stock at all.
What I invest in is nonprofits that are dedicated to social change. My returns from my investments of time, money and support are huge to me personally. I invest love, care and support for my children and grandchildren. I have no desire to accumulate wealth in the form of dollars.
Yes, Finland is a small country and does not have large capitalist, enterprises and year after year, it is the happiest country in the world. I would be honored to live there, but I don’t think I could ever master their language.
In short, wealth is measured in innumerable ways. You are free to enjoy your form of wealth, and I am free to enjoy my form of wealth.
I agree with you 100%.Having just returned ( when the post was written) from an AGM of a company I have shares in there are innumerable ways as you say. As the company has done very well for me it is great being able to supply the needy with their needs and not bat an eyelid.Money is there to help people,it just doesn't seem to dawn on the majority.
Do I buy the very expensive toys,or feed and supply the needy.,pay for their education.Obviously I buy the toys ( only joking).
You can have a foot in both camps.The wealth does a lot of good because it can. A poor person cannot feed a poor person ,a wealthy person can.
Bill Gates can supply many needs and fund a lot of research in the healthcare space ,a poor person cannot.
Then of course on death the wealth and the dividends created from those shareholdings can go on for a very long time,Carnegie foundation with libraries and education being a good example.There are many more,Kellog foundation,the list is almost endless .
Personally I prefer south East Asia and micro loans.Buy/loan somebody the money to buy a wheelbarrow,money to buy fruit and vegetables and a business is created. Solar powered lights for nights,a bike for a child to ride to school,the needs are unlimited,as is the money to supply those needs.I enjoyed your answer,well done.
The Scandinavian model is good,but facts are facts.I'm not really up to speed with the Finnish model but I think funding is through Solidium.The Finnish govt owns shares in companies,the dividends ( hopefully ) increase over the generations and healthcare,pensions etc can be funded.
I'm more familiar with Danish ( Novo Nordisk foundation) and Norwegian ( Norges investment bank) models. The Novo foundation is funded by basically diabetes care.No patent was taken on Insulin and profits from diabetes treatment fund research etc for more medical breakthroughs.
Norges is very simple.,a fund was created to meet the needs of future generations.Profits from the discovery of oil just off Norway were used to create the fund .The fund invests in companies,lends money to start ups etc etc.. They have shares in just over 9,000 companies worldwide,on average they own 1.5% of "everything".While the fund will meet the needs of future generations should it be divided equally among the population now then everybody in Norway is a US$ millionaire.
For educational purposes the Norges investment bank website is very educational.Click on to any area of the world and they give you the companies they have shares in,and the number of shares owned.
Purpose of the fund,ethical investment,an endless list..Novo Nordisk is slightly more complicated.Probably best just to google Norges and spend half an hour looking at various sections of the site,it is a good site.The fund now has 14 figures in it.I don't know the exchange rate from NOK to US$ but they may have it somewhere on the site.
Thankfully the US is very good at this.Gates foundation,Bezos foundation,McDonalds,Carnegie, the list is unlimited.If they built a company,they also built a charitable foundation. 501(C) (3) would be the tax section for the US but I am much more familiar with the Australian version
Rich people don’t create wealth and jobs, demand does. Rich people take advantage of that. The notion that the wealthy create jobs is bovine excrement!
Well if you have worked it out how much do you plan to spend to create the supply to meet the demand.How many people do you plan to employ to create the supply to meet the demand?
I haven’t worked anything out, have you? Acknowledge my point that billionaires don’t create demand. Billionaires have rigged the game because economic power begets political power. Massive corruption. Do you deny that?
OMG, what nonsense! Of course those who are very rich or who are beneficiaries of the very rich will compare oranges and trucks and hope we won't notice. We notice! WalMart has done a lot of harm to the economy no matter how much shareholders get. Maybe Apple too could have done better by its customers, the planet, and its workers, but it chose to put its shareholders, folks who have done nothing for the corporation except put money into it, first, well except for the guys (and they are mostly men) at the top. They scoop off their obscene amounts of money. A small nation like Finland can't afford to have corporations like that and they wouldn't want them because they take more from the country then they give. I knew this kind of ridiculous argument would come up somewhere in this discussion because it always does and is one of the things that keeps us under the thumb of the super rich whose addiction to money and power keeps them oblivious to everyone and everything but what will get them the drugs to feed their addiction. Their greed is boundless with very rare exceptions. We should be able to do better.
In a sense the crux of the problem is that we now live in a society that has condoned through policy decisions the creation of corporations that are only interested in shareholder profits, which has led to short term thinking that almost completely ignores the welfare (and future) of the majority of the population. If it makes money, that is all that is required, regardless of the damage.
Yes, Dana that is the crux and to put it in stark terms we have created the perfect killing machine- though this is not a messaging phrase to use.
And this is why Congress should pass laws that incentivize longer term investment horizons.
I hope Robert Reich does more to publicize law changes to shift corporate policies to longer term thinking. The crux is two fold: both corporate and individual planning horizons. The latter is much influenced by genetics. The former by laws that can be changed.
Interesting that the original idea of the corporation in the first laws of the country explicitly limited its lifetime, and required that it be dissolved after its stated project purpose was accomplished. Not so much now!
Aussie, your comments reflect the malaise we’re (mostly) speaking of - you prioritise return on investment. The growing numbers of people living in poverty haven’t the slightest attachment to this and maximising return is what’s led us to where we are with climate change and inequality.
The rules of the game need to change, what’s the point of getting 3% return for the wealthy in a dead world? For example that 3% is returned to people who already have wealth when it could subsidise price reductions for those who don’t.
The fact is, as Robert Reich shows in this article, most wealthy people don’t make their fortune through hard work and genius but by exploitation in one form or another. You seem to value this above equality for people who’ve just been unlucky by comparison - maybe accident of where they were born or who their parents are.
Such a good point. Can Inequality Media perhaps do a short and entertaining tutorial on the history of the income tax? The vast majority of Republicans just don't have a clue.
Todd, thanks for the stats. It looks a whole lot like cheating to me. Would it be possible to get out little almost subliminal messages to people showing and stating the stats then, calling it cheating by the very rich and the people they have paid off then with a big CHEAT in red covering up the screen at the end? That might get people's attention, especially if the voice at the end says, "this was done to you by those rich guys who don't even want you to earn a living wage and want billions for themselves!"
Capitalism is not working for the Greater Good, it was never designed to do that. It is a faulty ideology to run an economy and as capitalists gain more political power the situation has caused even more misery the world over. The primary problem is that it is designed to reward not just hard work and innovation, but greatly rewards unlimited greed.
We must create or embrace an economic and political system that will not permit over accumulation of wealth until every individual under the system has their basic necessities met. This includes appropriate shelter, nourishing food, proper clothing, free medical care and free education including 4 years of higher education. In this country these are not lofty unreachable goals. For example I have read that there are enough unoccupied dwelling units in this country to house every homeless person. (Maheshvarananda “After Capitalism.”) Why is this housing not properly distributed? The answer is the inherent faulty assumptions permitted and encouraged by capitalism.
According to Heather Cox Richardson Abraham Lincoln did not rely on the Constitution to inspire his constituents. He saw its inequities and faults. He relied on the Declaration of Independence, “That all men are created equal…” We might be well counseled to follow his example and ideals in this regard.
I feel the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence go hand in hand. If we followed them as we should, we would be so much better off! However, many of these politicians tend to interpret these two documents for their benefit. The 2nd Amendment comes to mind. Yes, it does say we have the right to bear arms but consider for a moment the times our forefathers lived. A firearm was necessary to protect against wild animals and masqueraders. They did not say we could bear arms that would hold 50 loads and then we could enter schools and shoot our children!!! The interpretation needs to be examined. As long as the far-right takes only what they want out of these two documents, we will continue to spiral out-of-control!!
Gloria, you are right, however, what we have is not pure capitalism. If it were, so many of those greedy guys would be out of business now because their project failed. Our government (social-democracy) has bailed out so many and how were We the People paid back for our generosity? Workers' wages stagnated, unions were maligned and legislated out of existence in many places, people are forced to live in cars and on the streets because we have not found ways to make potential housing available to them, and more. Heck, we're even allowing private equity to steal properties with their ill-gotten funds. That is what is now called capitalism, but has morphed into something else, equally bad, but something that permits some folks, mostly white men to hoard money, properties, stocks, and so much more because we have not even employed the laws on the books that should have stopped a lot of it. It's just crazy!
Marx predicted that this is what capitalism would become. When some people accumulate enough money to buy the political system, it is likely the end. There is regulated and unregulated capitalism. Unregulated capitalism is not compatible with democracy.
Gloria, you are right about unregulated capitalism. However, I suspect it is not good anywhere. Look at Russia. They let the oligarchs do pretty much whatever they wanted for a while, then realized that was a bad move and now Putin has his thumb on everything those guys do and will "do away with them" if they don't do what he says even if what he says is not good for the nation, ala the war in Ukraine. We need an effective economic system that promotes fairness and sufficiency for all with incentives other than money and power.
as capitalists gain more power... Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) went a long, long way to help the rich become richer through political means.
Working to right this wrong would be a good place to start.
if not capitalism then what? flawed maybebut certainly beats socialism or dictatorships. At least capitalism provides an opportunity to change ones life and thrive.
Your point is valid,a lot of it is just being able to see the obvious though Who thought of 'if I put wax on thin cardboard it makes it waterproof'.Bingo,a huge industry is born,billions are created and we all get milk ,orange juice etc down the shirt front opening these cartons.
Save money on transport and storage,put everything in a flat pack.Take it home and build it yourself,instructions and tools are enclosed Save a lot of money by DIY. Welcome to the world of IKEA.Billions created for the person ( s) that saw the obvious. As basic skills decrease an industry is created ' struggling with your IKEA furniture,let me do it for $30 to save your frustration.Hopefully they will be able to employ a few people,and the world goes on
Aussie, good examples of non'-superhuman charactetistics that made millions or billions. Nothing wrong with making a lot of money. It only becomes a problem for society when enormous money and wealth is made by an individual or corporation due to the unfair and unethical advantage of corruption.
I would suggest that you google Ronald Reed,American philanthropist.He took it to extremes,such is human nature.Anybody can be Ronald Reed.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
To point out the obvious,how many people were employed to make a mask.To build the ships and the containers to transport the mask to the USA.To build the trucks that took it to where you were given that mask or bought it .To build the building and machines to make the mask.To apply quality control standards to make sure everything is safe and fit for use/ consumption.You can buy shares in any of those companies.You can donate those shares to charities on death. You can donate those dividends to charities during life.You can follow the path that rich/ wealthy people have done for centuries.Or you can insist the wealth is not shared around society.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
The AGM I attended was full of old people,obviously we are all retired.Most of them the Ronald Reed type,but not taking it to the extremes that he did,perhaps some of them do.
The managing director was voted back in as were all the other directors.The company has a 110 year history of selecting quality people to run the company.
Looking around the MD said it is nice to see so many people ( shareholders ) here that have been with us for decades.
The company has never changed,the aim is to give a good return to shareholders ( owners),act responsibly to the communities ( society ) we live in,and provide long term secure employment to team members ( employees).
The highlight ( facts) were, with all dividends reinvested since 1984 an outlay of $1500 is now worth $1 million.The Ronald Reeds are happy.Ronald Reed is a mini Warren Buffett,anybody can do it,you cannot do what you refuse to see.
The total amount of people that own shares in the company is around 0.9% of the population.Well over 60% of the shares are owned by pension funds .You can insist that the wealth is not shared around.You can buy shares in the company directly,or contribute to a 401K which owns shares in that company.What is your choice?
The choice is yours,you can be Ronald Reed ,or you can refuse to see it.
You can't do what you refuse to see.
The obvious again.The cost to buy one share in that company to start it was $2 in 1913. $1 to raise funds to buy products to sell, 50 cents 1 year later to again supply funds to get over the need for cash to keep the company going,then 50 cents 6 months later.Start up for any company or 1 man business is extremely difficult and fraught with the risk of financial loss.
Attributed to Charles Dickens as Mr Micawber.The fear of losing one penny will always be greater than the joy of perhaps gaining £1000.
Again the choice is yours,shall I be Ronald Reed,or shall I demand that these companies ( and individuals that start them) not be allowed to do that. Your choice,your fault.
Evidently Taylor Swift is now a billionaire,the employment she creates.Not my type of music but obviously it is for a lot of young people,should we do away with her?.The evil rich?
Paul McCartney is touring Australia at the moment.The employment created,sound engineers,road crew, transportation,etc etc etc...
By all accounts he is putting on a fantastic show,people saying they would pay twice the price of the tickets to see such a fantastic show.The last time they will get to see the evil billionaire Paul McCartney,82? now.When should he have been stopped.
People see what they want to see,and hear what they want to hear.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
Have a good day,and think and grow rich.Your choice.Don't forget to supply the needs of those less fortunate
I wake up in the middle of the night. decide to turn on the computer and ... reports of a mass killing event. and this.
I do not like billionaires. I do not like the system that allows them to exist. I think they have too much power and they have rigged the system.
I am mostly powerless and think that there is nothing I can do to change the system. In part because of you, I have promised to try to change the system.
So in six hours, I will start attending meetings both virtual and in person. where people will be be attempting to change systems that create injustice, hunger, homelessness, and death.
“So in six hours, I will start attending meetings both virtual and in person. where people will be be attempting to change systems that create injustice, hunger, homelessness, and death.”
Fred, I absolutely endorse your approach. It will inspire others to do the same. I read your bio, you have more experience in the consequences of capitalism gone awry than many of us. I skimmed the titles of your substack contributions; they are also impressive. I wish yo the best on your journey.
thank you but it is not a marathon or a sprint. Those are games with rules, and fixed starting and end points. It seems as though powerful people and people with out much power are not even pretending to obey rules.
I am not doing fine. I am in pain both physical and mental, I may not have shelter over my head in a few month or heat during the coming winter.
Still I will try. and as I said, I need to go back to sleep and stop doom scrolling.
Kudos to you, Fred. You may not think you can make a difference but consider this, you have decided to attend meetings that will attempt a change, another person like yourself has decided to attend meetings and then another, and another, and another....... Pretty soon you have a huge movement with vast numbers of people all wanting to change the systems. That is actually what is happening so don't get frustrated, do get some rest, and yes, give peace a chance!!
Do billionaires have a right to exist? Yes they do. We should let them live. I am being facetious. But we should have a system of progressive taxation that caps their wealth below a billion. If not for working people, billionaires couldn't have amassed their wealth. They needed highways, an electrical grid, and a population that can read and do math that was educated with tax dollars. They need the police and fire fighting. They need the system of law and order for the masses. They didn't accumulate their huge fortunes without societies help and they don't have the right to decide how to spend an amount approaching a billion dollars. Society has that right through a government that truly represents the people.
There is way too much "stupid money" being spent in America. That's because the haves have too much and the have-nots have too little. Yes, it is all about scale. A fairer taxation regime would certainly help correct this problem, but more importantly, would reduce the public debt the tax-cutters keep screaming about while providing the funds to re-invest in our infrastructure.
Religion has become a haven for Tax-exempt groups and individuals who only want to take advantage of our system. They exhibit absolutely "No" Loving tendencies toward their fellow man, but they do covet their money. Joel Osteen could do so much for the local people in Texas if a had just a small piece of love in his heard instead of dollar signs.
I once told my wealthy aunt that I would make a terrible millionaire, because I would give it all away. Money holds no relevance unless it's is working to make less fortunate people happy.
Donald, I remember reading recently about a super rich guy who decided he would give away all his money before he died and there would be no building or anything else named for him and no trust fund that would give out pittances each year while still holding onto the bulk of the money, or anything else that would get in the way of giving away his money. I can't remember his name, and that's probably what he wanted, but I see his as a model for what all billionaires now should be doing, not buying candidates, not supporting dark money PACs, not having buildings, streets, or institutions named for them, not buying huge yachts or private jets. The problem is, they can't let go of it. They might not be seen as people of extreme importance if they did that, and their egos depend on their wealth meaning something. Then there's the greed and the power/money addiction. It will require government intervention to stop the insanity. Do we have the will?
Ruth---My rich aunt in her passing donated all of her money, or most of it, to charity. This generous act enraged her family to the point where members of same boycotted her funeral. "What's love got to do with it" great song, better moral.
Donald, I do honor your aunt for that. I am guessing a few in the family could have used a few bucks, but had she given some to anyone, even if they needed it, the others would have whined about it and probably would have avoided her funeral too. I am sorry money given to charity trumped love and respect.
I absolutely adore (because the only way I can stay sane is address these issues with a sense of humor) that:
1. The rhetoric of the current RINO/MAGA party refers disparagingly about socialism on the "left" and yet buys "socialism" for the rich!
2. The RINO/MAGA use in their rhetoric religion and god and yet their leader is corrupt and dishonest as are they. It's just like King Lear! The faults of the leader trickle down and have their effect.
3. George Santos is not a one-off, he represents the ethos of many in that party and he isn't an anomaly. He is a sad reflection, young, gifted liar who has come a very long way on the strength of his lies. Now where is the difference between him and the de-facto leader of his party and his acolytes?
So yes I absolutely agree with the content of your article. The "greed is good" ethos of the Reagan "Revolution" leads us to this, a place where money becomes the only value, the only criteria for decision. In the Dominion Voting Systems case, it was Rupert Murdoch who said his decision to promote that lie was "green" (he smiled) and he didn't mean ecological. Unfortunately they are not the first nor will they be the last to profit from lies, and along the way hurt other people.
Whoops! Stay within the system. It’s the only to actually change the system. The elites have all the money on their side so it will be very difficult but, we can do it! What will surely do it is a clear and clean demarcation between maga insanity and what makes sense. A clear public uproar! A clear and solid progressive majority. A sweeping sea of change. An enlightenment such as a thousand LED lights suddenly coming on as bright as can be. Pivotal events are just that, pivotal. Trump being put in jail without his makeup will help that process.
Stephen, yes, that could help, but only if he is not covered every single day concerning his prison routine as he has been covered and covered ad nauseum since his escalator ride over 8 long years ago. That toddler is an evil jerk and needs to be shut down. In a way, he is shutting himself down now because he is losing it at nearly every appearance and what he says makes no sense a lot of the time. He has dementia and it is not getting better despite his bluster. Clearly someone is helping him with the sentences he can put together with some clarity. Why anyone even listens to him is beyond comprehension. We did learn, though that he isn't even close to being a billionaire, just another of his tens of thousands of lies. Now his baby boy Johnson is Speaker of the House, another jerk, but this time people describe him as a gentleman from Louisiana. Are people duped that easily that just because someone is a decent actor does not mean they give a damn about the people or anything else but the ego burst he gets from doing as much harm through his performance as possible. Everyone should have known that watching Trump for so long, but, some people choose not to learn anything.
Yes, Shawn Fain and Robert Reich are absolutely correct. Capitalism has been broken for some time (Reagan Years), preyed on by greedy opportunistic thugs until it can no longer breathe. Human's LUST for Power is now unstoppable. Even worse, it is leading us to a Mass Extinction, OURS! Just like Cancer, Corporate Greed kills its Host.
Willis, but We the People could permit some gene therapy or immune system enhancements to fight the cancer of extreme wealth and its move to destroy the national body. We have the tools, but do we have the will to do it?
We the People have the tools to stop Global Warming in its tracks right now, today, but Corporations and Politicians will block any move to do so. Three human constructs are set to cause our own extinction and the death of our planet: Religions, Politics, Corporations. We are history, a failed evolutionary experiment, in the grander scheme of things.
No billionaires should exist ,as that wealth creates and gives them power and power corrupts.JUST LOOK at our politicians!
Just after I graduated, I went into a minor joint venture the other person was a multi millionaire and he was arguing over £25 with a contractor, I later asked him why as it sounded petty! He said I would rather have it in my pocket and I said what you are worth it would least several generations and he retorted IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY BUT WEALTH GIVES YOU UNADULTERATED POWER AND OPENS DOORS YOU CANNOT IMAGINE!
I was young and naive but now that I am older I can see it clearly!
Most super rich people have no or little consciousnesses, they do everything to pay as little Tax and attitude is I live in my bubble and really don't care what happens outside!
Capitalism works so long as everybody pays their fair share.My father was an accountant and on one occasion I was complaining about how much tax I was paying and he said Thank God you are earning that much and you should be happy to pay your dues to society!
Anil, you are right about the money being the thing from beginning to end for the super rich, even some who are not super rich. I like your dad's advice. He was right! Toddler-Trump told us that his business behavior, essentially cheating and fraud were proof that he was smart. I know a lot of the rest of the super rich crew think that way too. We don't have to go along with that way of thinking. We could stop the process through government intervention on behalf of the American people.
It's not just an American problem, it's a world wide problem, the RICH & THE POWERFUL are what's made our world what it is today!
It applies to countries too!! were the jewish lobby not so rich and powerful would Israel get away with its behaviour!
It's not the Jews who are behaving badly , but our politicians who feel they have to appease the zionists to secure the Jewish vote . The pain and anguish of every human being is the same!
Our media portrays the pain of Israelis is greater than that of palestinians or anybody else "SHAME ON THEM"
Plus, the Environmental Cost of the Filthy Rich is enormous. Analyses repeatedly show that the Greedy and Needy Rich consume far more of the resources and create far more of the GHGs. A case-study example is Bill Gates who departs one of his mansions to hop on his private jet to fly halfway around the world to lecture Other People on how to "save the environment" - and he has the chutzpah to joke about his hypocrisy!!!
That, of course, is true of Americans in general. On a global income/wealth basis, most of us are the Filthy Rich - compared to, say, the avg Bangladeshi. We represent about 4.2% of global peeps, yet we consistently suck up 25-30% of ALL resources.
We ARE the problem, yet most of us continue to consume to the level of our wealth. Few are willing to make substantive steps to our footprints. When we point a finger at others, our other three fingers are pointing back at US.
You forgot to mention the 1000 year trust (which should be illegal in the first place) and how the billionaire class got the tax code changed to allow this Pax Americana, generational wealth and hubris thinking to get legitimized and codified but the US legal system.
I had to look it up! According to the Internet "In some states, a dynasty trust can remain valid for 1,000 years to get around the rule against perpetuities. A dynasty trust permits the assets held in the trust to pay out to beneficiaries for several generations. The assets stay within a dynasty trust and outside a taxable estate." In other words, yet another tax loophole for the wealthy!
At least billionaires should pay their share of taxes just like the rest of us. Republicans give tax breaks to the billionaires and working people barely make a living! There are homeless people in the “richest” country in the world!! This makes no sense to me!
Define “fair share”. They follow the tax code like anyone else. Don’t get mad at them for following the law. Get mad at Congress that created it. If you mean fair then do you want a flat tax rate? That’s equal. Why should one person pay a higher percentage than anyone else? Taxes are used for things like public buses. Why should someone pay for something they will never use? Should they pay more because they can afford it? How is it greedy to want to keep your money but not greedy to take someone else’s money through taxation? It’s way more complicated than just saying “pay your fair share”
Dear Ben , The rich have been given breaks and loopholes. That is not enough for them. They want to squeeze every ounce of the soul out of the poor workers. They are stripping away benefits and protections to enrich themselves and generations of their children and grandchildren and on and on. They raise prices not because they can’t afford to operate but because they can. People actually believe that if they don’t accept the unacceptable the company will have to close. I was actually alive when Dad made enough money as an army soldier to feed 2 adults and 4 kids. The GI bill allowed my father to go to college and get a degree in engineering. We were able to have a home, and my mother still was able to take care of us without having to work outside the home. It was not magic Ben . Kids are being shot in their schools. These greedy bast ards could care less. Americans have been forced to live on the streets and they are demonized by it. When I was young we had one homeless guy that lived under the causeway because he wanted to be free. We chatted with him while we fished. America was great at that time because Dad went to work ONE job and we had a good life.
Capitalism IS working as designed. Is Capitalisms aim not to extract maximum profits from the many and merge those profits into the few? Profits over people has always been the American way, regardless of our embrace of the mythological history of America. The founders built our system of government for the singular purpose of concentrating power (money) into the hands of wealthy white men. It seems to do that flawlessly.
More $ Does Not Bye Happiness
If humans would realize that Basic income which covers your Basic needs can promote universal happiness.
There are so many people living right here in America that do not have enough money to cover their basic needs. Many of them are veterans who served their country in times of war. Is this how we show our appreciation for their service?
There are many billionaires that could share just a little bit of their wealth and make a huge difference in the lives of these veterans. But instead they strive for more wealth! No matter how much wealth they have it’s NEVER ENOUGH!
I personally despise Billionaires and the corrupt Fascist GQP. The first thing this SOB Mike Johnson mentioned when he was elected House Speaker said, '' We are going to consider a bill to cut trillions and trillions from Social Security and Medicare''. If these corrupt billionaires would pay into SS a fraction of their billions, SS would be in a much better situation right now. I am sick and tired of these asshats going after our SS every time the budget deficit subject comes up. When cuts are suggested for the Military/ Industrial complex, they start screaming about that. My opinion is, i don't think billionaires or the Fascist GQP should exist. To me, both of them are the lowest form scum on the planet.
Unfortunately, the GOP are a creation to justify the existence of a tiny group of people who believe that they are supposed to rule the world because they because they became wealthy by exiting the womb.
A Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for all is essential
Free education to maximum potential is essential
Free at point of service healthcare including everything is essential
..and so much for 99% of crime and the elimination of poverty, overnight
100% realistic because it would supercharge the economy because people who need money, spend it😎
The billionaires of America don’t give a ....( substitute your own word), for their fellow American citizens.
They have never considered when “ enough is enough”. Deep down they must be scared of poverty, as they observe in increasingly, around them. Or not, living in high security gated estates.....🤨
You're right.
It's pure fear and there's nothing more dangerous or unpredictable than a scared animal.
It's us that they're scared of.
They're scared that we might get our voting power back and that would end their existence.
They're wrong.
People treat people the way that they are treated 😏
When you hurt another, or the environment, well, it ain't the best idea for a lot of reasons.
Jesus said "whatever you do for these, the least of the brethren, that you have done for me."
Now imagine you're stealing wages from this same person. Yeah karma is very real but karmic debt isn't.
A billionaire who really wants to change their lives absolutely can, in an instant.
It's a choice.
Just like people continue to build mental fortresses to keep the world out, never realizing they're building their own personal prison and suddenly, all the locks are on the outside.
It doesn't mean they have to give away their money. They can do whatever they want except buy governments.
It will require full visibility on all financial transactions, including price tags to show the cost and profit. That visibility would extend to the boardroom and the shop floor. Everyone knows what everyone makes, exactly.
The only people who would object are those with somthing to hide😏👍
I very much support basic income! We CAN do it. Stop allowing billionaires who barely pay into SS and CUT the military budget.
Our schools a
used to teach kids Politics Science in all levels of school . Instead they teach things that are designed to accelerate their wealth. Unless these wealthy elites become human, their plans for destruction of our society. They want it all. Pushing for keeping the country dumbed down and keep their KNEE ON THE NECK of American people. I would love to see American people rise up and stomp the dog shit out of these greedy bastards.
You're right Susan,
When I was, maybe 9, and I was watching TV and the message I kept seeing in every program I liked was "smart bad/dumb good".
It's a pattern and it absolutely carries into schools because a well educated and informed population is impossible to oppress or plunder.
That's why free university ended.
And it's all pointless and cruel.
The wealthy, fearful people who don't know how badly they're hurting others are terrified that anyone else might be in charge and especially the majority of the country.
It's pointless.
An educated population is also capable of generating enormous wealth and with comprehensive social and healthcare programs with a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for all so this ends poverty and homelessness because all rents would have a maximum of 30% of a person's net income.
We all know that person who is obviously brilliant and just never had the opportunity to develop knowledge and used their own wisdom to improve themselves 🤔❤
..now imagine them with a doctorate and a 7 figure income😏🤑
That's not just power, that's SuperPower!
Amen!
True democrats fight for this: https://t.co/BZ16VYCozO
I am in full agreement with your reply. Everything most certainly be much better if all of what you listed could be implemented into the system The Fascist GQP want to burn it all down with their outrageous and insane policies. I am a person that finds no joy in being angry. Lately, however, i am so outraged and angry when i hear what these Fascist wingnuts are trying to accomplish by being treasonous traitors that they are, and finish destroying our once great nation. I wonder sometimes how this rot has gotten so many to believe their continuous lying and deceit?? The stupidity of so many average people here in the Southeast is appalling to say the very least.
Hi John
Did you ever wonder why the GOP wants to destroy all social programs and benefits? 🤔
Individually, most politicians are there to because wealthy. They follow the directions from the donors, delivered from the lobbyists and grind the entire system into chaos until tax cuts roll around and then they're a machine and the corporate Democrats follow the same orders.
Yelling at Republican and Democrat corpratists is as pointless as yelling at the players on a foosball table for throwing the game and ignoring the person running the controls.🤦🏻♂️🤦🏿♂️
The outrage is by design for the GOP
The compliance of corporatists ensures passage of bills that yield a less than a 3% tax rate on a tiny fraction if actual income/wealth for the wealthiest people on the planet.
They're actors.
None of them believe what they are saying but they know that if they play along then the cash they need to be obscenely rich will keep coming in, no matter who it kills. 😳
Not because they're evil, they love money more than anything else.
Look to see who pays and who directly benefits and you will find out how terrified these billionaires are. They build their lives around fear, they live in fear, they act in fear.
And the language of fear is anger.
We don't need to change either group.
We need to change the system so nobody can buy control. 🤔
Make all elections and election campaigns completely publicly funded.
No political donations at all.
No insider trading
No lobbyists, period
And no 3rd party political advertising
All members of Gov't would have 100% visibility on all financial transactions, including pay and benefits, publicly accessible.
All Gov't employees and politicians use a federal bank during their time in office and for 2 years after retirement or job change.
The only reason someone would have to be a politician or Gov't employee would be service to all citizens and a guaranteed Livable income.
I am not looking for saints, I'm looking for people who make decisions based on the facts and the needs of the country.
Radical, Isn't it 😏
At this point, the people who vote are in control of their lives
Thank you very much. Jean. That was a very accurate assessment of the whole situation here. I wish your suggestions could be acted upon here in United States. Do you live in our great northern neighbor, Canada?? I hope the same thing that is happening here never happens in Canada. These mass shootings we have had over the past few years have me so spooked i am afraid to go get my groceries now. Personally, i wish i were living in Nova Scotia now, i would feel much safer now if i was living there.
Yeah, I'm Canadian.
I had to travel for work, literally around the planet and I spent a lot of time in the US and got to know some amazing people.
What I could never figure out for the longest time was "Why are individual Americans so sensible and rational one on one but the Gov't decisions make no practical sense in far too many situations 🙄
Then I finally clued in😏
The people in charge of government pre-select their politicians and political platforms so their interests are always priority and everyone else can go wanting.
They are also living in fear of everything and the language of fear is anger so they viciously attack anything that they believe will destroy their fortunes and, oh God no, make them share😱their wealth.
What they don't realize is that nobody cares.
I don't care if they are trillionaires
The only requirements are that nobody is hurt by their actions and the environment is protected and restored to nature directly or indirectly
I'm fortunate but I'm not complacent. 😏
I'm watching the same thing happening in Canada and I will fight this with intellect, wisdom and truth because those are unbeatable in public governance.
I'm in the maritime provinces and we're being attacked by the same people here.
There is a focused push to collapse universal healthcare in Canada and a lot of money is moving around Ottawa, like Washington. The difference is the politicians here aren't as good at this game so they accept paltry bribes for millions in kickbacks and lie really badly about it.
It's all that's saving us.
Every corporatist provincial premier is coordinating to defund universal healthcare by richly rewarding donors with boondoggle contracts that are gifts.
I'm an engineer.
I look for the root cause, of everything.
These are the corrections I'd like.
Make everything visible, right down to the price tag on a box of cereal showing the production cost , the % profit and the price charged.
Every financial transaction, publicly visible.
Ensure all people residing inside the borders of the country have a guaranteed Livable Basic income, enough to cover:
Food
Shelter
Unlimited education with stipend
Universal healthcare that includes everything
The economy would absolutely explode like a rocket because people who need money, spend it when they get it and especially when they know, it'll never run out.😁
This is real SuperPower fuel😎
It’s so radically simple. And you said it so well !
Universal basic income? So, plundering some people, to give free money to others, who provide nothing? Hardly seems fair at all.
Nope.
I propose a flat tax of 10% across the board and a Guaranteed Livable Basic Income for every person in the United States currently employed or dependent or extended family.
Everyone except tourists
And comprehensive universal healthcare for all permanent residents and citizens.
And the unlimited potential act that will make all education free for all residents of the country, temporary and permanent who are attending university but only US residents will receive a biweekly living expenses cheque for incidentals above GLBI.
You, personally know of that guy who never had a chance to go beyond 6th grade but is naturally gifted. I met someone like that in my career, a mechanic who had to take his journeyman examination verbally because he could read...
But that man could fix machines everyone else wrote off, everytime.
Imagine what engineers they could have made
And all it costs is the ability to create new wars in other countries. That's 2 trillion freed up every year but realistically, it's 1.5 trillion and that's still 5x China
Power corrupts : Diane Finestein is no longer with us .
Capitalism was never intended to produce even the 18th Century equivalent of a billionaire, indeed Adam Smith was a moral philosopher who would have approved of the Common Good. His way of dealing with human greed? Tax, tax again, then tax some more. In other words, progressive taxation. This requires a functioning government.
Americans lost sight of this in 1980 when they elected the mule Ronald Reagan, imbued with Ayn Rand, early Alzheimer’s Disease, a lopsided grin, and an obsequious lickspittle sidekick, Milton Friedman, who brought us the patronizing concept of trickledown. Top income tax would be cut from 80% to 20%, unions busted, and government vilified with appalling racist lies about its malignant effect on society https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rls8H6MktrA.
Time for a change. Time for the DNC platform to be built around progressive taxation. Time to reverse Reagan. It's what over 70% of Americans want.
Actually, trickle-down was the work of Arthur Laffer. Friedman was a the chief salesman of the lie.
Also, Smith warned that capitalism left to its own device (laissez faire) would degenerate into cartels and monopolies. Profit extorted by monopolistic power subverting the free market is not capitalism, it's feudalism.
I agree on both points you make. And what a salesman Friedman was!
As regards Smith, this is why he wanted strong government and progressive taxation. Reagan stood this logic on its head, and got capitalism a bad name,
Actually it was Karl Marx who wrote that the consequences of capitalism was the massive concentration of wealth into fewer and fewer capitalists.
Adam Smith specifically warned that this happens from laissez faire. Marx failed to understand that capitalism need not assume laissez faire. A corrupted unregulated market system is not capitalism. Profits extorted by cartels and monopolies are feudalism, not capitalism, but Republicans have repeated the false mantra of deregulated capitalism so long that too many carelessly continue using their false language. There no assumption of corporate control of markets in the capitalist theory, because that 's not a free market. The regulation Smith implies must be democratic to prevent capture by the economic elites. Corporate consolidation is collusion against the market, and there's no conflict with Smith's definition of capitalism by antitrust laws.
the curve written on a cocktail napkin over drinks lol
and the curve that proved their claim of over-taxation wrong, never to be mentioned again.
I mostly agree but I come from Pennsyltucky, where we once had the richest people in the world. Carnegie. Diamond Jim Brady. The Mellons. Long before Reagan, Andrew K. Mellon said he favored the progressive income tax because it precluded anyone else from becoming as rich as he was.
Mellon was probably the most powerful man in the country in the 1920s. As Treasury Secretary, it was said that "three Presidents served under him." He was the model of the evil billionaire who cared for nothing except accumulating more money.
Tim: Not quite true. He gave us his magnificent art collection, one of the best in the world, now housed in the wonderful National Gallery of Arts in Washington, DC. Don't die before seeing it!
Daniel, ICYMI Phil Ehr is challenging Carlos Gimenez in the 28th District of our
great GOP dictatorship state. Wishing him (and you) the best!
I totally agree that all of this is Reagan’s fault in so many ways.
I have it on good authority that he was also demented in 1980 (early Alzheimer's). The question then becomes, who was pulling his strings? Who was writing his teleprompter scripts?
I ALWAYS thought that he was only mouthing someone else's words. I never got the feeling that he came up with his speeches - or ideas - on his own. And he was an actor, right? That's what they do - mouth the words someone else wrote.
Barbara, how wrong you are! There many actors who are independent thinkers and influential speakers for human rights.
As a former head of the SAG union, he was originally a Roosevelt democrat. But he got radicalized by working on Death Valley Days as the spokesman for General Electric, and was taken under the wing of the CEO. What a dick he became. My father truly hated the man, saying he was an empty suit with bad ideas.
Yes! RR was bought.
Reagan "named names" during the Joe McCarthy red scare.
Every president since at least Ike has had speechwriters. But, love him or hate him, Reagan's delivery was unexcelled. I just don't believe he could have delivered those speeches had he been demented. Also, the press couldn't lay a finger on him - he was referred to as "Teflon." It was his speaking ability that infuriated many who hated him.
Reagan’s delivery of a speech was “unexcelled”? Can’t agree with that. JFK’s ability to deliver Ted Sorenson‘s work was unexcelled when it comes to delivery.
True. Generally Reagan had been widely considered as not among the better actors. But he proved his critics wrong when he became President. His acting ability as President was unsurpassed. Although I have to say Trump's acting ability is plenty good enough to fool an awful lot of people, too.
John, why don't you believe he could deliver speeches if suffering from dementia? One of the reasons Alzheimer's is hard to detect is that people can go through their routines without appearing abnormal.
A friend's parents retired to FL. After several years there, her dad put on a suit one morning, picked up his briefcase and headed out the door. When his wife asked where he was going, he said "To work, of course. Where else?" Do you think that happened overnight? Someone who'd been memorizing lines for years and knew how to use voice and tone to achieve a result could do it "in his sleep" imo (and may have).
Neither loved nor hated him as an individual, but the ideas that came out of his mouth ruined America. As for the dementia: can an actor who is given lines speak them and have no recollection afterwards? Absolutely.
Let's just say he was well-managed, particularly during his second term, when he basically sat in the Oval Office and watched cartoons, while James Baker steered the ship.
Thank you Michael ! There aren’t any kind words for the corruption we’ve come to in this country. Shame isn’t even a word that blisters the hypocrisy. These results come from “not paying attention” to our own government. Not knowing enough about what it means to be a strong functioning body that is supposedly helping make all of us secure .
I personally think the whole idea of being rich is a Big Bore. Most of it is a hoax against anything remotely moral.
Stick your head in the sand, and pretend we are great. When you come up for “AIR” there won’t be any.... the billionaires will have left it to their kids.
Excellent comment. Don't forget dickwad Greenspan's sales pitch for Reagan's SSI tax increase program to the U.S. Congress to pay for the tax cuts. Then Greenspan apologized he got it wrong in the 2008 crash. Neoliberalism prevails. Time to reverse it.
Maybe 70% of Americans are *wrong*, and a bit greedy, too.
It's a little depressing that Republicans, when they win POTUS, goose the stock market by cutting taxes on corporations. Then all the average middle class people think Republicans are "good for the economy" because their little 401Ks do better under Trump, say, than under a Democrat.
It's just pathetic.
My mother used to say that people don't be come rich without stepping on or taking unfair advantage of others. That's still true.
More so than ever
❤️❤️
No proof, just “My mom said.” Why should I care or anyone else care, about what your mom said?
Jenn: this is the zero-sum fallacy that is at the root of so much conflict. Technological advances can benefit all over the long run.
When and if they do cut Social Security and Medicare, you will see so much more homelessness and poverty!
Peggy Freeman : Maybe a general strike, or tax revolt, too! Or both! Or worse! Millions of angry 'citizens' with no voice. It could make the Tea Party look tepid! We outnumber Them!
🎯 That’s right Laurie!! Stop cowering! They will NOT win the next election. Every woman who fought for the right to privacy & safe abortions are mostly still here!, LGBTQIA will not go along with reversals of their fought-for rights, WE, secular Americans will NEVER comply with Dark Ages instructions from barbaric books like the bible, WE DO DEFINITELY have the numbers. Start walking forward with fists up. We will take them out of office! Trump’s support is falling like dominoes. Don’t buy into the right wingers propaganda! Push back hard! Be vocal!
Seeking Reason: And don't let MSM persuade us otherwise.
They don’t care .... but when crime increases as a consequence of some “ trying to survive”, they will
complain and bring out bigger “ law and order” regimes and build the walls around their lives and possessions even taller. They fail to see or recognise that what is good for “the common folk” is ultimately goof for them too ( in less material ways). Sigh....😟
Pamela, I believe that's called fascism (at least a facet of it).
If 'they' cut social security and medicare, somebody will kill them. You just don't do that in a country this big that has so many dependent on on those programs.
Mary, they don't want to cut these social programs; they want to dwarf them.
And crime
There would probably be an appreciable increase in suicides. Thus, a matching increase in happiness for many in the GOP. So there's that...
Agreed. First thing that Mike Johnson should do in accordance with his alleged beliefs is restore the US revenue that was funneled to the very rich (donors) via Trump's 2017 tax cuts and led directly to a huge swell in the deficit. This GOP always wants to cut costs, but never to raise revenues. It's unrealistic. They should repeal or drastically modify the 2017 tax cuts. I would suggest their second move should be to cut public subsidies in the billions to Big Oil and Pharma, both raking in huge profits. They do not need public assistance.
Pretty sure he leans to cutting outlays, not raising revenue.
Steveandjanereid: especially cutting outlays to the poor and middle class.
And publicly disavow "too big to fail." haha
This new eruption of Corruption heading our House of Representatives is terrifying. It is time for US citizens who can get to another safer country to leave. If I had any ability to do this, I would have gone. Watching the Handmaids Tale, the writing is on the wall. Suspending the Constitution, stating 'terrorists' killed the Congress and taking over. NONE of these Congress seditionists, treasonists according to a common person's view have been punished. They are out to PUNISH us. These Mobsters will create a hell, we can not imagine. YOU think it has been bad prior, you have seen nothing yet. The American democracy is broken due to its love affair with money and power. Humans using their reptilian brain instead of their higher functions. And, this is what most have done and most want. Do what they want. Take what they want. Then, control the rest of us.
Vicki, msn: we could focus on the lawsuit coming up in Colorado on 10/30, where the Secretary of state and 6 people are demanding the enforcement of the disqualification clause, to keep tfg off the ballot. I would love to see the domino effect as others are taken out of office as well: including the one who was recently installed as speaker . He is an election denier, if he had previously sworn an oath to support the Constitution. He is disqualified, just like his 'fearless" leader.: and a whole lot of those in Congress! And the 'Supreme Court'!
this is still a democratic republic. How can you deny the electorate their right to offer a candidate for election? Regardless of the opinion of the individual, the electorate has a right to speak., yes or no. If the person is a knucklehead, free elections will eventually work that person out.
If they are election deniers, they broke their oath of office to defend or follow the Constitution. That means not to interfere with the peaceful transfer of power by accepting election results that were repeatedly challenged and found by 60 + judges to be legitimate win for President Biden. They disqualified themselves when they refused to certify or accept his win by voting against it.
It's nonsense to think running away will make you "safer'. Autocrats are everywhere! We need to stay here and keep our Republic! And, if need be; Fight like Hell!! In the courts, in human hearts 💕. Remember: the pen is mightier than the sword. Don't take their bait.
Many have left the US since Trumpty erupted
Humans do not have 'reptilian brains' . In this country we have too many billionaires, who have bought too much of our government. Tfg even stole, and shared highly classified secret documents, harming our National Security. Tax the rich out of existence!
We actually do, it’s the amygydla. It is the center for primordial fear.
Maybe that’s actually what does drive the morbidly rich.
And, not to rub salt in the wound, but the billionaires stop paying into Social Security on Jan. 2nd!
Totally agree!
John T. Phillips, if I could give you a few dozen 'likes' for your comment, I certainly would, because your views are apparently identical to my own and I support them wholeheartedly. More power to you!
I absolutely loved your comment. The only thing is you were much to nice to the republicanparty and right-wing Billionaires
Right you are. Now what are we going to do about it except spout indignities?
People despise you, too.
Are you seeking a one-party state?
I am with you John T Phillips! 👏🏻👏🏻
that's great! Johnson's words will make a great splash at election time.
I believe they are ill. They have obsessive-compulsive disorder, a kind of hoarding mental illness. Until that is understood, they will be seen as role models that young people try to emulate. I agree that money does not buy happiness and that we need an unconditional basic income.
I believe greed and acquisition affect the brain the same way addictive substances like alcohol, heroin and meth do. Addiction grows and billionaires become pleasure seeking junkies. Always craving more. Never satisfied!
David, you are right, and because of their intense addiction, a whole lot of people's lives are damaged which those addicted billionaires will never see because they think those folks are so far beneath them. We the People could do something about this if we would elect people with the brains and will to make the necessary changes without the huge billionaire financial infusions so many candidates now depend on.
The Koch network does not want politicians with brains or morals. People with brains and morals are more difficult to manipulate than those without.
Addiction. Think oxy. Heroin. Alcohol. Tobacco.
I play the lottery. I also own copyrights to books and art that may/may not be valuable. Does that mean I have an addiction? Robert has much more "product" than I do. Is he addicted to the money it generates?
Although there may be a "money disorder" as of 2023, money disorder is not a clinical diagnosis in either the DSM or ICD medical classifications of diseases and medical disorders. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Money_disorder
Some of the most successful sales people make a living selling to pathological gamblers, who speculate on practically anything. Stocks, real estate, commodities, etc. Bookies, In the end the "winner" invariably is the salesman.
Love of money. I'm not supposed to know about this but in 1 Timothy 6:10 "the love of money is the root of all of evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
Although Jesus said "it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven" according to a study from 2015, Christians hold the largest amount of wealth (55% of the total world wealth), followed by Muslims (5.8%), Hindus (3.3%), and Jews (1.1%). According to the same study it was found that adherents under the classification "Irreligion", or other religions, hold about 34.8% of the total global wealth.
Paradoxically, the prosperity gospel, also called prosperity theology, in Protestant Christianity, preaches that faith—expressed through positive thoughts, positive declarations, and donations to the church—draws health, wealth, and happiness into believers' lives.
Tough to justify. As of 2023, there are a mere 735 billionaires in the U.S. Millionaires are more plentiful—almost 22 million.
As an investor, I wanna know how many became billionaires through faith?
Any?
Daniel, you have a lot to work through here. However, just because an "addiction" is not in the book of Mental Health disorders does not mean it is not real. The very rich are gamblers of a sort and they will do whatever they can to keep the gambling going. I am guessing they get a hit of adrenalin when they get a win, whatever they think of as a win and get adowner when they lose. They, alas, are gambling with the future of our nation when they buy candidates, influence justices and judges, and buy up properties they mean to drive low income renters out of. That sounds pretty serious to me, someone having to win with the suffering of others. There is a lot of that going on right now, perhaps always, but it does not have to. I will continue thinking on this one. Thanks for the info, as always. I appreciate your insights from down there in FL.
Ruth, I love your take on this. Thanks a lot!
IMHO it has a lot to do with risk tolerance. Lots of psychologists, sociologists, economists have devoted their lives to analyzing it. Many, if not most people can't resist some risk. But I know extremity rich people who only buy/sell the least risk resistant investments like government backed bonds and notes. I used to deal with some bank trust officers who held literally billions for their clients and were paranoid about their fiduciary duties.
I can testify that many rich people are gamblers, but not all of them.
Once upon a time, I represented some of them. Most had a system Bet on sports. Played the ponies. Needed the excitement. Most real gamblers sometimes have many games going simultaneously.
Some of them don't. As I said elsewhere, I don't begrudge inventors who built the "better mousetrap." I don't begrudge people like Taylor Swift.
In time, there may well be a clinical diagnosis for “Money disorder”.
Some people confuse their net worth with their self-worth. They measure their "success" in life by how much money they have.
Before the internet, gamblers were limited to sies like casinos, racetracks and brokerage firms. After state lottos were legalized, many people bet their existences on games that had impossible odds.
These days, the big casino is available to anyone who can access the internet and has a credit card. Incidence has to be high.
For some reason, the software cut off:
Tough to justify. As of 2023, there are a mere 735 billionaires in the U.S. Millionaires are more plentiful—almost 22 million.
As an investor, I wanna know how many became billionaires through faith?
Any?
None yet are billionaires, but it's not for want of trying. https://yen.com.gh/183456-top-richest-pastors-america-net-worth.html
I agree.
There is a Mirroring effect between the highest and 'lowest ' of us in society, Addiction to money and power, addictions fueled by despair of drugs, etoh...
David Skoglund : I wonder how that type of compulsion could be cured? Maybe the environmental disasters will slow 'em down !?
Laurie. You are probably right, but by the time that happens, it’s most likely too late.
I'm hoping it is not too late.
Me too.
Some billionaires, but not all. For example, Taylor Swift is worth 800 million and will soon be a billionaire. Is she ill with OCD, or simply talented (and lucky to some degree) with excellent financial advisors to invest her money wisely? I agree that money doesn't buy happiness and we need a basic income for all.
Taylor Swift is a talent. If you research her background you will find her as a unique person. Some creative people just have special skills they are born with gifts. We see this in sports and other talents. Be happy for them and enjoy!
Hoping to hit Powerball. I hope that when I invent cold fusion, or an anti-gravity machine or the key to the wormhole in space, my patents will put me into that category. Maybe the publication and movie rights to Pitching Cuba.
I pledge that when I do, I'll give most of it to my favorite charity. https://www.americanbar.org/groups/senior_lawyers/publications/voice_of_experience/2011/winter/social-security-maybe-charity-should-begin-at-home/
I also pledge to channel Taylor Swift and George Soros.
Good point. We have seen talented performers exploited by hoarders. It often does end well for the performers. She should pay a wealth tax.
She seems like a nice person. I hope all the money doesn't change her outlook and ruin her life like it has for others. Agree she (and all billionaires) should pay a wealth tax.
Taylor Swift is very generous.
I have heard of many times she has given a lot of money to help people.
Gloria Maloney: compulsory 'sharing, 101' . They did not get it early, so they must repeat that class .
Lol. That would be a sight! "Line up and take your turn. The others want to play with the ball, too. You can't have all the cookies! Put those back."
Gloria : LOL!
I saw a truck pass by that had printed on it "He who dies with the most toys wins!" After having to clean up a few hoarded houses from those who passed on it should read "What was I thinking?" Once these people pass away with their grrat fortunes what was purpose of all the suffering that they caused to hoard all that wealth? Legacy right? Such a narrow view of life.
So? Why is it *your* business what *they* did? At all?
I have been robbed by someone who believed in the same ethos to the tune of 50G. That same person robbed others in a large swath Bernie Maddoff style. I won't stop someone from living their life how they see fit unless it hurts and abuses others.
How about “Don’t take other peoples’ stuff? You *failed* that class badly.
Dollars Buy Judges :That is Corporate Nirvana
If the US , Russia, and the powerful countries kept their noses out of other countries and we would have a lot fewer wars and a lot less veterans. The money saved from wars like vietnam/afghanistan/iraq ( to mention just a few) if spent on society.We would be a much nicer and happier not just as a country but the World!!!
But the defense contractors would go bankrupt!
Keith Olson : poor babies!
Defense contractors charge large prices for their products not because they are worth that much. Its the rich owners tax of the defense firms.
Maybe that money should be returned directly to the people who actually *paid* those taxes. Fun fact: it’ll be those evil *rich* people.
Yes, a universal basic income along with universal healthcare. Pay for it by raising taxes on the wealthiest.
According to Forbes, the United States has the highest number of billionaires in the world at 724 billionaires. Canada by comparison has 63.
I have seen other data that claims that China has more billionaires than the USA. There are 969 billionaires in China.
I’m finding that the numbers vary by data source and I think you are correct. This does not say much for Chinese Communism.
Marc Nevas : There are lies, damn lies, and statistics!
More people.
No surprise there!
Consider the kind of attitude towards the social contract having more money than a small country leads to: https://youtu.be/eqrFNgjjE6g?si=0SbRcdbGDFSfYBzO
It's only a matter of time before they start retaining private armies. At that point, we see the reemergence of kings and royal families. Billionaires do not have the right to exist in the United States because they contradict the very founding principle of these United States as a nation. For all the political palaver, they are the very definition of unamerican, where at some point, the point where they actively interfere with the democratic process, their drive to accumulate wealth is the very definition of unamerican activity.
It’s a game with them. We as sheeple keep buying their products and using their media. We are all hooked. It’s very sad. We have power if we stick together.
While members of our Government are trying to BURN IT ALL DOWN!
Keith : purge the traitors who have broken their oaths of office! They are disqualified! It's in the Constitution. They are disabled as candidates or office holders.
Vote BLUE
Joan : Where would you go for toilet paper? If you live in a city and can't have a garden, especially in winter, where would you get food? Join a co op maybe?
Laurie, I have no problem with capitalism. I do want the billionaires to pay their fair share. The greater good has fallen apart.
the thing is that billionaires can buy our representative 'lawmakers'. They pay these 'public servants' to make laws that give them a relatively free ride.
Joan ; the billionaires are a problem because they take away from the Common Good. It is all ill gotten gains, because nobody needs a billion dollars. I think of it as the ultimate wage theft, water hogging. and land grabbing. they elbow out small, businesses, too. and small farms. Unsustainable and creating inequity. Also dynastic wealth that enables entitlement.
I have no problem with millionaires. they are sustainably rich. As long as they pay their taxes, no harm no foul!
More $ Does Not Bye Happiness - but it's hell not to have the necessities of life.
When I was a kid, never saw a beggar. There may have been winos in the Bowery in NYC, but I never saw them. After the mental hospitals released thousands in the early 70s, it seemed like they went straight to the streets.
I'm a veteran. Highest suicide rate than any other identifiable group. As soon as a discharge is issued, according to most Republicans, even some who may be veterans themselves, veterans become "takers,"
The irony is that there are benefits available that might provide the necessities of life to most of these people -- if only they had a social worker and a lawyer.
Thank You for your service
Keith Olson: When power to buy Supreme Court judges and Congressional seats is what all that money can buy, And dynastic wealth, to enable their offspring: it's very attractive to some. They don't care about the Common Good. They want to be on top, even if they are creating a heap of trash and garbage.
This is not the worst of it. Now, they want to CONTROL US.
Billionaires are a cancerous growth on the economy who would have us believe they >are< the economy, for which government is the remedy. When a billionaire or their lackeys tell you that socialism doesn't work, what they mean is that it doesn't work to make them billionaires.
Keith, you are right about veterans, and there are so many more too. For Billionaires, acquiring money and power are an addiction even stronger than opioids and any other kind of drug. With opioids, an individual or family is harmed by the addiction. With the very rich, a whole lot of people are harmed. Just say no is not going to work with them as it didn't work with other drugs. We will need serious government intervention but it is not clear there is a desire to treat the addiction.
This is so true!! These billionaires could care less about the brave men and women who have protected them. We simply do not show enough appreciation to our veterans and that is wrong. Without them standing watch, we might not BE a free country!! You're right that all these billionaires crave is more, more, more money!!
My take on it is that, after more money stops offering a significant improvement in standard of living, it becomes points in a game to far too many uberrich. And they're obsessed with winning this game, no matter what the cost - especially since they're not the ones paying it.
So how to get them to share with their countrymen? Obviously you can't guilt them into it. Noblesse oblige is not in their vocabulary, or does it exist in the capitalist system. The only way at present is to tax them. And then it's up to the (gulp) government to decide who gets what. At this point in time, with the mistrust of our corruption-laden government (corrupted by money and possessions, of course), you would guarantee a revolution. My answer is to make money a non-accumulating medium, cancellable after a certain amount of time. And provide everyone with a guaranteed access to a decent standard of living, not in money, but in direct services and products. That way, even if the greedy manage to sponge prolifically off of their fellow humans before the value of their riches is cancelled, they could not control their actions by holding the sword of disenfranchisement over the heads of the people who do the real work.
You might be on to something. Devalue money and encourage Congress to make it an American citizen’s right to be provided a standard of living and universal healthcare.
The Technocracy organization, on whose Board of Directors I presently serve, proposed just such a program in the 1930's. It was even reviewed by the Roosevelt administration but they chose to maintain the status quo (FDR was a former banker). Although the alphabet soup of relief programs did provide some, the country was still in the dumps until - ta da! - World War II, That pumped up the economy and we're still heavily dependent on a war economy. You can see where that has gotten us. Technocracy also projected that with the ongoing introduction of machine technology, the only way consumers could continue to be provided for was by burying ourselves further in debt (I believe the last figure I heard had the average family owing their credit cards $79,000). That mainspring has to snap somewhere, unless something drastic is done. Check out Technocracy Inc. org.
I took a look at Technocracy Inc. org. I do agree :
1. The Earth contains sufficient resources to provide every man, woman and child with an optimum standard of living.
2. We have the technological know-how, the infrastructure, and the physical machinery to realize this goal.
3. In the face of advancing technology, human labor is being replaced, thus removing consuming power from a large portion of the population. Therefore, we must seek a sustainable means of distribution of goods and services to all citizens.
But man’s insatiable appetite for more is the kryptonite! It seems like no one is ever satisfied with just the needs v the wants! Especially Americans always wanting more.
Two basic tenets of Technocracy's approach: shared use of items that can reasonably used by more than one person (think car "libraries"). The efficiency ratio of current usage vs. potential usage with private automobiles is less than 2%, with cars sitting idle in parking lots or garages most of the time; and elimination of throwaway goods in order to maintain sales, versus goods that are made for maximum life spans. Just these two measures would save vast amounts of resources and preserve natural areas.
The recycling of reusable products I definitely agree with. I am not sure about car libraries. I’ve repeatedly said that plastic is @ the top of the list of man’s absolute worst inventions! I am a realist so I know that there are instances where plastic is the only option @ this time. I am a true conservative who believes that recycling, composting, bicycling v driving where feasible, using products like plastic vacuum bags over & over for food storage, etc…. If people would take conservative ideas more seriously it would be a much better approach and it would save them money
Or worse, they seek to further exploit the exploited: I’m thinking of Oprah begging for people to donate to help Hawaiian victims of wildfire, simply because the value of her land has been affected. As a percentage of her wealth, her own contribution to aid was next to nothing. She’s far from unique.
BarDaddy, if you think you know Oprah’s (or anyone’s) motivation is (without actually asking them and trusting their answer), you’re quite mistaken. In a nutshell, that’s projection. We humans are terrible at that, and it causes lots of problems in all kinds of relationships.
Of course billionaires have no right to exist, why would any individual need more than, say, 20 million?
In my view today’s massive inequality exists because the vast majority allow it to, generally without realising they’re complicit because they believe the misinformation they’re fed by tame media (owned by billionaires). Capitalism and free markets need to be regulated and controlled to make sure produced wealth benefits the many, not just the few, and tax regimes managed so that distortions are ironed out (eg wealth tax).
The trouble is, inequality has been the way of the world for millennia, most people know all the above but don’t think they can do anything about it. Progressive politics and politicians are scorned and there’s always a tax haven or cheap labour somewhere.
Bring on the revolution!
Absolutely. We need a non-violent revolution to prevent the violent one that will come if we can't turn this mess around.
That requires inspirational leadership with integrity, stamina and media access - getting less likely by the day. Climate change is more likely to foster disorder, with “revolution” to follow as it becomes clearer to more that the filthy rich have stolen our planet.
Oncoming Climate Catastrophe is like a drumbeat in the background that cannot be ignored. It will encourage/force us to think and create outside the dogmas that have been imposed on us. We must be willing to embrace innovation and new thinking to overcome this existential challenge. Personally I am optimistic for the future of humanity but we must be willing to closely examine new thinking brought forward by those not self-limited by the dogmas of others.
I like your optimism but the evidence (so far anyway) is that greed holds sway. Unless the wealthy realise it’s in their interest to make sacrifices for the “common good” (thanks Bob) we won’t make enough progress quickly enough - the rest of us just don’t have the resources.
Barry, yet, I am a bit optimistic in that people are starting to see what global warming is doing. Our media keep pretending each disastrous event is just a one-off, but people are starting to get the idea and that it is the fossil fueler billionaires who are causing it. The problem, the new technology is still too expensive for ordinary Americans to afford. They still must drive their old cars because $40,000 for an electric vehicle is never going to be in the budget of even a $15 per hour employee. However, if public transportation were more affordable, clean, on time, and went to the places people need to go, and those vehicles could be electric, that could really make a big difference. Some effort has recently been made to see where PT can be improved and what it would take to make it truly useful, maybe even rat-free in some cities. We have been an are working hard on the tech. The billionaires, however don't want the changes because they don't care. They think the coming climate disasters won't impact them because they can hide in their fortresses. They're wrong, but their addiction to money and power acquisition will blind them to everything while they drag everyone down, still hanging on expecting nothing will happen to them. They may be right, but I doubt it. We the People need to see that we are not allowing those super rich to drag us down. Voting in people who give a damn is right now, one of the best ways we have to do that. Then, we must find ways to circumvent biased courts that are working hard to take away our rights. Trump and Kump got a lot of judges and justices on courts who have an agenda despite their oaths and we need to counter their impacts, even to the point of ignoring their decisions if we have to. The abortion drug issue is an example, but there are others. We are a democracy and need to be sure we keep it if we are to do anything to stop global warming and other potential disasters.
Ruth, a couple of things: while electric vehicles are touted as a major solution, there are two significant problems there aside from their cost. First, the infrastructure is nowhere near ready—from generation to storage to availability of charging stations, including for those living in apartments, etc. it’s not at all clear how long that might take. Secondly, and perhaps even more important, is how much of our electricity is generated using fossil fuels contributing to air pollution. Also unclear is how long it would take to create cleaner generation of electricity and bring that to scale.
And on a larger scale, people have hardly ever (if ever) given enough attention to unintended consequences. And here my concerns include nuclear power. AFAIK, we are nowhere near figuring out how to safely deal with nuclear waste.
Well said. May I recommend "The Masque of the Red Death" (Edgar Allen Poe).
or unless the public realizes they have power for change ,which is looking iffy
Marc, you are right about hope related to innovation and checking out new thinking that could make a difference. I look at the people running for our highest offices and so many have no positive vision, only the same old whiny crap about denying people rights: bodily autonomy, the right to be who we are, banning books, the right to vote as our Constitution says from the moment one turns 18 years old until death, and the right to know the truth. President Biden is trying, but even he is being overwhelmed by the insanity, agreeing to things he said in his campaign and after that he wouldn't do, like adding to the useless border wall , allowing more offshore drilling when we know that leads to spills and more global warming, and not declaring a climate emergency which could make a big difference in moving us toward staving off climate disaster greater than what we already have. And, he is the best who is running for President by such a large margin, the others don't even come close, yet he is maligned and has such a low approval rate even compared to the serial criminal, pathological liar Trump. Then there are the races for Congress and state legislatures.
There should be some minimum of experience, knowledge about our Constitution, and degree of integrity required to hold higher office, but nope!
Billionaires are orchestrating a lot of the anti-Biden stuff because he is not as able to be manipulated as the rest of the crowd. They have a lot at stake in congressional and state legislature races too because enough people who care elected to office could put a stop to some of their push for regular hits of money and power acquisition, and they can't have that! Ugh
As long as the "donor class" keeps funding Republicans in Congress and at state levels who oppose efforts to fight climate change things will get worse. As long as Americans think climate change is something that won't impact their community (Like the folks in Lewiston and the shooting) , things will get worse. As long as many Americans see little connection between their vote and Fed/state climate policies, etc. Attitudes are changing. CC is changing faster.
The Windup Girl by Paolo Bacigalupi has a climate and disease ridden world where humanity is not doing so well. The last chapter has a rebellion in the Thai nation they are in where they bring out the tanks spewing outlawed fossil fuels and yet other wasteful rich people take over the government. This to me reminds me of the Ukraine Russian war. Burning tons of fossil fuels for a toltarian regime, Russia. While radical climate events and diseases swirl around us. The lesson from the book was that a genetically engineered servant race, one capable of resisting the different diseases and temperature extremes might be the future of this planet. Not the humans that we currently are, who seem destined to ignore our problems until they kill us.
I totally agree
I agree with your post almost completely. You lost me at revolution. I am a child of the 70’s. When I heard that word. I think of the Beatles. Revolution.
Back in the USSR... just Imagine 😁
always consider fixing the system as you have nothing better to replace it with. Chaos is not pleasant I promise you? What you just saw in Maine will happen multiplied by a 100000 all over the country with no place to hide.
Bot.
Where is the bot 🤖
Mr George the bot... or should choose less “bot like” phraseology.
The top tax rate during the Eisenhower and Kennedy years was 91% for those making about $4 million a year back then. This was seen as an incentive to reinvest personal wealth into the companies and corporations they were building, In this way they could fund these assets’ growth rather than pay huge taxes.
Then Reagan came along and dropped the top tax tier from 91% to 25% before being forced to bring it back up to 36%. And soon CEOs were compensated mostly with stock with no taxes paid on it until it is cashed in.
Hard to convince me that pushing paper is more arduous than pushing shovels.
The top tax rate in Finland is 51.4% and year after year they are the “Happiest Country in the World.” I have visited Finland several times and even the blistering cold of winter does not chill the warmth of the Finns. I am told by some who pay the high income taxes they are happy to do so because so many of their necessities are covered by the government. It is one of the few countries where homelessness is decreasing because there is a strong movement to utilize government money to provide housing for the homeless.
According to Forbes, the United States has the highest number of billionaires in the world with a total of 724 billionaires.In contrast, Finland has 6.
Marc, Finland sounds pretty good. I think this nation has confused happiness with money and power and I guess for some people it might be true, but what I think is more true is that the very rich are so addicted, they are oblivious to happiness or anything else except the emotions that will bring on their next fix. I have read studies that supposedly say that the rich are happier, that was after ones that said the opposite. I am guessing money buys studies too. I don't really care if the rich are happier, their wealth is keeping so many other people from being even content which is why we need a tax rate for the rich, on all their income no matter where it comes from at say 50% to start with and only money that can be proven to help their company which provides useful services or produces useful items can get a break. No more breaks for private jets so the rich don't have to sit among the normal folks, and no more capital gains breaks unless again, it can be proven it is used to improve products, services, or worker pay and other benefits. Then, universal health care would help, everyone paying a percentage of our income including the super rich even on capital and other gains. Those things would make a positive difference. I don't think there is sufficient courage in our government to go for something so practical and meaningful, although I wish there were.
Ruth Sheets for President!
Cathie, thanks for the thought, but I am a writer, singer, teacher, friend, sister, but never the president of anything except the Short-sheeting Club at camp at age 11. I am more of a worker bee, an organizer of other people's ideas, and a lover of humanity. I will only support people I think have those skills, experience, and qualities a good, democratic leader should have.
This is why I am choosing to study other forms of government and economic systems closely. First we must educate ourselves, and then we see about implementation. In the meantime, American democracy and capitalism is doing a pretty good job of destroying itself. And no, I do not have Research to back up that last statement.
Not so different: about 2.4 times as many billionaires per the population. USA. ~ 330 million. Finland 5.5 million. So your point not very valid.
You are correct, I did not do that type of math. I never was good at math. By the way, I looked at your bio and I agree with you 100% regarding capitalism. It’s time for a better system. Have you checked out economic democracy? It is what I personally am committed to.
Until we tell the truth rather than distortions nothing will be solved.
The contrast,Finland has a population of just over 5 million,one of the largest companies is Wartsila,a maker of ships engines .Nokia,a company that did not keep up with technology. Where would you rather invest,buy shares in Apple,or buy shares in Nokia.Which company do you think will give you a better return and create employment for people.
Would you rather invest in Wal Mart which may or may not have say 200 million customers per week.Wal Mart may supply all of your needs for a net profit of 3%,Spend $100 at Wal Mart and they get to keep $3 of that.Part of that is returned to shareholders as dividends, how many shares are you planning to buy? Would you prefer to invest in Wartsila,how many ships do you think are built on an annual basis?.Do you think Wartsila operate on a 3% net margin,they'd go bust if they did.
Building an engine is more skilled than basic work at Wal Mart.Hopefully the basic work skills from entry jobs at Wal Mart for young people will proceed to more highly skilled jobs.Jobs and training of course provided by those nasty rich people that create the jobs and wealth for a lot of people
Aussie, you’ve asked me personally, what I invest in, and I am willing to disclose that. I own no stock in any large corporations, in fact, I currently own no stock at all.
What I invest in is nonprofits that are dedicated to social change. My returns from my investments of time, money and support are huge to me personally. I invest love, care and support for my children and grandchildren. I have no desire to accumulate wealth in the form of dollars.
Yes, Finland is a small country and does not have large capitalist, enterprises and year after year, it is the happiest country in the world. I would be honored to live there, but I don’t think I could ever master their language.
In short, wealth is measured in innumerable ways. You are free to enjoy your form of wealth, and I am free to enjoy my form of wealth.
Music to my ears, Marc Nevas.🎶🎶
I agree with you 100%.Having just returned ( when the post was written) from an AGM of a company I have shares in there are innumerable ways as you say. As the company has done very well for me it is great being able to supply the needy with their needs and not bat an eyelid.Money is there to help people,it just doesn't seem to dawn on the majority.
Do I buy the very expensive toys,or feed and supply the needy.,pay for their education.Obviously I buy the toys ( only joking).
You can have a foot in both camps.The wealth does a lot of good because it can. A poor person cannot feed a poor person ,a wealthy person can.
Bill Gates can supply many needs and fund a lot of research in the healthcare space ,a poor person cannot.
Then of course on death the wealth and the dividends created from those shareholdings can go on for a very long time,Carnegie foundation with libraries and education being a good example.There are many more,Kellog foundation,the list is almost endless .
Personally I prefer south East Asia and micro loans.Buy/loan somebody the money to buy a wheelbarrow,money to buy fruit and vegetables and a business is created. Solar powered lights for nights,a bike for a child to ride to school,the needs are unlimited,as is the money to supply those needs.I enjoyed your answer,well done.
The Scandinavian model is good,but facts are facts.I'm not really up to speed with the Finnish model but I think funding is through Solidium.The Finnish govt owns shares in companies,the dividends ( hopefully ) increase over the generations and healthcare,pensions etc can be funded.
I'm more familiar with Danish ( Novo Nordisk foundation) and Norwegian ( Norges investment bank) models. The Novo foundation is funded by basically diabetes care.No patent was taken on Insulin and profits from diabetes treatment fund research etc for more medical breakthroughs.
Norges is very simple.,a fund was created to meet the needs of future generations.Profits from the discovery of oil just off Norway were used to create the fund .The fund invests in companies,lends money to start ups etc etc.. They have shares in just over 9,000 companies worldwide,on average they own 1.5% of "everything".While the fund will meet the needs of future generations should it be divided equally among the population now then everybody in Norway is a US$ millionaire.
For educational purposes the Norges investment bank website is very educational.Click on to any area of the world and they give you the companies they have shares in,and the number of shares owned.
Purpose of the fund,ethical investment,an endless list..Novo Nordisk is slightly more complicated.Probably best just to google Norges and spend half an hour looking at various sections of the site,it is a good site.The fund now has 14 figures in it.I don't know the exchange rate from NOK to US$ but they may have it somewhere on the site.
Thankfully the US is very good at this.Gates foundation,Bezos foundation,McDonalds,Carnegie, the list is unlimited.If they built a company,they also built a charitable foundation. 501(C) (3) would be the tax section for the US but I am much more familiar with the Australian version
Rich people don’t create wealth and jobs, demand does. Rich people take advantage of that. The notion that the wealthy create jobs is bovine excrement!
Well if you have worked it out how much do you plan to spend to create the supply to meet the demand.How many people do you plan to employ to create the supply to meet the demand?
I haven’t worked anything out, have you? Acknowledge my point that billionaires don’t create demand. Billionaires have rigged the game because economic power begets political power. Massive corruption. Do you deny that?
OMG, what nonsense! Of course those who are very rich or who are beneficiaries of the very rich will compare oranges and trucks and hope we won't notice. We notice! WalMart has done a lot of harm to the economy no matter how much shareholders get. Maybe Apple too could have done better by its customers, the planet, and its workers, but it chose to put its shareholders, folks who have done nothing for the corporation except put money into it, first, well except for the guys (and they are mostly men) at the top. They scoop off their obscene amounts of money. A small nation like Finland can't afford to have corporations like that and they wouldn't want them because they take more from the country then they give. I knew this kind of ridiculous argument would come up somewhere in this discussion because it always does and is one of the things that keeps us under the thumb of the super rich whose addiction to money and power keeps them oblivious to everyone and everything but what will get them the drugs to feed their addiction. Their greed is boundless with very rare exceptions. We should be able to do better.
In a sense the crux of the problem is that we now live in a society that has condoned through policy decisions the creation of corporations that are only interested in shareholder profits, which has led to short term thinking that almost completely ignores the welfare (and future) of the majority of the population. If it makes money, that is all that is required, regardless of the damage.
Yes, Dana that is the crux and to put it in stark terms we have created the perfect killing machine- though this is not a messaging phrase to use.
And this is why Congress should pass laws that incentivize longer term investment horizons.
I hope Robert Reich does more to publicize law changes to shift corporate policies to longer term thinking. The crux is two fold: both corporate and individual planning horizons. The latter is much influenced by genetics. The former by laws that can be changed.
Interesting that the original idea of the corporation in the first laws of the country explicitly limited its lifetime, and required that it be dissolved after its stated project purpose was accomplished. Not so much now!
Inheriting vast sums of wealth and being showered with dividend payments take no skills at all.
Aussie, your comments reflect the malaise we’re (mostly) speaking of - you prioritise return on investment. The growing numbers of people living in poverty haven’t the slightest attachment to this and maximising return is what’s led us to where we are with climate change and inequality.
The rules of the game need to change, what’s the point of getting 3% return for the wealthy in a dead world? For example that 3% is returned to people who already have wealth when it could subsidise price reductions for those who don’t.
The fact is, as Robert Reich shows in this article, most wealthy people don’t make their fortune through hard work and genius but by exploitation in one form or another. You seem to value this above equality for people who’ve just been unlucky by comparison - maybe accident of where they were born or who their parents are.
Such a good point. Can Inequality Media perhaps do a short and entertaining tutorial on the history of the income tax? The vast majority of Republicans just don't have a clue.
91% ---in a universe far far away.....Hard to believe isn't it
Todd, thanks for the stats. It looks a whole lot like cheating to me. Would it be possible to get out little almost subliminal messages to people showing and stating the stats then, calling it cheating by the very rich and the people they have paid off then with a big CHEAT in red covering up the screen at the end? That might get people's attention, especially if the voice at the end says, "this was done to you by those rich guys who don't even want you to earn a living wage and want billions for themselves!"
Capitalism is not working for the Greater Good, it was never designed to do that. It is a faulty ideology to run an economy and as capitalists gain more political power the situation has caused even more misery the world over. The primary problem is that it is designed to reward not just hard work and innovation, but greatly rewards unlimited greed.
Mahatma Gandhi once said "GOD HAS PROVIDED ENOUGH FOR HUMAN NEED BUT NOT FOR HUMAN GREED
Oh, he was so wise! I love reading about him and I have learned from his teachings.
We must create or embrace an economic and political system that will not permit over accumulation of wealth until every individual under the system has their basic necessities met. This includes appropriate shelter, nourishing food, proper clothing, free medical care and free education including 4 years of higher education. In this country these are not lofty unreachable goals. For example I have read that there are enough unoccupied dwelling units in this country to house every homeless person. (Maheshvarananda “After Capitalism.”) Why is this housing not properly distributed? The answer is the inherent faulty assumptions permitted and encouraged by capitalism.
According to Heather Cox Richardson Abraham Lincoln did not rely on the Constitution to inspire his constituents. He saw its inequities and faults. He relied on the Declaration of Independence, “That all men are created equal…” We might be well counseled to follow his example and ideals in this regard.
I feel the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence go hand in hand. If we followed them as we should, we would be so much better off! However, many of these politicians tend to interpret these two documents for their benefit. The 2nd Amendment comes to mind. Yes, it does say we have the right to bear arms but consider for a moment the times our forefathers lived. A firearm was necessary to protect against wild animals and masqueraders. They did not say we could bear arms that would hold 50 loads and then we could enter schools and shoot our children!!! The interpretation needs to be examined. As long as the far-right takes only what they want out of these two documents, we will continue to spiral out-of-control!!
Well said. Capitalism is working the way it was intended to work.
Gloria, you are right, however, what we have is not pure capitalism. If it were, so many of those greedy guys would be out of business now because their project failed. Our government (social-democracy) has bailed out so many and how were We the People paid back for our generosity? Workers' wages stagnated, unions were maligned and legislated out of existence in many places, people are forced to live in cars and on the streets because we have not found ways to make potential housing available to them, and more. Heck, we're even allowing private equity to steal properties with their ill-gotten funds. That is what is now called capitalism, but has morphed into something else, equally bad, but something that permits some folks, mostly white men to hoard money, properties, stocks, and so much more because we have not even employed the laws on the books that should have stopped a lot of it. It's just crazy!
Marx predicted that this is what capitalism would become. When some people accumulate enough money to buy the political system, it is likely the end. There is regulated and unregulated capitalism. Unregulated capitalism is not compatible with democracy.
Gloria, you are right about unregulated capitalism. However, I suspect it is not good anywhere. Look at Russia. They let the oligarchs do pretty much whatever they wanted for a while, then realized that was a bad move and now Putin has his thumb on everything those guys do and will "do away with them" if they don't do what he says even if what he says is not good for the nation, ala the war in Ukraine. We need an effective economic system that promotes fairness and sufficiency for all with incentives other than money and power.
Of course, you're right.
as capitalists gain more power... Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, 558 U.S. 310 (2010) went a long, long way to help the rich become richer through political means.
Working to right this wrong would be a good place to start.
And then the tax laws...
if not capitalism then what? flawed maybebut certainly beats socialism or dictatorships. At least capitalism provides an opportunity to change ones life and thrive.
Excellent arguments, you've convinced me! Thank you. So to sum it up, corruption creates billionaires. Not some superhuman intelligence or talent.
Your point is valid,a lot of it is just being able to see the obvious though Who thought of 'if I put wax on thin cardboard it makes it waterproof'.Bingo,a huge industry is born,billions are created and we all get milk ,orange juice etc down the shirt front opening these cartons.
Save money on transport and storage,put everything in a flat pack.Take it home and build it yourself,instructions and tools are enclosed Save a lot of money by DIY. Welcome to the world of IKEA.Billions created for the person ( s) that saw the obvious. As basic skills decrease an industry is created ' struggling with your IKEA furniture,let me do it for $30 to save your frustration.Hopefully they will be able to employ a few people,and the world goes on
Aussie, good examples of non'-superhuman charactetistics that made millions or billions. Nothing wrong with making a lot of money. It only becomes a problem for society when enormous money and wealth is made by an individual or corporation due to the unfair and unethical advantage of corruption.
I would suggest that you google Ronald Reed,American philanthropist.He took it to extremes,such is human nature.Anybody can be Ronald Reed.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
To point out the obvious,how many people were employed to make a mask.To build the ships and the containers to transport the mask to the USA.To build the trucks that took it to where you were given that mask or bought it .To build the building and machines to make the mask.To apply quality control standards to make sure everything is safe and fit for use/ consumption.You can buy shares in any of those companies.You can donate those shares to charities on death. You can donate those dividends to charities during life.You can follow the path that rich/ wealthy people have done for centuries.Or you can insist the wealth is not shared around society.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
The AGM I attended was full of old people,obviously we are all retired.Most of them the Ronald Reed type,but not taking it to the extremes that he did,perhaps some of them do.
The managing director was voted back in as were all the other directors.The company has a 110 year history of selecting quality people to run the company.
Looking around the MD said it is nice to see so many people ( shareholders ) here that have been with us for decades.
The company has never changed,the aim is to give a good return to shareholders ( owners),act responsibly to the communities ( society ) we live in,and provide long term secure employment to team members ( employees).
The highlight ( facts) were, with all dividends reinvested since 1984 an outlay of $1500 is now worth $1 million.The Ronald Reeds are happy.Ronald Reed is a mini Warren Buffett,anybody can do it,you cannot do what you refuse to see.
The total amount of people that own shares in the company is around 0.9% of the population.Well over 60% of the shares are owned by pension funds .You can insist that the wealth is not shared around.You can buy shares in the company directly,or contribute to a 401K which owns shares in that company.What is your choice?
The choice is yours,you can be Ronald Reed ,or you can refuse to see it.
You can't do what you refuse to see.
The obvious again.The cost to buy one share in that company to start it was $2 in 1913. $1 to raise funds to buy products to sell, 50 cents 1 year later to again supply funds to get over the need for cash to keep the company going,then 50 cents 6 months later.Start up for any company or 1 man business is extremely difficult and fraught with the risk of financial loss.
Attributed to Charles Dickens as Mr Micawber.The fear of losing one penny will always be greater than the joy of perhaps gaining £1000.
Again the choice is yours,shall I be Ronald Reed,or shall I demand that these companies ( and individuals that start them) not be allowed to do that. Your choice,your fault.
Evidently Taylor Swift is now a billionaire,the employment she creates.Not my type of music but obviously it is for a lot of young people,should we do away with her?.The evil rich?
Paul McCartney is touring Australia at the moment.The employment created,sound engineers,road crew, transportation,etc etc etc...
By all accounts he is putting on a fantastic show,people saying they would pay twice the price of the tickets to see such a fantastic show.The last time they will get to see the evil billionaire Paul McCartney,82? now.When should he have been stopped.
People see what they want to see,and hear what they want to hear.
You cannot do what you refuse to see.
Have a good day,and think and grow rich.Your choice.Don't forget to supply the needs of those less fortunate
M Tree, good summary of where billionaires come from. Thanks.
Ruth Sheets, thanks. So grateful, we have RR to make us think and put things into our own words, so we can plant them in our memory.
Professor,
sigh.
I wake up in the middle of the night. decide to turn on the computer and ... reports of a mass killing event. and this.
I do not like billionaires. I do not like the system that allows them to exist. I think they have too much power and they have rigged the system.
I am mostly powerless and think that there is nothing I can do to change the system. In part because of you, I have promised to try to change the system.
So in six hours, I will start attending meetings both virtual and in person. where people will be be attempting to change systems that create injustice, hunger, homelessness, and death.
Meanwhile I am going back to bed.
give peace a chance, with much love
Fred
“So in six hours, I will start attending meetings both virtual and in person. where people will be be attempting to change systems that create injustice, hunger, homelessness, and death.”
Fred, I absolutely endorse your approach. It will inspire others to do the same. I read your bio, you have more experience in the consequences of capitalism gone awry than many of us. I skimmed the titles of your substack contributions; they are also impressive. I wish yo the best on your journey.
Cheer up M Fred Friedman - it's a marathon, not a sprint (you're doing just fine!)...
thank you but it is not a marathon or a sprint. Those are games with rules, and fixed starting and end points. It seems as though powerful people and people with out much power are not even pretending to obey rules.
I am not doing fine. I am in pain both physical and mental, I may not have shelter over my head in a few month or heat during the coming winter.
Still I will try. and as I said, I need to go back to sleep and stop doom scrolling.
give peace a chance with much love
Fred
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12251948/
Chicken (tortilla) soup for the soul!
thank you for the virtual soup
Kudos to you, Fred. You may not think you can make a difference but consider this, you have decided to attend meetings that will attempt a change, another person like yourself has decided to attend meetings and then another, and another, and another....... Pretty soon you have a huge movement with vast numbers of people all wanting to change the systems. That is actually what is happening so don't get frustrated, do get some rest, and yes, give peace a chance!!
You have more power than you know.
Do billionaires have a right to exist? Yes they do. We should let them live. I am being facetious. But we should have a system of progressive taxation that caps their wealth below a billion. If not for working people, billionaires couldn't have amassed their wealth. They needed highways, an electrical grid, and a population that can read and do math that was educated with tax dollars. They need the police and fire fighting. They need the system of law and order for the masses. They didn't accumulate their huge fortunes without societies help and they don't have the right to decide how to spend an amount approaching a billion dollars. Society has that right through a government that truly represents the people.
There is way too much "stupid money" being spent in America. That's because the haves have too much and the have-nots have too little. Yes, it is all about scale. A fairer taxation regime would certainly help correct this problem, but more importantly, would reduce the public debt the tax-cutters keep screaming about while providing the funds to re-invest in our infrastructure.
Religion has become a haven for Tax-exempt groups and individuals who only want to take advantage of our system. They exhibit absolutely "No" Loving tendencies toward their fellow man, but they do covet their money. Joel Osteen could do so much for the local people in Texas if a had just a small piece of love in his heard instead of dollar signs.
I once told my wealthy aunt that I would make a terrible millionaire, because I would give it all away. Money holds no relevance unless it's is working to make less fortunate people happy.
Donald, I remember reading recently about a super rich guy who decided he would give away all his money before he died and there would be no building or anything else named for him and no trust fund that would give out pittances each year while still holding onto the bulk of the money, or anything else that would get in the way of giving away his money. I can't remember his name, and that's probably what he wanted, but I see his as a model for what all billionaires now should be doing, not buying candidates, not supporting dark money PACs, not having buildings, streets, or institutions named for them, not buying huge yachts or private jets. The problem is, they can't let go of it. They might not be seen as people of extreme importance if they did that, and their egos depend on their wealth meaning something. Then there's the greed and the power/money addiction. It will require government intervention to stop the insanity. Do we have the will?
Ruth---My rich aunt in her passing donated all of her money, or most of it, to charity. This generous act enraged her family to the point where members of same boycotted her funeral. "What's love got to do with it" great song, better moral.
Donald, I do honor your aunt for that. I am guessing a few in the family could have used a few bucks, but had she given some to anyone, even if they needed it, the others would have whined about it and probably would have avoided her funeral too. I am sorry money given to charity trumped love and respect.
Ruth--The entire family was extremely wealthy, regardless.
It was Chuck Feeney.
Joan, thanks so much. I just couldn't remember it even though I just learned of him last week. I want to remember that name!
We were close but when she passed I inherited nothing that she felt I would give away.
I absolutely adore (because the only way I can stay sane is address these issues with a sense of humor) that:
1. The rhetoric of the current RINO/MAGA party refers disparagingly about socialism on the "left" and yet buys "socialism" for the rich!
2. The RINO/MAGA use in their rhetoric religion and god and yet their leader is corrupt and dishonest as are they. It's just like King Lear! The faults of the leader trickle down and have their effect.
3. George Santos is not a one-off, he represents the ethos of many in that party and he isn't an anomaly. He is a sad reflection, young, gifted liar who has come a very long way on the strength of his lies. Now where is the difference between him and the de-facto leader of his party and his acolytes?
So yes I absolutely agree with the content of your article. The "greed is good" ethos of the Reagan "Revolution" leads us to this, a place where money becomes the only value, the only criteria for decision. In the Dominion Voting Systems case, it was Rupert Murdoch who said his decision to promote that lie was "green" (he smiled) and he didn't mean ecological. Unfortunately they are not the first nor will they be the last to profit from lies, and along the way hurt other people.
Thank you Robert for your voice.
Whoops! Stay within the system. It’s the only to actually change the system. The elites have all the money on their side so it will be very difficult but, we can do it! What will surely do it is a clear and clean demarcation between maga insanity and what makes sense. A clear public uproar! A clear and solid progressive majority. A sweeping sea of change. An enlightenment such as a thousand LED lights suddenly coming on as bright as can be. Pivotal events are just that, pivotal. Trump being put in jail without his makeup will help that process.
Stephen, yes, that could help, but only if he is not covered every single day concerning his prison routine as he has been covered and covered ad nauseum since his escalator ride over 8 long years ago. That toddler is an evil jerk and needs to be shut down. In a way, he is shutting himself down now because he is losing it at nearly every appearance and what he says makes no sense a lot of the time. He has dementia and it is not getting better despite his bluster. Clearly someone is helping him with the sentences he can put together with some clarity. Why anyone even listens to him is beyond comprehension. We did learn, though that he isn't even close to being a billionaire, just another of his tens of thousands of lies. Now his baby boy Johnson is Speaker of the House, another jerk, but this time people describe him as a gentleman from Louisiana. Are people duped that easily that just because someone is a decent actor does not mean they give a damn about the people or anything else but the ego burst he gets from doing as much harm through his performance as possible. Everyone should have known that watching Trump for so long, but, some people choose not to learn anything.
Yes, Shawn Fain and Robert Reich are absolutely correct. Capitalism has been broken for some time (Reagan Years), preyed on by greedy opportunistic thugs until it can no longer breathe. Human's LUST for Power is now unstoppable. Even worse, it is leading us to a Mass Extinction, OURS! Just like Cancer, Corporate Greed kills its Host.
Willis, but We the People could permit some gene therapy or immune system enhancements to fight the cancer of extreme wealth and its move to destroy the national body. We have the tools, but do we have the will to do it?
We the People have the tools to stop Global Warming in its tracks right now, today, but Corporations and Politicians will block any move to do so. Three human constructs are set to cause our own extinction and the death of our planet: Religions, Politics, Corporations. We are history, a failed evolutionary experiment, in the grander scheme of things.
No billionaires should exist ,as that wealth creates and gives them power and power corrupts.JUST LOOK at our politicians!
Just after I graduated, I went into a minor joint venture the other person was a multi millionaire and he was arguing over £25 with a contractor, I later asked him why as it sounded petty! He said I would rather have it in my pocket and I said what you are worth it would least several generations and he retorted IT IS NOT ABOUT MONEY BUT WEALTH GIVES YOU UNADULTERATED POWER AND OPENS DOORS YOU CANNOT IMAGINE!
I was young and naive but now that I am older I can see it clearly!
Most super rich people have no or little consciousnesses, they do everything to pay as little Tax and attitude is I live in my bubble and really don't care what happens outside!
Capitalism works so long as everybody pays their fair share.My father was an accountant and on one occasion I was complaining about how much tax I was paying and he said Thank God you are earning that much and you should be happy to pay your dues to society!
I am not a socialist but have a conscious
Anil, you are right about the money being the thing from beginning to end for the super rich, even some who are not super rich. I like your dad's advice. He was right! Toddler-Trump told us that his business behavior, essentially cheating and fraud were proof that he was smart. I know a lot of the rest of the super rich crew think that way too. We don't have to go along with that way of thinking. We could stop the process through government intervention on behalf of the American people.
It's not just an American problem, it's a world wide problem, the RICH & THE POWERFUL are what's made our world what it is today!
It applies to countries too!! were the jewish lobby not so rich and powerful would Israel get away with its behaviour!
It's not the Jews who are behaving badly , but our politicians who feel they have to appease the zionists to secure the Jewish vote . The pain and anguish of every human being is the same!
Our media portrays the pain of Israelis is greater than that of palestinians or anybody else "SHAME ON THEM"
Plus, the Environmental Cost of the Filthy Rich is enormous. Analyses repeatedly show that the Greedy and Needy Rich consume far more of the resources and create far more of the GHGs. A case-study example is Bill Gates who departs one of his mansions to hop on his private jet to fly halfway around the world to lecture Other People on how to "save the environment" - and he has the chutzpah to joke about his hypocrisy!!!
That, of course, is true of Americans in general. On a global income/wealth basis, most of us are the Filthy Rich - compared to, say, the avg Bangladeshi. We represent about 4.2% of global peeps, yet we consistently suck up 25-30% of ALL resources.
We ARE the problem, yet most of us continue to consume to the level of our wealth. Few are willing to make substantive steps to our footprints. When we point a finger at others, our other three fingers are pointing back at US.
You forgot to mention the 1000 year trust (which should be illegal in the first place) and how the billionaire class got the tax code changed to allow this Pax Americana, generational wealth and hubris thinking to get legitimized and codified but the US legal system.
What is the 1000 year trust?
I had to look it up! According to the Internet "In some states, a dynasty trust can remain valid for 1,000 years to get around the rule against perpetuities. A dynasty trust permits the assets held in the trust to pay out to beneficiaries for several generations. The assets stay within a dynasty trust and outside a taxable estate." In other words, yet another tax loophole for the wealthy!
I could never have imagined a loophole like that. Someone should challenge that, like maybe the IRS.
At least billionaires should pay their share of taxes just like the rest of us. Republicans give tax breaks to the billionaires and working people barely make a living! There are homeless people in the “richest” country in the world!! This makes no sense to me!
Define “fair share”. They follow the tax code like anyone else. Don’t get mad at them for following the law. Get mad at Congress that created it. If you mean fair then do you want a flat tax rate? That’s equal. Why should one person pay a higher percentage than anyone else? Taxes are used for things like public buses. Why should someone pay for something they will never use? Should they pay more because they can afford it? How is it greedy to want to keep your money but not greedy to take someone else’s money through taxation? It’s way more complicated than just saying “pay your fair share”
Dear Ben , The rich have been given breaks and loopholes. That is not enough for them. They want to squeeze every ounce of the soul out of the poor workers. They are stripping away benefits and protections to enrich themselves and generations of their children and grandchildren and on and on. They raise prices not because they can’t afford to operate but because they can. People actually believe that if they don’t accept the unacceptable the company will have to close. I was actually alive when Dad made enough money as an army soldier to feed 2 adults and 4 kids. The GI bill allowed my father to go to college and get a degree in engineering. We were able to have a home, and my mother still was able to take care of us without having to work outside the home. It was not magic Ben . Kids are being shot in their schools. These greedy bast ards could care less. Americans have been forced to live on the streets and they are demonized by it. When I was young we had one homeless guy that lived under the causeway because he wanted to be free. We chatted with him while we fished. America was great at that time because Dad went to work ONE job and we had a good life.
Capitalism IS working as designed. Is Capitalisms aim not to extract maximum profits from the many and merge those profits into the few? Profits over people has always been the American way, regardless of our embrace of the mythological history of America. The founders built our system of government for the singular purpose of concentrating power (money) into the hands of wealthy white men. It seems to do that flawlessly.
EXACTLY!!!
Deregulation has created a false narrative that portrays the "open" market as available to all.
Remember: Under this RUSE, YOU are capable of becoming that billionaire!!!
and when you attack billionaires you attack people's dream/fantasy of getting filthy rich.
"A dollar and a dream" my friends...