Should billionaires exist? 「Yes or No」

[Alcala-Cordel]

It's not hard work that gets you wealth, it's luck.

No that make no sense

Exactly.

[North American Imperial State]

No that make no sense

Exactly.

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

[Northwest Kalactin]

I would be against taking away all of the billionaires money, but only provided that they are self made. I think that large taxes should be put on inheritances, so children of self made billionaires aren’t taking a whole lot of money that they didn’t make. Obviously it would be harder to tax the companies that the relatives of the children of the billionaires, so that’s why I think a tax a bit higher for the billionaires would be beneficial.

[Ifreann]

Jeff Bezos personally invented the internet, and the concept of book shops, and trucks, and factories, and roads. He's a self-made billionaire.

That's not what the term "self-made" generally implies in colloquial discourse.

Which is why the term is useless. Thanks you for coming to my TED Talk.

[Fahran]

Which is why the term is useless. Thanks you for coming to my TED Talk.

It's useful in distinguishing between people who inherited millions or billions of dollars and people who took existing capital involving hundreds of thousands of dollars and turned it into a billion dollar fortune. And it dispels the notion that they're simply dragons sitting on gold horded by prior generations - which would be inaccurate anyhow. Their labor, expertise, and capital added significant value. That's the whole point.

The argument for taxing them at higher rates really shouldn't be "they don't deserve their wealth" because the logic underpinning that argument is anguished and largely predicated on ideological assumptions.

[Sanghyeok]

Exactly.

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

And many people working harder than billionaires are still suffering below the poverty line. Billionaires don't become billionaires by simply working hard. Millionaires, possibly. Not so for billionaires, who depend on exploitation of workers to reach where they are.

[Sanghyeok]

It's not hard work that gets you wealth, it's luck.

No that make no sense

You're right in that this makes no sense, which is exactly why we must change the system.

[Fahran]

You're right in that this makes no sense, which is exactly why we must change the system.

Yes, while remaining capitalist.

[Shin-Mutsu]

You're right in that this makes no sense, which is exactly why we must change the system.

Yes, while remaining capitalist.

(Same user as Sanghyeok)
We can differ on what we think is the remedy, but I think we can both agree that our current system is not working for us.

[Fahran]

We can differ on what we think is the remedy, but I think we can both agree that our current system is not working for us.

Pretty much. I want to tweak it more so than go full socialist.

[Kowani]

We can differ on what we think is the remedy, but I think we can both agree that our current system is not working for us.

Pretty much. I want to tweak it more so than go full socialist.

you continue to disappoint me

[Fahran]

Pretty much. I want to tweak it more so than go full socialist.

you continue to disappoint me

I'm a premed student. I'm used to disappointing people. It's what I do.

[Jabberwocky]

The rich get rich only by exploiting Labor. Billionaires are perversions of nature.

[Kowani]

you continue to disappoint me

I'm a premed student. I'm used to disappointing people. It's what I do.

the solution to this is, of course, moving left

[Fahran]

The rich get rich only by exploiting Labor. Billionaires are perversions of nature.

Technically, we're all perversions of nature if you're edgy enough.

[Fahran]

the solution to this is, of course, moving left

Sorry. Questers told me he'd take my horse away in the event of a revolution. This has made me think that Operation Condor wasn't the worst idea despite not liking human rights violations.

[Kowani]

The rich get rich only by exploiting Labor. Billionaires are perversions of nature.

i'm actually not sure that "perversion of nature" is an accurate description

the solution to this is, of course, moving left

Sorry. Questers told me he'd take my horse away in the event of a revolution. This has made me think that Operation Condor wasn't the worst idea despite not liking human rights violations.

well, Questers is an authcom
he's not part of the revolution either

[Fahran]

well, Questers is an authcom
he's not part of the revolution either

Judging from history, he'll be the only one standing post-revolution. :^)

[New haven america]

Exactly.

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

You don't, actually.

Most of the wealthiest people in the world were either born into wealth or got lucky. Fun fact: Did you know the wealthy in America are the largest beneficiaries of government financial assistance?

[Kowani]

well, Questers is an authcom
he's not part of the revolution either

Judging from history, he'll be the only one standing post-revolution. :^)

imagine trying to extrapolate trends based on inapplicable material circumstances

[Fahran]

Judging from history, he'll be the only one standing post-revolution. :^)

imagine trying to extrapolate trends based on inapplicable material circumstances

Imagine taking my bulli seriously.

[Sanghyeok]

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

You don't, actually.

Most of the wealthiest people in the world were either born into wealth or got lucky. Fun fact: Did you know the wealthy in America are the largest beneficiaries of government financial assistance?

And yet they dare to criticise working poor as not deserving of welfare.

[Kowani]

imagine trying to extrapolate trends based on inapplicable material circumstances

Imagine taking my bulli seriously.

it involves questers, i refuse

[Alcala-Cordel]

Exactly.

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

You don't. Rich people become rich either from inheritance or from luck with a business. Many of the hardest workers are impoverished.

[Dominioan]

No its not pure luck
You dont earn a good wage from pure luck, you work hard for it

You don't. Rich people become rich either from inheritance or from luck with a business. Many of the hardest workers are impoverished.

Many millionaires or billionaires become rich with a good idea and hard work.

Then they never contribute anything more and exploit others and a broken system to keep themselves in that position of wealth.