Maximilien Danton

#AbolishBillionaires I've seen here that the idea of abolishing billionaires entirely is not just my crazy idea, so maybe a bit of background.

I am neither a communist nor a socialist nor religiously committed to #capitalism . I don't think capitalism as such is the problem. However:

Nobody should possess a billion dollars. It is bad for everyone, including those who have it. My proposal is a progressive wealth windfall payment after $500 million, such that $1 billion is impossible to reach.

Mar 19 at 9:44pmMastodon for Android
Show threadAKingsbury2d ago

@infidel

Why? What is so magical about $1 billion that makes it so wrong to have that much? Why not $900,000,000?

It's always struck me as odd that a very convenient, round number (the purchasing power of which changes over time, as with every fixed amount of money) is branded with some absolute moral clarity, where being on the other side is unambiguously evil.

Show threadMaximilien Danton2d ago
@AlexanderKingsbury the number is a convenient and meaningful symbol. The idea is to eliminate extreme wealth and extreme wealth inequality. So if 900 million is determined to be where to place the limit, that's fine.
Show threadAKingsbury2d ago

@infidel

"The idea is to eliminate extreme wealth and extreme wealth inequality"

Why?

Show threadMaximilien Danton2d ago
@AlexanderKingsbury good question. It ruins society and the environment. It doesn't seem like you have a lot of awareness of it though. I can give more elaborate answers for more specific questions.
Show threadAKingsbury1d ago

@infidel

How does it ruin society? Plenty of people are taller than me. Plenty are smarter. Plenty are faster, stronger, etc. Why should I care if someone else is richer? Other than envy, of course.

Show threadMaximilien Danton1d ago

@AlexanderKingsbury there is nothing wrong with someone being richer than you. It is extreme wealth inequality that is the problem.

People who are extremely wealthy have disproportionate political influence which they leverage to their own advantage and the detriment of the polity. This erodes democracy and state institutions, eventually materialising as despotism and oligarchy. It reverts society to the stratification of feudalism.