Greg KnaussJun 9

If a billionaire is a policy failure, a trillionaire is a civilizational one.

One person hoarding that much wealth in a world where people are in need — hungry, sick, homeless — is the end product of a society undergoing the complete collapse of human decency.

A trillionaire is an obscenity.

Show threadGazaTrending

@gknauss not to say you are completely off the mark here, charitability on a larger scale which is proportionate to the wealth of any person should absolutely be encouraged, even demanded. However, the majority of the 'listed wealth' of any top valued person is, in general, fully engaged economically or has been counted from stock ownership, percent ownerships, etc.

It's not always a Liberace, wearing a gold/diamond encrusted suit worth all of that value.

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/photographs-2/annie-leibovitz-liberace-and-scott-thorson-las

Annie Leibovitz | 'liberace And Scott Thorson, Las Vegas' |

<p>ANNIE LEIBOVITZ</p><p> B. 1949</p><p><em> 'LIBERACE AND SCOTT THORSON, LAS VEGAS'</em></p><p><br></p><p> Cibachrome print, signed, titled, dated, and editioned '10/40' in ink in the margin, framed, a The Art Museum of the Americas exhibition label on the reverse, 1981</p><p> 10 by 10⅛ in. (25.4 by 25.7 cm.)</p>

Sotheby's
Jun 9 at 7:13pmWeb
Show threadswachterJun 9
@dckim @gknauss My god, what a revelation. This changes everything. Thank you so much for enlightening us.
Show threadGazaTrendingJun 9

@swachter @gknauss I can feel the sarcasm, and I like it.

Okay, I guess they are all jerks living lavish lifestyles... but, it's not like he's got solid gold toilettes or something. That would just be weird.

Show threadVeronica Olsen 🏳️‍🌈Jun 9
@dckim @swachter @gknauss I mean, no one is claiming they sleep on a trillion in cash. The point is the wealth, in whatever form, translates directly into power. That is power they have taken. It is authoritarian in nature. That's the real problem.
Show threadGazaTrendingJun 9

@veronica @swachter @gknauss very well said. It essentially amounts to a fascism in the sense that they dictate for that concentration of wealth. And that is where there is the potential for danger, harm, and corruption.

The potential influence is too strong and broad.

Is it even possible for a person with that much wealth to dispose of the wealth? I think Bill Gates tried to do it. Probably just felt guilty for having too much.

Show threadVeronica Olsen 🏳️‍🌈Jun 9
@dckim @swachter @gknauss Even when they try to do good, many of them like to keep the control. The Gates Foundation is a good example. In the spirit of the analogy, it's essentially the benevolent dictator argument. It is still anti-democratic.