They should exsist, as a footnote in human history.
Nah there should be a whole chapter about oligarchs that make future people go "what the fuck". Hopefully followed by the one about how we no longer have oligarchs that makes future people go "based".
%100. No one needs that much money to live comfortably. It is a mental disorder.
Why would I want to change your mind‽
No. Will not change your mind
Is the line right at billion, how rich should people be allowed to be?
Should it matter how the money was acquired?
Should everyone always have to have the same amount of money as everyone else?
Personally, I don't care how much someone accrues in their life. I do think there should be a cap on inheritance. Peg that cap to some multiple of the minimum wage, let's say 1million, then if billionaires want to pass on more than $7.25 million they need to raise the minimum wage.
Tax 'em when they die and move on.
Money shouldn't exist. Hope that helps!
How should goods and services be exchanged?
Should everything be done with bartering?
Basic needs and resources should be provided, the rest by bartering or agreement, yes.
Have you seen Star Trek?
Money would like immediately be reinvented.
"I need my window repaired but I don't know how to do it"
"I can repair windows but I need someone to help my sick dog"
"I can diagnose animals but I need someone to translate Spanish".
"I can translate Spanish but I need someone to deliver this package "
They're not going to all line up and do a series of trades. Someone's going to be like "what if I give you a token, and we all agree that token is worth work? Then you can take that token to anyone*
What about if you make flower necklaces and you want a remote-controlled truck, but the person making trucks doesn't want necklaces? Should you need to go ask all the people making truck parts if they want to trade with you so that you can trade with the truck maker? What if you can't find anyone who wants to trade with you who also has things that the truck maker wants?
People used to barter long ago, that gradually shifted into everyone bartering for a specific type of seashell. Seashells are the most used "currency" in history. They were really great as a currency because you could measure them individually, or weigh lots of them for bigger trades. Some people stuck with the old bartering system without using seashells, but they didn't get the stuff they wanted nearly as easily. Eventually, some people switched from seashells to other things that worked even better for them, gold being a very popular one. Alchohol was one for a long time as well. Even muslims that wouldn't drink it still used it as currency. The advent of strong liquors was incredible because it allowed for easier transport of large quantities of wealth when compared to beer or cider.
One of the most surprising currencies was massive carved donut shaped rocks. They were not divisible, but they were extremely hard to steal since they were so heavy.
I've seen a few episodes of Star Trek long ago, back when it was on TV. Did they have a successful barter system?
You seem to think the flower crown maker is making them for profit. You're stuck in the capitalist mentality. We shouldn't be defined by what we do and we shouldn't only do that which is for monetary gain. I don't want somebody needlessly making an endless supply of flower crowns, I want a person free to make flower crowns only when they want to for pleasure.
Absolutely. I would love for them to be free to make them as well without any worry about survival. I just don't think that anyone should be able to go to them and demand that they have to give them their flower crowns that they just spent all weekend making. They have friends that they want to give these flower crowns to in exchange for other cute accessories.
Also, I think that if someone spends 3 months making an RC truck, then the flower maker should not be allowed to demand they give them a truck simply because they make flowers crowns that the truck maker doesnt want. The truck maker wants to give this truck to the drone maker who is going to give him a drone.
I remember watching an intervew with a philosopher dedicated to answering those questions. She says that, in her country (Norway or somewhere near, I can't remember), surveys show that the majority of citizens consider having 2 million dollars the max amount a family of 4 should have before being "too much money any family should have". So she suggests putting a cap at 10 millions for an individual. In her country, that's officially more than enough while not detering people to try to become "rich". Big emphasis on "in her country". She believes it should be very dependant of the amount and quality of public services. Good quality and cheap public education etc.
Workers should collectively own the Means of Production and direct it democratically as they see fit.
I think the question could be summarised as, how much is "enough"? Is it enough to live on? Enough to feel secure that you know you could pay for that big ticket item? Is that big ticket item the necessity you need or have to pay for?
And for that, alot of people have different lines that are deemed enough.
Whoa! Which one of these questions do people not like and why?
Ok so.... I can't speak for everyone, but
Is the line right at billion, how rich should people be allowed to be?
This could be perceived as sealioning, or just asking questions. Looking through the thread I don't believe that to be the case, so I personally don't find this one objectionable. My answer to that would be $100,000,000 US Dollars. No more than that, and people should really be retiring once they hit $10,000,000 USD
Should it matter how the money was acquired?
Perfectly reasonable question, and I would answer, "yes, absolutely." I would then immediately ask two follow up questions.
Is Wage Theft a crime?
Will we prosecute the crimes that these rich people have committed?
Should everyone always have to have the same amount of money as everyone else?
This is a strawman question, even if you didn't intend for it to be. No one thinks that everyone should have the same as everyone else, even those of us that advocate for moneyless and stateless society. I suspect this is the one that is getting the down votes, though the first is also a potential candidate.
I don't mind billionaires existing, but I absolutely mind them getting special treatment and getting away with crimes.
edit: if you're mad about this comment, I have to think you're just jealous of the rich assholes. If billionaires paid their fair share of taxes and were prosecuted for crimes, the world would be objectively a better place. Instead, I guess for some that's not enough, it's a fully socialist world or NOTHING.
No one is "mad" at your comment. People just think it's stupid to think inequality should exist
I never said fuck-all about what should exist. I said "I don't mind [with an important caveat]". Indicating that I'd prefer a step toward equality than a less realistic absolutist approach to it
There can be no billionaires without inequality. If you're ok with billionaires existing, you're ok with inequality.
Right. Absolutism is the only way.
Humanity will destroy itself because of this mind virus. All or nothing. Destroys lives at every level and it will lead to our extinction. But go ahead and embrace it. Because you're RIGHT, after all.
I also hate that people don't want bad things instead of wanting bad things with a little less bad. Fucking absolutists.
By painting me as "wanting inequality" you have freed yourself from considering another perspective. You don't need to care about details like "basically no one on Lemmy would actually believe that" or "I've demonstrated that's false". Congratulations. Thought and actual conversation avoided. Me bad, you good.
You may not want inequality, but that's, by definition, what a world with billionaires has. Wether you want it or not.
Why the fuck is Gritty a member of Crowder's mug club? Fucking cancelled.
(If you're not going to fully Photoshop that fascist out of the meme, use the Calvin & Hobbes version)
This one, right?
Thought this guy looked familiar, turns out I was thinking of the Honey Monster from UK ads in the 90s.
Many have promised that when they die the money should be used for charity. Warren Buffet started this trend.
The bad part here is they can waste all the money however they want and nothing can stop them. Example, they buy cars just to blow them up, not one but 1000. They can afford it. Good for the environment? No, but fun for them as they might have found a new sport.
Often the "claims" of donating the money are complete bullshit. They set up their own charities that they or their children control and "donate" The money to it.
It is just another way to evade taxes and perseverance their generational wealth
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