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coke_and_coffee t1_j2aawhh wrote

Reply to comment by probability_of_meme in We have all the resources we need to solve the world's greatest problems, so long as we can rise above our tribal instincts. by IAI_Admin

> They know very well they're better off with lots of starving people around.

This is reductive nonsense. You don’t need these kind of cynical conspiracy theories to explain why wealthy people want to keep their wealth. Ask yourself, why don’t you give all your wealth away to starving kids in Africa? It’s the same dynamic at play.

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LinearOperator t1_j2buu2n wrote

This is more than a bit of a strawman. If I lose 99% of my wealth, I can't get to work, I can't have a roof over my head, and I go to join the starving because I won't be able to afford food. If we take away 99% of the wealth of a person with a single billion, they still have 10 million dollars. Think about it like this: if you made 100,000$ (which most people even in the US would consider a very good income) every year for 100 years (which would most probably cover the entire period of cradle to grave), that's 10 million dollars. That's what would be left if we took away 99% of the wealth of a person worth a single billion and there are well over 500 of these individuals in the US not to mention many who are worth tens or even HUNDREDS of billions. And these are the same people who fight tooth and nail any measure to increase taxes even the slightest. Thanks to "Citizens United", we have no idea how these people influence federal elections not to mention those like Rupert Murdock who own multinational media empires.

I don't think the rich want "starving people" around. But I'm sure they want anyone outside of their influence to have as little power as possible and people who are worried about things like food and shelter have far fewer resources to oppose them.

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coke_and_coffee t1_j2c7g0r wrote

I’m sure you can afford $1 a day to keep a starving kid alive. Yet I’m pretty sure you don’t do that…

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PaxNova t1_j2b1yxg wrote

They might give more away if it didn't entail giving away control of their company.

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