Howard Schulz grew up in a Brooklyn Housing project, George Soros survived the holocaust survived college waiting tables, David Murdock of Dole Foods was homeless. There’s tons of examples.
Now how many are utter psychopaths (or “just” people without empathy)?
They’re an evil bunch and that’s about it IMO. Don’t kill them or anything but being able to have already a Billion dollars is just breaking our social contract, so tax that away from them. They can argue who’s got 56 millions instead of 56 billions, for them it will be the same game.
My parents never could’ve either but $500k household net worth only puts you in the top 20% of households so it’s not like they were exceptionally wealthy and we don’t know if they borrowed to invest or what exactly their specific situation was. Miguel Bezos was a Cuban refugee and then worked as an engineer for Exxon and Jackie Bezos was a secretary so i mean this is pretty middle class IMO.
That doesn’t mean that all billionaires clawed their way to the top as i mentioned above, or that we shouldn’t make progressive changes to the tax code. It’s just important that we separate truth from fiction to make educated decisions.
But their net worth was a hell of a lot more than 500K. 500K was the seed capital they gave Bezos. They didn’t empty their bank accounts and mortgage their house to do it.
It’s very fascinating that someone can grow up in abject poverty, gain a tremendous amount of power over their lifetime, and decide to make it their life’s work to push down as many other people into abject poverty as possible.
Most households living below the poverty line have at least one unemployed person, so giving people jobs is pulling them out of poverty. Whether or not they are treated fairly at work and are satisfied with their working conditions is another story.
huge_clock@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Howard Schulz grew up in a Brooklyn Housing project, George Soros survived the holocaust survived college waiting tables, David Murdock of Dole Foods was homeless. There’s tons of examples.
Phen@lemmy.eco.br 10 months ago
His mother had him when he was 17?
dependencyinjection@discuss.tchncs.de 10 months ago
That must have hurt.
Valmond@lemmy.mindoki.com 10 months ago
Now how many are utter psychopaths (or “just” people without empathy)?
They’re an evil bunch and that’s about it IMO. Don’t kill them or anything but being able to have already a Billion dollars is just breaking our social contract, so tax that away from them. They can argue who’s got 56 millions instead of 56 billions, for them it will be the same game.
deafboy@lemmy.world 10 months ago
A contract requires at least 2 party consent. A “social contract” is more like a ransom.
Valmond@lemmy.mindoki.com 10 months ago
Well if we decide we don’t accept the contract then their money is worthless so…
neptune@dmv.social 10 months ago
Bezos may have grown up poor, but his parents did finance Amazon to the tune of $250k which is closer to half a million now.
He still effectively inherited the capital to start a business. My parents could never just invest half a million in a business I would want to start.
cnbc.com/…/how-jeff-bezos-got-his-parents-to-inve…
huge_clock@lemmy.world 10 months ago
My parents never could’ve either but $500k household net worth only puts you in the top 20% of households so it’s not like they were exceptionally wealthy and we don’t know if they borrowed to invest or what exactly their specific situation was. Miguel Bezos was a Cuban refugee and then worked as an engineer for Exxon and Jackie Bezos was a secretary so i mean this is pretty middle class IMO.
That doesn’t mean that all billionaires clawed their way to the top as i mentioned above, or that we shouldn’t make progressive changes to the tax code. It’s just important that we separate truth from fiction to make educated decisions.
dangblingus@lemmy.world 10 months ago
But their net worth was a hell of a lot more than 500K. 500K was the seed capital they gave Bezos. They didn’t empty their bank accounts and mortgage their house to do it.
FaeDrifter@midwest.social 10 months ago
It’s very fascinating that someone can grow up in abject poverty, gain a tremendous amount of power over their lifetime, and decide to make it their life’s work to push down as many other people into abject poverty as possible.
dangblingus@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Narcissists.
huge_clock@lemmy.world 10 months ago
Most households living below the poverty line have at least one unemployed person, so giving people jobs is pulling them out of poverty. Whether or not they are treated fairly at work and are satisfied with their working conditions is another story.
FaeDrifter@midwest.social 10 months ago
Working people are getting poorer, wealthy people are getting richer.
Giving people jobs is just a way to suck up more money from the economy.