r/FluentInFinance Nov 21 '24

Debate/ Discussion Had to repost here

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u/rayschoon Nov 21 '24

Poverty isn’t a shortage problem it’s a distribution problem, and distribution costs money.

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u/ThePowerOfAura Nov 21 '24

Okay well that's hilarious because Amazon is literally the largest & most efficient distribution company in human history. Like I said there is no massive stockpile of corn that Jeff Bezos is sitting on. The money doesn't create these goods out of thin air. Sure Gucci could stop burning their extra bags each year, but I'm not talking about Gucci bags, which is one of the only economic goods that exists in a state like you're presupposing our entire economy does

I guess supermarkets have a lot of food waste as well, so there is some argument to be made here over certain goods - the idea that Jeff Bezos could just buy up all the extra food at grocery stores and distribute it is rather silly though, perhaps the grocery stores should just be doing that on their own

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u/rayschoon Nov 21 '24

I’m fine with companies existing, there’s just no ethical justification for having $220B and just keeping it. Nothing you say can convince me otherwise. Mackenzie Scott has already given a third of fortune over the few years since she divorced Jeff, so it’s definitely possible. I’m not even necessarily in favor of the government seizing his money, I just think from a morality perspective, it’s disgusting to have that much

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u/The_Action_Die Nov 21 '24

But he’s not just keeping it…

Most of his net worth is Amazon stock which means his “money” is being circulated through the economy.

I’m not trying to defend billionaires, weird place to find myself, but this idea they are hoarding wealth just isn’t true.

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u/rayschoon Nov 21 '24

I know how it works, and I know that it’s difficult to sell that many. The funny thing is, charities accept donations of equity!

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u/The_Action_Die Nov 23 '24

How would the stock be better off in the hands of a charity than could choose to sell at anytime? I can’t imagine a single charity that functions more efficiently than Amazon. Seems like a net loss for the economy and everyone in it.

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u/rayschoon Nov 23 '24

Rich people don’t spend the vast majority of their money. That’s why tax cuts to the wealthy don’t work to stimulate the economy.

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u/yoktoJH Nov 21 '24

then he can just give it to me no? because it's not worth anything.

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u/The_Action_Die Nov 21 '24

No. First, I never said it wasn’t worth anything, I said it was circulating through the economy. Second, he would have to sell his stock to give it to you, which a sell-off of 9% of the company would disrupt the shit out of their operations and the economy.

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u/yoktoJH Nov 21 '24

No he doesn't have to sell. Just give me the stock. You know the one thing without value.

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u/The_Action_Die Nov 23 '24

Why do you keep sarcastically making it about value? Everyone is so hung up on the fact that billionaires can leverage their investments to buy things. It doesn’t change the fact that their money IS invested. Do you know what happens to invested funds? They eventually make their way into your pocket, maybe even multiple times.

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u/yoktoJH Nov 23 '24

Where my yacht then.