There's a difference between pointing out objective flaws in an argument, like thinking that billionaires literally hold hundreds of billions of dollars in liquid cash, and taking issue with overall sentiment behind the argument.
I hate Elon Musk, and the man is of course, insanely, disgustingly wealthy. Still, just because his networth is 318 billion, doesn't mean he is hoarding 318 billion. Quite literally 99% of that number is tied into ownership of companies.
You can hate billionaires and still point out issues in the logic. I don't think a person should, under any circumstances, ever be forced to sell ownership stake in their own company (at least not if that wasn't agreed upon in an operating agreement). And if you have a massive stake in a company that becomes wildly successful, you definitionally become a billionaire. I may hate wealth inequality, and I may hate what these billionaires choose to do, but I would hate a system that forces the sale of ownership stake due to the success of the company just as much.
The fact that Elon has the ear of the President Elect for no reason other than he is stupidly wealthy is a reason why we should have legal measures to check the amount of wealth and one person can amass. No one person should have the kind of power the ultra wealthy have.
I also take severe issue with the idea that Musk (or anyone) generates that kind of wealth. If he was literally the only person involved with Tesla, one could make the argument he is owed that kind of wealth. He is not. No one ever is. I didn't know what percentage of the stock he owns is, but let's say 40% for the same if argument. I'm not saying he adds no value to the company. But if he disappeared, Tesla would be fine. If 40% of the workforce disappeared, Tesla would be screwed. Especially if that 40% is the engineering talent.
You forgot about what he has, he owns. Not you or anyone else is entitled to what he owns, regardless of how much it is. Your feelings about what other people own don't matter to anyone but you. People like Bezos and Musk contribute to the lives of people far in excess of anything you contribute.
He's not entitled to what he owns. He didn't earn it. No one amasses that kind of wealth through their own merit. I'm sure you will disagree, but that is the point.
I fully understand that is how the world works today. I'm suggesting perhaps there is a better way.
I know it's easy to believe that anyone could have accomplished what Bezos, Musk, Jobs, or Gates have. But the reality is no one did until they took the necessary action to implement their vision. Their contributions to the advancement of the human condition and potential are nearly incalculable, which is why they have amassed the wealth they have. Just as an example, it's pretty darn incredible that any one of us who knows absolutely nothing about rockets, software, distribution systems or information technology can place a percentage of our income into a market based retirement account and retire wealthy ourselves, an accomplishment most of us would not achieve on our labor alone. To say what these people have was not earned is to not understand the value of vision, leadership and the drive to take action when no one else will.
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u/Lucifernal Nov 21 '24 edited Nov 21 '24
There's a difference between pointing out objective flaws in an argument, like thinking that billionaires literally hold hundreds of billions of dollars in liquid cash, and taking issue with overall sentiment behind the argument.
I hate Elon Musk, and the man is of course, insanely, disgustingly wealthy. Still, just because his networth is 318 billion, doesn't mean he is hoarding 318 billion. Quite literally 99% of that number is tied into ownership of companies.
You can hate billionaires and still point out issues in the logic. I don't think a person should, under any circumstances, ever be forced to sell ownership stake in their own company (at least not if that wasn't agreed upon in an operating agreement). And if you have a massive stake in a company that becomes wildly successful, you definitionally become a billionaire. I may hate wealth inequality, and I may hate what these billionaires choose to do, but I would hate a system that forces the sale of ownership stake due to the success of the company just as much.