Limitarianism ... a Realization that the Billionaire is a Myth?
@mythociate (21432)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
January 23, 2022 9:24am CST
The basic belief of Limitarianism is that 'people should be forbidden from having too much money at any one time' (e.g. 'one billion dollars' is too much---nevermind 'how much Jeff Bezos has,' as he'll probably have made another $1,000,000 by the time you finish responding to this post).
But the truth--essentially--is that no billionaire or -millionaire or -money holder of any amount is actually anything more than that ... a person whom we all let HOLD the money (although yes, it's usually because they spent the money to start the company that makes more money).
I can't see how--as the 'billionaires' "buy" the right to hold the money (by betting the start-up costs etc.)--we can legally KEEP THEM from holding on to the money above 'the chosen amount.' How do you think we'll do it?
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4 responses
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Jan 22
I believe 'enough people can let me hold the money,' yes
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@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Jan 22
@askme123 Oh, you do that? And when you take it to the bank, you just show them you have it & then put it back in your pocket?
@askme123 (6150)
•
23 Jan 22
@mythociate Ain't no one gonna let you do that in these times You have to work for it
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@porwest (89977)
• United States
23 Jan 22
I don't think we should. They EARNED their money. It's that simple for me. They DESERVE their money. Also that simple. And we all have the opportunity to at least share in the pie by owning pieces of the companies from which they made their billions.
If all we want to do is buy their stuff and not play in the game, we get what we deserve too. To be at the bottom rungs of the ladder. We didn't earn it, we have no right to it, and so why should we be worried about someone getting what they deserve and not at the same time accept that we get what WE deserve?
Just my two cents.
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@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
23 Jan 22
Maybe, but ... it makes me think of 'owning a pet.' Sure, you buy & own the pet totally; but then you have to take care of it and clean up after it & bear responsibility for the messes it makes.
I think I heard on the video (that I linked-to above, and that I suspect you didn't watch) that 'the 1%' pollute the world at about 10 times the rate of the 99%.
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@porwest (89977)
• United States
23 Jan 22
@mythociate But they DO take care of the 'pets' so to speak. What do you think jobs are? What do you think shares of stock in the companies they own are? What do you think are the massive offerings they provide to society that makes our lives simpler, easier, and better? More convenient? What of the massive innovations and technologies they provide?
The rich do more than people give them credit for, and I think we personally owe them everything.
@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Jan 22
@porwest My brother works for "intel" (I think). I'm not sure if he's a billionaire (yet); but he buys what he buys (including the machine I'm using to post this now ), so he's as rich as he needs to be.
Maybe CBS Sunday Morning should do a reaction-story (to tell 'the wealthy side of the story'), to tell us WHY it's worth "letting them destroy the planet so much more than we regular people do."
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@mildredtabitha (16126)
• Nairobi, Kenya
23 Jan 22
I think you can't keep them from holding above the minimum because that's like forcing them to spend everything that Is above the minimum
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@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Jan 22
What do you think happens to money when you spend it. Do people just use it to feed their burning fireplaces? I think--by-and-large--they use it the same way you do (to buy & maintain their automobiles & food & clothes, pay rent & utilities, and buy a little extra ... from people who then use it to do the same).
And I think the video above shows how they DO spend "everything that is above the minimum"!
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@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Jan 22
@mildredtabitha in a way ... Banks 'make money by lending money (obviously with-interest),' and most of the money they lend is 'money they're holding onto for others.'
And most of the money employers pay their employees (at least at the start of their business) is money the banks loan them!
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@mildredtabitha (16126)
• Nairobi, Kenya
25 Jan 22
@mythociate you are right. I think holding money is what makes people rich.
According to your post
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@mythociate (21432)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Jan 22
Yes; ANOTHER reason 'the billionaires' don't need more money than 'their lowest-paid employees.'
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