Spreading the Wealth

Then what would be your barter medium of choice?

If that were the way it was, I wouldn't mind. If it meant that everyone had a chance at a long, healthy life, then so be it. It won't happen and I don't pretend to live in this "fantasy" world. I would much prefer a society where there is no money at all.

very same comment just like copied

I disagree. No one knows what would happen, but I think that we would still have to survive, travel, etc. We would work to better ourselves and survive.

But that's what I'm talking about. There's no reason why anyone needs a billion dollars... let alone millions of dollars. I'm sure that with the amount of money in the world, if it were to be spread evenly amongst every living person we'd all have more money than we could ever need to live on. The question isn't will it ever happen, because we know it won't. But what do you think would happen? Would you like to see this happen? etc.

Its communism if rich people would give their money to other people, in other words if money would be divided among all people..:-)

I've been reading this discussion from the beginning, and here is where I have to jump in! It would be a great thing if all people were truly equal, and if the very rich spread their wealth around to equalize things; but we know that would never, ever happen. Besides that, if they earned their money legally and honestly, even if we feel that they are grossly overpaid (which most of them are),it's still money that they have earned. What needs to happen is that there has to be a way to empower all of the world's population to work and make a decent living. Which means that there has to be some governmental infrastructure to provide the resources for all of the basic things that people need to survive; everyone needs a foundation on which to build. That's what so many people in the developing nations are missing. They have absolutely no chance to succeed because they have nothing to build upon. If they had decent places to live, decent food, a safe water supply, clothing, medical care, transportation, education, and skills training schools, they would begin to be empowered to improve their situations in life. Without these basics, how can we even expect them to succeed? One of my biggest pet peeves is the celebrities who have more money than they will ever be able to spend who use the poverty-stricken people in the world to boost their own images and status in Hollywood. I posted about this somewhere else earlier. We've all seen the celebrities who show a fake concern for the deplorable conditions and the alarmingly high number of people infected with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. We've seen news stories of all that these celebrities are doing for the "cause". That's a bunch of crap. They fly over there in private jets and a car and driver meets them at the airport. They go to a 5-star hotel and eat at hotel restaurants and throw money around. Then they have the driver take them to a remote village where they have their pictures taken "helping the victims of the AIDS epidemic". After which they check out of the hotel and fly back to Hollywood in time to see themselves plastered all over the news as the good-Samaritans that they are. Oh, I forgot- they might throw a bit of money at "the cause", but it's certainly not a huge help. Did you ever see one of these people spend time with the native people? (except for Angelina Jolie, of course)Did these celebrities try to get to know the people as human beings? Share a meal with them, visit their homes, maybe stay a few days with a "host family"? Never. The rich and famous are too "good" for that. These are the over-paid people who should share their money. Sports celebrities are another thing- why is it that a professional hockey player can sign a contract for 7 million over 4 years? That's obscene!! And professional football is even worse. Maybe anyone who makes over a certain amount of money or has assets in the millions should be required to pay an extra tax every year, in addition to the normal income taxes, to go into a Universal Fund of some sort that would be internationally administered with funds going to improve the living conditions of the developing countries and help to empower all people in the world to better themselves.

It's funny that it's usually the average/low average earners that support 3rd world country initiatives or homeless ones, etc. Sure there are rich people that do it for tax purposes, and very few that actually have good hearts when it comes to that kind of thing and of course celebrities who only use it for image - but of course there are some genuine cases too!

This could quite possibly be true. I was watching Oprah or Dr. Phil, can't remember which one, and his documentary filmmaker was on with a homeless man. They wanted to see what would happen if they gave him $100,000. Would he change his life around and take advantage of this wonderours gift or squander it? He squandered it. He didn't know how to handle it... he told what family he had and of course all the family came out of the woods and before he knew it he bought friends cars, gave them money, etc and he is now still living on the street. Your last statement is quite true, especially in the real world we live in.

No, they wouldn't like it at all. And of course it's unlikley but it's a crazy idea for sure, but it's got heart to it. Too many people suffer and if there were many of us will billions I would be tempted to take a certain amount of that to help out as best I can... but lets face it - 1 person cannot do much, no matter how much he/she has. I am in the music business and can't tell you, in reality I appreciate money as much as the next person. It's just a crazy idea... a hypothetical question :)

Tis true... which is why I mentioned why money should also be abolished. It creates too many problems... it'll not happen for many years, probably centuries, if at all.

Again I disagree, personally. I'm not going to repeat myself again, you can read some of my comments on this page to have said basically the same thing. We have a system like that now that people take advantage of, it's called welfare. That's why my personal suggestion wouldn't be to split equally the world's entire money but to abolish it entirely.

Sure there'd be singing... that doesn't make any sense. It'd be nice though if everyone got an equal share of all the money on the planet, and then go from there.

I agree, if that could be the case. But we all know it isn't going to happen. I can only hope that one day far into the future the human race will evolve beyond needing a system of commerce. It's not really a matter of convincing anyone to do anything... it's just a hypothetical question to see what you all think about it.

You make a valid point. But if economy/commerce didn't exist... what then? Just a thought. I am a dreamer yes, but I also know the difference between dreams and reality. I agree with you about equating $$ = happiness. Quite immature, but it's how most people act. Could be the reason we have problems like this in the first place...

ya your idea are very right but not that it make equilibrium at any time. this make world destroy.

it is like begger if you want meal you should work. if you are billionare then provide them work just they never be hungry not provide money that they never thin to work.

It's not a matter of right and wrong, I just want to hear what you people think. I have my own thoughts and you have yours. Most rich people do it for tax purposes, but there are some who have a genuine cause they care about. I would be arrogant to wrong to lump every rich person into the same stereotype. It's true that there are decisions to be made, but I think they are usually made for selfish reasons. Theres nothing wrong with wanting to make money, but there's no need to hog millions when someone is dying because he can't afford to eat.