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Padhome t1_j2d28m4 wrote

Reply to comment by fitzroy95 in We have all the resources we need to solve the world's greatest problems, so long as we can rise above our tribal instincts. by IAI_Admin

It's so strange to me, even with a fraction of their wealth they would still be living in the same quality of luxury. The only reason they want wealth is for its own sake, or they want absolute power, both of which are fundamentally evil, shortsighted, and inevitably self-destructive.

These are addicts, except the damage they cause is global.

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Feline_Diabetes t1_j2d3byn wrote

Yeah it's weird isn't it.

I personally can't imagine caring about more money past a certain amount, but I think the process of becoming that wealthy weeds out people like us who don't want it enough.

Thus, the very richest are always, by a process of elimination, people for whom no amount is sufficient.

Or that's my theory anyway.

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Padhome t1_j2d3gfx wrote

I just call it for what it is, an addiction. One who's victims are in the hundreds of millions if not billions, and they are the number one enemy to the world.

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Sylvurphlame t1_j2dw3ec wrote

> I personally can’t imagine caring about more money past a certain amount, but I think the process of becoming that wealthy weeds out people like us who don’t want it enough.

I’ve known a couple guys who had way more money than you’d think, based on their apparent standard of living. Like, he had a nice car, but you don’t get the first hints until you realize his car has every last bell an whistle and then some custom stuff too.

And then you notice his suits when he’s not wearing random anime and band t-shirts… but you had to be paying attention. Nothing about his attitude or everyday demeanor screamed “independently wealthy for several lifetimes.”

So those people do exist, but yeah I think there’s some sort of critical moral inflection point that 99% of the ultra-rich fail along the way.

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bildramer t1_j2d8gnv wrote

If you own 51% of a company, and that company ends up making billions, and the stock is then valued as such, the media will call you "billionaire" - but that money isn't real as long as you don't sell a fraction your ownership.

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eric_trump_laptop03 t1_j2d5vrn wrote

No rich man ever got to where they are by being ethical. Sure some inherit the money, but do they really count?

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Padhome t1_j2d9gm8 wrote

Just because you inherit wealth doesn't mean you aren't responsible for what you do with it. Take 99% of billionaires for example.

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Sylvurphlame t1_j2duli1 wrote

> These are addicts, except the damage they cause is global.

That’s probably a pretty damn accurate assessment. At a certain point, the drive that some people have to “accomplish more” just become a drive to “have more.” There’s never a point that’s “enough.” It’s a vicious cycle

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zjustice11 t1_j2digfk wrote

“ and I would trade it all, for just a little more” Monty Burns

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