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Wealth Inequality

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
This illustrates how out of whack our system is (and not just the US). Sooner or later, one way or another, this will be fixed.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
Thanks for that. That helps me understand exactly how ridiculous the wealth gap is... Wow.
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
Lot of conflicting opinions on this in this site. Found this recently and it seemed relevant. If you got a few minutes go ahead and scroll through. Then with a strait face tell me why its justified.


Wealth, shown to scale
A few people on top already have all the wealth. What they want now is population reduction because they consider the rest of us "useless" eaters. This is why they push anti-human agendas disguised as humanitarian and even philanthropist policies.

They themselves plan on having extended lifespans and transhumanism.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Lot of conflicting opinions on this in this site. Found this recently and it seemed relevant. If you got a few minutes go ahead and scroll through. Then with a strait face tell me why its justified.


Wealth, shown to scale

Bezos' billions have no affect on my wealth or my ability to make money. I've no idea why people have to spend so much time worrying about what the other guy has got.
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
Bezos' billions have no affect on my wealth or my ability to make money. I've no idea why people have to spend so much time worrying about what the other guy has got.

I have what I need, but it can be very frustrating for a person who is doing the things they need to do, and still finding they turn up short at the end of the day.
 

epronovost

Well-Known Member
Bezos' billions have no affect on my wealth or my ability to make money. I've no idea why people have to spend so much time worrying about what the other guy has got.

Actually it could. If you want to make money in the same way he did, you would have to compete against him and his billions which isn't exactly an easy task. Also, if you work for him, Jeff is personally interested to pay you as little as possible for the maximum amount of work you can provide. That would impede your ability to generate wealth through your work and since he is a massive player in the business and that other business, if they want to compete, must do basically the same thing, you might be in trouble. Furthermore, Jeff is also interested in paying as little taxes as possible and isn't in personal need for a host of social programs that a government could provide and thus augment your wealth by providing you those services instead of you having to pay them out of pocket (or abstain from them). Jeff wealth, the social status and authority he derives from it and his fame make him influential and he can use this influence to affect your ability to make money. Jeff didn't become that rich through the sweat of his brow and his work alone. He had to sweat and work that is true, but he became that rich because he owns the sweat and work of almost 800 000 people and he redistribute the wealth generated by all these people, including his own, based on his beliefs within the confines of the law.
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
Lot of conflicting opinions on this in this site. Found this recently and it seemed relevant. If you got a few minutes go ahead and scroll through. Then with a strait face tell me why its justified.


Wealth, shown to scale
I think its an issue that needs addressing.


I used to have an opposing opinion until my jaw dropped to the floor when I first discovered fortune 500 companies payed 0 tax and the comparison of individual wealth of the top tier such as CEOs, executives, and industry barons compared with lowest teir workers they employed.

It's most certainly gone way past the out of control mark.
 

Friend of Mara

Active Member
Bezos' billions have no affect on my wealth or my ability to make money. I've no idea why people have to spend so much time worrying about what the other guy has got.
It does though. Jeffry is the most extreme example but if the production value of labor stayed the same as what it was in just 1990 the average family would have nearly 200k a year WITHOUT any need for inflation.

The issue is that 99% of all new wealth is in the very very very top of the scale. The US and even the world is far far richer than we think. The only reason we have poverty is because of wealth inequality. There are finite resources and money is the way we wish to represent that allocation. If Jeffry and a handful of his buddies can pay for all the healthcare needs of the nation, end poverty in America, end hunger of the world, end homelessness ect I think it is a moral wrong that they don't. It is the society that we live in that has decided they are allowed to do this. He didn't "make" the money. He lives in a society where it is allowed for the orchestration of value thief to an extreme degree.

You only think it doesn't affect you.
 

Friend of Mara

Active Member
I think its an issue that needs addressing.


I used to have an opposing opinion until my jaw dropped to the floor when I first discovered fortune 500 companies payed 0 tax and the comparison of individual wealth of the top tier such as CEOs, executives, and industry barons compared with lowest teir workers they employed.

It's most certainly gone way past the out of control mark.
Welcome to the cause comrade.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
Actually it could. If you want to make money in the same way he did, you would have to compete against him and his billions which isn't exactly an easy task.

Sure but for most people this is not the case. In fact many are now able to generate wealth because the the structure Bezos created. Because of Bezos, this is now easier than it ever was before.
Sure if I was to compete with Bezos, create the better system, everyone wins. Sure Bezos may take a hit but he'll need to come up with something better then. Everyone profits from healthy competition.


Also, if you work for him, Jeff is personally interested to pay you as little as possible for the maximum amount of work you can provide.
Not if he wants to keep me. Kind of up to me though to learn the skills that are in demand. I can't expect others to pay me in excess of my value.


That would impede your ability to generate wealth through your work and since he is a massive player in the business and that other business, if they want to compete, must do basically the same thing, you might be in trouble. Furthermore, Jeff is also interested in paying as little taxes as possible and isn't in personal need for a host of social programs that a government could provide and thus augment your wealth by providing you those services instead of you having to pay them out of pocket (or abstain from them).

I don't see taking the wealth of others as adding to my wealth. I'm then just being carried along by the work of others. I think think anyone really wants this and would clearly avoid it if they knew how.

Jeff wealth, the social status and authority he derives from it and his fame make him influential and he can use this influence to affect your ability to make money.

Yes, in a very beneficial way. The detriment IMO is just imagined so it can be used as an excuse to let others do the work for you.

Jeff didn't become that rich through the sweat of his brow and his work alone. He had to sweat and work that is true, but he became that rich because he owns the sweat and work of almost 800 000 people and he redistribute the wealth generated by all these people, including his own, based on his beliefs within the confines of the law.

And increased the wealth of everyone in doing so.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
It does though. Jeffry is the most extreme example but if the production value of labor stayed the same as what it was in just 1990 the average family would have nearly 200k a year WITHOUT any need for inflation.

IMO, this is not the fault of Bezos. This is the fault of the majority relying on the work of others. That's ok if that is what they want to do but their value to society is becoming less and less.

The issue is that 99% of all new wealth is in the very very very top of the scale. The US and even the world is far far richer than we think. The only reason we have poverty is because of wealth inequality. There are finite resources and money is the way we wish to represent that allocation. If Jeffry and a handful of his buddies can pay for all the healthcare needs of the nation, end poverty in America, end hunger of the world, end homelessness ect I think it is a moral wrong that they don't. It is the society that we live in that has decided they are allowed to do this. He didn't "make" the money. He lives in a society where it is allowed for the orchestration of value thief to an extreme degree.

You only think it doesn't affect you.

I agree there is a lot of opportunity to fix problems in the world but it is not Bezos' responsibility to do this alone. I don't think need to take Bezos' wealth away from him to fix these problems. In fact it is the opposite of a solution. We need to get everyone to generate as much wealth as possible. We need to help people generate their own wealth. The problem is a lack of knowledge and know how. Something the government has no expertise in so there is not going to be any help from that quarter.

Yes, you right. Bezos' wealth can affect me but only in beneficial ways. In a healthy economy, everyone's lives are improved.
 

Nakosis

Non-Binary Physicalist
Premium Member
I have what I need, but it can be very frustrating for a person who is doing the things they need to do, and still finding they turn up short at the end of the day.

And I believe success is possible for them with the right knowledge. So when they ask, "what is holding me back", they shouldn't be focusing on the wealth of other people.
 

Friend of Mara

Active Member
IMO, this is not the fault of Bezos. This is the fault of the majority relying on the work of others. That's ok if that is what they want to do but their value to society is becoming less and less.
Well I do have my opinions on Jeff and there are a millions reasons why I don't like him that we could get into and choices he specifically has made to harm others for his own benefit BUUUUUUT I will concede that I don't hate people for simply having money. It is the system that needs to change.


I agree there is a lot of opportunity to fix problems in the world but it is not Bezos' responsibility to do this alone. I don't think need to take Bezos' wealth away from him to fix these problems. In fact it is the opposite of a solution. We need to get everyone to generate as much wealth as possible. We need to help people generate their own wealth. The problem is a lack of knowledge and know how. Something the government has no expertise in so there is not going to be any help from that quarter.
I disagree that this can be done without harming the wealth of billionaires. We need progressive taxation for public services to help equalize the playing field for all people. That will cut into his wealth and those like him. The second part is taking advances in workers rights. That is REALLY gonna hit him harder than the taxes. I'll go more into it below.
Yes, you right. Bezos' wealth can affect me but only in beneficial ways. In a healthy economy, everyone's lives are improved.
False. Jeffrimaya himself works to keep wages low. He works to make sure unions cannot infringe on sucking the most surplus value out of people as possible.

The only way to increase wealth to that degree is by siphoning the wealth off of others. If every package handler, order filler, driver, boxer, bagger and manager made even half of what they were worth to the company he might not even be a billionaire. Lets not get started on how he attempts to squeeze literally every other market even if it hurts his own profit temporarily to maintain a monopoly. Every gain he has had has come to the detriment of the rest of the economic world.

Same with walmart and every other mass chain global corporation.
 

We Never Know

No Slack
Lot of conflicting opinions on this in this site. Found this recently and it seemed relevant. If you got a few minutes go ahead and scroll through. Then with a strait face tell me why its justified.


Wealth, shown to scale


The top 1% of Americans have about 16 times more wealth than the bottom 50%
How much wealth top 1% of Americans have


World's Richest 1 Percent Own Twice as Much as Bottom 90 Percent
https://philanthropynewsdigest.org/...ercent-own-twice-as-much-as-bottom-90-percent
 

JustGeorge

Not As Much Fun As I Look
Staff member
Premium Member
And I believe success is possible for them with the right knowledge. So when they ask, "what is holding me back", they shouldn't be focusing on the wealth of other people.

I disagree that all have equal access to success. While I think most have the ability to gain some, not all can make ends meet. Sometimes disabilities or other circumstances come into play, other times its other obligations.

My friend once took a class on getting out of poverty. They stressed to the students, much to her(and mine, when she told me) surprise, its not about what you know, its who you know. Do you have good contacts? Have you got a good support system? Another issue was being confident enough to maintain and build contacts.

I think its counterproductive for anyone who's got food in their fridge and a roof over their head to sit around and worry about Jeff Bezos, but someone working in a nursing home full time shouldn't worry about whether or not they can buy fruit for the kids or whether or not they can see a doctor for the cough they've had for the last three months.

It would just be nice to see some general basic life standards for everybody, but not everybody seems to be able to maintain that. Sometimes it really is sheer laziness, but most of the time its complicated. I don't know what it would take to get us there, but what we're doing now doesn't seem to be working for far too many people.
 
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