Do We Need Billionaires? - I am BARRY HESS
bjhess.com
A significant portion of the population in the USA still thinks of Reaganomics as certified fact rather than a largely discredited theory. By this mindset the engine of our economy requires people to strive for a ton of money. A rising tide lifts all boats and all that. First, I got to wondering, were US billionaires even a thing at the end of Reagan’s term? As a tween at the time, I couldn’t really remember. Turns out, yes: Sam Walton • $6.7 billion • Wal-Mart Stores  John Kluge • $3.2 billion • Metromedia  Ross Perot • $3.0 billion • Electronic...
  • MadMadBunny@lemmy.caEnglish
    13·
    1 day ago

    No. Make it stop at 99,999,999.99 and anything else “generated” goes automatically back to the state, or to real, effective humanitarian causes.

    You can also give them a lousy t-shirt stating that they “won at life” to make them feel extra special and exclusive.

    • Phoenixz@lemmy.caEnglish
      2·
      1 day ago

      This!

      I’ve been yelling this for years now, wealth caps! Finally someone else!

      And yeah, just do it with taxes. After a net worth of 10,000,000 all income in whatever form gets taxed 100%

      Nobody can be worth more than that, nobody can control more than that. You want to have a billion dollar company? Well, that is a lot of small shareholders who by the way also need networth to own a home, for example.

      Governments get a huge increase in funding which they can use for so many things like free healthcare for all, free education for all, maybe even universal basic income!

      Governments can fund independent press funding foundations so that journalists and news organisations can do their jobs without having to be for money or use ads,for as long as they flow the rule that news must be as unbiased and as factually based as possible

      These are relatively small changes with enormous effects

  • Cherry@piefed.socialEnglish
    5·
    1 day ago

    This is posed as a question. It should be a statement. We don’t need billionaires!

    So just why would the title ask the question? even the fact the article tries to rationalise a tad for tax purpose makes me skeptical of the purpose of this piece. I as an individual are getting sick of everything having to be a debate…and I am expected to be nice to the greedy and hurtful. I am done with tolerance, its not a question or a conversation, we don’t need to be brought round with media or education. They should not exist!