85 wealthiest people richer than half of the worlds population - what are the consequences?

[Reverend Rick]

Uprisings really? LOL

Let me tell you about the future. These richest folks will one day have the technology to live for 100's of years. They will live in compounds you will not even be able to touch much less penetrate.

The thing is, these folks will need people to enable them and it will pay very well.

The uprising will not attack the elite 85, they will rise against the better off among them. All the more reason to have weapons. Honestly they will suffer even more if they attempt this. It will not amount to much.

Disgust for the rich is nothing but envy.

The sad truth is, these folks will not get off their cell phones and video games long enough to do very much. This is like the settlers giving wiskey and beads to the indians.

 

[George-ananda]

In my experience, moderates these days are moderates out of instinct, rather than out of reason and evidence. That is, they are low-information voters who are ignorant of what's going on.

Almost as a consequence of their ignorance, they instinctively take what they perceive to be the middle road. The middle road in today's politics is to the right of Nixon and Eisenhower. Moreover, the left wing no longer exists as a force in politics, while the right wing is flirting with fascism.

But just try getting a moderate, low-information, "middle-of-the-road", ignorant voter to take two or three months, study the situation, and see for him or herself what's really going on.

Well, ironically what you say here reinforces my opinion that partisans always think those of the middle who don't see things like them are just uninformed, apathetic dumbbells. I think partisans inform themselves primarily with what they WANT to hear.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Well, ironically what you say here reinforces my opinion that partisans always think those of the middle who don't see things like them are just uninformed, apathetic dumbbells. I think partisans inform themselves primarily with what they WANT to hear.

Exactly right! Todays politics are not much more than being jerked off.

Did Obama give anyone the hope and change they were looking for?

Yes we can......... Please.

 

[bobhikes]

Uprisings really? LOL

Let me tell you about the future. These richest folks will one day have the technology to live for 100's of years. They will live in compounds you will not even be able to touch much less penetrate.

The thing is, these folks will need people to enable them and it will pay very well.

The uprising will not attack the elite 85, they will rise against the better off among them. All the more reason to have weapons. Honestly they will suffer even more if they attempt this. It will not amount to much.

Disgust for the rich is nothing but envy.

The sad truth is, these folks will not get off their cell phones and video games long enough to do very much. This is like the settlers giving wiskey and beads to the indians.

Yes that is what the Kings and Queens thought as well.

Its 100 to 1 may be they can buy another 10%. That still makes it 90 to 10.

Unfortunately its inevitable. Been talking about it at work today and all us middleclass and poor agree not 1 descent. Nobody's taking arms today but we all see a future where we will have to.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Yes that is what the Kings and Queens thought as well.

Its 100 to 1 may be they can buy another 10%. That still makes it 90 to 10.

I will take those odds. People who are prepaired will nip any uprising in the bud. Does China come to mind?

Unfortunately its inevitable. Been talking about it at work today and all us middleclass and poor agree not 1 descent. Nobody's taking arms today but we all see a future where we will have to.

You will not be able to get armed if you wait. Bullets, you gotta have bullets. Good luck with that. It will be like shopping for bread and milk before a snow storm.

 

[sandandfoam]

Uprisings really? LOL

The thing is, these folks will need people to enable them and it will pay very well.

I think that is the nub of it right now. I think people believe that some of the wealth of the rich will magically trickle down to them and I think that because of that belief most people are content with the way things are in terms of wealth equality - people seem to me to believe that having very rich people is good for everyone.

Disgust for the rich is nothing but envy.

I'm not sure I agree Rick. The rich in my country behave in a way that screams their contempt for the rest of us. I don't envy them their wealth because I have what I want and what I need. They do however disgust me because of their contempt.

 

[Sunstone]

Well, ironically what you say here reinforces my opinion that partisans always think those of the middle who don't see things like them are just uninformed, apathetic dumbbells. I think partisans inform themselves primarily with what they WANT to hear.

I would disagree based in part on the fact that I was in the middle myself at one time -- when I was much less well informed than I am now. And even now, I am no where nearly as well informed as I should be. In my experience, the most stubborn enemy of learning anything new is the ego.

 

[Alceste]

I'm not so sure of this either. What does this immense concentration of political power look like in a democratic nation? Do they own Obama for example??

Here's an example. While not necessarily one of these particular 85, let's use Dick Cheney as an example. He ran a company called Halliburton before he became VP. After attaining political power, he used it to exempt fracking operations from any and all environmental regulations, causing a fracking boom across America. Not by coincidence, nearly all of those operations use Halliburton technology. While VP, Cheney also started two wars, offering hugely expensive no bid contracts to Halliburton. He also managed to fend off the federal emergency response machine after Katrina, instead offering the clean-up contracts to Halliburton.

All of this is apparently completely legal in the United States.

That's what it looks like when political power is concentrated in the hands of the ultra-rich.

 

[Reverend Rick]

Most people's politics are ruled by emotion more than anything. Today's media can reinforce just about any position. People can pretend to use logic but all sides break down at some point.

There is no pure logic and hypocrisy abounds on both sides.

 

[Tarheeler]

I'm not sure there are any consequences. I think people are generally happy with the inequity because they believe it is good for them.

I think that's an accurate observation.

While the report might be startling to many, I don't think it's much of a change; the vast majority of wealth and power residing in the hands of a few has been the status quo for a very, very long time. Sure, groups of people revolt every now and then, but nothing really changes.

And I think that, for the most part, much of humanity is fine with it. We tell ourselves that it's the way it should be; they wouldn't have that wealth or power if they weren't something special, now would they? We tell ourselves that if we were resourceful enough, or smart enough, or worked hard enough, then we could have it too. Or we're content to have a slightly bigger part of the pie than our neighbor, and do our best to maintain the status quo. It never ceases to amaze me how hard we will work to keep everything just the way it while complaining about how screwed up the system is.

Of course, if enough people were motivated to do something, it would result in revolt and the collapse of much of society . But that is unlikely to happen to happen anytime soon.

 

[Alceste]

Well, ironically what you say here reinforces my opinion that partisans always think those of the middle who don't see things like them are just uninformed, apathetic dumbbells. I think partisans inform themselves primarily with what they WANT to hear.

There are many people out there who like to learn for the sake of learning. To those people, it's always pretty obvious who is crafting their opinions from exposure to evidence and who is just making them up as they go along based on wishful thinking and personal ideals.

You are right to assume that people (you too, not just "partisans", whatever those are) tend to filter information that challenges their views. OTOH, if you are aware of that phenomenon and you know what high quality evidence looks like, filtered information is still much better than none.

 

[bobhikes]

I will take those odds. People who are prepaired will nip any uprising in the bud. Does China come to mind?You will not be able to get armed if you wait. Bullets, you gotta have bullets. Good luck with that. It will be like shopping for bread and milk before a snow storm.

Your attitude is very much like King Henry VIII.

Good luck with that.

 

[Alceste]

Exactly right! Todays politics are not much more than being jerked off.

Did Obama give anyone the hope and change they were looking for?

Yes we can......... Please.

All I was looking for was for the US not to start a war in Iran. So yes, he did.

 

[Reverend Rick]

All I was looking for was for the US not to start a war in Iran. So yes, he did.

That issue is not over Alceste. Alot can happen in the next three years.

 

[Alceste]

That issue is not over Alceste. Alot can happen in the next three years.

True, but if John "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" McCain and Sarah "Putin rears his head and comes into American airspace" Palin had been elected, you'd be at war already. The longer you folks put that off, the better.

 

[George-ananda]

Here's an example. While not necessarily one of these particular 85, let's use Dick Cheney as an example. He ran a company called Halliburton before he became VP. After attaining political power, he used it to exempt fracking operations from any and all environmental regulations, causing a fracking boom across America. Not by coincidence, nearly all of those operations use Halliburton technology. While VP, Cheney also started two wars, offering hugely expensive no bid contracts to Halliburton. He also managed to fend off the federal emergency response machine after Katrina, instead offering the clean-up contracts to Halliburton.

All of this is apparently completely legal in the United States.

That's what it looks like when political power is concentrated in the hands of the ultra-rich.

Cheney got elected and re-elected by a democratic process is my point. Apparently either people didn't buy your interpretation of how the events went down or his opponents did a poor job of making their case. I recall plenty of people on the left trying to paint him as the evil villain.

Too many dumb Americans is what you'll probably say. I say 'democracy' is still the best system out there.

 

[George-ananda]

There are many people out there who like to learn for the sake of learning. To those people, it's always pretty obvious who is crafting their opinions from exposure to evidence and who is just making them up as they go along based on wishful thinking and personal ideals.

Well, people of the right and people of the left who claim to like learning will probably give you reverse image lists of which sources are using evidence and which are crafting evidence. So I don't see your point that 'it's always pretty obvious'. In fact the exact opposite seems to be the case.

 

[Alceste]

Cheney got elected and re-elected by a democratic process is my point. Apparently either people didn't buy your interpretation of how the events went down or his opponents did a poor job of making their case. I recall plenty of people on the left trying to paint him as the evil villain.

Too many dumb Americans is what you'll probably say. I say 'democracy' is still the best system out there.

You didn't ask whether American democracy is functioning properly, you asked what happens when an obscene amount of wealth and political power are concentrated in the hands of one individual. Dick Cheney. That's what happens.

If you want to discuss the wisdom of your average American voter, I think it's a subject for another thread.

 

[Alceste]

Well, people of the right and people of the left who claim to like learning will probably give you reverse image lists of which sources are using evidence and which are crafting evidence. So I don't see your point that 'it's always pretty obvious'. In fact the exact opposite seems to be the case.

No, they don't. Credible people, regardless of their own political ideals (the range of which is infinitely more complex and fascinating than a simple "left" or "right"), all use similar, high quality sources of information and can tell the difference between a rational, evidence-based statement and empty partisan rhetoric.

 

[metis]

True, but if John "bomb bomb bomb, bomb bomb Iran" McCain and Sarah "Putin rears his head and comes into American airspace" Palin had been elected, you'd be at war already. The longer you folks put that off, the better.

Sorry to tell you this, Alceste, but you're going to have a hard time convincing this to those who get their "news" from the Fox Propaganda Channel.

Did Obama bring us "hope and change"? Ya, but certainly these are not absolutes, nor did he find much cooperation from the Party of No, which both Republicans Lindsey Graham and Bobby Jindal said was acting like "the Party of Stupid".