What's wrong with wealthy people?

Question

I have a rant to make.

There is a general impression in the US, particularly among the left, that anyone who has amassed great wealth has done it sneakily, possibly illegally, and if nothing else, by exploiting the poor and middle class. Consequently, their wealth should be seized and redistributed to the working and impoverished classes.

I think that's foolish. The whole idea is foolish. Wealth is not something that you accumulate on luck alone. It's a mindset and an attitude. If we took a rich man and a poor man, and divided the rich man's money equally between them, I bet more than anything in a few years you'd see the rich man emerge still a rich man if not richer, and the poor man remain poor. Money, to me, does nothing but grant you power. How you use the power is what determines your status.

My point is that wealthy people, in general, have probably become wealthy through their own means.

The real lesson is that you can't fix a problem by just throwing money (power) at it. If the person doesn't know how to use the power to fix the problem, then what's the point?

I'm sure that some wealth, certainly, is ill-gotten, and those people are criminals, but you can't therefore assume that most wealthy people are criminals. Most are just very smart, financially-savvy citizens.

All I really mean is that sitting idle and complaining about how you've been screwed over is self-defeating. We are all empowered to change our lives for the better. That's really what the American Dream is. Equality of Opportunity. Who should argue with that?

Kobaincito, I would agree except that I think the premise that resources are limited is ill-founded. I would think the word resource covers a variety of possibilities, like your mind, you strength, your money, you family...

Resources, to me, are never limited, and as such we are never powerless to change things.

Answer 1

Yes, its possible that a person can become wealthy without being a crook, or exploiting people, or bribing politicians, and the like. A lot of millionaries have done it.

When you get to the realm of the multi-millionaries (and above), then you start to question things a bit. For example, there's Philip Knight who uses children in third world sweatshops to make his Nike shoes. Then there's Bill Gates, whose cutthroat business practices are legendary. These aren't just shrewd businessmen, they come across as preditors or modern day robber-barons who exploit everyone (including you) and everything in their path. It's more akin to vampirism than it is to free enterprise.

The wealthier you become, the more suspicious people become of your wealth. It was true in the days of the Bible (remember the eye of the needle) and its just as true now. Of course, people dream of becoming wealthy themselves, so they tend tohold off on criticizing the rich too much.

But you are correct that it is not fair to cast everyone in the same light. That would be naiive.

Answer 2

There is nothing wrong with being wealthy, it is how you accumulate and use that wealth that dictates whether or not it is obscene.
At the present time they are showing a documentary series, here in Australia, called "The Worst Jobs In History." It is done in an amusing style but beneath the surface you can see how men made vast fortunes from the misery and suffering of their fellow men. Things like women having their jaws rot away in the production of matches and the use of children, below ground in mines as young as five.
I have no problem with people being wealthy but please don't try to make out that they all get there by fair means. Some do but a lot don't.

Answer 3

Here is the problem, a few ruin everything for most.

If your poor you see this more offten, a 24 hour mini mart gets robbed at 3 am so they start closing at 11 pm now someone getting off the graveyard shift at 3 am can't get gas and dosen't have time to get some before going to work at there second job and get screwed because one person ruined it for many others.

If enron robs hard working individuals of thousands of dollars then the rich who got out in time becuase there money buys them connections and knowleadge that the poor didn't have and saved there money then who's getting screwed the poor.

sadly this is the biggest problem with taxes, a flat tax benifits the rich when a percentage hurts the rich (but really doesn't help the poor either) So who should pay more, those that have more or those who don't?

Answer 4

I totally agree. Read my about me profile.

I have been called some of the rudest names in the book, including Money whore, a prostitute, and a crook by dozens of idiots here on Yahoo A.

I've busted my butt and did it all legally. I'm proud of what I've done. It is a mindset and an attitute. It's being strong enough to work your azz off and being able to live on the barest of nessecities while you are making it. I actually lived in my Van during college for 2 yes 2 years. Took showers at school and lived on Mayonaise sandwhiches. It totally totally sucked, but I did it....and I will never have to worry about money again.

Because I made my own money, it is my choice who I choose to help, and I do help others out frequently. Need money to buy books in college? I'd be glad to help. Wanna buy a flat screen TV? Forget it.
And if all someone does is ***** because I have money and they don't, I promise they will never see a penny from me. They obviously have no respect for hard work (just like the folks who gave me the thumbsdown) To them I say this: Get off your butt, cut out the booze and whatever other illegal substance you are using and get to work. I have no respect for whiners.

Answer 5

there is not any longer something incorrect in being rich, regardless of the undeniable fact that it does rely "HOW" one gained it, and what one does with it. yet there is not any longer something incorrect "if" they settle directly to no longer do something with it, it particularly is their "top" to chosen. no longer something ever could desire to be compelled. I actual have worked with some rich human beings as a stay in, and my reviews have been sturdy, and with some, they weren't very sturdy in any respect. some do abuse their place, others I actual have known have been very beneficiant. In my adventure people who've begotten their wealth by questionable ability, have been the main abusive. people who gained it by rightful ability have been very beneficiant. people who harbor grudges against people who misuse their wealth and place do it by unforgiveness and then will prefer to make ALL rich human beings pay for it. Others are envious of others wealth and choose area of it, as though it grow to be owed to them. We could desire to look at each and every of the excuses on the two sides to come back to a in basic terms and righteous end. I actual have forgiven and moved on, and gained some astounding insights by those tough cases and tough and abusive personalities. sturdy question!

Answer 6

And why does the Right say that we want to take wealth away from people who earn it?

If you want people like Paris Hilton to control all the wealth in the nation, then be my guest. I can survive in a plutocratic kleptocracy, but I'm not sure how long cons who aren't rich would last before they beg for a turn away from that kind of government.

Answer 7

I don't think there's something wrong with all wealthy people just from my expierence most.. I mean this country has been running by the elite for awhile now and look at the condition.. If they weren't so self absorbed and actually gave a damn about anything besides making a paycheck then we wouldn't be in the mess we are in... I don't like their whole menatliy of you should look down on people just because their not as rich as you.. I mean like I have cousins who are kids of doctors.. so they assume they are very wealthy.. You should see the way the act, completely snobby.. like they own the world.. It's like give me a break.. does your father do anything without a paycheck.. are you going to Africa and giving vaccines to needy childern????? NO.... You'd think someone in the medical field would try to do something to geniunly help.. but No their to busy worrying about their million dollar houses and their waste of life kids with no redeming qualties whatsoever... I mean all that stuff is fine.. but every once in awhile it won't kill you to think about someone else besides yourself..

Answer 8

What planet are you living on?

Nobody has uttered one word about "seizing" anybody's wealth. You reactionaries are such drama queens.

And whether you're AWARE of it or not, the system in this country is SET UP FOR THE WEALTHY.

If you HAVE money, it is fairly easy to accumulate MORE MONEY.

If you have NO money, it is fairly IMPOSSIBLE to obtain real wealth.

Times have CHANGED. It isn't the 50s anymore. Hard work and playing by the rules doesn't get you what it used to.

Just ask Exxon and Enron.

Answer 9

Your premise is wrong , here in America the wealthy are so numerous that most feel and act middle class and most middle class just see most of them as just richer middle class.Only the extreme Lefty's feel that people who are wealthy have in some way gotten their wealth in a shady manner. what you may see is that most non wealthy people feel that the "rich" need to pay more in taxes for the benefits that they receive.

Answer 10

Some of the biggest crooks I know are business owners, they have a history of exlpoiting the poor and working class, where the bottom line is always money, and never saftey, health or care for the employee. Most of them cheat taxes, off shore to china, and screw the United States economy for their own gain.