• Millie@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    What’s it going to take to actually do something about these ultra-rich leeches literally destroying our planet and everything good on it to inflate a number in a bank somewhere? How do we actually build up the initiative to stop it?

    All our other problems seem largely centered around our inability to appropriately respond to extreme greed. Not only in actually actively stopping it, but in even identifying it or being able to properly censure it in the first place. The moment you start talking about the rich being the cause of our problems, there’s a section of society that starts tuning you out. I definitely feel like as things get worse people are starting to catch on, but even once we’re there, where do we go?

    If we actually get to the point of agreeing that excessive wealth is inherently misanthropic and should be a crime in and of itself, how do we make it a crime while so much power sits in the hands of those who’d be on the losing end of that decision?

    I hope the WGA and SAG can spark a change in people’s consciousness around labor. I’d honestly love to see a lot more interviews and independent podcasts coming from the picket lines. If there’s anyone who can convince Americans to fight for the value of their labor, it’s the people write and play the parts in the stories they love.

    • SwallowsDick@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The fact that most people will reflexively reject and wilt at the idea of a wealth cap, or at least enforceablely taxing every dollar made above a certain amount at 99%, is a testament to the many decades of often-subtle propaganda that makes people think that modern western capitalism is the only way. As well as the continuing de-funding of public education and making colleges less accessible.

    • jkure2@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      What’s it going to take to do something about these ultra rich assholes

      Let’s be honest the only answer is [redacted], they effectively own the government in the US and it’s not much better in Europe

      • TrenchcoatFullOfBats@belfry.rip
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        1 year ago

        But what are we going to DO about the 5–12 feet tall, blood-drinking, shape-shifting reptilian humanoids from the Alpha Draconis?

    • SCB@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      The moment you start talking about the rich being the cause of our problems, there’s a section of society that starts tuning you out.

      That’s because this is an insane claim.

      If we actually get to the point of agreeing that excessive wealth is inherently misanthropic and should be a crime in and of itself

      This is a massive “If.” I could probably never be convinced that one person’s wealth is inherently detrimental to someone else’s well-being.

      These are very extreme views. I support the Hollywood strike, my buddy is a union leader (as were both my parents), and I’m a reliably Democrat voter, and I couldn’t disagree more with what you’ve said above.

      • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
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        1 year ago

        That’s because this is an insane claim.

        Consider that they have the power to massively improve everyone’s lives but are choosing not to.

        Perhaps they didn’t personally cause and create some of those problems, but they are still the only ones with the power to make the necessary changes, so the continuation of those problems is indeed their doing.

        • SCB@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          In what way does the logistics revolution spurred by Amazon’s growth not massively benefit every person who buys anything in the US? You’re seriously suggesting with a straight face, that Microsoft hasn’t saved literally hundreds of millions of lives just in database tech alone?

          You’re talking out of your ass here man. Hell, you’re putting billionaires on par with running a government which is simply absurd.

          It’s not on rich people to save the fucking world, though Bill Gates has personally done more for the world than most governments ever have. It’s on voters to pass policies that provide them better lives. That’s the point of democracy

          • Rodeo@lemmy.ca
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            1 year ago

            Are you serious lmao

            You think billionaires have no influence on government? Please

            • SCB@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              I think you don’t understand how government functions in any real way at all

      • 33KK@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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        1 year ago

        The thing is, you can’t get that rich by playing fair, it’s only possible at the expense of others. And I can assure you, most rich people are activelty making our lives worse.

              • 33KK@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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                1 year ago

                Anticonsumer, anticompetitive practices, corruption and lobbying in their own interest, propaganda, tax evasion…

                • SCB@lemmy.world
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                  1 year ago

                  I lobbied in my own interest not 15 minutes ago, as part of Citizens Climate Lobby. Just got off a zoom meeting with my rep. Lobbying is not inherently bad.

                  Can you prove tax evasion? That’s a serious crime.

                  Also, shameless plug - consider joining your local chapter of CCL! Took me 5 minutes to sign up and all meetings have been via zoom.

                  https://citizensclimatelobby.org/