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Just Be Rich

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Re: Just Be Rich

#341

Post by claudiawerner »

imtringued wrote: post #266
camhart wrote: post #247

Income inequality is growing, yes. But are the wealthy somehow responsible for it? Is their "getting richer" directly responsible for it? There seems to be a growing consensus on the left that they are. I have yet to see a convincing argument to show this though. Someone who builds a company worth 100m didn't have to steal money from me (or anyone else) to do it. If they did steal, then that's what needs fixed. Preve…

>It's at best a band-aid attempting to treat a symptom caused from underlying issues. We need to treat those underlying issues--not the symptom. The underlying problem is that the economy is breaking basic macroeconomic equations, namely that savings must be invested. A wealth tax would force such an outcome. This is unpopular for republicans. Government investment would force such an outcome. It's still unpopular fo…

I'm curious what it means to say that savings must be invested. I have an account with an online broker/trading platform in which I put a portion of my money each month (most goes into stocks, some into ETFs). I think that counts as investing, but I also save money in the bank for paying bills, rent, food, and emergencies. That's not invested, and it makes up a large portion of my 'wealth'.

Re: Just Be Rich

#342

Post by courtf »

Love Paul's line in the notes of his post about labor finally defeating capital. Complete and utter detachment from reality.

Re: Just Be Rich

#343

Post by throwaway77770 »

camhart wrote: post #247

Income inequality is growing, yes. But are the wealthy somehow responsible for it? Is their "getting richer" directly responsible for it? There seems to be a growing consensus on the left that they are. I have yet to see a convincing argument to show this though. Someone who builds a company worth 100m didn't have to steal money from me (or anyone else) to do it. If they did steal, then that's what needs fixed. Preve…

> But it's not the governments job to legalize theft and pick the winners and losers, it's the governments job to fix the underlying issues.

So in other words, don't try to paper over the flaws of capitalism by instantiating a welfare state from taxes; instead abolish capitalism directly?

Probably not what you meant, but it could be read that way.

Re: Just Be Rich

#344

Post by baq »

jdc wrote: post #223
ironman1478 wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This. Poverty doesn't just cause immediate issues it can also cause long term issues that can effect not only adults, but the children who grew up in that environment. This is largely because families in poverty tend to also abuse their kids at higher rates (this includes mental abuse) or at least foster an extremely unhealthy environment due to the stress it causes. So even a generation later it can be difficult for…

> This is largely because families in poverty tend to also abuse their kids at higher rates Source?

Lazy?

Re: Just Be Rich

#345

Post by TeMPOraL »

muzani wrote: post #148

There's a little company called MyTeksi. My is a for-profit social startup with a mission to revolutionise the taxi industry. They started GrabCar, which killed off the taxi industry with higher wages, higher quality services, lower prices. To win the war against Uber, they'd lie about how long it took for a car to arrive, and they'd deceive drivers as well. A driver might be promised a $100 bonus for driving into an…

Ironically, this story is also exactly what Uber did to every market it expanded to.

Re: Just Be Rich

#346

Post by [deleted] »

camhart wrote: post #325
bobmaxup wrote: post #307

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Would equality be better than the bare necessities?

Assuming by "equality" you mean everyone is given the same amount of money regardless of what they do or achieve, then no it's not better than bare necessities. A degree of struggle is good for us. It pushes us to become more than we could without it. Don't take this to mean I want everyone in poverty--that's not what I'm saying. But being motivated to work towards a financial goal is a good thing. I do not believe a…

[deleted]

Re: Just Be Rich

#347

Post by lordnacho »

watwut wrote: post #289
lordnacho wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Maybe I should have expanded upon it. When I went to visit SF with a startup, I naturally thought one of my dozen cousins in the area would know someone who did something with one of the many startups in the world's startup capital. They don't just not work in startups, they seem to not have any connections to it. Granted, I didn't do a thorough survey, but if they knew someone in a prominent firm I think they'd have…

Honest question: why do you think working for startup would be better for them then working for google? Why do you think a doctor would be better off or happy working for startup? Why do you assume having seeking connection to startup world is a think they miss in their lives? On hn, there is sort of bubble of people who think that working for startup is best thing ever and everyone else is selling the soul. What if…

I wasn't commenting on what they ought to do, it's not like I'm disappointed they didn't do a startup (lol how could I be disappointed in someone becoming a doctor when I'm the kid of refugees?) . Just commenting on the dynamics of who decides to try, and who knows who.

Keep in mind that as an immigrant you also you also only know a few traditional things a kid can do. The main thing that would get you into a startup is probably a CS degree, which what not high on the list for my aunts and uncles.

This might also be something about American society. People seem to cluster very closely with similar people. At least when I go there it seems that way.

Re: Just Be Rich

#348

Post by bouncycastle »

2OEH8eoCRo0 wrote: post #330
d_silin wrote: post #7

A lot of people who are just as smart and motived as Elon Musk or Steve Jobs will never be able to start their own companies and get rich. Because they have family obligations that take priority. Because they live outside high-income countries. Because they have no access to support network, so when they fail, they fall all the way to bottom. Because they may have made a crippling mistake in their pasts that now prev…

Success is 100% luck.

You still need to make an effort turn up though.

Re: Just Be Rich

#349

Post by EliRivers »

noxer wrote: post #339
EliRivers wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also what exactly is so "scary" about failing? Do people think they end up homeless under a bridge or something? I see a practically zero chance that could ever happen to someone who fights. You need to have some serious mental health problems and probably drugs to fall this deep. Well this is just not true. You have a fantasy view of life that does not ally with reality.

So you think you could end up homeless under a bridge even trough you would do everything you can do avoid that? I dont think so. Long time homeless people are a very niche type of persons that "gave up" for whatever reason. Usually mental health, age, drugs. I worked for 2 year with someone who was homeless for a few months. The reason he wasn't anymore and other still are is solely his own actions. But he was young…

I think you've changed what you were talking about. Suddenly you're talking about "long term" homeless, which makes me think you realised you made a mistake and now are backtracking.

I see that you're also presenting one single case known to you; this is effectively meaningless, and you know it.

Re: Just Be Rich

#350

Post by Arkhaine_kupo »

kuu wrote: post #329
saddlerustle wrote: post #103

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Pretty much every mainstream economist put the blame for this squarely on the massively increased regulation of the housing market since the 70s causing a massive decrease in the amount of new construction, not wealth itself.

Spain and its empty 3.5M houses send you regards. https://www.thelocal.es/20140225/spain-worst-in-europe-for-e...

The price of those houses should be 10% of what it is, but the problem is banks own them and if they reduce the price then their numbers look red. They are artificially inflated housing prices to keep bank bonds from plummeting.
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