• givesomefucks@lemmy.world
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    2 days ago

    Everything “good” he has ever done was an investment against pitchforks that he knows he deserves.

    When he doesn’t have to fear pitchforks, it stops being a good investment for the commoners to think he’s on our side.

    If a billionaire cared about humanity, they’d give over the vast amount of their wealth immediately.

    Doesn’t mean refuse what they give away freely, just means never settle for just that, and never trust it’ll be there next time.

    • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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      2 days ago

      they’d give over the vast amount of their wealth immediately.

      To who? I don’t think your average starving child has much use for the sort of assets Bill Gates is sporting. He and other billionaires should be taxed to the ground, but failing that using the monetary returns from one’s wealth to make the world is the strat here.

      • Michael@slrpnk.net
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        2 days ago

        To who?

        To potential international organizations that would spearhead development of impoverished or struggling countries - enabling agriculture and building infrastructure for clean water, cutting edge sanitation, sustainable energy production, and other essential ingredients for society. It’d have to be be no strings attached, personalized, cooperative, and consent-based. The idea would be to support these countries in their sovereignty, to create jobs, and to spark collective purpose and global community.

        It’d be a fucking start instead of just applying bandages over the problems, acting like we are so fucking generous, while raping these countries with our imperialist and colonialist practices at every turn.

        • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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          2 days ago

          To potential international organizations that would spearhead development of impoverished or struggling countries - building infrastructure for clean water, cutting edge sanitation, sustainable energy production, and other essential ingredients for society.

          But here’s the thing: The only thing those organizations (which kinda do exist) would need is the monetary returns on wealth; they have no use for factories or Microsoft shares. Therefore, if you were a billionaire trying to do the maximum possible good with your wealth (most of which is tied up in assets), you’d want to give these organizations the cold hard cash you get from your actual wealth while either keeping or gradually selling off said wealth. It’s the same principle as an autocratic regime: Autocratic regimes shouldn’t exist, but if you somehow find yourself in a position of power in one the right thing to do would be to use your power for good, not immediately resign.

          • Michael@slrpnk.net
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            2 days ago

            I’ll just say that I believe that billionaires could be enabling the creation of a better society and world order in any number of more meaningful ways - without resigning or blowing significant chunks of their wealth.

            • NoneOfUrBusiness@fedia.io
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              2 days ago

              Absolutely. I’m not defending any billionaire or group of billionaires here, only pushing back against the idea that “if a billionaire cared about humanity, they’d give over the vast amount of their wealth immediately.”