ToastedRavioli

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/31656095

And by haters I just mean folks who think $12B isn’t a low enough cap…

We are not focused on class war between the majority and the 1%, because (by the numbers) they are not the direct threat to the sustainability of the system. They are not where our money has gone to.

The difference between someone with even $12B and Musk level wealth is the difference between a single story house and a 36 story skyscraper. We are focused on tearing down the skyscraper and taxing the house appropriately. To be frank, the wealth of people with less than a billion dollars is not on our radar as a problem. In contrast, we would like their help in tearing down the skyscrapers. That is the point of our community. We are only after the excess wealth of 250 people in the world.

So again, I welcome you 100% to the tent if you are interested, but politically our goals will always remain simple and be augmented by simple arguments. If that means we are not the community for you, I understand. We’re seeking to act rationally in pursuit of a more ethical world, not to demand ethical perfection from the outset. To be honest I personally believe that ethical perfectionism, infighting, and shrinking the tent are major reasons why progressive movements to rectify wealth inequality constantly fail.

Louis Sachar once wrote an entire book based around the concept that “if you want to fight your way upstream in a river, you have to take small steps”. We arent looking at the end of the river, were looking at the first small steps. (Also that book is a great sequel to Holes for anyone who has never heard of it)

Our argument may seem reductive, but anyone can see the simple nature of the problem. The skyscrapers are a head and shoulders above the single story house. Its a simple problem to see, and an exponential one. 6 people in the world owned half of all the money before covid. Now the problem is even worse. I would venture that the richest 250 people in the world probably own 3/4ths of all the money at this point, at least.

Money was made to move. When that money is parked it doesnt change hands. When it doesnt change hands it doesnt get taxed, things dont get bought. When that happens the government doesnt have the resources it needs, and the economy goes out of whack as well. Its a simple problem that ties into literally every issue imaginable just on that basis. Climate change? We could use more resources to fight it. Materials science to solve the plastic problem? More resources to fight it. People cant afford rent? More resources to pay them. People cant afford healthcare? Do you wish we had bridges to drive over that arent 60+ years old? Are you tired of paying for a fishing/hunting license to subsidize conservation? Everything big and small is impacted in some way by the wealth of the richest 250 people not moving, both inside the US and around the world.

The goal of the movement is not to change the system, really. We arent arguing for moving away from capitalism, even if many of us would like to see that. What we are arguing for is fixing the most unsustainable problem within the system we already have, so that we can continue to fight for a better system in general.

A primary goal is to keep the tent as wide as is possible. The point being that we are fighting specifically on this one issue that should, at least hypothetically, bridge the gap between even people who want radical change and people who want to see no change at all. For people who want radical changes, this is the first step in the right direction. For people who want to see no change at all, this is a step that will prevent the collapse of what they dont want to see changed.

For anyone too broke to afford cost of living, this is what will raise them up to afford a base level of comfort. For the 1%ers, this is what will ensure they get to keep the standard of living they already have, as well as make a shit ton of money off the rest of us. If anything I see this community as an incubation for a political bridge party that can actually bring enough people under one tent to affect change, and breakthrough the various distractions that the richest people in the world rely on so we dont come after them. Red vs blue, black vs white, majority vs 1%ers, and so on and so forth. Its all just bullshit to keep us from paying attention to the 0.0001% who have almost all of the money.

This isnt about redistribution of much of anything from the 1% at large. Its about dislodging the 5 trillion dollars that sit largely in the hands of like 10 people. Just that $5T moving would be enough to allow the rest of the 1% unaffected. Thats like 1/3rd of the federal deficit.

The point of targeting that $5T specifically is because its $5T that is virtually guaranteed to never move otherwise. Its just feel good money for the mega billionaires, which even 1%ers cant relate to nor justify.

We are focused on making the system we have, flawed as it is, a base level of sustainable in the interest of everybody. Capitalism with the bumper guards up. Regardless of what they would want to see next.

To analogize: if were all in one car together right now that is a hunk of shit, and we got a flat tire, the goal for us is to fix the tire so we can make it down the road. Some might want to abandon the car right now even if it means chaos. Some might want to fix the flat so we can get a different car. And some might want to fix the flat so we can keep driving the same hunk of shit. But the goal of our community would be centered on fixing the tire, to avoid chaos and to leave our options open for the future

• ToastedRavioli

If you’re seeing this from all, here is a link from yesterday to contextualize. Please consider subbing if you’re interested

https://midwest.social/post/30028880

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/30028880

See the stickied comment below for an explanation and statement of our purpose, based on simple back-of-the-napkin math

E: if someone could please link this community to r/aspen and r/roaringforkvalley I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve been IP banned by the all powerful AI mod monster, like many folks on Lemmy

Sorry for double posting

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/30028880

Our policy initiatives and overall goal are slightly different than that of this sub, but we seek to have the largest tent that we can.

I believe incremental change is key, and although $12B may seem a ridiculously high wealth cap to a community arguing for a sub $1B cap, we hope you will look into our arguments.

A $12B cap has a much larger tent, as it only excludes 250 people in the world, and could be a first step in proving that wealth distribution is effective. By the numbers, people with $1B-$12B are not the driving issue of wealth inequality. If we can end the existence of major multi-billionaires all of humanity will be infinitely better off, whether they have a net worth of $1 or $1B

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/30028880

See the stickied comment below for an explanation and statement of our purpose, based on simple back-of-the-napkin math

E: if someone could please link this community to r/aspen and r/roaringforkvalley I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve been IP banned by the all powerful AI mod monster, like many folks on Lemmy

Mr Bezos, 61, is expected to arrive in the lagoon next week aboard his 417ft yacht the Koru. The largest sailing yacht in the world, it boasts three tall masts and cost $500 million (£372 million) to construct.

But that’s not all. The Koru will be accompanied by a support ship – an equally huge vessel called the Abeona.

It is equipped with a helicopter pad – a requirement that is de rigueur for Ms Sánchez, who is a qualified helicopter pilot. The vessel may help transport the 27 outfit changes that the bride will reportedly go through, with gowns designed by the likes of Oscar de la Renta and Dolce & Gabbana.

The wedding is likely to cost around $16 million (£11,889,016), according to one detailed breakdown. The sum includes up to $1 million (£743,000) for flowers and the decoration of the various venues, up to $3 million (£2,229,190) for wedding planners, $2 million (£1,486,127) for the hire of the venues, $1 million for the catering and $1.5 million (£1,114,595) for the bride’s dresses.

There will also be mooring fees for Mr Bezos’s superyachts and the cost of providing lavish gifts for the guests, who include Hollywood celebrities and members of the Trump clan.

Luxury hotel suites will make up around $2 million of the overall cost, according to Manuela Pivato, the founder of an online publication called MyFairVenice.

Last week, activists climbed to the top of the bell tower on the island, let off coloured smoke bombs and unfurled a giant banner with a large red cross scrawled across the word “Bezos”. They hung a similar banner from the Rialto Bridge. The protesters were from an umbrella group called No Space for Bezos, a slogan that plays on the billionaire’s ownership of Blue Origin, the space rocket venture.

In a statement, campaigners said: “Venice is not for sale, it is not for rent, it should not be the backdrop for the wedding of one of the world’s richest men. “As Venetians, we are ready to defend the dignity of our city. Those who expect Venice to be docile and subservient, happy to gather the crumbs that fall from the king’s table, will be disappointed. What we did today is just a taste of what is to come.”

Tommaso Cacciari, an activist from No Space for Bezos, said: “To block their arrival peacefully, we will jump into the canals that surround the venue, and we will also block the alleyways that lead to it.

“Bezos is not just any VIP – he is a multi-billionaire who supports the world view of Trump.”

Where is the cabin cheese? The fourth-floor-walkup cheese? Give me the fancy mansion cheese. Or skyscraper cheese, ooh la la.

Leave the bathhouse cheese alone, though

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/30028880

See the stickied comment below for an explanation and statement of our purpose, based on simple back-of-the-napkin math

E: if someone could please link this community to r/aspen and r/roaringforkvalley I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve been IP banned by the all powerful AI mod monster, like many folks on Lemmy

cross-posted from: https://scribe.disroot.org/post/3168364

cross-posted from: https://midwest.social/post/30028880

See the stickied comment below for an explanation and statement of our purpose, based on simple back-of-the-napkin math

E: if someone could please link this community to r/aspen and r/roaringforkvalley I would greatly appreciate it. I’ve been IP banned by the all powerful AI mod monster, like many folks on Lemmy